What is WPPSI and am I really that clueless?

[Anonymous]

I shouldn't even be reading through this forum since we'll be sending our daughter to public school for mostly financial reasons. But I was curious as to why this forum had so many threads going on. I was wondering "What was I missing"?

So, I have read through several of the posts and not only is a lot of the conversation foreign to me, but I now feel like a bad parent who is not doing everything she can to ensure that her child gets the best education possible. To me, private schools were where the rich/famous kids went and it basically ensured a lucrative job somewhere down the road. Since we aren't rich or famous, I accepted that this wasn't an option for us.

But now, I see that even familes who don't make 6 figures are doing everything they can to get their child into a private school. It does seem odd to me that anyone would stress themselves out so much, esp. at the pre-school level, deal with all the competitiveness, spend a lot of upfront money and time and then be told that their kid isn't good enough. That would send me into a massive depression!

Am I really a clueless and horrible mom?

By the way--I really do want to know what WPPSI is.

[Anonymous]

The WPPSI is an IQ test that many of the private schools require. You wouldn't subject your child to it by choice.

I think many of us who are going the private school route live in DC outside of the Horace Mann / Key districts and therefore have not-so-good public school options. If I lived in a good school district, I certainly would not put myself through this. However, the quality of our public school is abysmal, so I feel we have no viable choice. We knew this when we bought a home in the district.

[Anonymous]

You are right - it doesn't make sense to stress over this or kill yourselves financially for these schools. If you can afford them - great! They are a luxury - but, I do not think it guarantees success in life. Most of these kids would go onto successful careers because they already come from educated, successful backgrounds. You are giving your kids just as much advantage by paying attention to their education and to them and being involved at school. That being said, pulic Schools vary be location and it does help to find a good district if you can - spend your money on a house in a good school district!
The WPSII - or whaever it's called - is an IQ test.

[Anonymous]

Agree w/ pp. I asked to have the home school, homework, and tutor forum started because I thought too many folks were stressing about private schools. I question the benefits of private schools, and I have seen that very involved parents and those who home school have had great results. I hope that all parents who are just interested in educating their kids take a peek at that forum and contribute little suggestions about encouraging their kids to learn.

[Anonymous]

Are there any good public schools in the District that have classes for three-year-olds? (Stoddart and Horace Mann come to mind as good schools, but I didn't think they started until later?)

Also, I also thought that IQ tests weren't very accurate. Have they come a long way since I was a child?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Testing is considered highly accurate. I was tested as a child and it comports with my adult IQ. To the OP, do not think you are a bad mom. You sound like a lovely and involved mother. The private school route is just one option. I was a public school child, intend to do private for my children, but I think public schools in the area are fantastic (many of them). But, if you are interested, there is money out there in the private schools for scholarship, etc.

[Anonymous]

dc elementaries have pre-k classes which are for 4 year olds. i don't think there are classes for 3 year olds...they would go to a private preschool/daycare.

[Anonymous]

Doesn't the IQ test become most accurate after age 7?

[Anonymous]

Yes, IQ doesn't stabilize until age 7. The WPPSI isn't incredibly reliable, but they do use it.

[Anonymous]

I'm wondering how other parents feel about "getting their child into the best school". I know we all want it, but how do you really know where your child will thrive?

My neighbor has 2 kids and they both go to private schools. The one is doing great, the other hates it and is a bit of a troublemaker. She is at her wits end trying to get her son to do better and appreciate going to school, but sometimes I think that is making the situation worse. I'm not saying he'd be better off in a public school, but if he is not the "school type", why spend all that money trying to force him to be something he isn't?

[Anonymous]

I fell into the private school trap with my first two kids. I was involved with a playgroup where the main topic of conversation was private schools. I never had considered a private school in the past, but wanted to keep up with the Joneses. What ended up happening was that i became so obsessed with getting my children into the right school that it ended up consuming my life. In fact, I know so much about the private school system that I wonder if I should become one of those private school consultants (ha! ha!). All my friends and family thought i was crazy. I can't believe I wasted so much time -- time that would have been better spent just hanging out with my family or developing another interest. I cringe when I think about the hours-ugh!

My 2 children did go to a private school, but are now in public high schools in an average school district. By average, I mean they are not in the Bethesda district. They are both performing quite well, have many friends, are involved in athletics and my eldest has been accepted to georgetown on a partial scholarship. My 2nd child is also in high school and although he isn't a straight A student, he is the editor of the school paper and is really enjoying his friends and extracurricular activities. My third child went to public school from the beginning and he is in an honors program. They have all met great and not so great teachers. They have friends from all walks of life. They are confident and are excited about life.


My point is: you have to remember-private schools are there to make money and not necessarily make sure your child gets the best education possible. Great marketing, a few big name students, and the exclusive factor is what you really end up paying for. What really counts is what we, as parents, do to build their self esteem and curiosity for life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My point is: you have to remember-private schools are there to make money and not necessarily make sure your child gets the best education possible.

Most private schools are not-for-profit.

Anonymous wrote:Great marketing, a few big name students, and the exclusive factor is what you really end up paying for.

I'm sure you recognize that folks who are paying (have paid) for private school are getting quite a bit more.

[Anonymous]

Not for profit does not mean that people don't make money. Salaries of heads of private schools are impressive.

[Anonymous]

Interesting article from The Wash Post on private school salaries. Not too shabby!


By the way, a non-profit means that you qualify for certain tax breaks and applies to almost all eductaional institutions. They don't need to document increased revenue to shareholders or owners since theire aren't any. But--that doesn't mean a salary, benefits and perks can't be lucrative. In fact, there is a shortage of qualified teachers and it is also affecting the provate school sector. Salaries have to be high enough to attract.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/19/AR2007011901910.html

[Anonymous]

Then why are private school teacher salaries lower than at public schools??

PP, you are misinformed that private schools exist to make money: anyone involved in private schools will tell you that tuition does not cover the entire cost of the education, that is why private schools are always fundraising.