Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Buys a great fit for the child

It better be a pretty good fit for $30,000 per year. I'm not opposed to the idea entirely (which is why I look at this board) but in this economy it seems fairer to my child in the long term to save that money for college. I went to private school and private college, both of which were an excellent "fit," and my sister went to public school and public college, and is now light-years ahead of me in terms of status, income, etc. She happened to choose to become a doctor and I happened to choose the humanities. Those choices matter more than "fit" to the ultimate outcome.

For the people who are weighing only the "ultimate outcome" for their kids, public school probably makes the most sense. But there are many people who care as much about the process of getting to the end result as the result itself. I assure you that my parents don't consider their money for private PK-12, private college then private grad school wasted on my social worker sister who will probably never break $50k/year in salary. She's a happy, confident, well-round adult who is contributing positively to our society. Much of who she has become, and the values she picked up along the way, come from our private schooling. I had the same educational experience she did and I am a lawyer. I don't know if the "ultimate outcome" for us career-wise would have been much different had we gone to public school. However, we both feel very grateful for having experienced the loving, nurturing, community of our school and for all the extras (from classes to trips) that were incorporated into our educational experience. I was never just a number or just another kid in the class. I was always made to feel like an important and valued member of our school community. I believe that this really helped me overcome the extreme shyness I faced as a child and to become the self-assured person I am today.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No nut here. I went to the best privates schools along with 5 sibs. My children and nephews and nieces attend the best private schools. With 50 years of experience in the nation's best private schools, while I'm not rejoicing in saying the obvious, aread D.C. private schools are in decline. Only a handful have escaped this misfortune. Good luck on your applications.

Interesting post. 50 years is a long view perspective. Are you willing to share : what do you think are the contributing factors of decline? Are you speaking of the curriculum or the parent community or the quality of teachers? The poor work/family life balance ? The micromanagement of childhood? Please share ? ( am serious) I think you probably have some valuable insight.

It is easy for someone finished with the process to say "breath" "dont be nasty..."....most of us are not nearly done.....not sure if the factors matter but what schools have delined?

Anonymous wrote:Buys a great fit for the child

It better be a pretty good fit for $30,000 per year. I'm not opposed to the idea entirely (which is why I look at this board) but in this economy it seems fairer to my child in the long term to save that money for college. I went to private school and private college, both of which were an excellent "fit," and my sister went to public school and public college, and is now light-years ahead of me in terms of status, income, etc. She happened to choose to become a doctor and I happened to choose the humanities. Those choices matter more than "fit" to the ultimate outcome.

Anonymous wrote:Buys a great fit for the child :roll:

Hey, it beats sending your child to Bell Multi-Cultural,MS or Dunbar HS ?

Anonymous wrote:No nut here. I went to the best privates schools along with 5 sibs. My children and nephews and nieces attend the best private schools. With 50 years of experience in the nation's best private schools, while I'm not rejoicing in saying the obvious, aread D.C. private schools are in decline. Only a handful have escaped this misfortune. Good luck on your applications.

Interesting post. 50 years is a long view perspective. Are you willing to share : what do you think are the contributing factors of decline? Are you speaking of the curriculum or the parent community or the quality of teachers? The poor work/family life balance ? The micromanagement of childhood? Please share ? ( am serious) I think you probably have some valuable insight.

Buys a great fit for the child

No, simply $34,000/yr/ child reality. What's the return on that primary school investment in 2012?

Anonymous wrote:No nut here. I went to the best privates schools along with 5 sibs. My children and nephews and nieces attend the best private schools. With 50 years of experience in the nation's best private schools, while I'm not rejoicing in saying the obvious, aread D.C. private schools are in decline. Only a handful have escaped this misfortune. Good luck on your applications.

Oh, okay, just a "everything went downhill after I left" type. Carry on.

No nut here. I went to the best privates schools along with 5 sibs. My children and nephews and nieces attend the best private schools. With 50 years of experience in the nation's best private schools, while I'm not rejoicing in saying the obvious, aread D.C. private schools are in decline. Only a handful have escaped this misfortune. Good luck on your applications.

Anonymous wrote:

Uptight about admissions right now? Is that why we're seeing all these posts about financial aid, household income, schools going downhill and the difference between VA and DC moms.
Seriously, school is important (both my boys went through private school here), but if parents would lighten up a little bit, it would really be OK.

Self-serving post. You sent your kids to private school in another economy and these schools not in decline.

You realize by assuming that "these schools [are] in decline" you sound like a nut? Nothing is less convincing than the opinions of people not at private school yet, but still applying, that all the top schools are now in decline. Get a grip.

Yes, but your kids obviously got in somewhere. Those of us who aren't done with the process still face the uncertainty of rejection! I wish I could chill out, but I won't until/unless we receive an acceptance in the mail. And even when that happens, then we'll start freaking out when we have to mail in the largest check we've ever written other than for our house down payment.

you have no idea when my kids went to school. youngest just graduated 2011. I just think your perspective changes when you've been through it all and it's sad to watch all the angst when it's really going to be OK if the parents just chill a little.
Cheers.

Uptight about admissions right now? Is that why we're seeing all these posts about financial aid, household income, schools going downhill and the difference between VA and DC moms.
Seriously, school is important (both my boys went through private school here), but if parents would lighten up a little bit, it would really be OK.

Self-serving post. You sent your kids to private school in another economy and these schools not in decline.

It's January!

Parents shouldn't be freaking out until all of the admissions processes are complete - which at some schools isn't until July or August. If it's Labor Day and you're child isn't placed in a school, then you can be be nasty.

Breathe.

Uptight about admissions right now? Is that why we're seeing all these posts about financial aid, household income, schools going downhill and the difference between VA and DC moms.
Seriously, school is important (both my boys went through private school here), but if parents would lighten up a little bit, it would really be OK.