Stupid question about elite private high schools

[Anonymous]

The private schools (particularly the catholic schools) equip students for life.

And ICYMI: plenty of kids opt for a school you deem less desirable for myriad reasons—including scholarships.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The private schools (particularly the catholic schools) equip students for life.

And ICYMI: plenty of kids opt for a school you deem less desirable for myriad reasons—including scholarships.

Plus: being a high achiever in a lower tier school could help open doors for grad school.

I can’t tell you how many kids I’ve met from SEC schools who ended up with scholarships to top law schools, med schools, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are parents really pissed if they spend $35k per year on an elite private high school, but their kid ends up at a 2nd tier or 3rd tier college (which likely could have been achieved had the kid just gone to a local public)?

I ask bc I frequently meet alums of Gonzaga and the like who went to college at, like, James Madison or something like that. Seems like a huge waste of honey on the parents’ part.

People have said it here but you are making two incorrect assumptions.

First, many do not put kids in top private to get college placement. It is nice and it could help but college placement is a whole other set of considerations.

Second, many do not view it as a means to get something else. It is its own thing.

Third, for most people at top privates, the tuition (which is way more than 35k a year) is not a significant spend. Meaning it is not missed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d be upset to have my kids in public school and think I had a good outcome just because my kid landed into a top college. These kids still had to sit through public school for K-12 with the class clowns, checked out teachers, low effort curriculum, and severe behavior kids. These parents have no idea what they missed out on in the better private schools for their kids. College is just four years and admissions has become somewhat of a lottery. K-12 is what sets kids up for success, not college. At that point it is too late.


Plenty of public school grads go to T10 colleges, don’t fit in or struggle, and move onto middle management type careers because they never were given the tools to succeed from public. Studying for 16 APs and trying to ace standardized tests doesn’t give you direction or real skills in life.

Plenty also do well. This is like a caricature of the differences as well as the outcomes. Sounds like a huge cope, per OP’s question.

There is plenty to not like about public schools but this take is absurd.

Not really. Most non-magnet public school students at top colleges struggle and don’t have good outcomes afterwards.

That’s an idiotic statement, with zero factual basis.

Kids who graduate Langley or Whitman or Palo Alto High school or any number of high performing public schools located in wealthy areas do just fine at top colleges and many have great outcomes.

Alright, but what about the average public school kid who makes it to a top college? Are they having great outcomes? They are not.

They do not get in. No average kid gets into a top college.

[Anonymous]

Am I the only one who feels like there are a bunch of bored 14 year olds sock puppets on this thread?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The private schools (particularly the catholic schools) equip students for life.

And ICYMI: plenty of kids opt for a school you deem less desirable for myriad reasons—including scholarships.

Plus: being a high achiever in a lower tier school could help open doors for grad school.

I can’t tell you how many kids I’ve met from SEC schools who ended up with scholarships to top law schools, med schools, etc.

Because the honest answer is next to none…not that they don’t exist but because you don’t know them.

Also…go look at T10 law schools and 70% of the students went to top 30 undergrad schools…and then you have one kid from each of like 100 schools.

The #1 feeder to any top law school by far is its own undergraduate school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are parents really pissed if they spend $35k per year on an elite private high school, but their kid ends up at a 2nd tier or 3rd tier college (which likely could have been achieved had the kid just gone to a local public)?

I ask bc I frequently meet alums of Gonzaga and the like who went to college at, like, James Madison or something like that. Seems like a huge waste of honey on the parents’ part.

People have said it here but you are making two incorrect assumptions.

First, many do not put kids in top private to get college placement. It is nice and it could help but college placement is a whole other set of considerations.

Second, many do not view it as a means to get something else. It is its own thing.

Third, for most people at top privates, the tuition (which is way more than 35k a year) is not a significant spend. Meaning it is not missed.

I’m not sure about most…for many it’s not a significant spend, but Sidwell has 25% on FA and then I am sure another 25% where they definitely consider it a significant spend.

Top boarding schools are now like 40% on significant financial aid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Am I the only one who feels like there are a bunch of bored 14 year olds sock puppets on this thread?

Well, OP did post a stupid question

[Anonymous]

I don't think my kid would get into a place like JMU if they went to public school. For my family it has more to do with the small class sizes and focus on social-emotional heath that public schools just don't have the ability to support.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are parents really pissed if they spend $35k per year on an elite private high school, but their kid ends up at a 2nd tier or 3rd tier college (which likely could have been achieved had the kid just gone to a local public)?

I ask bc I frequently meet alums of Gonzaga and the like who went to college at, like, James Madison or something like that. Seems like a huge waste of honey on the parents’ part.

LOL

Parents don't send their kids to Gonzaga for an education they send them to be indoctrinated into the Catholic religion.

And it makes the keep up with the Jones crowd feel better about themselves.

Also keeps their kids away from large minority groups, maga thrives at places like Gonzaga and we all know why.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s the honest answer…nobody sending their kid to a top private expects their kid to attend a middling college unless they are an athlete in a revenue sport (in which case that middling college may be a top athletic school).

However, shit happens and some kids will end up at a middling college. Not much you can do about it other than support your kid.

Really the only kids from elite private schools are legacy at elite colleges. We (unhooked non legacy people) know our odds at elite colleges are better through public. And yet we still choose private. Hmmm. . .

Facts. But it’s also for the bumper sticker.

Sir. Private schools would NEVER. It's a magnet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are parents really pissed if they spend $35k per year on an elite private high school, but their kid ends up at a 2nd tier or 3rd tier college (which likely could have been achieved had the kid just gone to a local public)?

I ask bc I frequently meet alums of Gonzaga and the like who went to college at, like, James Madison or something like that. Seems like a huge waste of honey on the parents’ part.

LOL

Parents don't send their kids to Gonzaga for an education they send them to be indoctrinated into the Catholic religion.

And it makes the keep up with the Jones crowd feel better about themselves.

Also keeps their kids away from large minority groups, maga thrives at places like Gonzaga and we all know why.

Indoctrination poster again!

Took you long enough. We were beginning to worry. Are you OK?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What makes you think we send kids to private school for college placement?

College placement is not a great measure of education but it tracks with test scores and grades.

The instruction in critical thinking, writing, and problem solving are not the same. Standardized tests don't measure these very well but they matter for life outcome.

Furthermore, the friends and connections you form in high school matter. They can help land a first job, get that promotion, or help with life down the road.

I can offer a recent example. My son had a friend from high school who after college suddenly lost a job. With one phone call I got him an interview for his current job that more than doubled his salary.

Public school parents tend to focus on college outcome, while private school parents focus more on life outcome.

This! And we also focus on the high school experience itself....

I don’t want my children to attend a high school where they won’t even be able to use the bathroom when they need to.

Oh be honest. You want classmates that fit in and your kid fits in with. With peer level families. Shorthand: no riff raff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d be upset to have my kids in public school and think I had a good outcome just because my kid landed into a top college. These kids still had to sit through public school for K-12 with the class clowns, checked out teachers, low effort curriculum, and severe behavior kids. These parents have no idea what they missed out on in the better private schools for their kids. College is just four years and admissions has become somewhat of a lottery. K-12 is what sets kids up for success, not college. At that point it is too late.


Plenty of public school grads go to T10 colleges, don’t fit in or struggle, and move onto middle management type careers because they never were given the tools to succeed from public. Studying for 16 APs and trying to ace standardized tests doesn’t give you direction or real skills in life.

Plenty also do well. This is like a caricature of the differences as well as the outcomes. Sounds like a huge cope, per OP’s question.

There is plenty to not like about public schools but this take is absurd.

Not really. Most non-magnet public school students at top colleges struggle and don’t have good outcomes afterwards.

That’s an idiotic statement, with zero factual basis.

Kids who graduate Langley or Whitman or Palo Alto High school or any number of high performing public schools located in wealthy areas do just fine at top colleges and many have great outcomes.

Alright, but what about the average public school kid who makes it to a top college? Are they having great outcomes? They are not.

They do not get in. No average kid gets into a top college.

If you went to a top college, you would understand the struggles of public high school students there and after graduation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rich people make a mockery out of education and the ideals that America was founded on

You need to understand history better. American education was reserved for the elite and for religious education focused on teaching children to read the bible. As recently as the 1930s most kids did not go beyond elementary school - 30% of children went to high school. Actually the US education system was piss poor on all fronts leaving a large demographic out of education, i.e., black people - MLK day is coming up, maybe you can read up on that for your kids (it was the 1960s, not at the time of our founding fathers). I’d say the average white American started receiving a good education in the post WWII boom. The average black American, probably during and after the Civil Rights movement, depending on where they lived.

America was not founded on any principles of education. You are clearly ignorant and misguided.