The divorce rate for people with masters degrees who get married after the age of thirty is only fifteen percent. Many top private school parents for that demographic.

Our child's pre-K class had at least four single-parent households. Three divorces, and one set of parents whom I don't think ever married. This was at Beauvoir. I'm not aware of any issues. All parents were involved in the school and seemed to make good friends among other parents. Our kids have never been phased by different family structures, and I don't have any sense that it was an issue for the kids whose parents don't live together. I'll admit that I"m a bit more hesitant to plan play dates when the kids are with their dads, though that's only because I'm closer with the moms.

I taught at a couple independent schools and many of my students were products of 2nd or 3rd marriages- Dad's on 2nd marriage and trophy wife. Older sibs were high school or college aged and sometimes even older.

Look for schools with parents in the Foreign Service.

Anonymous wrote:Seems like from what I hear from friends, most of these independent schools have these perfect appearing nuclear families. Does it just start out at the lower grades and then the divorces coming later? Or are many of these families just keeping up appearances? What gives?

How do people come up with this stuff and what the hell difference does it make? Pitiful, just pitiful. This has got to be the same person coming up with some of the strangest threads and pulling odd threads from years back.

If you include parents on their second ( or more) marriage, it must be Sidwell. If the rate isn't greater than 50% I'd be surprised.

Anonymous wrote:I agree that generally you won't find a ton of divorces in lower school, but by the time you hit middle and upper, you'll see plenty of divorces everywhere.

My kids are current US students or recent grads of an area independent. I'm going to guess that the divorce rate in their grades is/was about 10%. That doesn't seem high to me. Keep in mind that the divorce rate is lower among more affluent and educated couples in the general population; you would expect to see this reflected in the parent body of independent schools, which skew toward higher SES.

Anonymous wrote:I have noticed, I guess because I'm divorced myself, that it's grade by grade at Sheridan. Some lower grades have many and some have none.

What is the climate like at Sheridan for divorced families, and how does it impact the kids? Are they invited to less play dates? Do parents get weird? Have you been pushed aside socially as an adult? Thats a very small school, right? I would guess there is nowhere to hide in that place.

Look for the schools with high financial aide or cheap brotherhood

I have noticed, I guess because I'm divorced myself, that it's grade by grade at Sheridan. Some lower grades have many and some have none.

I agree that generally you won't find a ton of divorces in lower school, but by the time you hit middle and upper, you'll see plenty of divorces everywhere.

Anonymous wrote:PLENTY of divorces at Sidwell by the time you get to MS and US. At the LS, everything appears hunky-dory for the most part. By the time the kids hit 5th grade are so, the ones who are going to call it quits, do so. And in the US, you have plenty of 2nd and 3rd marriages and OLD parents with way grown kids and new kids with the 2nd or 3rd marriage. Divorce is everywhere. Independent schools are not immune. Dont let the facades fool you. Plenty of "keeping up appearances" going on.

Terry, you really need to get help.

PLENTY of divorces at Sidwell by the time you get to MS and US. At the LS, everything appears hunky-dory for the most part. By the time the kids hit 5th grade are so, the ones who are going to call it quits, do so. And in the US, you have plenty of 2nd and 3rd marriages and OLD parents with way grown kids and new kids with the 2nd or 3rd marriage. Divorce is everywhere. Independent schools are not immune. Dont let the facades fool you. Plenty of "keeping up appearances" going on.

"perfect appearing" would be your first clue.

honestly, divorce is so common that unless it's a very religious school, you'll probably encounter lots of families whose parents are split.

Seems like from what I hear from friends, most of these independent schools have these perfect appearing nuclear families. Does it just start out at the lower grades and then the divorces coming later? Or are many of these families just keeping up appearances? What gives?