Depends on the year. My oldest there were very few sahms in her class. For my youngest there were alot - particularly if you counted people with extreme part time jobs

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The answer to your question is yes and it's very difficult for full time working parents to have the same level of engagement

Depends on the school. My kid is at Norwood and I can think of only one mom in the entire grade who doesn’t work. In fact, several of the moms have more demanding jobs than their spouses, so I see the dads at school functions more often than the moms.

I have several kids at Norwood and there are lots of SAH parents, and parents (mostly mothers) who have a very flexible or part time job. The overwhelming majority of the volunteers during the school day are mothers (including me).

While there are many families where both parents have careers, there are an equal number (I would guess more) where one partner has a “big” job and the other doesn’t work or has a very undemanding job.

I don’t think this is unique to Norwood.

I would guess it’s 60+% working moms at our school. My job is pretty flexible so I do try to attend events when I can.

Vast majority of moms I know in my circle (all private school parents) work. But the parents heavily involved in the PTA at our school are SAHMs, which obviously makes sense as they have more time during the day and in general to volunteer. A good portion of the PTA is comprised of working parents though.

A lot of working parents volunteer at the school for functions during the day when they can shift things around at work (so not regularly, but let’s say once a month to a few times a year). And many others are involved with volunteer opportunities outside of school hours - evening socials, evening and weekend school events etc.

Anonymous wrote:The answer to your question is yes and it's very difficult for full time working parents to have the same level of engagement

I SAH and mostly can't make the evening meetings because DH works long hours and I'm not paying a babysitter $100+ to attend a meeting at night. Same was true when I was working and DH still had long (but not as crazy) hours. I would have an easier time leaving work to attend than leaving my kids. For HS, that probably changes.

Zoom would help. Unfortunately, our school is 30 minutes away, and between the driving and social chat beforehand (presumed, yes, but they usually meet at a coffee shop), it's just a lot of time to be gone from the office. Will consider other options.

Anonymous wrote:Parent at WIS. No, but many parents have flexible schedules. Zoom option and recording of parent meetings provided, plus minutes distributed by parent reps. Online volunteer platform helpful to see and sign up for activities at a timeframe convenient for you.

This is our experience too. The vast majority of parents are professionals with enough experience and seniority in their careers that they have substantial control over their schedules.

Those that don’t have that flexibility usually work very high-pressure jobs like corporate law or running investment firms.

Parent at WIS. No, but many parents have flexible schedules. Zoom option and recording of parent meetings provided, plus minutes distributed by parent reps. Online volunteer platform helpful to see and sign up for activities at a timeframe convenient for you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The answer to your question is yes and it's very difficult for full time working parents to have the same level of engagement

Depends on the school. My kid is at Norwood and I can think of only one mom in the entire grade who doesn’t work. In fact, several of the moms have more demanding jobs than their spouses, so I see the dads at school functions more often than the moms.

+1 Our Lady of Lourdes, yes. Sidwell, GDS, no.

Not in Wash DC!

But some may be so senior they can make mtgs at the school during the day.

We’re at Bullis. 3 of 4 members of the PA executive committee have full time (but flexible) jobs. Over half the PA board are not stay at home parents (including both moms and dads). Our board meetings are at 8:30 right after drop off and have a zoom option. (Except an evening holiday party in December and a morning end of year party in May.) Our fall full school P.A. meeting is always after drop off, our spring full school meetings is always evening and our winter meeting rotates. There is always a zoom option for those meetings too.

We give a list at the beginning of the year of volunteer opportunities and, as much as possible, include weekend and evening options.

Anonymous wrote:I was a SAHM when my son was at Green Acres and I believe the only one in the grade. It takes many families 2 incomes to pay for private school, especially if they have multiple children. I also believe families that receive FA are expected to have 2 working adults. I did a lot of volunteering but my fellow volunteers were overwhelmingly working parents.

Really? Somehow I don't think this is true at our school - but I have never applied for aid. How about families where one parent is still caregiving at home for young children...

I was a SAHM when my son was at Green Acres and I believe the only one in the grade. It takes many families 2 incomes to pay for private school, especially if they have multiple children. I also believe families that receive FA are expected to have 2 working adults. I did a lot of volunteering but my fellow volunteers were overwhelmingly working parents.

Anonymous wrote:Parent at Holton. Tons of moms are doctors, lawyers, etc. Lots of daytime events (which are annoying) but IME, the ones who go to those are ones with flexible jobs as opposed to pure SAHM. Of course there are some but it's not even close to "most."

This. The DC area is too expensive for one parent to stay home and send the kids to private school, with few exceptions.

Parent at Holton. Tons of moms are doctors, lawyers, etc. Lots of daytime events (which are annoying) but IME, the ones who go to those are ones with flexible jobs as opposed to pure SAHM. Of course there are some but it's not even close to "most."