Reply to Top private (Sidwell, GDS) versus top public (JKLM) for early years: what are the differences?

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Reply to "Top private (Sidwell, GDS) versus top public (JKLM) for early years: what are the differences? "

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]So, either it would be a financial strain at the Big 3 or are you simply having a struggle to make the decision OP? I doubt DCUM will give you much insight, but good luck in deciding.[/quote]
We love (truly love!) the private that has accepted our DC.... but we were impressed as well by Mann (2 teachers per class, amazing principal, great curriculum and philosophy, top-notch facilities, great neighborhood,....) The private option has been always our top choice, but our financial situation is restrictive. It is a big commitment with a lot of ramifications. 
So far, DCUM has given me some valuable info I was unaware of (for example, the brain drain in 3rd and 4th grade). In fact, many interesting perspectives. Thanks again to everyone who has shared their experience. And thanks PP for your good wishes. At the end of the day both options are very good options; I know we are very privileged to have this two alternatives.[/quote]

Just my 2 cents OP, from a financial perspective, it is best to do a great public and save your money for retirement and college if it will be a strain at all.

Think about tuition increases, etc. Again, wish you the best no matter what, but try and get some objective financial advise from an advisor prior to committing to the tuition and it might influence your decision. Even if you only do public for PK -3, for two kids that is 8*40k, which if put into savings will be a lot more money later. Compound interest. And remember, even at Hardy, your kids will learn about compound interest.[/quote]

Mann parent here - MOST of the Mann kids go private.  For STA/NCS it is 4th grade that is the entry year, quite a few other privates have now made openings in 6th (when we started Mann with our first child, all DCPS elementary schools went through 6th grade), Michelle Rhee changed it when it was basically too late to apply for private school and then had to reverse herself for one year.  Of course at that time all Mann kids had the informal option of going to Deal as well - the principal actively recruited them!  Times have changed pretty rapidly in DCPS, but Mann has not.  When I went to private school most of the kids who joined our class from DCPS came from Mann, and that was 40 odd years ago, but it is relevant only to the extent that this is one of the reasons we felt completely comfortable sending our kids.  Hearing about your financial situation is a game changer in terms of the advice I would give you.

If it is any financial strain at all I would not do it.  We are friends with many private school parents and have not seen many differences, except that those who are concerned  that their kids will not be competitive later on tend to put them in to privates from the get go.  Mann has an established record of getting kids into private school - that is most of what they do - not saying this correctly - that is where most Mann kids end up.  The principal's son went to Mann before he left for St. Alban's.  I would really urge you not to put the financial pressure on yourself earlier than necessary - not having that allowed us to take nice vacations, and if you are an involved parent if there is something you think needs to be supplemented, you do.   It is an international community, and that was important to us because it meant that our kids kept up their native language just by making friends who spoke it.  At the risk of sounding over the top, but hearing that it would be a financial strain, especially with two kids, I would go to Mann.  We have never regretted it for any kid, the have all landed happily ever afterwards - and we have way more than two :!: [/quote]

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