To those who struggled to send their kids to a Big 3-like school - did it turn out to be "worth it."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If all you care about is getting to the next level in the social strata, there is no substitute for a Big 3 private school.

What's the next level socially? Are you including top-college placement as a factor in "social strata"? If so, then there are lots of different paths to placement in a top college. Substitutes do exist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If all you care about is getting to the next level in the social strata, there is no substitute for a Big 3 private school.

What's the next level socially? Are you including top-college placement as a factor in "social strata"? If so, then there are lots of different paths to placement in a top college. Substitutes do exist.

I think the prior post says exactly what it means. Rooted much more in perception than in reality, I'll grant you that, is the sense that families in private school are of the upper-classes. One way for your typical striver, well educated, successful DC area family to separate themselves from everyone else (i.e., the "masses," at least by DC standards) is to get branded with a Big 3 association. I'm frankly suprised they don't get logo tattoos once their 5 year old gains admission.

[Anonymous]

You said it. I think that, for strivers, the school bumper stickers on their cars is the equivalent of tattooing. Heaven forbid that someone does not know of their affiliation with the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I posted re Sidwell and, yes, I'm a parent there. I'll stand by my statement: the US is very strong and worth every penny; MS and LS, not so much.

Did your kid(s) actually go through sidwell lower school? If so, what are the shortcomings?

Yes. Quality of teaching is inconsistent -- some burnouts; curriculum not as creative and innovative as we had expected. On the other hand, class size is a plus. Major difference among divisions: US teaching is much stronger than MS or LS.

[Anonymous]

It was a TOTAL waste of money. And dealing with the annoying Queen Bee and Wannabe mothers was a huge PITA!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It was a TOTAL waste of money. And dealing with the annoying Queen Bee and Wannabe mothers was a huge PITA!

You're an idiot then for keeping your kid at the hive so long. Most people are able to assess a bad situation and make changes. You obviously waste money all the time since you're missing that critical skill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If all you care about is getting to the next level in the social strata, there is no substitute for a Big 3 private school.

What's the next level socially? Are you including top-college placement as a factor in "social strata"? If so, then there are lots of different paths to placement in a top college. Substitutes do exist.

Some privates have very rigorous courses [more than public AP's or IB]. Public IB has more consistency - canned curriculum and teaches to write. Public AP doesn't teach to write and the courses are geared to the AP test. Year long prep for the exams. Privates have courses called or for AP but don't provide a good match. privates also have renegade teachers whereby 1 might teach a section[s] of a required class but have different content and grading . CUM KILLERS.

If I had to do it all over again? Public and IB diploma is the best bang for the buck. There are a lot of bizarre entitled kids in privates and the small social environment leads to being stuck with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh, maybe it was the "no regrets" part that prompted the the "dear lord" response. I meant no regrets re money spent "needlessly" on education (not re admissions outcomes).

Basically I was differentiating my family's POV on education (good in and of itself/get the best you can at every stage) from the economic investment approach which might make it rational to look for the least-cost-provider instead.

coupled with the "LOL" when nothing you wrote is funny and the extreme over-explanation.

[Anonymous]

Clearly you prefer snark over substance! To each her own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I posted re Sidwell and, yes, I'm a parent there. I'll stand by my statement: the US is very strong and worth every penny; MS and LS, not so much.

Did your kid(s) actually go through sidwell lower school? If so, what are the shortcomings?

Yes. Quality of teaching is inconsistent -- some burnouts; curriculum not as creative and innovative as we had expected. On the other hand, class size is a plus. Major difference among divisions: US teaching is much stronger than MS or LS.

It seems that nobody has been really impressed with the Big 3 elementary school teachers/curricula. I've read the same about Beauvoir, GDS, Maret, and the rest. WIS is the only one that folks praise with any degree of consistency, but language immersion is so niche.

Are parents' expectations too high? Perhaps no level K-4 curriculum is going to "wow" 30- 40- and 50-year old bystanders (i.e., the parents)? It is, after all, about laying the foundation. The basics. Is there a place there for John Keating/Dead Poets Society teachers even if they were so inclined?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I posted re Sidwell and, yes, I'm a parent there. I'll stand by my statement: the US is very strong and worth every penny; MS and LS, not so much.

Did your kid(s) actually go through sidwell lower school? If so, what are the shortcomings?

Yes. Quality of teaching is inconsistent -- some burnouts; curriculum not as creative and innovative as we had expected. On the other hand, class size is a plus. Major difference among divisions: US teaching is much stronger than MS or LS.

Let me ask you this... Were your children prepared to handle (and excel within) the rigors of Sidwell upper school? Or did they find themselves struggling to catch up because of the bumpy road they had in lower school?

[Anonymous]

I didn't want my kids to go to public school. Period. I didn't want them being assaulted by kids who skateboard and parents who shuffle around in Birkenstocks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You said it. I think that, for strivers, the school bumper stickers on their cars is the equivalent of tattooing. Heaven forbid that someone does not know of their affiliation with the school.

Actually, I don't see a lot of Sidwell, GDS, or Beauvoir bumper stickers. The most pervasive are those St. Patrick's discs -- they're everywhere!! How many kids could possible go to that school??. Landon is another bumper sticker-loving group with NCS and Georgetown Prep close behind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You said it. I think that, for strivers, the school bumper stickers on their cars is the equivalent of tattooing. Heaven forbid that someone does not know of their affiliation with the school.

Actually, I don't see a lot of Sidwell, GDS, or Beauvoir bumper stickers. The most pervasive are those St. Patrick's discs -- they're everywhere!! How many kids could possible go to that school??. Landon is another bumper sticker-loving group with NCS and Georgetown Prep close behind.

You are insane. You could feed Cambodia with Beauvoir stickers.

[Anonymous]

hilarious pp. I'll have to keep my eyes peeled -- no pun intended.