Can you tell pretty quickly if a kid or group of kids are private schoolers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I'll bite.

I've had experience at both public & private. Public school kids in the area I grew up in ("top" public school district) cared about what they were doing that weekend and what grades they were getting. The most far into the distance they could think about was college and where they wanted to go to school. They often didn't think about moving away from their hometown. The local public high school often held up teachers who had ALWAYS taught in that district (yay for 35 years!), barely left the state and married their high school sweethearts.

Private school kids could tell you about positions in Corporate America. They would have discussions about investment banking, corporate finance, healthcare and tech companies, the medical and legal field, etc. They had their colleges on their list and could site several reasons on why those were their choices, often talking about majors and programs that the University was known for. They spoke of one day living in NYC, downtown DC, London, Beijing, etc in their 20s to pursue a career. Their sisters, brothers, cousins and family friends had done so and knew their stories.

I can always tell the provincial public school kids from the private school kids.



We chose private for our kids.

Make sure their private school teaches them the difference between “site” and “cite.”

Good catch! They do! But with fancy spellchecking and grammar checking apps these days, they'll be fine either way!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t tell. My neighborhood is about 50/50. I also can’t tell which adults went to private, unless it comes up in conversation.

It usually does, doesn't it? Just like if someone went to MIT, Stanford, or Harvard...even if it is 30+ years after graduation: it will come up. It always does.

Way to out yourself as a painfully insecure public schooler. It’s perfectly normal for private school (and/or college) to come up when you first meet someone because at some point people ask where are you from. It’s not bragging, it’s just a part of broadly sharing where you’re from and inviting the people you’re speaking to to note common links. Home town…high school…college…these are the pillars of your life and social circle. They don’t disappear. My gosh, imagine walking around being triggered by this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Without the uniform?

No. I live in Bethesda, where the public and private school kids all do the same things, buy the same things, drive similar cars, have overlapping social circles and generally end up at the same universities and jobs... because they have the same sort of parents.

100%. Anyone would have a hard time distinguishing the kids from the pick up line after school at Whitman versus Landon down the street. Furthermore, I actually think the kids at schools like Sidwell and GDS look more scrubby than their peers at Whitman.

elite scrubby takes effort and knowledge

+100. Elite scrubby is also $$$

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I'll bite.

I've had experience at both public & private. Public school kids in the area I grew up in ("top" public school district) cared about what they were doing that weekend and what grades they were getting. The most far into the distance they could think about was college and where they wanted to go to school. They often didn't think about moving away from their hometown. The local public high school often held up teachers who had ALWAYS taught in that district (yay for 35 years!), barely left the state and married their high school sweethearts.

Private school kids could tell you about positions in Corporate America. They would have discussions about investment banking, corporate finance, healthcare and tech companies, the medical and legal field, etc. They had their colleges on their list and could site several reasons on why those were their choices, often talking about majors and programs that the University was known for. They spoke of one day living in NYC, downtown DC, London, Beijing, etc in their 20s to pursue a career. Their sisters, brothers, cousins and family friends had done so and knew their stories.

I can always tell the provincial public school kids from the private school kids.

We chose private for our kids.

Make sure their private school teaches them the difference between “site” and “cite.”

Ha ha! This made me laugh. I know plenty of Sidwell kids who are now middle aged and never left the DC area.
Perhaps they went somewhere for college (although generally east coast). Do we call them provincial now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s easy in my neighborhood. The teens at our public high school wear flannel pajama bottoms and crocs. The teens at private school are in khakis, collared shirts and boat shoes.

This is before and after school.

On the weekends it is more difficult to tell, but generally none of the private school kids walk around during the day in pajamas.

My kids aren't allowed to wear PJs out of the house EVER and never after 830 on the weekends. It's our family culture. I don't even come downstairs in PJs in the mornings. I can't remember ever doing that.

I can usually tell by the way the kids carry themselves. ...just like I can tell the difference between an American, British, German etc without hearing them speak. There are just mannerisms that give it away (usually, not always).

What do you have against PJs. I work from home and sometimes stay in my pjs all day.
Plenty of GDS kids wear Pjs and even bunny slippers to school. What is the big deal?

[Anonymous]

They toss their Trenta-sized Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccinos into the concrete at the Tysons Corner outdoor plaza, splashing furious mothers pushing their babies in Oobis.

They know that someone, somewhere will be available to clean up the messes they’ve left behind. They wear crop lululemon tops and baggy sweats with ankle
bracelets and Hokas. They have extremely expensive hair and nails

[Anonymous]

Sure...one is wearing a Rolex or Tag and the other laughing at them...and telling them "Teddy B. said I could get this one and the other four at home for the price of that thing you have"...LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Without the uniform?

No. I live in Bethesda, where the public and private school kids all do the same things, buy the same things, drive similar cars, have overlapping social circles and generally end up at the same universities and jobs... because they have the same sort of parents.

100%. Anyone would have a hard time distinguishing the kids from the pick up line after school at Whitman versus Landon down the street. Furthermore, I actually think the kids at schools like Sidwell and GDS look more scrubby than their peers at Whitman.

One difference is that there isn't much of a pick up line at Whitman because kids are either doing sports after school, walking home, or taking the school bus. The convenience of going to a school with actual transportation was a game changer for us when DC switched to Whitman from private k-8! But yes otherwise totally agree with your point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I'll bite.

I've had experience at both public & private. Public school kids in the area I grew up in ("top" public school district) cared about what they were doing that weekend and what grades they were getting. The most far into the distance they could think about was college and where they wanted to go to school. They often didn't think about moving away from their hometown. The local public high school often held up teachers who had ALWAYS taught in that district (yay for 35 years!), barely left the state and married their high school sweethearts.

Private school kids could tell you about positions in Corporate America. They would have discussions about investment banking, corporate finance, healthcare and tech companies, the medical and legal field, etc. They had their colleges on their list and could site several reasons on why those were their choices, often talking about majors and programs that the University was known for. They spoke of one day living in NYC, downtown DC, London, Beijing, etc in their 20s to pursue a career. Their sisters, brothers, cousins and family friends had done so and knew their stories.

I can always tell the provincial public school kids from the private school kids.

We chose private for our kids.

Make sure their private school teaches them the difference between “site” and “cite.”

Ha ha! This made me laugh. I know plenty of Sidwell kids who are now middle aged and never left the DC area.
Perhaps they went somewhere for college (although generally east coast). Do we call them provincial now?

Not based on that. DC is an international city with tons of job opportunities. A small suburban town that OP is talking about? I seriously don't know how one stays their entire life in those places even minus 4 years of college.

[Anonymous]

Maret way is blow & breitling and racism!

[Anonymous]

I work in academia and I can always tell when my students come from private schools and especially my boarding school alumni. They're more... put together. They're generally a lot more focused, independent, have better study habits, and generally write well. There is a difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t tell. My neighborhood is about 50/50. I also can’t tell which adults went to private, unless it comes up in conversation.

It usually does, doesn't it? Just like if someone went to MIT, Stanford, or Harvard...even if it is 30+ years after graduation: it will come up. It always does.

Lol. I went to Harvard (only confessing because I’m on an anonymous forum). I cannot stand to mention it. I avoid it at all costs because I hate getting a reaction. Maybe it’s because (prior to university) I was a public school kid.

Ditto, MIT. Rarely mention it because I’ll get some sort of “wow, you’re so smart!” response and I do not know how to react to that (“thank you”?)

Same here, but female non Asian. Long ago when dating id say I went to BU and lived on bay state road…

I went to Harvard and never mention it. No one I know does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work in academia and I can always tell when my students come from private schools and especially my boarding school alumni. They're more... put together. They're generally a lot more focused, independent, have better study habits, and generally write well. There is a difference.

+1. Polish is everything

[Anonymous]

I agree with PP. they are also very good public speakers and have an ease and confidence about themselves when speaking up in class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They toss their Trenta-sized Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccinos into the concrete at the Tysons Corner outdoor plaza, splashing furious mothers pushing their babies in Oobis.

They know that someone, somewhere will be available to clean up the messes they’ve left behind. They wear crop lululemon tops and baggy sweats with ankle
bracelets and Hokas. They have extremely expensive hair and nails

They would get fat if they drank that every day. I don’t think that’s allowed at top privates.