Help - Maret vs. Sheridan for K????

[Anonymous]

I'm sure OP chose by now. Deadline for each was March 15.

[Anonymous]

I was reading this and couldn't help thinking that the parents who are so interested in "controlling" and "protecting" their kids but tucking them into a k-12 school are taking away a huge opportunity for their kids to learn valuable life lessons, take risks and build strength. Yes, in 8th grade there is a moment of discomfort of not being able to stay secure in your school...you darlings will have to step outside of what is comfortable and learn how to navigate the world and even experience how various systems work - a huge slice of reality. I don't have a horse in this race (my kids are going to public for now and then we will try our luck and skills at navigating the middle schools and high schools depending on how my kid turns out. Will she love sports? Be strong in academics? Who knows - she is 6!!!!

Please if you are keeping your kid in a k-12 for "security" - think about the real options for growth and the benefits of change etc.

[Anonymous]

Wow 833. Public school person giving words of wisdom to the private school people. You're missing the point about the security of the k-12. If people are committed to the private school paradigm you must face certain realities. It is very difficult to find available space going into private high school. If you can put your child in a school where you think you might be ok long term why wouldn't you do that rather than try for that same school in 9th? A bird in the hand is a big thing. Also you can always try for another school at the end of the &4th grade if you aren't happy but for a lot of parents having the choice to stay is a huge thing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow 833. Public school person giving words of wisdom to the private school people. You're missing the point about the security of the k-12. If people are committed to the private school paradigm you must face certain realities. It is very difficult to find available space going into private high school. If you can put your child in a school where you think you might be ok long term why wouldn't you do that rather than try for that same school in 9th? A bird in the hand is a big thing. Also you can always try for another school at the end of the &4th grade if you aren't happy but for a lot of parents having the choice to stay is a huge thing

As a parent of a child at Maret that started as a Kindergartener, I don't take offense to the gist of 8:33's post. I have had, and do have, many of the same concerns - how can we help our children have resilience and deal with adversity in a pretty coddled private school system? Still, we loved Maret when we applied out DD there, she has been amazingly happy and challenged (not always an easy combination) and so we will watch her develop and can always make changes if we feel she needs it for her personal development.

It would help, 8:33, for you to avoid pejorative language like "controlling" to describe those of us that make these choices. It's needlessly judgmental, and I have found over these years that we are all, public and private school parents, looking at the complexity of school choices and doing the best we can for our children.

[Anonymous]

855 responding to 11. Very well said. At the end of the day, we are all doing the best that we can based on the information we have and the situation we are in. Parenting is hard and we will all make mistakes and accomplish a ton. So thanks for your posting!

[Anonymous]

I also worry about the coddling of the private experience of our k-12. I struggle with giving my kids the best that I can and figuring out what the means! Surely life out there is not the small lens of these very sheltered schools. I know a few kids from privates that had a big shock to their system when navigating colleges. Keep it real parents - you will serve your kids well!

[Anonymous]

Sigh. #firstworldproblems So many people would kill to have the choice between K-8 or K-12. I don't begrudge you the opportunities you are able to give your kids. But recognize that it's nice to have this problem. Some of us come from families where we have no choice but to send them to public schools and despite our best efforts had to decline a "big 3" because the financial aid packet just wasn't enough. And I live in the Shaw area so my public school is nothing like the ones west of the park. Be thankful, be grateful. Your kids will be ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sigh. #firstworldproblems So many people would kill to have the choice between K-8 or K-12. I don't begrudge you the opportunities you are able to give your kids. But recognize that it's nice to have this problem. Some of us come from families where we have no choice but to send them to public schools and despite our best efforts had to decline a "big 3" because the financial aid packet just wasn't enough. And I live in the Shaw area so my public school is nothing like the ones west of the park. Be thankful, be grateful. Your kids will be ok.

Everybody (and anybody) is allowed to worry and second guess and be fearful about msking choices that affect our children. Even wealthy people. Deal with that chip on your shoulder and you will be a happier person for it. I promise.

[Anonymous]

agree that everybody and anybody can worry about making decisions that impact your kids but when the graduating class of the school that you are zoned for graduates less than 62 percent of the class, that's a different worry than whether your child will be emotionally impacted by having to look at another private school after 8th grade or stay in the private school that you're in. That's not a chip but a reality. As I indicated in my last post I really don't begrudge these parents but there is also a positive thing for them to focus on when they have these choices.

[Anonymous]

Maret!
Both of them are great schools. But do not underestimate the challenges of applying to a good high school on grade 8th (we followed that route).
I'm not talking only about academic issues, social and emotional factors are just as important.
Good luck...anyway you already have two excellent options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sigh. #firstworldproblems So many people would kill to have the choice between K-8 or K-12. I don't begrudge you the opportunities you are able to give your kids. But recognize that it's nice to have this problem. Some of us come from families where we have no choice but to send them to public schools and despite our best efforts had to decline a "big 3" because the financial aid packet just wasn't enough. And I live in the Shaw area so my public school is nothing like the ones west of the park. Be thankful, be grateful. Your kids will be ok.

Everybody (and anybody) is allowed to worry and second guess and be fearful about msking choices that affect our children. Even wealthy people. Deal with that chip on your shoulder and you will be a happier person for it. I promise.

I don't think that the prior poster was arguing that you are not allowed to worry. Of course you are. On the other hand, she has every right to give the perspective that some of us would be grateful to have "first world problems" or "wealthy" problems. I say this as someone who grew up in a disadvantaged background and am grateful for the problems I have now as a person who can choose to send her children to private school. It is a good problem to have and because I have had other far more challenging problems (a child with serious medical issue, a sibling who cannot live independently due to serious learning disabilities, etc.), I am aware that some problems and worries are better to have than others.

[Anonymous]

I disagree. Stating that something is a #firstworldproblem is an attempt to guilt trip and downgrade people's worries. This was not a wholesome attempt to put things into perspective.

[Anonymous]

I wish OP would update us.

[Anonymous]

Sheridan parent here - Sheridan has many strengths, but some incredible weaknesses, e.g., doesn't differentiate instruction, teachers are underpaid and many not experienced. Unclear whether new head of school - who seems lovely - has the chops to fix the problems. Time will tell.

When I was selecting between Sheridan, another private, and public, I spoke to many Sheridan parents. To a person, they all said "it's a warm school but so expensive." NONE of the parents at the other private complained about the tuition. I took that as a good sign, that perhaps Sheridan parents are more grounded and aren't independently wealthy. What I now understand is that the complaint is mostly about the parent questioning the value of a Sheridan education, i.e., am I getting $30,000 plus worth of an academic / social experience per year?

Knowing what I know about Sheridan, I wouldn't pick it again. And, if it turns out your Maret pick is wrong, and chances are you'll have a great shot of getting a sport at Sheridan. Most kids stay though 8th grade, spots open all the time (e.g., this year, 3 kids left 3rd, each going to other area private schools).

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sheridan parent here - Sheridan has many strengths, but some incredible weaknesses, e.g., doesn't differentiate instruction, teachers are underpaid and many not experienced. Unclear whether new head of school - who seems lovely - has the chops to fix the problems. Time will tell.

When I was selecting between Sheridan, another private, and public, I spoke to many Sheridan parents. To a person, they all said "it's a warm school but so expensive." NONE of the parents at the other private complained about the tuition. I took that as a good sign, that perhaps Sheridan parents are more grounded and aren't independently wealthy. What I now understand is that the complaint is mostly about the parent questioning the value of a Sheridan education, i.e., am I getting $30,000 plus worth of an academic / social experience per year?

Knowing what I know about Sheridan, I wouldn't pick it again. And, if it turns out your Maret pick is wrong, and chances are you'll have a great shot of getting a sport at Sheridan. Most kids stay though 8th grade, spots open all the time (e.g., this year, 3 kids left 3rd, each going to other area private schools).

Good luck!

I call troll on this one...