How do you afford private?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To those that send kids to private, why did you choose to do so? Is the education actually better (not fancier, but better)? How are your local public schools?

We wrestled with this and chose to buy in an excellent public district because we thought there would be less privilege and entitlement (not sure it actually worked out that way). Now we have a SN child so may end up in private anyway.

We chose private schools, despite living in a top public school district, because the smaller class size means the teachers really can - and do - focus on your child's needs (do they require additional in-class enrichment and work, or do they require the support of an in-school specialist). The private school we chose (or that chose us) also had an especially rigorous academic program in an area we especially valued; although they turned out to be academically strong across the Board. A small private school can also be a place where a naturally more reserved child can blossom socially, and find their confidence in a community that supports and knows them. It has worked out well for us, the oldest attends one of the nation' stop colleges, the other is ranked in the top of their high school class, and they all have an incredible breadth of knowledge, confidence, culture, and talent.

[Anonymous]

We make 200K, have a very modest home, little saved for college, a decent amount saved for retirement, drive older cars and take modest vacations. We have two DC at schools that cost 30 K each. One kid gets 50 percent FA and the other gets 25 percent. We believe that every penny has been worth it. Kids have flourished and oldest just admitted to a great college EA with partial FA. Kids have flourished in small classes, amazing cultural opportunities, traveled with school, and generally been exposed to so many things we could not offer at home. Both kids have learned so much they already have a world outlook and great sense of self. I would sell the house and live in a small apartment to make private tuition if I had to.

[Anonymous]

We have one in private and one in public. Longitudinal study.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have one in private and one in public. Longitudinal study.

Ha!

When I was pregnant with identical twins, I insisted that one was going to be named "Control".

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP who asked why private. I'm finding the responses enlightening, so please keep them coming! I'm struggling with the decision about whether to move one of my children.

[Anonymous]

Our public school is not good. We moved as close to my DH job that we could afford with a reasonable compute. My oldest is in private but I'm not sure how we are going to afford to put #2 through. We usually just use DH tax return for tuition. It's getting harder for us every year. We may have to move to a better school district but to be honest I'm not that happy with how public schools have changed over the years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We make 200K, have a very modest home, little saved for college, a decent amount saved for retirement, drive older cars and take modest vacations. We have two DC at schools that cost 30 K each. One kid gets 50 percent FA and the other gets 25 percent. We believe that every penny has been worth it. Kids have flourished and oldest just admitted to a great college EA with partial FA. Kids have flourished in small classes, amazing cultural opportunities, traveled with school, and generally been exposed to so many things we could not offer at home. Both kids have learned so much they already have a world outlook and great sense of self. I would sell the house and live in a small apartment to make private tuition if I had to.

How did you get so much aid at 200k?!? Please share because that is our salary and we get $0!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To those that send kids to private, why did you choose to do so? Is the education actually better (not fancier, but better)? How are your local public schools?

We wrestled with this and chose to buy in an excellent public district because we thought there would be less privilege and entitlement (not sure it actually worked out that way). Now we have a SN child so may end up in private anyway.

We chose private schools, despite living in a top public school district, because the smaller class size means the teachers really can - and do - focus on your child's needs (do they require additional in-class enrichment and work, or do they require the support of an in-school specialist). The private school we chose (or that chose us) also had an especially rigorous academic program in an area we especially valued; although they turned out to be academically strong across the Board. A small private school can also be a place where a naturally more reserved child can blossom socially, and find their confidence in a community that supports and knows them. It has worked out well for us, the oldest attends one of the nation' stop colleges, the other is ranked in the top of their high school class, and they all have an incredible breadth of knowledge, confidence, culture, and talent.

Same here but it is too soon to know how this translates into the future. I will be the first to say though there are kids that flourish in public school. I've seen that kid that was shy find a few close friends and get to a comfortable place socially. For lots of reasons, it never clicked for one of my kids at public school and when I was on the fence between public and private, someone had said something along the lines of why am I trying to fit a square peg in a round hole instead of finding a better fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To those that send kids to private, why did you choose to do so? Is the education actually better (not fancier, but better)? How are your local public schools?

We wrestled with this and chose to buy in an excellent public district because we thought there would be less privilege and entitlement (not sure it actually worked out that way). Now we have a SN child so may end up in private anyway.

We chose private schools, despite living in a top public school district, because the smaller class size means the teachers really can - and do - focus on your child's needs (do they require additional in-class enrichment and work, or do they require the support of an in-school specialist). The private school we chose (or that chose us) also had an especially rigorous academic program in an area we especially valued; although they turned out to be academically strong across the Board. A small private school can also be a place where a naturally more reserved child can blossom socially, and find their confidence in a community that supports and knows them. It has worked out well for us, the oldest attends one of the nation' stop colleges, the other is ranked in the top of their high school class, and they all have an incredible breadth of knowledge, confidence, culture, and talent.

Same here but it is too soon to know how this translates into the future. I will be the first to say though there are kids that flourish in public school. I've seen that kid that was shy find a few close friends and get to a comfortable place socially. For lots of reasons, it never clicked for one of my kids at public school and when I was on the fence between public and private, someone had said something along the lines of why am I trying to fit a square peg in a round hole instead of finding a better fit.

Poster you quoted. I wish you the best in your experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To those that send kids to private, why did you choose to do so? Is the education actually better (not fancier, but better)? How are your local public schools?

We wrestled with this and chose to buy in an excellent public district because we thought there would be less privilege and entitlement (not sure it actually worked out that way). Now we have a SN child so may end up in private anyway.

Our DC was unhappy in public and hated school. Scores off the charts on standardized tests but underperforming academically. Did not get into HGC so after watching him go steadily downhill we finally put him in private and now he LOVES school. The individual attention, small class sizes and relationship with teachers plus mandatory sports and daily outside recess with lots of breaks is a more humane approach to education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:wife went back to work after SAHM for 15 years, and a lot of sacrifices. tuition is just part of the equation, remember to add the social aspect of it, field trips, ski club, dance..(if u have a DD, this gets expensive, etc)..

How did she get a job?? I am trying to do this to be able to afford to send our second to private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again: we're also at mcps in one of the smallest elem schools in the district and kids have no special needs and are very adaptable... so, private would be a total luxury.

OP, don't do it unless your kid needs it. I have one in MCPS and one in private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:wife went back to work after SAHM for 15 years, and a lot of sacrifices. tuition is just part of the equation, remember to add the social aspect of it, field trips, ski club, dance..(if u have a DD, this gets expensive, etc)..

How did she get a job?? I am trying to do this to be able to afford to send our second to private.

Someone I worked closely with in the early 90's, is now the VP of a tech firm and reached out to her. She had tons of tech experience, but none recent. Most of the big tech companies r either offshore, or r looking for young blood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:wife went back to work after SAHM for 15 years, and a lot of sacrifices. tuition is just part of the equation, remember to add the social aspect of it, field trips, ski club, dance..(if u have a DD, this gets expensive, etc)..

How did she get a job?? I am trying to do this to be able to afford to send our second to private.

Someone I worked closely with in the early 90's, is now the VP of a tech firm and reached out to her. She had tons of tech experience, but none recent. Most of the big tech companies r either offshore, or r looking for young blood.

Thanks, pp, I was the one who inquired. Ironic I come out of tech in the 90s too...!

[Anonymous]

HHI is $160, 1 kid in private. We afford it by with a $1,300/mo mortgage (little house in PG county), old cars, and frugality in general. We have become budget whizes. We do it, basically, because our kid's education, and how he spends his days for the first 18 years of his life are our priority. Public school would have been our first choice, but our local school fails to teach almost half its students to read on grade level, so it wasn't going to happen. My own hobby is gardening, and so I wanted a SFH with at least a little yard. After running the math, we find that a SFH in a fantastic school district will cost us the same or more, on a monthly basis, as the fantastic school my kid now attends. If housing or even being well-to-do were among our top 3 family priorities we'd probably move, but neither are...so private it is!