Families who can afford private but go public, why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

Thanks for your replies and constructive conversation, all. The social factor (going to school with kids in the neighborhood and being around kids of somewhat different means) was one of our reasons for going public, and I'm heartened to know that was a reason for other families, too.

I didn't realize that science & math was so much better in public schools -- though perhaps people are just referring to TJ? (We are in North Arlington.)

We are in a well regarded FCPS pyramid and our assigned public HS cannot hold a candle to the math and science instruction at our private.

Then name it if you want it to hold weight.

[Anonymous]

It’s funny with all the bragging about math in public, the hottest topic today us
”Why do so many kids struggle with Algebra I Honors? ”

[Anonymous]

I already mentioned it another thread. When my DD went from a public to private in 5 grade she took an ISEE test. The results were in percentiles:

Math 75% (I supplement)
Reading Comprehension 53% (we encourage reading at home)
Section for Language Arts (words, phrases) (I didn’t supplement, this is the level they taught at school).

This kind of gives me a good picture of public education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I already mentioned it another thread. When my DD went from a public to private in 5 grade she took an ISEE test. The results were in percentiles:

Math 75% (I supplement)
Reading Comprehension 53% (we encourage reading at home)
Section for Language Arts (words, phrases) (I didn’t supplement, this is the level they taught at school).

This kind of gives me a good picture of public education.

Sorry but only this gives you a good picture of the intelligence and/or test taking skill of your daughter. Nothing you've shared suggests she would have tested higher if she had been in private school up until that point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I already mentioned it another thread. When my DD went from a public to private in 5 grade she took an ISEE test. The results were in percentiles:

Math 75% (I supplement)
Reading Comprehension 53% (we encourage reading at home)
Section for Language Arts (words, phrases) (I didn’t supplement, this is the level they taught at school).

This kind of gives me a good picture of public education.

Sorry but only this gives you a good picture of the intelligence and/or test taking skill of your daughter. Nothing you've shared suggests she would have tested higher if she had been in private school up until that point.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s funny with all the bragging about math in public, the hottest topic today us
”Why do so many kids struggle with Algebra I Honors? ”

different people posting

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I already mentioned it another thread. When my DD went from a public to private in 5 grade she took an ISEE test. The results were in percentiles:

Math 75% (I supplement)
Reading Comprehension 53% (we encourage reading at home)
Section for Language Arts (words, phrases) (I didn’t supplement, this is the level they taught at school).

This kind of gives me a good picture of public education.

How does this give you a picture of anything other than your daughters ability or lack thereof?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s funny with all the bragging about math in public, the hottest topic today us
”Why do so many kids struggle with Algebra I Honors? ”

different people posting

Look, I have a kid taking Algebra 1 at Longfellow currently and a child who took Algebra 1 at a nearby private a few years ago--both in 7th grade. They were COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CLASSES. The current seventh grader is a much, much stronger student in math. He is intuitive, learns concepts immediately, is quick at mental math, and so on. He has also scored nearly perfectly in the math portion of every single standardized test he has ever taken. My other kid was good at math, an overall bright hardworking kid. He had neither the same stellar history nor future interest in math. Kid at private school aced the Algebra 1 class, while current Longfellow kid is struggling because the Longfellow class moves at a much greater pace, goes much deeper, requires absolute mastery of all pre-algebra concepts, expects creative thinking, assumes the ability to do multi-step problems flawlessly. Simply put, the Longfellow Algebra 1 class is in a totally different league. In my experience, the whole way through math was MUCH stronger in public--and not just more accelerated. More demanding, more creative, better taught.

I wouldn't say it has been the exact opposite in Language Arts because I can't say that the private school is as strong in Language Arts as public has been in Math. But overall private elementary in Language Arts was good, and very weak in public until middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just looked up a local Catholic school that's pretty good by all accounts. It's cheap! and white.

I wouldn't pay $1 to an institution that is a pedophile ring. I wouldn't throw my kids in catholic schools even if these schools were the best thing since the invention of the wheel (or the internet).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I already mentioned it another thread. When my DD went from a public to private in 5 grade she took an ISEE test. The results were in percentiles:

Math 75% (I supplement)
Reading Comprehension 53% (we encourage reading at home)
Section for Language Arts (words, phrases) (I didn’t supplement, this is the level they taught at school).

This kind of gives me a good picture of public education.

How does this give you a picture of anything other than your daughters ability or lack thereof?

This test was not on ability but on skills. The latter portion was on vocabulary, synonyms and analogies, etc. Things she should have learned in public school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s funny with all the bragging about math in public, the hottest topic today us
”Why do so many kids struggle with Algebra I Honors? ”

different people posting

Look, I have a kid taking Algebra 1 at Longfellow currently and a child who took Algebra 1 at a nearby private a few years ago--both in 7th grade. They were COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CLASSES. The current seventh grader is a much, much stronger student in math. He is intuitive, learns concepts immediately, is quick at mental math, and so on. He has also scored nearly perfectly in the math portion of every single standardized test he has ever taken. My other kid was good at math, an overall bright hardworking kid. He had neither the same stellar history nor future interest in math. Kid at private school aced the Algebra 1 class, while current Longfellow kid is struggling because the Longfellow class moves at a much greater pace, goes much deeper, requires absolute mastery of all pre-algebra concepts, expects creative thinking, assumes the ability to do multi-step problems flawlessly. Simply put, the Longfellow Algebra 1 class is in a totally different league. In my experience, the whole way through math was MUCH stronger in public--and not just more accelerated. More demanding, more creative, better taught.

I wouldn't say it has been the exact opposite in Language Arts because I can't say that the private school is as strong in Language Arts as public has been in Math. But overall private elementary in Language Arts was good, and very weak in public until middle school.

Which teacher is this, is it Huang? Who are the best math teachers at Longfellow since Vern left?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I already mentioned it another thread. When my DD went from a public to private in 5 grade she took an ISEE test. The results were in percentiles:

Math 75% (I supplement)
Reading Comprehension 53% (we encourage reading at home)
Section for Language Arts (words, phrases) (I didn’t supplement, this is the level they taught at school).

This kind of gives me a good picture of public education.

Sorry but only this gives you a good picture of the intelligence and/or test taking skill of your daughter. Nothing you've shared suggests she would have tested higher if she had been in private school up until that point.

This.

+1

[Anonymous]

I don't want to be locked into a high paying job. I want the flexibility to take a lower paying job.

[Anonymous]

Very few people who responded to this thread can afford private without sacrifice of some kind (ie, grandparents offering to pay). I’d be surprised if there were very many people who choose public when the cost is truly negligible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very few people who responded to this thread can afford private without sacrifice of some kind (ie, grandparents offering to pay). I’d be surprised if there were very many people who choose public when the cost is truly negligible.

The cost is truly negligible for VERY few people. A top private at 50k/year would be $700k for one kid for 14 years (including pre-k), obviously more for more kids.

How many families of childbearing age see that as truly negligible?

I have a net worth of nearly $10mil. I don't consider it negligible in the least.