Now that we're in, how are we going to pay for it?

[Anonymous]

We got into a 23k school and we did not get financial aid. We can't imagine paying for this for 8 years! Oye!

[Anonymous]

I am sort of thinking the same thing (and our school isn't even that much!) I have the same reaction though...I can do ANYTHING short term, but thinkign about giving up ALL of the extras for the next 8 years scares me!! (and there is another one hitting two in May). we have to slow down any investments and we got a late start on that, to boot.

anyways - another one feeling like you

[Anonymous]

This is a special form of "buyers remorse" just for parents going the private school route! Trust me, once your DC starts at the school and you see all the benefits you hoped for actually coming to pass, you will feel a bit better. Then, next spring, the contract for committing to the next year comes in the mail and you will have to suffer this feeling all over again! Only next year, the amount will have gone up about 5 percent. Sigh. But think of it as investing in your children when it counts most -- leaving them more money many years from now when they are hopefully well-established adults will not be nearly as helpful and giving them the experience of the joy of learning.

[Anonymous]

It does not make sense to me to go broke, live like a hermit or push back saving for retirement just so that I can pay private school tuition. If your current budget does not allow for it and you did not get financial aid then the best course of action is to go the public school route. Also, unless you are expecting a financial windfall or you know that you will be moving into a better paying career (you are still in school) it seems utterly stupid to enrolling for one year knowing that you will not be able to afford the tuition increase. Where is the benefit of sending your child to private school for one or two grades - the only time this makes sense is if you are doing this at graded 9 - 12 becasue at least you will be able to get the benefit of college placements.


Yes, I know that DC public schools do not have the best reputations, but some are ok and it you have to move, then it is better to do so that have to spend the next 12 years living paycheck to paycheck

[Anonymous]

PP -- The families that go this route CAN afford to pay the tuition. They just second guess other pleasant things the money could go for instead. These are not families that suddenly find themselves eating Walmart-brand mac & cheese at least once a week to squeak through! Which is quite tasty, by the way!

[Anonymous]

It's the choice of foregoing other things that causes me angst. I would like to have a vacation home at the beach, but for now at least, that money is going to private schools. I'm not using retirement money, but I don't have a beach house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's the choice of foregoing other things that causes me angst. I would like to have a vacation home at the beach, but for now at least, that money is going to private schools. I'm not using retirement money, but I don't have a beach house.

My heart is breaking for you.....

[Anonymous]

A beach house? I think maybe going a whole month eating nothing but Walmart mac & cheese might be a broadening experience!!! Geez.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's the choice of foregoing other things that causes me angst. I would like to have a vacation home at the beach, but for now at least, that money is going to private schools. I'm not using retirement money, but I don't have a beach house.

Oh my God, I am just so sad for you. You've got to be kidding. A beach house?? Causing you angst??? BARF

[Anonymous]

We will be using private for K-3. We want a good start, then public. I can afford it, but as a pp said, it will mean sacrifice.

[Anonymous]

We are not quite financially well-off to afford private without worrying every year (and the last 2 years the increase has been 9-10% not 5), however, we also can not afford to move to a neighborhood that has a good public school.

Damned if we do, damned if we don't. Our upper NW friends say, move into our neighborhhod, but we don't have that money. Others say apply to charter, but we never get anywhere in the lottery...so not everyone has the luxury of a lot of choices.

[Anonymous]

PP -- Yes, it is those of us "inbetween" who have the hardest road. Not wealthy enough to breeze through without worry, and not low enough income for aid. So it all comes down to those darn priorities. We have the same problem as you -- we bought our house 14 years ago and we all know how much housing prices have changed. So moving would be far more expensive than private school, even though that's pretty high! But 13 years versus 30 still seems better, at least for now! Hang in there!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:...so not everyone has the luxury of a lot of choices.

Good point. And unfortunately that list is growing. On the private front - perhaps more parents can leverage the declining numbers of private applicants and negotiate. If the school really thinks your child is a good fit, they should do as much as possible to help your child go there. IMO - if the school isn't willing to invest in your child at all financially (beach houses aside), that's a major reason to think they may not have your child's best interests at heart.

On charter schools, KEEP TRYING! Nearly all of the good ones will be k-8th grade in a few years. Since it's free, it doesn't hurt to keep playing the lottery. Plus you don't have to worry about needing "connections".

Good luck to everyone.

[Anonymous]

If you cannot afford the school without financial aid, then you are from the wrong class and should focus on public schools. My priviliged underachiever deserves your childs spot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you cannot afford the school without financial aid, then you are from the wrong class and should focus on public schools. My priviliged underachiever deserves your childs spot.

I hope you are kidding if not this is a very offensive post.