Has anyone taken their child out of a good private school, and put them into public school?

[Anonymous]

Are you happy? Do you wish you had done it sooner?
What do you miss about private school? What are the up sides to public school?

[Anonymous]

I'm glad you asked because we plan to do this in 2-3 years. I've been keeping a close eye on kids from our private school who have done this over the last 3 years. Most are satisfied with their public school because they took the time to get into a specific public school (through lottery) or public school program. The ones that left our private school and went to the public school in their neighborhood without putting any thought into it tend to have less satisfying experiences.

[Anonymous]

Huh?

[Anonymous]

Friends of friends just did it -- they left a Big 3 after a couple of years for DCPS. Not a financial decision. Said their neighbors were delighted to see them since their presence made them feel vindicated re not shelling out for private at this stage (elementary school).

[Anonymous]

We left a private school for a MCPS magnet. Was wonderful. Private situation not so great for my DC, and the magnet was just the ticket.

My observation is that, once in private, people at least in suburban MD just never think about going public ... really seem to have barriers, even if the private is a disaster. Maybe it is due to a belief in private, but having been in private myself I feel there is a lot of social pressure to assume private is best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We left a private school for a MCPS magnet. Was wonderful. Private situation not so great for my DC, and the magnet was just the ticket.

My observation is that, once in private, people at least in suburban MD just never think about going public ... really seem to have barriers, even if the private is a disaster. Maybe it is due to a belief in private, but having been in private myself I feel there is a lot of social pressure to assume private is best.

What private school were you in? Or what type of private school?

[Anonymous]

I agree with 20:12. I think that after spending a lot of money on private tuition, you really want to believe that private is better, not just a little but a lot better, as a continuing justification for one's decision. At least I have found myself thinking along these lines. I also convinced myself that the public option was worse than it really was. After three years, I am still convinced that the private I chose is much, much better than the public my
DC would have attended. Is it enough better to justify the cost? Not sure. Is it perfect in every way? No, nor could any school meet that standard.