Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Average students do best in a private school setting.
Strong and motivated students do well in both settings and shine in public schools.

If you have the resources, enroll your average student in a good school (St Patrick, Field). Leave aside StAlbans/NCS, Sidwell, GDS.

Sometimes when you take a kid who seems average in a large public school with big classes, and move them to a private with smaller class sizes and the greater attention and more intense competition (basically what you are paying for in private) that average kids turns out to not be so average at all. This is true for our son who turned out to be really smart and is now at STA.

Boys who are well behaved and smart will often just coast in a good public because they can - its too big for teachers to bother with pushing and motivating a kid who is nice, getting Bs and has no behavioral problems. Resources are limited in publics regardless of how good they are. In privates, there are lots more resources per kid and a smart kid is not gong to be allowed to just coast on minimal effort makings Bs because he is nice and well behaved.

I think your son sounds like the exact kind of kid that private school would benefit.

I agree with 90 percent of what you said above, but not the part about privates having more intense competition. The public schools are quite competitive. At private, you are able to play sports and usually not worry about getting cut from a team. Similarly, there are fewer kids auditioning for parts in the musical, etc. There are tons of smart and highly motivated kids in public. Our son is more average, and he likes that private is less competitive (but he does miss going to a big school). Parents seem to like small schools, but kids often like big schools, in my experience.

Anonymous wrote:Average students do best in a private school setting.
Strong and motivated students do well in both settings and shine in public schools.

If you have the resources, enroll your average student in a good school (St Patrick, Field). Leave aside StAlbans/NCS, Sidwell, GDS.

Sometimes when you take a kid who seems average in a large public school with big classes, and move them to a private with smaller class sizes and the greater attention and more intense competition (basically what you are paying for in private) that average kids turns out to not be so average at all. This is true for our son who turned out to be really smart and is now at STA.

Boys who are well behaved and smart will often just coast in a good public because they can - its too big for teachers to bother with pushing and motivating a kid who is nice, getting Bs and has no behavioral problems. Resources are limited in publics regardless of how good they are. In privates, there are lots more resources per kid and a smart kid is not gong to be allowed to just coast on minimal effort makings Bs because he is nice and well behaved.

I think your son sounds like the exact kind of kid that private school would benefit.

Anonymous wrote:OP, the way you describe your child fits many, many kids who do well at private and public schools. It's really up to you to decide what you want.

What do you mean by getting "lost" though?

I think what OP means is perhaps her son may fall through the cracks at a school like Deal, which is a large middle school with large class sizes and a number of class sections per grade. Some kids thrive in such an environment and some feel lost and need a smaller learning environment.

Average students do best in a private school setting.
Strong and motivated students do well in both settings and shine in public schools.

If you have the resources, enroll your average student in a good school (St Patrick, Field). Leave aside StAlbans/NCS, Sidwell, GDS.

OP, the way you describe your child fits many, many kids who do well at private and public schools. It's really up to you to decide what you want.

What do you mean by getting "lost" though?

No one is saying Deal is a bad school. It just may not be the best school for everyone. No school is one size fits all -- public or private. Get over yourself, please.

Anonymous wrote:My son is an average student. Great kid, athletic, nice, good behavior. Will he get lost at Deal? Is private school worth it for him ?

As you can see, people have all kind of ... opinions ... on the subject. I'd recommend visiting a couple of independent schools to see what they offer for yourself. Schools in MoCo also offer "shadowing" opportunities; maybe Deal does too. After you see a few schools, you can ask two easy questions:

1. Is an independent school likely to be "better" for my son, whatever "better" means to me?
2. Is it enough better that it's worth the cost, whatever that is for my family?

Almost every school is great for some kids and not great for others. I'd ask other parents what they like or don't like about any option. "He'll be a failure!" or "Smaller classes are always better!" or "It's the best school in DC!" are not terribly helpful — especially if the child himself is not figured into the equation. And there's no substitute for checking for yourself.

Peter
_____________________

Disclaimer: The anonymity here makes me uncomfortable; it's easy to be uninformed, personal, or simply mean-spirited if people don't identify themselves. For that reason, I have an account so you know whose words you're reading. I have more than 20 years' experience as a teacher and administrator in independent schools, and I hope I can be helpful to some folks. If you don't like something I've said, you're in good company — there's a long line of past students ahead of you. If you want to chat further, please feel free to contact me offline: peter <at> arcpd <dot> com

Until I hear from an actual poster that Deal was bad for their kid I stand by my recommendation.

Anonymous wrote:Deal is easily the best public school my kids went to...yes ...it is huge so if she/she has anxiety issues. Every time I deal with Deal - no pun intended - I come away impressed and happy my child is in school there. And if your kid can't handle Deal...they are going to have a tough life. Awesome teachers and staff.

Do you know how ridiculous you sound? Deal may be good for some kids but not everyone as a PP stated. It is not the best thing since sliced bread and nor is any school. You sound like the public school cheerleader that a lot of private school parents jeer at. I have nothing against public school but just stop it, please.

Deal is easily the best public school my kids went to...yes ...it is huge so if she/she has anxiety issues. Every time I deal with Deal - no pun intended - I come away impressed and happy my child is in school there. And if your kid can't handle Deal...they are going to have a tough life. Awesome teachers and staff.

ha ha ha. Private. No contest.

Anonymous wrote:Deal...amazing school. Great for everyone

How can any school be great for everyone? I know lots of people for whom Deal was not great, especially those with mild learning disabilities and anxiety.

Deal...amazing school. Great for everyone

Perhaps a smaller environment might be better for him. I vote private.

My son is an average student. Great kid, athletic, nice, good behavior. Will he get lost at Deal? Is private school worth it for him ?