Reply to Thoughts on families with expensive houses and cars who send kids to public school?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]This questions presumes:
1. Private school is better.
2. Parents should sacrifice their comfort or convenience for their kids.
3. People should spend as much money as they are able to.

I disagree with all of those statements. 
[/quote]

On your question #1 there is statistics. Here's what google gives you right away: "Mean SAT scores for students in public schools were 529 in ERW and 520 in math, while comparable scores for students in religious schools were 581 and 572. Students in independent schools had an average ERW score of 580 and an average math score of 608."

520 average vs 608 average math score is a big difference! And these are just average schools, not top private like Sidwell where presents' kids go.

On the other 2 questions - it's individual choice. If people can afford a $3mm house given all equal I don't understand what exact "inconvenience" is to send your kids private. If a family is scrambling to save for a car, the inconvenience is obvious.

[/quote]

Yes, it's true that mean SAT scores are higher for private school than public school. Not at all clear if that's BECAUSE of the school. Personally, I got a 1500 on the SATs back when they only went up to 1600, and if public school was good enough for me, it's good enough for my kids.[/quote]

Your last sentence is not necessarily true: public schools have changed since you were a child, and not necessarily for the better. Private schools also changed, and often for the better since they have more resources, access to better professionals, attend more educational exchange programs with best other schools etc.[/quote]

Great, sure. I have no doubt private schools have very good PowerPoints about all the ways they've improved. My point remains: Good public schools were just fine for me. I have no doubt they'll be just fine for my kids, who have the same socioeconomic advantages I did when I was there age.[/quote]

Ok - can you tell us what are these excellent public schools in DC where you send your kids? [/quote]

My kids are in a language immersion program at a public school. We have had a very positive experience overall, are saving a ton of money, and I think our kids are learning to advocate for themselves. My mom taught at a private school and those kids were coddled.[/quote]

Most of these DC public school immersion programs run through middle school only. Theodor Roosevelt runs through HS, has terrible parents' reviews (like, teaches don't teach etc.) and way below average SAT score (960 which is basically not studying at all, community college guaranteed).

Some folks do send kids to Oyster and similar till end of primary school and then move to private schools. Knowing a second language makes it easier to get into bilingual private programs but there is a very big competition as kids tend to stay in private schools. [/quote]

Arlington's Spanish immersion program runs through high school, if that interests anyone.  We've had a great experience but are still in ES.  So far what I've heard about MS and HS is encouraging.  We started immersion planning to stick with it through HS.[/quote]

It has lower SAT scores vs top schools in Maryland or McLean, but immersion part might open up kids doors into stronger private schools in higher grades. Good choice![/quote]

The SAT score tradeoff is worth it to me. My oldest kid is in immersion middle school program. We could afford private but aren't using extra money for fancy cars or a big home. I think our friends would be shocked to know we save about $150K per year into a brokerage account (after maxing out retirement, 529 fully funded).[/quote]

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