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[quote=Anonymous]We considered this and decided not to (well, would have considered a non-religious private, not religious) mainly for cost reasons, but I will echo those who say don't decide based on kindergarten. Kindergarten in MCPS is basically warehousing kids and real academic instruction starts in 1st grade. I currently have a 1st and 4th grader in MCPS so I have been through the kindergarten experience twice and it was terrible both times, though much better for the younger child than the older for various reasons, including gender (girl), personality (quieter, less frenetic/energetic), lucked out on getting the one good teacher out of four classes, and actually finished out the school year (first was impacted by the 2020 school closures). First grade and on has been much better. However, one thing that doesn't change is the huge class sizes. DD had 33 kids in her kindergarten class, now 25 in first grade. DS had 29 in kindergarten, similar now in 4th grade, and 37 in his tracked math class - kids sit on the floor. Still, he sails through and doesn't seem to mind it.

We have been generally happy with academics, although as others have said, they aren't that challenging until they start doing differentiation in 4th grade. Older child has terrible handwriting and is not a very good writer, but I'm not sure that is the school's fault, since younger child is much better. We have been very happy with the school's social life. It's a gift to have so many friends in the neighborhood. I personally went to a religious private school as a kid and my friends were scattered all over the metro area, which was tough for get-togethers. Not like that in public.

One thing that will not change is the outside time. Amount of recess and exercise is terribly low. Extra-curriculars are also not what I personally experienced as a kid in a religious private school in the 80s/90s, where everyone had art, music, woodshop, and theater throughout the year from elementary through middle school, and was required to have at least one of those in high school. Mandatory sports, too, and mandatory swimming instruction, both of which were so valuable. The public schools can't do that.

Lastly, my private school classmates were rich and snotty and I was painfully aware of that from middle school on. My mother taught at the school and faculty kids attended for free - that's how I wound up there. We were well off but not rich rich rich like these kids who lived in mansions with live-in housekeepers, started skiing at age 5 and owned their own skis, vacationed in Tahoe and St. Lucia - literally places I had never heard of and still, as an adult now, haven't been to. That would be a factor for me too as the kids get older. We don't have that lifestyle, we don't want that lifestyle, and we don't want to be in a place where we are "less than" for not having it. Which was most definitely the case at the school I went to even though everyone denied it. Even within the uniform we had to wear, the rich kids wore brand white collared shirts with our kilts, and the kids like me wore white collared shirts from Lands End or Macys, and people noticed and pointed it out. It was fine for me (and I didn't rebel against it or anything, went on to Ivy League schools where plenty of those folks abounded) but I don't really want my kids in such a materialistic culture.

If I were in your shoes, I would certainly explore privates, identify a few that would work, do some shadow days, maybe even apply. But wait to make final decisions certainly until summer if possible, or maybe even until after first grade - unless you fall in love with a school or two that seem really terrific.[/quote]

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