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[quote=Anonymous]So much of this depends on the specific public vs the specific private, the grade, the child, and the family's financial situation. Sidwell vs Powell is a no-brainer - Sidwell wins in every category. Murch vs a non-NCS Catholic school? I'd choose Murch.

The big 3 have huge financial advantages due to endowments and demographics of many of the parents. This allows much better facilities, specials such as art programs, etc. The focus is on learning, and some PPs listed these advantages. You don't get these same advantages with Tier II - III privates.

We tried private (not a big 3 but an exclusive DC independent school) then switched to charter, still in elementary school. Here are my anecdotal observations: The facilities are much better at the better independent schools, and there's more of a focus on child development. There are good and bad teachers at both. We had a FABULOUS teacher at our independent school, but my husband and I agreed that we would have been upset if we were paying that kind of money and got some of the other not-so-great teachers. The administration cares more about parental input at privates, because they want to keep the income flowing.

However, if the parents are big donors, then their offspring's severe behavior issues will be overlooked. Good luck to you if one of these kids bullies your kid and you're not a big donor. We didn't have that issue, but definitely saw it.

For us, another issue is that we're upper middle class (HHI a little over $300K), but the tuition was really impacting our finances and the % increases are way out of whack with inflation. We felt poor at our independent school, and we're far from poor. We feel more comfortable at our charter and have disposable income for travel, etc.

I grew up going to an elite private, but it was more affordable back then. If the DC elite private tuition was about $15K now or if we made $500K+, then we would send our kids to private. But we just can't swing $60K+ for elementary school then $80K+ for HS. The increasing tuition is squeezing out the middle class, and I just don't see the benefit of some of the tier II or tier III privates that charge less. Just my observations, FWIW.

Not sure what we'll do for MS/HS. Probably move to the burbs if our public option doesn't work.[/quote]

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