I don't understand why parents waste so much money on private schools in this area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I suggest OP go tour a couple of private schools during this falls admission process. The tours are quite eye opening and I promise you won’t be asking this question.

OP here, shrug. Having come from the bay area, I had always assumed how well a school did was just purely a function of how many hard working asian kids good at self learning were in any particular school. The whole game is just a filtering tournament anyhow and teachers don't really add huge value. You either have self motivated smart kids or you don't. So as a venture capitalist by training, the ROI for private seems pretty poor and silly intangibles I see being justified by parents on this board are borderline ridiculous. The real KPI is Asian enrollment pre-K numbers. Montgomery county has a bunch of older Asian parents due to Rockville and Bethesda being the good school districts in the 90s haydays. Today, most younger Asian parents are in NoVA. I'd take Haycock over Sidwell or St Albans in 5-10 years.

[Anonymous]

Other than price, why aren’t we all using the English governor/governess model, supplemented with private tutoring for specific math and science subjects? Reducing the student to teacher ratio to 1:1 (or 2:1, maybe a bit higher if you have 3 or more children) is clearly going to overcome nearly any advantage a school might otherwise offer, at least in terms of educational tailoring and outcomes for specific students. Homeschooling can (emphasis on can) use the same reduction in student to teacher ratios to achieve desirable outcomes. Worries about “socialization” are kind of silly—parents of means are going to make sure their kids are appropriately socialized. So really, by focusing on public v private, folks are missing the true difference making opportunity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to a public school in the 90s, it was one of the top public high schools in California. When I went to university, I noticed very little difference between those who went to public vs private schools. The SAT scores in DC private schools are basically comparable to the top publics. I don't get it, i mean if you got millions to burn, so be it. I rather give my kids a house.

Yep. MCPS runs circle around the private schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Other than price, why aren’t we all using the English governor/governess model, supplemented with private tutoring for specific math and science subjects? Reducing the student to teacher ratio to 1:1 (or 2:1, maybe a bit higher if you have 3 or more children) is clearly going to overcome nearly any advantage a school might otherwise offer, at least in terms of educational tailoring and outcomes for specific students. Homeschooling can (emphasis on can) use the same reduction in student to teacher ratios to achieve desirable outcomes. Worries about “socialization” are kind of silly—parents of means are going to make sure their kids are appropriately socialized. So really, by focusing on public v private, folks are missing the true difference making opportunity.

because if haven't figure it out, the modern education system is not about learning anything. It is an endless competitive tournament for your kids to compete for ever smaller slices of professional jobs eroded by by ever more sophisticated automation/software/AI, pushed by parents ever so desperate to hold on to the wealth created by past generations. Get with the program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Other than price, why aren’t we all using the English governor/governess model, supplemented with private tutoring for specific math and science subjects? Reducing the student to teacher ratio to 1:1 (or 2:1, maybe a bit higher if you have 3 or more children) is clearly going to overcome nearly any advantage a school might otherwise offer, at least in terms of educational tailoring and outcomes for specific students. Homeschooling can (emphasis on can) use the same reduction in student to teacher ratios to achieve desirable outcomes. Worries about “socialization” are kind of silly—parents of means are going to make sure their kids are appropriately socialized. So really, by focusing on public v private, folks are missing the true difference making opportunity.

And look, maybe the value to cost differential isn’t worth the increased educational outcome. Bright kids will do well in public. Maybe they’d do a bit better in private. And maybe their outcome would be a bit better than private with complete one-on-one tutoring. What are you willing to pay for? Average result based on your child’s gifts, may be a bit better in private, or as optimized as possible with a 1:1 education? Apply the same logic for average and below average kids.

[Anonymous]

DH and I are both products of FCPS. We both went to competitive, “elite” universities.

We assumed our kids would also do FCPS, but when the oldest went to our neighborhood elementary and the huge class sizes plus unbelievable out-of-control behavior problems became evident very early on, we yanked them and sent them to private. Best decision ever simply because the behavioral distractions are minimal in comparison and my kids can actually learn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Other than price, why aren’t we all using the English governor/governess model, supplemented with private tutoring for specific math and science subjects? Reducing the student to teacher ratio to 1:1 (or 2:1, maybe a bit higher if you have 3 or more children) is clearly going to overcome nearly any advantage a school might otherwise offer, at least in terms of educational tailoring and outcomes for specific students. Homeschooling can (emphasis on can) use the same reduction in student to teacher ratios to achieve desirable outcomes. Worries about “socialization” are kind of silly—parents of means are going to make sure their kids are appropriately socialized. So really, by focusing on public v private, folks are missing the true difference making opportunity.

because if haven't figure it out, the modern education system is not about learning anything. It is an endless competitive tournament for your kids to compete for ever smaller slices of professional jobs eroded by by ever more sophisticated automation/software/AI, pushed by parents ever so desperate to hold on to the wealth created by past generations. Get with the program.

There’s no program to get with. Which kids start businesses? Who does it more often - public school kids, private school kids, or very affluent kids taught to be entrepreneurs? What skills do you want your children to have. You may be thinking too small.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suggest OP go tour a couple of private schools during this falls admission process. The tours are quite eye opening and I promise you won’t be asking this question.

OP here, shrug. Having come from the bay area, I had always assumed how well a school did was just purely a function of how many hard working asian kids good at self learning were in any particular school. The whole game is just a filtering tournament anyhow and teachers don't really add huge value. You either have self motivated smart kids or you don't. So as a venture capitalist by training, the ROI for private seems pretty poor and silly intangibles I see being justified by parents on this board are borderline ridiculous. The real KPI is Asian enrollment pre-K numbers. Montgomery county has a bunch of older Asian parents due to Rockville and Bethesda being the good school districts in the 90s haydays. Today, most younger Asian parents are in NoVA. I'd take Haycock over Sidwell or St Albans in 5-10 years.

Oh I get it now. You’re a pretentious ass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suggest OP go tour a couple of private schools during this falls admission process. The tours are quite eye opening and I promise you won’t be asking this question.

OP here, shrug. Having come from the bay area, I had always assumed how well a school did was just purely a function of how many hard working asian kids good at self learning were in any particular school. The whole game is just a filtering tournament anyhow and teachers don't really add huge value. You either have self motivated smart kids or you don't. So as a venture capitalist by training, the ROI for private seems pretty poor and silly intangibles I see being justified by parents on this board are borderline ridiculous. The real KPI is Asian enrollment pre-K numbers. Montgomery county has a bunch of older Asian parents due to Rockville and Bethesda being the good school districts in the 90s haydays. Today, most younger Asian parents are in NoVA. I'd take Haycock over Sidwell or St Albans in 5-10 years.

Oh I get it now. You’re a pretentious ass.

I am a data and numbers kinda gal and don't care about stepping on feelings to get to the truth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Other than price, why aren’t we all using the English governor/governess model, supplemented with private tutoring for specific math and science subjects? Reducing the student to teacher ratio to 1:1 (or 2:1, maybe a bit higher if you have 3 or more children) is clearly going to overcome nearly any advantage a school might otherwise offer, at least in terms of educational tailoring and outcomes for specific students. Homeschooling can (emphasis on can) use the same reduction in student to teacher ratios to achieve desirable outcomes. Worries about “socialization” are kind of silly—parents of means are going to make sure their kids are appropriately socialized. So really, by focusing on public v private, folks are missing the true difference making opportunity.

because if haven't figure it out, the modern education system is not about learning anything. It is an endless competitive tournament for your kids to compete for ever smaller slices of professional jobs eroded by by ever more sophisticated automation/software/AI, pushed by parents ever so desperate to hold on to the wealth created by past generations. Get with the program.

There’s no program to get with. Which kids start businesses? Who does it more often - public school kids, private school kids, or very affluent kids taught to be entrepreneurs? What skills do you want your children to have. You may be thinking too small.

As a follow up— so raise your kids to start the AI company that disrupts whatever industry you’re thinking about. Think big. Pursue an appropriate education for your kids. You aren’t tied to the “modern education system”.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to a public school in the 90s, it was one of the top public high schools in California. When I went to university, I noticed very little difference between those who went to public vs private schools. The SAT scores in DC private schools are basically comparable to the top publics. I don't get it, i mean if you got millions to burn, so be it. I rather give my kids a house.

Wilson high still doesn't have a physics teacher.

Is that "just as good as private " in your mind?

I went to Gunn High in Palo Alto. I guess the publics in this area just suck? Sorry I am a new parent with only one three year old right now and don't know anything about schools in this area.

Are you OP? Please come back when you have some current insight into elementary schools or elementary aged children. What you did in the 90s and what your now-3 year old will encounter are light years apart.


- Another Bay Area transplant who has actually had kids in NOVA public and private

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suggest OP go tour a couple of private schools during this falls admission process. The tours are quite eye opening and I promise you won’t be asking this question.

OP here, shrug. Having come from the bay area, I had always assumed how well a school did was just purely a function of how many hard working asian kids good at self learning were in any particular school. The whole game is just a filtering tournament anyhow and teachers don't really add huge value. You either have self motivated smart kids or you don't. So as a venture capitalist by training, the ROI for private seems pretty poor and silly intangibles I see being justified by parents on this board are borderline ridiculous. The real KPI is Asian enrollment pre-K numbers. Montgomery county has a bunch of older Asian parents due to Rockville and Bethesda being the good school districts in the 90s haydays. Today, most younger Asian parents are in NoVA. I'd take Haycock over Sidwell or St Albans in 5-10 years.

I send my hardworking Asian kids to private school to help them become more well-rounded people, not just TJ strivers. And their father was an Asian striver at TJ. I agree that self-motivated learning is #1, but I actually want to temper some of that in my kids. And get the same outcomes without the pressure cooker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to a public school in the 90s, it was one of the top public high schools in California. When I went to university, I noticed very little difference between those who went to public vs private schools. The SAT scores in DC private schools are basically comparable to the top publics. I don't get it, i mean if you got millions to burn, so be it. I rather give my kids a house.

Yep. MCPS runs circle around the private schools.

It used it. But with it's focus on equity, it's becoming a race to the bottom. The introduction of CRT into MCPS will be the final nail in it's coffin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MoCo school have gone down the toilet because of the idiots in Takoma Park. MoCo is still riding its reputation from the 70s and 80s when in fact the quality of schools has dramatically declined. VA has mediocre schools unless you get into TJ. The area in general has very mediocre schools.

Your mediocre schools comment is definitely relative to where you're coming from - I moved to NoVA from the Midwest and the schools here are light years better - both public and private. For my family all of it is a big step up and would hardly consider this areas public schools mediocre when in 2021 VA publics are ranked 4th nationally and MD is 10th. God forbid you come from the south where the school systems are so much worse. You just don't know how good it is here compared to a large part of the US.

I graduated from MCPS and we moved to a W school district for the schools. We've now moved to private and it's a lot better in our own experience. MCPS is a lot different from how it was when I attended. It feels like downcounty gets the shaft resource-wise because we're perceived as too well-off, and all MCPS decisions are made about equity and focusing on the lowest common denominator. Fine if they want to do so, but that's not resulting in the ideal outcome for our own kids.

If there's one expense I dont' mind spending money on, it's our kids.

Back in the MCPS heyday, did each town self-fund? Where I grew up in CT each school district was by town and the public schools there are still v good.

No, it's an MD state law that school districts are at the county level only and not lower (exception for Baltimore City).

MCPS will never split up. The problem is any way you split it, there will be protests from one half that they are getting the short end of the deal.

[Anonymous]

For context, OP is pining after Gunn HS. This is Gunn HS:

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/12/the-silicon-valley-suicides/413140/