Anonymous
04/29/2022 22:55
Subject: Experience with both public and private
Anonymous wrote:Hi,
My son will turn five next year. We are deciding between sending him to Janney (our inbound) or to apply for private (GDS, Sidwell…). We are attracted to private due to the diversity and the teacher ratio. However, I would like to hear from people with experience with both. Are there stark differences between the two in lower school?
We wished we went to Janney and not one of those lower schools you cite. Missed out on local friends (kids from 50 zip codes so tons of coordination for future activities or play dates) curriculum super play based and have gaps in math and reading (academics not better in lower school), and lower schools here seem to attract those “worried” about their kids’ hyperactivity, or ability to take a test, or quirkiness or social problems. Teacher turnover seems over the 10% a year and the transparency and teaming up with parents we had hoped for - as we are both busy professionals- is not there.
Most of all it would be worth a shot at Janney to see once and for all of your kid thrives there academically and socially. That’s a great feeling.
Anonymous
04/29/2022 22:45
Subject: Re:Experience with both public and private
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Thank you to the pp. we will definitely visit the schools and try to talk to parents.
To the pp that is switching back to public, do you mind sharing why? Is it a financial decision or something more?
No, not financial, we can afford it. It’s been a disappointment with the academics that were touted and the inappropriate, disrespectful behavior of some teachers. I have specifics but cannot get that across on here with typing it up. Apart from small class size, we are not getting our money’s worth. At least one class we have to supplement with a tutor to fill in the gap. Curriculum sounds great, but don’t assume it will be fulfilled. And actually, feel like my child has fewer opportunities such as a minimal amount of clubs-educational and otherwise as one example. This is a “rigorous” and highly regarded Catholic boys school in DC, cannot go much higher to get a “better” school. Maybe Albans or Sidwell, but we didn’t attempt to try. I have since become skeptical of privates and having given it a chance for a few years, we will return back to public.
Good amount of families won’t leave because they specifically want Catholic and will ignore issues.
Not all private schools are created equal. Most I wouldn’t pay for, and a handful I would.
Anonymous
04/29/2022 22:43
Subject: Re:Experience with both public and private
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My kids went to Janney, Deal and then private high school. They applied in 9th and between the two of them (two different application years) were accepted to STA, NCS, Sidwell, GDS, Potomac, Gonzaga and the St. Johns Scholars program.
They ended up matriculating at NCS and STA. They're both doing very well in school. Their Janney classmates are all over the city and beyond: Wilson, Walls, Sidwell, Maret, GDS, STA, NCS, Field, Burke, Gonzaga, Visitation, Stone Ridge, Holton, Landon, Andover, Exeter, etc.
I personally am a big fan of Janney and Deal: my kids had a solid academic experience at both and made life-long friends. Their best friends (my kids now both in later high school) are kids they went to Janney with from PK-4. They attend 10 different high schools but still hang out together
most weekends. There is something magical about having neighborhood friends.
If you have any specific questions let me know.
Thank you for your response! That is reassuring. May I ask, are your kids exceptional academically? Or is this a typical acceptance record for a Janney/deal kid?
My kids are decently smart and do what is asked of them. lol They're not geniuses. Most kids who apply out of Janney/Deal to privates are admitted. It's an impressive and driven group of kids/families.
They're not the big money-makers of DC (not the equity law partners) but they're collectively about the brightest group of people I've been part of in DC. Lots of interesting and important jobs (just not the giant money making ones).
Bright and successful people have bright kids and so their kids do well.
You are misinformed. It is an assumption that parents have that their Janney and Deal kids will skip into private school and year after year they are shocked when their kids are not accepted. The better privates are ridiculously competitive. Not saying it doesn’t happen ever, but it’s no where near “most.”
Anonymous
04/29/2022 20:40
Subject: Experience with both public and private
Anonymous wrote:OP,
I’ve taught in both public and private schools. I’ve sent my own children to both public and private schools. My preference is overwhelmingly private, but that is based on our limited experience with just two outstanding private schools vs. two mediocre public schools. You’ll get 1,000 different opinions on this board. Truthfully, you have to look at the individual schools. Some privates are better than publics. Some publics are better than privates. Look at both. Tour and talk to administrators, etc. Don’t take advice on this board advocating for either because you can’t possibly make a definitive statement about ALL privates or ALL publics.
+100
Anonymous
04/29/2022 19:58
Subject: Experience with both public and private
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP, as you can tell, there’s a lot of private school hatred from public school parents. Trust your own real-life conversations with actual private and public school parents about their experiences. Visit the schools you’re interested in, public and private, and see if you can get a feeling for what they’re like. Either can be a great choice, and only you know what you’re looking for or what the financial impact would be on your family.
Good luck!
It isn’t private school hatred to point out that there is little diversity at schools charging $50k+/yr tuition.
- parent at both private and public
Plus we all don’t want to hear about Janney, Deal, Wilson
as your public choice
Anonymous
04/29/2022 19:42
Subject: Experience with both public and private
OP,
I’ve taught in both public and private schools. I’ve sent my own children to both public and private schools. My preference is overwhelmingly private, but that is based on our limited experience with just two outstanding private schools vs. two mediocre public schools. You’ll get 1,000 different opinions on this board. Truthfully, you have to look at the individual schools. Some privates are better than publics. Some publics are better than privates. Look at both. Tour and talk to administrators, etc. Don’t take advice on this board advocating for either because you can’t possibly make a definitive statement about ALL privates or ALL publics.
I’ve taught in both public and private schools. I’ve sent my own children to both public and private schools. My preference is overwhelmingly private, but that is based on our limited experience with just two outstanding private schools vs. two mediocre public schools. You’ll get 1,000 different opinions on this board. Truthfully, you have to look at the individual schools. Some privates are better than publics. Some publics are better than privates. Look at both. Tour and talk to administrators, etc. Don’t take advice on this board advocating for either because you can’t possibly make a definitive statement about ALL privates or ALL publics.
Anonymous
04/29/2022 19:39
Subject: Experience with both public and private
There are some BAD public schools that I would not send DDs to - Janney is not one of those. It is a very good school. Your child will be with a strong cohort.
Anonymous
04/29/2022 19:37
Subject: Experience with both public and private
Janney v. private elementary school for your average smart kid coming from a well educated home? Similar.
If child has Special needs, it may make sense to go to a private school that can accommodate and fully support child.
If child has Special needs, it may make sense to go to a private school that can accommodate and fully support child.
Anonymous
04/29/2022 19:35
Subject: Experience with both public and private
Anonymous wrote:Just don’t put yourself in a situation where you will have tremendous anxiety about finances. That would be a big mistake. Make sure you are funding college and retirement accounts. Those are critical and it is extremely hard to make up for lost savings.
I can confidently tell you not to spend a dime on private in the dmv are. Have done both public and private, don’t waste your money on private.
Anonymous
04/29/2022 19:33
Subject: Experience with both public and private
Just don’t put yourself in a situation where you will have tremendous anxiety about finances. That would be a big mistake. Make sure you are funding college and retirement accounts. Those are critical and it is extremely hard to make up for lost savings.
Anonymous
04/29/2022 19:12
Subject: Experience with both public and private
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP, as you can tell, there’s a lot of private school hatred from public school parents. Trust your own real-life conversations with actual private and public school parents about their experiences. Visit the schools you’re interested in, public and private, and see if you can get a feeling for what they’re like. Either can be a great choice, and only you know what you’re looking for or what the financial impact would be on your family.
Good luck!
It isn’t private school hatred to point out that there is little diversity at schools charging $50k+/yr tuition.
- parent at both private and public
Ahahahaha. Whereas houses zoned for Janney are accessible to families with a wide range of incomes? Got it.
Anonymous
04/29/2022 18:59
Subject: Experience with both public and private
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP, as you can tell, there’s a lot of private school hatred from public school parents. Trust your own real-life conversations with actual private and public school parents about their experiences. Visit the schools you’re interested in, public and private, and see if you can get a feeling for what they’re like. Either can be a great choice, and only you know what you’re looking for or what the financial impact would be on your family.
Good luck!
It isn’t private school hatred to point out that there is little diversity at schools charging $50k+/yr tuition.
- parent at both private and public
So.
Anonymous
04/29/2022 18:58
Subject: Experience with both public and private
Anonymous wrote:You can’t get rational advice on this board unfortunately.
Then move on.
Anonymous
04/29/2022 17:58
Subject: Experience with both public and private
You can’t get rational advice on this board unfortunately.
Anonymous
04/29/2022 17:45
Subject: Re:Experience with both public and private
Anonymous wrote:Thank you to the pp. we will definitely visit the schools and try to talk to parents.
To the pp that is switching back to public, do you mind sharing why? Is it a financial decision or something more?
No, not financial, we can afford it. It’s been a disappointment with the academics that were touted and the inappropriate, disrespectful behavior of some teachers. I have specifics but cannot get that across on here with typing it up. Apart from small class size, we are not getting our money’s worth. At least one class we have to supplement with a tutor to fill in the gap. Curriculum sounds great, but don’t assume it will be fulfilled. And actually, feel like my child has fewer opportunities such as a minimal amount of clubs-educational and otherwise as one example. This is a “rigorous” and highly regarded Catholic boys school in DC, cannot go much higher to get a “better” school. Maybe Albans or Sidwell, but we didn’t attempt to try. I have since become skeptical of privates and having given it a chance for a few years, we will return back to public.
Good amount of families won’t leave because they specifically want Catholic and will ignore issues.