Mass exodus from public school?

[Anonymous]

Anecdotally, half of the students in my 4th graders class have disappeared. How many students have withdrawn from public school to home school or attend private? What will the long term repercussions be? I assume if enrollment is down, budgets will be slashed. I’m so worried for the short and long term futures of public schools. Are any of the numbers being made public?

[Anonymous]

I'm not seeing that. There are some people who will leave for private and not return, but I'd imagine that once schools reopen in person, most people will return.

[Anonymous]

My 5th and 10th graders' classes are fully attended.

All my friends' children are attending school.

No one I know is skipping school.

I think you can relax.

[Anonymous]

My kids' school lost 10-15 students this year, not including families who moved and not including kindergartners whose parents redshirted them. Half of those students had parents who were complaining way before the pandemic; they wanted a LLIV, they wanted language immersion, their 2E child wasn't getting the services they expected, you get the idea. They went private and probably would have done so anyway because the principal isn't great. The remainder homeschooled. That group universally has kids in the K-2 age group and either a SAHP with an education background or a live in grandparent who was already helping a lot. I think the second group will be back next fall. Not sure about the first group, although a few of those parents are vocally complaining about their private schools on the neighborhood FB site, too.

I'm sure it depends on the area, but most people where I live probably can't comfortably afford private school for the next 5-10 years and then pay for college afterwards without making some major sacrifices. I expect all but a few outliers will return to public school.

[Anonymous]

If only.. then my kids' schools wouldn't be so over crowded.

[Anonymous]

Look, the immense majority of public schools in the DC area are overcrowded.

A few families taking their kids out won't change that, and with the economic malaise that will continue to impact the lower and middle class for years, are you seriously saying that families can afford to do something else than FREE PUBLIC?

Spent too much time in the rarified bubble that is DCUM, haven't you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Look, the immense majority of public schools in the DC area are overcrowded.

A few families taking their kids out won't change that, and with the economic malaise that will continue to impact the lower and middle class for years, are you seriously saying that families can afford to do something else than FREE PUBLIC?

Spent too much time in the rarified bubble that is DCUM, haven't you?

Hello.. nothing is for free.. our real estate taxes are really high and include funding (covering up) public schools..

[Anonymous]

You have to have a lot of privilege to be able to leave public school, so no, there will not be a “mass” exodus. If you are seeing this in “mass”, that speaks more to the SES of the families at your school than any trends that exist overall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have to have a lot of privilege to be able to leave public school, so no, there will not be a “mass” exodus. If you are seeing this in “mass”, that speaks more to the SES of the families at your school than any trends that exist overall.

Maybe. But I think there will be and I think that the pandemic has undermined faith schools, both on the side of teachers who feel disrespected and for parents who feel hopeless and unheard. All of this could have been avoided through better leadership and messaging, both at the federal and state levels, but that did not happen.

We need a strong public education system. We need higher SES families to believe in the system, support it, and respect educators. Unfortunately, years of excessive development has lead to overcrowded and underfunded schools that aren't ideal for any student or teacher. Misguided equity policies that aim to offer less to avoid advantaging any student rather that investing in meaningful support for those who need it most has started to drive families with options away and that is a shame. Teachers have been miserable for years, due to excessive administrative burdens and well-intentioned but poorly executed measures designed to make them prove they are doing their jobs.

Look at this board even before the pandemic. For public education to work, you either need a parent at home, incredibly flexible jobs, or the ability to outsource a large portion of home and family life. The system wasn't serving anyone well before, and that has only been further illuminated in the pandemic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have to have a lot of privilege to be able to leave public school, so no, there will not be a “mass” exodus. If you are seeing this in “mass”, that speaks more to the SES of the families at your school than any trends that exist overall.

Maybe. But I think there will be and I think that the pandemic has undermined faith schools, both on the side of teachers who feel disrespected and for parents who feel hopeless and unheard. All of this could have been avoided through better leadership and messaging, both at the federal and state levels, but that did not happen.

We need a strong public education system. We need higher SES families to believe in the system, support it, and respect educators. Unfortunately, years of excessive development has lead to overcrowded and underfunded schools that aren't ideal for any student or teacher. Misguided equity policies that aim to offer less to avoid advantaging any student rather that investing in meaningful support for those who need it most has started to drive families with options away and that is a shame. Teachers have been miserable for years, due to excessive administrative burdens and well-intentioned but poorly executed measures designed to make them prove they are doing their jobs.

Look at this board even before the pandemic. For public education to work, you either need a parent at home, incredibly flexible jobs, or the ability to outsource a large portion of home and family life. The system wasn't serving anyone well before, and that has only been further illuminated in the pandemic.

I like this post. Lays out the problems well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anecdotally, half of the students in my 4th graders class have disappeared. How many students have withdrawn from public school to home school or attend private? What will the long term repercussions be? I assume if enrollment is down, budgets will be slashed. I’m so worried for the short and long term futures of public schools. Are any of the numbers being made public?

I don’t think you can assume all the missing kids are in private or being homeschooled. Some of them are just getting school.

[Anonymous]

There are only so many slots in private schools. There will be many students that don’t get in that will be forced to stick with public school. Their parents are going to be even more angry and vocal. If FCPS doesn’t get its act together by the Fall, it could get VERY ugly.

[Anonymous]

If next year starts full time - I think it will not be a mass exodus. If it only starts hybrid - all bets are off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are only so many slots in private schools. There will be many students that don’t get in that will be forced to stick with public school. Their parents are going to be even more angry and vocal. If FCPS doesn’t get its act together by the Fall, it could get VERY ugly.

I think this is right. The seats at the privates people would actually consider are already taken.

[Anonymous]

please stop the empty threats for going to private and just go