Sidwell tuition increase

[Anonymous]

If the stock market has done so well lately, wouldn’t their endowment also do well? I don’t know how these things work so I am asking seriously. And if so, couldn’t they ramp back some of the tuition increase?.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's that time of year and we just received the email saying that Sidwell will increase its tuition 3.75%. They note that this is the same as last year. I assuming this is self congratulatory.

I am so sick of this crap. Whose salary is increasing at the same rate yearly? Besides the corporate lawyers and bankers? Or those who've inherited wealth? Keep squeezing the middle class and you will lose them or find more disgruntled families who can't or won't contribute in other ways.

This has been discussed in the past, so before some of you lecture me with the "honey if you can't afford it..." bs, don't waste your time. I'm encouraging others to contact the school but won't read or respond to unhelpful comments here.

Bryan Garman and the board have been a big disappointment.

Are you the same person who posted this last year? Face reality: you can expect an increase in this range every year. Don't expect a change from any school as they are all the same. Move to another school if not a fit. You are not entitled to a tuition freeze; you chose this path and knew the costs going in. This is no surprise.

+1

And the board decides these matters btw, not Bryan on his own.

[Anonymous]

Do schools have a duty to warn prospective colleges if an applicant’s parents are nutty and likely to complain over every tuition increase like the OP? If so, make your calls OP. My kid could benefit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:40,840 currently
42,371 2017-2018
43,959 2018-2019
45,607 2019-2020
47,317 2020-2021
49,091 2021-2022

I thought people who work for World Bank or IMF only pay 50% of the tuition, right? The rest is paid by World Bank or IMF.

non-U.S. citizens of IMF receive 75 percent up to a certain cap
non-U.S. World Bank staffers hired prior to 1998 also receive that. Nothing for those hired after 1998.

U.S. citizens of either institution do not receive the tuition benefit.

[Anonymous]

Tuition increases are unsustainable. With the current rate, you can find yourself with a 20 percent increase in tuition within a few years.

Our preschool had increased its tuition by 30 percent over a 5-year period.

I really think this has to stop. One argument is that the tuition increased fund financial aid. However, less financial aid would be needed if the prices weren't so high.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you're truly "middle class" you shouldn't be attending this school in the firs place.

Face it. Private school is for rich people, period. Don't believe anyone who tries to tell you otherwise.

+1.

This. The actual middle class in America doesn't send their kids to private school.

They do in other parts of the country. 40K+ for grade school is an up-East/California phenomenon. Are the schools substantially better? Maybe? No real way to compare. They're substantially better connected, for sure, and they are shinier (or ivy-er, whichever).

Again those are not middle class families. DCUM has a distorted belief of what is a middle class family. A family of 4 making 75k is not sending their child to a 40k private school. Unless they are recieving significant aid, which isn’t the point of the complaint on this thread...

[Anonymous]

Sidwell is losing its way. The administration and board is far too focused on the campus integration and raising something like $150m. the school was once special because it did not feel the need to keep up in hardware with places like St Albans and NCS.

i am an alum and have a DS there but am increasing thinking of taking him out as I really feel like it is losing its moral core as it focuses too much on money and prestige. Sad.

[Anonymous]

That core was lost long ago. Now it will continue to lose its “middle class” (teachers, scientists, professors, public defenders, writers etc). Does it care? Obviously not. It will still have applicants and fill classes. But it is a sad state for what was a special place.
Garman may not be on the board, but I know he could have a cultural influence. Nice guy, I guess. But he hasn’t done anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell is losing its way. The administration and board is far too focused on the campus integration and raising something like $150m. the school was once special because it did not feel the need to keep up in hardware with places like St Albans and NCS.

i am an alum and have a DS there but am increasing thinking of taking him out as I really feel like it is losing its moral core as it focuses too much on money and prestige. Sad.

That happened with the last campus renovation and the attention from Chelsea going there. I'm also an alum and felt like this all happened 15-20 years ago at least.

However I don't think a 3.75% increase or their overall tuition is anywhere out of line with what is going on at other schools and am a little surprised that people don't expect tuition to increase every year. Really?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you're truly "middle class" you shouldn't be attending this school in the firs place.

Face it. Private school is for rich people, period. Don't believe anyone who tries to tell you otherwise.

Garman admitted so much at last year's state of the school speech - he presented figures showing that ~20-30 years ago a typical private school could be afforded by the top 3 quintiles of income, and the distribution of students reflected that. Now, by comparison, it's affordable only to the top quintile and some of the 2nd quintile, again reflected in student populations.

I guess his stated concern isn't reflected in actual action.

What action would you take to address the issue, while also facing increased insurance, health insurance, benefits and salary demands?

Should they cut the music program? Latin? Ceramics? What choices would you make to address the issue?

Garman, not I, was the person who identified the issue. I recognize the challenge, but it's his job, especially if he identifies it, to try to do something about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whitman Free
B-CC Free
Blair Free
TJ Free
WJ Free
Wooton Free
Churchill Free

love love love

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whitman Free
B-CC Free
Blair Free
TJ Free
WJ Free
Wooton Free
Churchill Free

love love love

We moved one DC from private school to one of those and while money was not a factor I have admit it was nice not to have to pay tuition! DC loved the school and got a great education. The sum total of PTA fees, sports boosters fees, sports uniforms and swag, donations to the Education Foundation, donations to various student led fundraisers, etc. probably totaled $600/year (and most of that was optional). I guess we paid for lunch. Freed up plenty of money for DC to do a summer international exchange program through the school and other school sponsored trips.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the stock market has done so well lately, wouldn’t their endowment also do well? I don’t know how these things work so I am asking seriously. And if so, couldn’t they ramp back some of the tuition increase?.

Yes, they could.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the stock market has done so well lately, wouldn’t their endowment also do well? I don’t know how these things work so I am asking seriously. And if so, couldn’t they ramp back some of the tuition increase?.

Yes, they could.

But doesn't that wouldn't necessarily be a good idea. Eventually, there will be an economic downturn, in which case the endowment won't do well, tuition increases will hit families even harder than they do now, and need for financial aid will increase. Smart schools save the windfall they get from a strong economy to help them through those down times, then spend more to help families when the need is greatest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the stock market has done so well lately, wouldn’t their endowment also do well? I don’t know how these things work so I am asking seriously. And if so, couldn’t they ramp back some of the tuition increase?.

Yes, they could.

But doesn't that wouldn't necessarily be a good idea. Eventually, there will be an economic downturn, in which case the endowment won't do well, tuition increases will hit families even harder than they do now, and need for financial aid will increase. Smart schools save the windfall they get from a strong economy to help them through those down times, then spend more to help families when the need is greatest.

So did they actually do that in the last downturn?