Is starting a small private school in Alexandria a good idea?

[Anonymous]

What a fundamentally insulting post. OP, what you're saying is, you don't want your Special Snowflake near poor kids. And you're not wealthy enough to actually insulate your Special Snowflake from such a thing. So you want to establish a pretend-school where similar parents will pretend to be educators. And your poor children can grow up thinking that they're almost-wealthy. And that way everything will be nice and neat.

Ick.

[Anonymous]

OP, there's probably another option open to you. Since you talk about FT volunteering at your proposed school, I'm guessing you're SAHM. If you take a job, maybe you can afford the more expensive privates since you seem to find the cheaper catholic schools unappealing.

We all make tradeoffs. Frankly, you seem to want it all: stay in your current Alexandria neighborhood, avoid those poor kids (I know, PP, it does look like that) and SAHM while setting up some dilletanty coopy thingy where everyone is always happy for $7K/year. Those of us who have been involved with schools and schooling are telling you that your expectations re costs, space, un-naughty kids and happy parents are all unrealistic. So your choices sem to be: move, take a job, homeschool, or learn to love the local public.

[Anonymous]

School administrator here, kind of scratching my head over the numbers you're imagining.

You'll need 2 teachers. If you've got PK students, you'll need 3 since the law is 2 paid adults in the room at any given time, and of course people will need lunch breaks. If you start at K, you'll need 2. One will need substantial experience, the $80,000 figure someone quoted is low, but let's say it works. The other can be less experienced, so let's say you hire an assistant at $40,000 with benefits.

So $120,000. Then you'll need space. Of course there are zoning requirements, and you'll need to be close to a playground. Let's assume you get lucky and find a church willing to rent you basement space that's already zoned. One room, with bathroom access that meets code, and two exit routes, and all the other things you require? Let's be super optimistic and assume you get that for $2,000 a month including utilities.

Then you'll need to pay for insurance, and curriculum, and training the teachers in that curriculum, and books and supplies, and computers, and internet, and phones, and background checks for parents who will be volunteering. I'm going to way underestimate and say $2,000 a month. Again, you'd have to hit the jackpot to make that work.

Plus you'll need support with the business and licensing. You'll need someone to write a curricula (even if you use a purchased one, you'll still need to write it up to present it), and cut paychecks, and handle zoning issues, and . . . Maybe $1,000 a month.

Now, at $7,000 a year, with costs that are underestimated, you've got 26 kids. Plus you need some kind of a cushion, in case kids pull out or you kick them out. So, you've got a class size that's bigger than the public schools, only the teachers aren't coached or supported in anyway. They don't have the ability to share their lesson plans in anyway, they're carrying that burden by themselves, but wait? With no art, or music, or PE there's also no planning time. You also don't have the ability to divide kids up into smaller groups with skilled teachers because there's no reading specialist, ELL teacher, special educator etc . . . You can't send half the kids to recess with the assistant, because liability won't let you, not with streets to cross to get to a playground. So your instructional ratio will be very high.

In addition, teachers will need to deal with all discipline issues. These will be significant. Without the creative outlet, stuck in a crowded single room, you will have problems, and your options for handling them will be limited. You aren't renting hall space, so teachers can't even pull a kid into the hall for a conversation, much less let the kids take a break in the nurse's office, or send them somewhere to calm down. So, while you might conceivably have fewer behavior problems than public schools (not sure I believe that, but I'll assume you're right), all of those behavior problems would be happening right there in the classroom, and with the teacher dealing with them all instruction is going to be interrupted over and over.

So, let's recap. You're wondering if it's a good idea to spend $7,000 so that your child can avoid art, music, PE, small class sizes, natural lighting ('cause you're in the basement, remember), individualized attention, well planned instruction and poor children.

I think you should do this. 30 less "snowflakes" with bigoted idiot parents in my public school sounds like a great idea to me!

[Anonymous]

Bless you. +++1.

Anonymous wrote:School administrator here, kind of scratching my head over the numbers you're imagining.

You'll need 2 teachers. If you've got PK students, you'll need 3 since the law is 2 paid adults in the room at any given time, and of course people will need lunch breaks. If you start at K, you'll need 2. One will need substantial experience, the $80,000 figure someone quoted is low, but let's say it works. The other can be less experienced, so let's say you hire an assistant at $40,000 with benefits.

So $120,000. Then you'll need space. Of course there are zoning requirements, and you'll need to be close to a playground. Let's assume you get lucky and find a church willing to rent you basement space that's already zoned. One room, with bathroom access that meets code, and two exit routes, and all the other things you require? Let's be super optimistic and assume you get that for $2,000 a month including utilities.

Then you'll need to pay for insurance, and curriculum, and training the teachers in that curriculum, and books and supplies, and computers, and internet, and phones, and background checks for parents who will be volunteering. I'm going to way underestimate and say $2,000 a month. Again, you'd have to hit the jackpot to make that work.

Plus you'll need support with the business and licensing. You'll need someone to write a curricula (even if you use a purchased one, you'll still need to write it up to present it), and cut paychecks, and handle zoning issues, and . . . Maybe $1,000 a month.

Now, at $7,000 a year, with costs that are underestimated, you've got 26 kids. Plus you need some kind of a cushion, in case kids pull out or you kick them out. So, you've got a class size that's bigger than the public schools, only the teachers aren't coached or supported in anyway. They don't have the ability to share their lesson plans in anyway, they're carrying that burden by themselves, but wait? With no art, or music, or PE there's also no planning time. You also don't have the ability to divide kids up into smaller groups with skilled teachers because there's no reading specialist, ELL teacher, special educator etc . . . You can't send half the kids to recess with the assistant, because liability won't let you, not with streets to cross to get to a playground. So your instructional ratio will be very high.

In addition, teachers will need to deal with all discipline issues. These will be significant. Without the creative outlet, stuck in a crowded single room, you will have problems, and your options for handling them will be limited. You aren't renting hall space, so teachers can't even pull a kid into the hall for a conversation, much less let the kids take a break in the nurse's office, or send them somewhere to calm down. So, while you might conceivably have fewer behavior problems than public schools (not sure I believe that, but I'll assume you're right), all of those behavior problems would be happening right there in the classroom, and with the teacher dealing with them all instruction is going to be interrupted over and over.

So, let's recap. You're wondering if it's a good idea to spend $7,000 so that your child can avoid art, music, PE, small class sizes, natural lighting ('cause you're in the basement, remember), individualized attention, well planned instruction and poor children.

I think you should do this. 30 less "snowflakes" with bigoted idiot parents in my public school sounds like a great idea to me!

[Anonymous]

However I do have a realistic view of behavioral problems at JH

I do think with the NCLB waiver, JH will have to get somewhat better because parents can't opt out of the school district any more. Yes, some people will still move away, but there will be a more diverse group of kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

However I do have a realistic view of behavioral problems at JH

I do think with the NCLB waiver, JH will have to get somewhat better because parents can't opt out of the school district any more. Yes, some people will still move away, but there will be a more diverse group of kids.

Amusing thread . JH may well improve, the new building will be better, but Lyles-Crouch and Maury won't materially improve; there's nothing wrong with them now. I don't really get worrying about ES in that part of Alexandria!

[Anonymous]

Lyles-Crouch and Maury won't materially improve; there's nothing wrong with them now

Do people think that there is? Most Alexandria parents that I have spoken to are very positive about these schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, let's recap. You're wondering if it's a good idea to spend $7,000 so that your child can avoid art, music, PE, small class sizes, natural lighting ('cause you're in the basement, remember), individualized attention, well planned instruction and poor children.

I think you should do this. 30 less "snowflakes" with bigoted idiot parents in my public school sounds like a great idea to me!

+++++1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

However I do have a realistic view of behavioral problems at JH

I do think with the NCLB waiver, JH will have to get somewhat better because parents can't opt out of the school district any more. Yes, some people will still move away, but there will be a more diverse group of kids.

Actually, the City still allows administrative transfers so yes, parents will still be able to transfer out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids get kicked out of private schools. It happens. It does.

I am not talking about kicking someone out because they are naughty. geesh! if someone is not a good fit for the school then they would probably just leave. The group of us talking about this school are all friends and not interested in kicking out each other's children. We just want to provide a good learning environment for our kids. We don't want them learning things from children who come from homes with no rules, where children aren't supervised, where they weren't taught right from wrong and learn things at an early age. I am not trying to be judgemental about kids who come from low SES families, but there are differences. Jefferson Houston is predominantly low SES.We are just looking for a less expensive alternative to educate our children and everyone wants to be really involved. As many people have mentioned, maybe a homeschool co-op would be a good idea. ( as i have said several times now)

Okay OP - I've been trying to be nice but you are starting to piss me off.

1 - If you are districted to go to Jefferson Houston, then you are an idiot for not checking out what your local public school would be prior to buying in the area you did. There are plenty of really nice THs in Old Town that feed into the likes of Lyles Crouch. Some of us (like me) looked into this when we bought our house. And yes, that was a good 5+ years before having kids.

2 - You come across as totally snobby and obnoxious. You pretty much are flat out stating that you don't want your kids to associate themselves with poor children. I don't know...perhaps you came from a white trash trailor park, married into money (I can only assume since obviously you are a SAHM) and now think you are better than anybody who doesn't make six figures.

Seriously - go eff yourself.

Signed,

A mom who makes WELL into six figures who grew up and went to school with at least 40% low income families. My closest friends to this day are from elementary school - who grew up dirt poor. Get over yourself OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Lyles-Crouch and Maury won't materially improve; there's nothing wrong with them now

Do people think that there is? Most Alexandria parents that I have spoken to are very positive about these schools.

Agreed - I think the post means that there isn't a lot of room to improve; they're very good. So are at least three others -- Barrett, Mason, and MacArthur.

[Anonymous]

Actually, the City still allows administrative transfers so yes, parents will still be able to transfer out.

I think that the ability to do that will be very very limited given the capacity issues. You've seen the debate about MOE and the potential lottery that never came to be, and the enrollment projections on the ACPS website, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Actually, the City still allows administrative transfers so yes, parents will still be able to transfer out.

I think that the ability to do that will be very very limited given the capacity issues. You've seen the debate about MOE and the potential lottery that never came to be, and the enrollment projections on the ACPS website, right?

Been told APSC killed transfers except to west end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids get kicked out of private schools. It happens. It does.

I am not talking about kicking someone out because they are naughty. geesh! if someone is not a good fit for the school then they would probably just leave. The group of us talking about this school are all friends and not interested in kicking out each other's children. We just want to provide a good learning environment for our kids. We don't want them learning things from children who come from homes with no rules, where children aren't supervised, where they weren't taught right from wrong and learn things at an early age. I am not trying to be judgemental about kids who come from low SES families, but there are differences. Jefferson Houston is predominantly low SES.We are just looking for a less expensive alternative to educate our children and everyone wants to be really involved. As many people have mentioned, maybe a homeschool co-op would be a good idea. ( as i have said several times now)

Okay OP - I've been trying to be nice but you are starting to piss me off.

1 - If you are districted to go to Jefferson Houston, then you are an idiot for not checking out what your local public school would be prior to buying in the area you did. There are plenty of really nice THs in Old Town that feed into the likes of Lyles Crouch. Some of us (like me) looked into this when we bought our house. And yes, that was a good 5+ years before having kids.

2 - You come across as totally snobby and obnoxious. You pretty much are flat out stating that you don't want your kids to associate themselves with poor children. I don't know...perhaps you came from a white trash trailor park, married into money (I can only assume since obviously you are a SAHM) and now think you are better than anybody who doesn't make six figures.

Seriously - go eff yourself.

Signed,

A mom who makes WELL into six figures who grew up and went to school with at least 40% low income families. My closest friends to this day are from elementary school - who grew up dirt poor. Get over yourself OP.

Wow, I'm not the OP but you sound seriously deranged. I agree the private plan sounds stupid (this area already has a lot of great private schools), but those in J-H district have had the ability to transfer to Maury and Lyles Crouch for years because of NCLB, but that ended a week ago. Also, a financial crisis and real estate meltdown happended in 2008, leaving a lot of people who thought they would move a long time ago stuck. You are incredibily lucky that you happened to know you were going to have kids in 5 years and the school zones did not change. If they made Lyles Crouch a 100% lottery and redistricted you to the J-H zone, you'd be complaining loudly and wouldn't take kindly to folks calling you foolish thinking zones never change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Actually, the City still allows administrative transfers so yes, parents will still be able to transfer out.

I think that the ability to do that will be very very limited given the capacity issues. You've seen the debate about MOE and the potential lottery that never came to be, and the enrollment projections on the ACPS website, right?

Been told APSC killed transfers except to west end.

Hah! I'm in Tucker district and there's no room at this inn, so no administrative transfers to our school. Only transfer you can get here is a transfer out, if you don't want the modified school calendar.

This OP made me mad, but I'm loving all the responses. School administrator knocked it out of the park, and I'm in total agreement with PP who pointed out that this person could have done the research and purchased a home in Old Town with a school more to her liking. I know I researched before we bought--before kids, too! OP didn't think it through then, and hasn't done it now.