What does your child want to do? Mine had the same choice. We let the kid decide as long as they could articulate rational, thoughtful reasons for it. They chose the private because they decided that, despite their STEM interest, they would prefer a broader HS education without a specialized focus. It has been good because it has allowed them to develop strong non-STEM interests as well. Had nothing to do with college admissions but I'm not sure it's wise to make the choice based primarily on that especially given all the uncertainties with the admissions process.

IMHO, I’d pick the public magnet. If you have the money for private, you will have the resources available for SAT tutoring, essay help and a private college counselor. And you can use the extra money for speciality STEM camps or summer programs. Either way, one key is to stay an active parent, not helicopter, meaning go to parent teacher conferences, make your child’s goals known so that the school assists.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is not on DC area, but I’m curious to hear your opinion on this.

DC who is interested in a tech career, but is only 14 and may change their mind down the road, has an opinion to pick between

1. Top private, rigorous high school that provides a well rounded education and prepares kids well for college, but doesn’t offer many tech classes

And

2. Top public magnet, that may be not as rigorous and well rounded, but offers a lot of tech and engineering classes, clubs, internships, and maybe certifications

What would be the best option keeping the college application in mind?

We are in DC and have a similar choice to make. Kid is in at the Blair magnet and will have at least one private option.

I'm torn. On one hand, I know my kid would love the advanced math and science at Blair. On the other hand, he only reads and writes when school makes him, so maybe a school that will develop those skills is better?

Waiting till Friday to know what the choice is, exactly.

I will give you a straight answer, even though others may rake me over the coals.

If your kid really loves STEM and you are OK with the rigor of the STEM program at Blair...pick it precisely because the humanities classes will be far less work than at a private. The STEM classes (and activities like Robotics) will be a bunch of work and the last thing your kid wants is a history class that is also a ton of work. I assume you can still take AP english, history, etc. which will be plenty enough.

I don't know which private you are choosing, but your STEM kid will resent not having the STEM options and having hours of homework each night at say a Sidwell, in subjects that aren't interesting to your kid. Yes, it will make your kid a better writer...but you have to decide at what cost.

In terms of college...there are lots of Blair magnet kids trying for MIT and top schools, while at Sidwell probably far fewer...however, if your kid isn't in the Top 5% at Sidwell, it probably doesn't matter.

OP, we have this situation in another part of the country. Some of our kids attended the rigorous private. Some attended the tech magnet. The rigorous private tends to grade harder and that is not really reflected in college admissions results. The tech magnet tends to grade a little easier and overall has fewer requirements. Senior at the tech magnet has top stats and was accepted at a T10; would that have happened from the private? Maybe, though the grades might not have been as perfect as they were, and grades are very important for admissions.

It's hard to know what the best choice is and this will vary by kid. I wish one of my kids who attended the private had instead attended the tech magnet.

Ultimately, I'd think about which high school seems like the better fit, where they will be happiest. Make sure the tech one has sufficient clubs to support your child's interests, as that is one thing lacking from ours. The private has way more clubs.

DC went with the public magnet. Was able to be involved in a variety of clubs, access to high level STEM classes, still had rigorous humanities classes and got into several top colleges. I feel as though they had more academic and extracurricular opportunities at the public. Also was easier for them to stand out because the private seems to have a much more competitive, involved and wealthy parent base.

Anonymous wrote:Do colleges prefer public to private? Even though private is more rigorous?

No. The opposite is true in part because they want for a high percentage to be able to pay, and private signals that, although imperfectly.

Anonymous wrote:This is not on DC area, but I’m curious to hear your opinion on this.

DC who is interested in a tech career, but is only 14 and may change their mind down the road, has an opinion to pick between

1. Top private, rigorous high school that provides a well rounded education and prepares kids well for college, but doesn’t offer many tech classes

And

2. Top public magnet, that may be not as rigorous and well rounded, but offers a lot of tech and engineering classes, clubs, internships, and maybe certifications

What would be the best option keeping the college application in mind?

Just stop.

Unless your kid is going to Andover or Exeter your so called private is not better or more rigorous than your magnet you are an idiot.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is not on DC area, but I’m curious to hear your opinion on this.

DC who is interested in a tech career, but is only 14 and may change their mind down the road, has an opinion to pick between

1. Top private, rigorous high school that provides a well rounded education and prepares kids well for college, but doesn’t offer many tech classes

And

2. Top public magnet, that may be not as rigorous and well rounded, but offers a lot of tech and engineering classes, clubs, internships, and maybe certifications

What would be the best option keeping the college application in mind?

the magent; put the private school money aside in order to be full pay and apply to need-aware universities. Ignore this if you're rich enough to go to the private and still have 2-400k left over for undergrad

The question is not really about money, but better positioning for college.

Do colleges prefer public to private? Even though private is more rigorous?

Anonymous wrote:This is not on DC area, but I’m curious to hear your opinion on this.

DC who is interested in a tech career, but is only 14 and may change their mind down the road, has an opinion to pick between

1. Top private, rigorous high school that provides a well rounded education and prepares kids well for college, but doesn’t offer many tech classes

And

2. Top public magnet, that may be not as rigorous and well rounded, but offers a lot of tech and engineering classes, clubs, internships, and maybe certifications

What would be the best option keeping the college application in mind?

the magent; put the private school money aside in order to be full pay and apply to need-aware universities. Ignore this if you're rich enough to go to the private and still have 2-400k left over for undergrad

Anonymous wrote:This is not on DC area, but I’m curious to hear your opinion on this.

DC who is interested in a tech career, but is only 14 and may change their mind down the road, has an opinion to pick between

1. Top private, rigorous high school that provides a well rounded education and prepares kids well for college, but doesn’t offer many tech classes

And

2. Top public magnet, that may be not as rigorous and well rounded, but offers a lot of tech and engineering classes, clubs, internships, and maybe certifications

What would be the best option keeping the college application in mind?

We are in DC and have a similar choice to make. Kid is in at the Blair magnet and will have at least one private option.

I'm torn. On one hand, I know my kid would love the advanced math and science at Blair. On the other hand, he only reads and writes when school makes him, so maybe a school that will develop those skills is better?

Waiting till Friday to know what the choice is, exactly.

The top privates have lots of college counselors, and they know how to get the kids into top colleges. Publics cannot play the game as well.

Option 1.

I think Option 1 has its advantages by not having much tech, in that it's even easier to then stand out as a tech kid, by finding opportunities out of school, and creating them within the school.

But if you are strategizing to get into the "best" possible college, I say public over private nearly every time. It's getting really hard for private school kids, especially those not at the tippy top.

This is not on DC area, but I’m curious to hear your opinion on this.

DC who is interested in a tech career, but is only 14 and may change their mind down the road, has an opinion to pick between

1. Top private, rigorous high school that provides a well rounded education and prepares kids well for college, but doesn’t offer many tech classes

And

2. Top public magnet, that may be not as rigorous and well rounded, but offers a lot of tech and engineering classes, clubs, internships, and maybe certifications

What would be the best option keeping the college application in mind?