We had kids in private but moved them to public. I didn’t want them to grow up in a bubble. Some of the things in private school culture really bothered me. Kids went to a DCPS title 1 public. Both have graduated and are in college. So happy we chose that path. They’re much better people.

So you’re thinking non-catholic school at $50k / year.

Did you or husband attend private? Sounds like probably not? Unless you’re very comfortable financially it’s not worth it and you’ll feel like the poorest people at the school. Go public and supplement. If your kids end up having a specific need or interest that a private school would be better for that’s different, but private school just for the sake of private school is not a good value for the money. I used to joke with some of the other non-wealthy yet full pay parents that we were going to have to join only fans to afford tuition. We switched to public after our child’s particular need was overcome.

Applying in preschool, kindergarten, or very early elementary is so much easier than middle or high school. We probably would have been just fine sending our kid to public until middle school, but applying to private when he was 3.5 years old and getting in for pre-k was so much less stressful. When he leaves his K-8, he’ll have so much guidance and support when applying to private high school. It’s worth it to us to spend the money in these early years in order to have an easier time down the road.

Also tuition often goes up more than your salary and cost of living expenses: and at private schools there are additional fees here and there.

At your current income, I would send kids to a public elementary and then apply for middle school and in the meanwhile you can invest the money you would have paid for tuition.

Anonymous wrote:It depends where you live. If you live in DC it depends on your tolerance for exposing your kids to the violence in the public schools.
Going to private school is not about great college choices, it is about what environment you want your kid in every day.

This. I wish more people understood this factor in the choice.

Anonymous wrote:I will support private MS at any K-8 or 6-12 school hands down over public. Will not support it at a private k-12. Every single one in this area, the MS is the weak link by default.

K-8’s use MS to prepare kids for the most rigorous HS options. 6-12 schools use MS to prep kids for their own rigor of HS.

+1. We moved one kid in middle school to a k-12 and discovered how weak a link the MS was (US was very good). Second kid started in middle school at a k-8 and their experience was light years better. All of their classmates got into their first or second choice school for HS. It’s a stretch for us, but we opt to spend less on other things. Don’t know that the value was there for ES.

Anonymous wrote:$300K after tax + contribution to 401k will be more like $130Kish, if you put max into 401k.

Or is the $300K post tax?

What's your monthly expenses sans private school?

+1. You don’t mention mortgage, retirement savings etc. Just that you have college fully saved for (which is great and hints you may have some supportive grandparents/family wealth around to help pay tuition?)

I do not think you can afford it on that income, unfortunately. We felt a bit strained on more income.

Not at that income

I will support private MS at any K-8 or 6-12 school hands down over public. Will not support it at a private k-12. Every single one in this area, the MS is the weak link by default.

K-8’s use MS to prepare kids for the most rigorous HS options. 6-12 schools use MS to prep kids for their own rigor of HS.

$300K after tax + contribution to 401k will be more like $130Kish, if you put max into 401k.

Or is the $300K post tax?

What's your monthly expenses sans private school?

It's a want for your DH and not a need for you kids. Why not compromise and start in middle school. They will get in somewhere. Every kid in our elementary school who applied, got in somewhere.
The top of the class went to local DC PS middle school though. They may go private for high school or try Walls.

It depends where you live. If you live in DC it depends on your tolerance for exposing your kids to the violence in the public schools.
Going to private school is not about great college choices, it is about what environment you want your kid in every day.

The earlier you apply, the better. I wouldn’t chance the competitive middle and high school entries.

Already saved enough on college tuition for both kids.
HHI of 300k. Two young kids. Living in a neigborhood with OK public schools. Hard to move to subs because of commute issue.
DH insists on sending both kids to private with tuition fee in total of 100k per year, and very likely with additional expense of 20k for both kids(sports, academic tutors and etc). His arguement is that middle school can be hard for some kids and private school at least set a lower bound experience for our kids. IT will be more competitive for middle school entry. So we are basically use money to buy a easier entry.
I dont know. I like money especially paying 120k on kids would be so much strechy for a family with only $300k.

TEll me how you think about it. I know it is personal decision but I'd be happy to hear.