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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP, I have 2 children at one of the schools you mentioned.

If you search the threads, there are many opinions and spirited debates on this topic.  Some people are really outcome-focused and will feel that their child's private education is only "worth it" if their kid lands an ivy school.  Others feel that private is only worth it to avoid the tough middle school years and still others think it's only worth it for high school and navigating the college application process.  Others have crummy local publics and don't feel like they have the option to move, etc.  There are so many variables at play.

We are fortunate that - while a bit painful to write the check - we are not making major lifestyle adjustments to send our kids.  Our kids are doing well and are happy.  We live in a good school district and think that our kids would likely be fine at our local public too.

We send our kids to our private because we like the school's mindset and approach to education.  We think the curriculum is developmentally appropriate and we like the school's approach to social/emotional learning.  The vast majority of the time, we like the way the school addresses problems as they emerge.  We like the smaller class sizes and feel like the teachers really know our kids.   We like the community and the traditions.  It's the right fit for our children now, and we evaluate our choice each year.

Since there are so many variables and needs that are unique to each family (and kid), my suggestion is to talk with as many people as possible at the schools you are exploring, attend community events where possible, and do what you can to learn about the prospective schools.   I think it boils down to what feels right.  
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OP, I have 1 child at a school and we left a not so great public at 5th to avoid a horrible middle school.  We are middle income and we pay a lot for tuition but in the 3 years my child has been at the school have been wonderful.  I can't compare exactly as no one can.  One private may be better than another, one public could have been better than a private.  You really don't know.  You just have to do all the Open Houses, talk to families, ask local friends about public schools and go with your gut and where your child likes or could be a good fit.  It was a long process.  We narrowed down to 3 schools we thought would work, applied and then decided from there.  Shadow days are a must.  Do 2 if you need to.  Figure out your child's extracurriculars, strengths and weaknesses and make sure the school works.  Attend community and sport events and see if you like the feel/vibe.  But for us, the cost is worth it.  I am not looking into Ivy as a must.  I honestly just want my child to like learning, to be challenged, to think outside of the box and to not be so test-structured.  She needed extra support, a little push here and there to reach her full potential.  Smaller classrooms make a big difference.  It sucks we have to pay for an education we envisioned for our child but the hype of MCPS wasn't what we thought it would be.  We have friends that love it so it is all a matter of personal preference.  You have to decide what is important to your family.  [/quote]

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