There are plenty of middle class kids who go to public schools in our city in Alabama.

The best schools have 20-25% of black kids and coincidentally about 20% free or reduced lunch.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
+1. Just think about the numbers. You said there are about 100 students in a graduating class, correct? Do you really think all 100 of those students will be getting a full-ride to college? Is that private school really that amazing of a school and able to create such brilliant and amazing students who get full-rides to college? The top schools in the country aren't even able to do that.

In what state do you live?

I live in North Alabama.

So what are the parents paying for when they pay for private school like that? A chance for a better college? A better education?

In Alabama? They are paying not to be in school with brown people. The South still educates it's white kids in private schools. Public schools are for low class whites (though they'd use a different term) and minorities.

Anonymous wrote:+1 on getting away from black students.

I've never been to Alabama so excuse me for stereotyping, but I really don't think of your state as an educational powerhouse. More like bottom of the list so it's probably not too hard to imagine the public schools in Alabama aren't the greatest schools out there and maybe the private school really is much better than the public schools. I seriously doubt a small-town, North Alabama elite private school really is that good (at least compared to the elite private schools up here).

What college are the graduates getting scholarships to? I guess I could see them getting good scholarships to the lower ranked state schools in Alabama.

Overall, yes, the schools in Al are not that good probably, but we do have access to a decent public schools system. The nearest two high schools had 35 National Merit semi-finalists this year. One of them ranks 73rd in the country (and #1 in the State of Alabama) in national merit data. They rank very high on all the school rankings websites.


The private school has the following stats:
10-20% of seniors are typically named National Merit Finalists, Semifinalists and Commended Scholars. In the Class of 2016, there were 100 graduates, 8 National Merit Semifinalists and 6 Commended Scholars. 54 went to in-state colleges, 43 will attend 37 different colleges located in 19 states. Every student who sought merit-based aid received it. They don't disclose which colleges and how much aid was received.

SAT
Critical Reading (Middle 50% Range) - 570-750
Math (Middle 50% Range) – 570-690
Writing (Middle 50% Range) – 520-650
SAT Total (CR+M) - 1,110-1,340

ACT (Middle 50% Range) 24-30; Composite: 27.3



The best public high school (400-500 graduates) had these stats:

Average ACT Composite: 24.4
SAT:
Verbal mean: 582
Math mean: 583
Mid 50%: 21—29 Mid 50%: 1010—1310


I'm not sure how to read this data. My kid is in elementary school so we have a long way until SATs.

Anonymous wrote:+1 on getting away from black students.

I've never been to Alabama so excuse me for stereotyping, but I really don't think of your state as an educational powerhouse. More like bottom of the list so it's probably not too hard to imagine the public schools in Alabama aren't the greatest schools out there and maybe the private school really is much better than the public schools. I seriously doubt a small-town, North Alabama elite private school really is that good (at least compared to the elite private schools up here).

What college are the graduates getting scholarships to? I guess I could see them getting good scholarships to the lower ranked state schools in Alabama.

National Merit Scholars get a full ride at University of Alabama.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
+1. Just think about the numbers. You said there are about 100 students in a graduating class, correct? Do you really think all 100 of those students will be getting a full-ride to college? Is that private school really that amazing of a school and able to create such brilliant and amazing students who get full-rides to college? The top schools in the country aren't even able to do that.

In what state do you live?

I live in North Alabama.

So what are the parents paying for when they pay for private school like that? A chance for a better college? A better education?

I sincerely doubt that the private school education their children are receiving are going to improve the kids' chances at being a National Merit Scholar or receiving a merit scholarship anywhere. The kids that were going to in the running for that will succeed regardless of whether they go to a public school or a private school. (Unless the public school is absolutely absymal.)

In North Alabama, rich kids go to private schools so they don't have to mix with the poor kids. Middle class parents make sacrifices to send their kids to private schools so they can make connections with the rich kids.

This is why I'm arguing with dh about public vs catholic school. The tuition isn't bad for elementary, but it's like paying for college in HS. We have money from an inheritance, and I'm sure they'd want all that before we'd be considered for financial aid. DH went to private high school, but had to go in-state and do ROTC to pay for college. The army thing worked out for him, but I'd rather my kids follow my footsteps and go to a good public school and have money left to pay for college without them going into debt. I think a good college degree opens more doors, and certainly not being burdened with student loans allows more choices upon graduation.

No one from Washington DC area is going to give you a good perspective on this.

+1 on getting away from black students.

I've never been to Alabama so excuse me for stereotyping, but I really don't think of your state as an educational powerhouse. More like bottom of the list so it's probably not too hard to imagine the public schools in Alabama aren't the greatest schools out there and maybe the private school really is much better than the public schools. I seriously doubt a small-town, North Alabama elite private school really is that good (at least compared to the elite private schools up here).

What college are the graduates getting scholarships to? I guess I could see them getting good scholarships to the lower ranked state schools in Alabama.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
+1. Just think about the numbers. You said there are about 100 students in a graduating class, correct? Do you really think all 100 of those students will be getting a full-ride to college? Is that private school really that amazing of a school and able to create such brilliant and amazing students who get full-rides to college? The top schools in the country aren't even able to do that.

In what state do you live?

I live in North Alabama.

So what are the parents paying for when they pay for private school like that? A chance for a better college? A better education?

Typically to get away from black students. Sorry, but it's true. That and arguably better facilities and education. It completely depends. Some parents are unhappy with their local school and unable to move so they go private. Sometimes private school is worth it and some times it is huge waste of money. You should be able to find out how good your local schools are. Anecdotally, my husband went private when there were great public options and his parents wasted a ton of money. They are still working in their 70s because they spent close to a million dollars educating their children between school and undergrad. My parents sent me to public and saved that money. My dad retireed in his early 50s. My husband and I have both done well professionally.

Anonymous wrote:
+1. Just think about the numbers. You said there are about 100 students in a graduating class, correct? Do you really think all 100 of those students will be getting a full-ride to college? Is that private school really that amazing of a school and able to create such brilliant and amazing students who get full-rides to college? The top schools in the country aren't even able to do that.

In what state do you live?

I live in North Alabama.

So what are the parents paying for when they pay for private school like that? A chance for a better college? A better education?

Anonymous wrote:
You know as well as I do, OP, that this is not why these parents are sending their kids to the best private school in town. Especially if it's a country town. All they want is to feel as if they're the elite of their little city, the cream of the crop. Gives them a warm, smug country-club feel.

How many full rides have these students received in the past?
There are many scholarships available out there, but most are peanuts compared to the actual hair-raising cost of college.

I'm not saying not to put your kid there. My parents made that same decision for me when we lived in a small city, and I LOVED that school. Just go in with your eyes open. You WILL pay twice.

+1. Just think about the numbers. You said there are about 100 students in a graduating class, correct? Do you really think all 100 of those students will be getting a full-ride to college? Is that private school really that amazing of a school and able to create such brilliant and amazing students who get full-rides to college? The top schools in the country aren't even able to do that.

In what state do you live?

Academic scholarships are almost a thing of the past. At elite schools only your income matters. So, yes, you would be paying twice for college. Plus if we are talking Harvard/MIT/Stanford, etc they actually tKe more people from non-feeder schools than feeder schools.

You know as well as I do, OP, that this is not why these parents are sending their kids to the best private school in town. Especially if it's a country town. All they want is to feel as if they're the elite of their little city, the cream of the crop. Gives them a warm, smug country-club feel.

How many full rides have these students received in the past?
There are many scholarships available out there, but most are peanuts compared to the actual hair-raising cost of college.

I'm not saying not to put your kid there. My parents made that same decision for me when we lived in a small city, and I LOVED that school. Just go in with your eyes open. You WILL pay twice.

Move to a good school district in Fairfax Co, Arlington Co or Montgomery Co and go with the public schools.

There isn't alpha in the prep schools, especially prior to high school year. A huge waste of money and it won't result in a better college for your kids.

I live in a small city in another state. We are contemplating sending our elementary-age DC to the only independent and the best private school in town. The price of the school is equal to an average college tuition.

Many parents whom I've talked to are middle class families and for them paying for this school is a sacrifice. But they feel that they can pay for the good school now so that they won't have to pay for college later. Many of the graduates get scholarships, although it's not clear how much exactly.

Do you think that this is a wrong attitude to have? I mean, I doubt that a kid from a family that can afford private school will get a substantial scholarship unless they're National Merit scholars. Last year they had 8 National Merit Semifinalist and 6 National Merit Commended Scholars. Out of 100 or so graduates.

Anyway, do you think these families are wrong? Do you think they will be paying for college twice - once for the private school and the second time for the actual college?