Costs: Big 3; second tier

[Anonymous]

Friends:

How much do the top tier schools cost in DC and how much do the next level ones tend to cost?

I'm asking this rough question b/c a recent Atlantic article showed that NYC top-tier schools are about 50K and I'm curious how DC compares.

Thanks in advance for insight.

[Anonymous]

The top 4 or 5 (Sidwell, Georgetown Day, St. Albans, National Cathedral School, Potomac, Maret) are in the $45-50K range (and some that are slightly lower rated also charge in the range, like Field School). Right below that they are generally $40-45K. E.g., Flint Hill, St.Stephens/St. Agnes, St. Andrews Episcopal, Washington International School, Landon.

[Anonymous]

Another false comparison.

Families of children offered admission at STA or Sidwell are not likely to turn that down for a lesser quality to save a few thousand dollars BECAUSE:

1) If the family needs FA, then STA and Sidwell are the two schools with the deepest pockets in town and most likely will offer the best FA their DC could get- far more than lower tier schools that are under funded and tuition dependant

2) If the family is in the other group of high HHI and was just offered admission to STA or Sidwell, they aren't going to be wringing their hands thinking about saving 7K a year or even 100K over 9 years. Because these families are not making decisions based on what are low figures to them. They are choosing the best education . Period.

[Anonymous]

The right below schools are all close to 50K for high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The top 4 or 5 (Sidwell, Georgetown Day, St. Albans, National Cathedral School, Potomac, Maret) are in the $45-50K range (and some that are slightly lower rated also charge in the range, like Field School). Right below that they are generally $40-45K. E.g., Flint Hill, St.Stephens/St. Agnes, St. Andrews Episcopal, Washington International School, Landon.

I’m fascinated by the lack of Catholic independents on your “tiers.” Flint Hill above St Anselms or Visi alongside Landon?

????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another false comparison.

Families of children offered admission at STA or Sidwell are not likely to turn that down for a lesser quality to save a few thousand dollars BECAUSE:

1) If the family needs FA, then STA and Sidwell are the two schools with the deepest pockets in town and most likely will offer the best FA their DC could get- far more than lower tier schools that are under funded and tuition dependant

2) If the family is in the other group of high HHI and was just offered admission to STA or Sidwell, they aren't going to be wringing their hands thinking about saving 7K a year or even 100K over 9 years. Because these families are not making decisions based on what are low figures to them. They are choosing the best education . Period.

I think the fallacy here is assuming every family that "needs" financial aid is offered it. I know we would have not been eligible but would have had to cut a lot from our budget (specificaly retirement/college savings) so paying an extra $5-7k would be material to us (although we ended up deciding it wasn't worth it after all, I think there are plenty of families in that position).

[Anonymous]

OP here: Thank you. I've got what I needed and this wasn't to start a tier war or false-comparision conversation. Just wanted numbers. Thank you all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The top 4 or 5 (Sidwell, Georgetown Day, St. Albans, National Cathedral School, Potomac, Maret) are in the $45-50K range (and some that are slightly lower rated also charge in the range, like Field School). Right below that they are generally $40-45K. E.g., Flint Hill, St.Stephens/St. Agnes, St. Andrews Episcopal, Washington International School, Landon.

I’m fascinated by the lack of Catholic independents on your “tiers.” Flint Hill above St Anselms or Visi alongside Landon?

????

Why are you confused? PP was accurate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The top 4 or 5 (Sidwell, Georgetown Day, St. Albans, National Cathedral School, Potomac, Maret) are in the $45-50K range (and some that are slightly lower rated also charge in the range, like Field School). Right below that they are generally $40-45K. E.g., Flint Hill, St.Stephens/St. Agnes, St. Andrews Episcopal, Washington International School, Landon.

I’m fascinated by the lack of Catholic independents on your “tiers.” Flint Hill above St Anselms or Visi alongside Landon?

????

08:40 here. I ignored the independent Catholics because they are 50-60% of the cost if the other schools, in general. I was focused on the top tier in terms of pricing, since that's what I thought OP was asking. My list was illustrative, not exhaustive. Agree St. Anselm's is on par academically the big 3/4/5 at $30K/year. I would in no way put FH over it academically. I doubt ANY of the schools mentioned have measurably better academics than SAAS. SAAS is a great value for what you get academically. Stone Ridge/Visi/GZ/Prep are also excellent schools. BTW, my DC is going to one of the same-sex independent Catholics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another false comparison.

Families of children offered admission at STA or Sidwell are not likely to turn that down for a lesser quality to save a few thousand dollars BECAUSE:

1) If the family needs FA, then STA and Sidwell are the two schools with the deepest pockets in town and most likely will offer the best FA their DC could get- far more than lower tier schools that are under funded and tuition dependant

2) If the family is in the other group of high HHI and was just offered admission to STA or Sidwell, they aren't going to be wringing their hands thinking about saving 7K a year or even 100K over 9 years. Because these families are not making decisions based on what are low figures to them. They are choosing the best education . Period.

Do you realize how misogynistic your comment is? Most people would say Cathedral schools or “STA/NCS” but you only mention STA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another false comparison.

Families of children offered admission at STA or Sidwell are not likely to turn that down for a lesser quality to save a few thousand dollars BECAUSE:

1) If the family needs FA, then STA and Sidwell are the two schools with the deepest pockets in town and most likely will offer the best FA their DC could get- far more than lower tier schools that are under funded and tuition dependant

2) If the family is in the other group of high HHI and was just offered admission to STA or Sidwell, they aren't going to be wringing their hands thinking about saving 7K a year or even 100K over 9 years. Because these families are not making decisions based on what are low figures to them. They are choosing the best education . Period.

Do you realize how misogynistic your comment is? Most people would say Cathedral schools or “STA/NCS” but you only mention STA.

Or maybe she only has boys and so that's her focus when discussing her personal opinion of schools? Don't go looking for offense in an anonymous off the cuff post; there is plenty of real crap to deal with in the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The right below schools are all close to 50K for high school.

I believe OP is asking about tiers in cost only; the cost tiers do not correlate to reputation or academic quality of schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another false comparison.

Families of children offered admission at STA or Sidwell are not likely to turn that down for a lesser quality to save a few thousand dollars BECAUSE:

1) If the family needs FA, then STA and Sidwell are the two schools with the deepest pockets in town and most likely will offer the best FA their DC could get- far more than lower tier schools that are under funded and tuition dependant

2) If the family is in the other group of high HHI and was just offered admission to STA or Sidwell, they aren't going to be wringing their hands thinking about saving 7K a year or even 100K over 9 years. Because these families are not making decisions based on what are low figures to them. They are choosing the best education . Period.

Do you realize how misogynistic your comment is? Most people would say Cathedral schools or “STA/NCS” but you only mention STA.

I think you mean sexist, not misogynist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another false comparison.

Families of children offered admission at STA or Sidwell are not likely to turn that down for a lesser quality to save a few thousand dollars BECAUSE:

1) If the family needs FA, then STA and Sidwell are the two schools with the deepest pockets in town and most likely will offer the best FA their DC could get- far more than lower tier schools that are under funded and tuition dependant

2) If the family is in the other group of high HHI and was just offered admission to STA or Sidwell, they aren't going to be wringing their hands thinking about saving 7K a year or even 100K over 9 years. Because these families are not making decisions based on what are low figures to them. They are choosing the best education . Period.

Do you realize how misogynistic your comment is? Most people would say Cathedral schools or “STA/NCS” but you only mention STA.

I think you mean sexist, not misogynist.

STA has deeper pockets than NCS. The endowment at STA is signicantly larger than that of NCS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The top 4 or 5 (Sidwell, Georgetown Day, St. Albans, National Cathedral School, Potomac, Maret) are in the $45-50K range (and some that are slightly lower rated also charge in the range, like Field School). Right below that they are generally $40-45K. E.g., Flint Hill, St.Stephens/St. Agnes, St. Andrews Episcopal, Washington International School, Landon.

I’m fascinated by the lack of Catholic independents on your “tiers.” Flint Hill above St Anselms or Visi alongside Landon?

????

Visi, Gonzaga, etc. are cheaper