I'd consider my kids' high school a "mediocre private". Has plenty of APs for my driven students and a good challenge level for my less than stellar DC. So, I'd say we are perfectly happy with our "mediocre private" and feel blessed to have the option!

I'd only add that you have to really look inside to identify and prioritize your goals. Are they to maximize college options? Are they to graduate the most well-educated kid? Are they to be surrounded by like-minded and values-oriented people? For us, college results are not the point. Honestly, not being able to pay full pay swishy school price tags actually frees one to make different decisions. Good, smart, happy kids at state college or sim is the BEST outcome we could imagine.

Consider that the college scene has changed since you went. When we started the process with our oldest we had very old fashioned ideas about what would be a good school for this kid. Now going through with our youngest, we look at the matriculation lists for local schools with a much better educated eye for the kinds of school different kids will choose. If you have a narrow definition of what a given kid 'should' be looking for in a college, you will not understand the final lists that you see.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are not in the DMV. Our K-12's college outcomes become more dismal each year. Yes, everyone heads to a four-year college, which we assumed was enough, but many of them aren't highly ranked and become less so each year. We're not looking for Ivy or even T20, but a college people have actually heard of would be nice. The only thing keeping us here is the lack of violence, drugs, and bathroom sex that you find in our local publics. Is anyone else in this situation? Our kids are bright but not gifted and borderline bored in school, and I keep wondering if they'd do better in a larger school, bathroom sex and all.

I wouldn't sweat it - what's probably happening is that your school is getting more "ordinary" students who are pushed away from the public for obvious reasons, which brings down the average achievement.

Actually, colleges now view private school students as “privileged” and limit the number accepted, while prioritizing those with “hardship”.

But actual education matters more than the name of your college. Send your kids where they will learn the most and develop the best skills.

Wait, how do you know the details of the public’s discipline issues if your kids have never attended? Sex in the bathroom what??

This is actually typical in a lot of states. I assume OP is in the south - FL, MS, etc. Or possibly in an urban area in a red/red-ish state like Ohio or Indiana. The public charter and religious private schools become essentially like how public schools were when we were kids. Most kids do go on to college but at state schools and less selective/religious affiliated SLAC’s. Public schools in those areas increasingly only have troubled students. So I guess I would just stay the course and supplement at home as much as possible so your kids are well prepared for college.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which grade are they in? Consider homeschooling or attending the public high school on paper but taking all courses through DE

What is DE

Maybe Dual Enrollment with a local community college?

While I feel that my privates are perhaps nothing to specifically brag about, I really would not call them mediocre.

Anonymous wrote:Which grade are they in? Consider homeschooling or attending the public high school on paper but taking all courses through DE

What is DE

Anonymous wrote:We are not in the DMV. Our K-12's college outcomes become more dismal each year. Yes, everyone heads to a four-year college, which we assumed was enough, but many of them aren't highly ranked and become less so each year. We're not looking for Ivy or even T20, but a college people have actually heard of would be nice. The only thing keeping us here is the lack of violence, drugs, and bathroom sex that you find in our local publics. Is anyone else in this situation? Our kids are bright but not gifted and borderline bored in school, and I keep wondering if they'd do better in a larger school, bathroom sex and all.

Depending on how much you pay for private, this seems worth it to me. Are there better privates around you?

So where do the kids who end up going to top 50 colleges tend to go to high school? If the answer is nowhere, because nobody in your area goes to top colleges, then… there’s your answer.

Which grade are they in? Consider homeschooling or attending the public high school on paper but taking all courses through DE

Anonymous wrote:We are not in the DMV. Our K-12's college outcomes become more dismal each year. Yes, everyone heads to a four-year college, which we assumed was enough, but many of them aren't highly ranked and become less so each year. We're not looking for Ivy or even T20, but a college people have actually heard of would be nice. The only thing keeping us here is the lack of violence, drugs, and bathroom sex that you find in our local publics. Is anyone else in this situation? Our kids are bright but not gifted and borderline bored in school, and I keep wondering if they'd do better in a larger school, bathroom sex and all.

I wouldn't sweat it - what's probably happening is that your school is getting more "ordinary" students who are pushed away from the public for obvious reasons, which brings down the average achievement.

Anonymous wrote:You’re asking for a list of mediocre private colleges? Or do you want help deciding if you should stay in a mediocre private school or move back to public.

Are the academics bad in the publics? Or is it just a poorly behaved crowd?

Whether to move to public. The kids have never done it. Academics are ok - more APs - but there are numerous behavioral issues in our local publics.

You’re asking for a list of mediocre private colleges? Or do you want help deciding if you should stay in a mediocre private school or move back to public.

Are the academics bad in the publics? Or is it just a poorly behaved crowd?

We are not in the DMV. Our K-12's college outcomes become more dismal each year. Yes, everyone heads to a four-year college, which we assumed was enough, but many of them aren't highly ranked and become less so each year. We're not looking for Ivy or even T20, but a college people have actually heard of would be nice. The only thing keeping us here is the lack of violence, drugs, and bathroom sex that you find in our local publics. Is anyone else in this situation? Our kids are bright but not gifted and borderline bored in school, and I keep wondering if they'd do better in a larger school, bathroom sex and all.