Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The publics can be amazingly bad.

So can the privates, and you pay for the privilege of their ineptitude.

We moved to an excellent cluster in Mo Co and paid only about $600K for a home on 2 acres. Prior to that, my children were in private. I'll admit that (as an educator) the public outshines the private on many, many levels. However, back in the old 'hood, the schools were highly impacted and thus low achieving. So private was our only option.

totally worth the move
fantastic to save that tuition for college instead!

There are homes in good areas that aren't selling for $700 and up. But so many people are stuck on the name and cant' see beyond that. (Bethesda, anyone?)

Which one are you leaning toward? I would go for #1 as long as you talk to people who are happy with the schools.

No brainer- #2. Before you decide, you should tour all the public and privates you are considering.

Anonymous wrote:I'm not naming it because I don't want the debate to get very specific about a particular school. Think 5 or 6 on GreatSchools measurements, vs. the "excellent" publics that rate more like a 9 or 10.

Again, I'll say, that I wouldn't rely on ranking or stats. Visit the schools, tour, sit in on classes, talk to parents. Look at your kid, think about what's important to him/her. Where does he/she learn best. Then decide which school is right for them.

Our child is at a high school that gets a "5" on greatschools. The feeder middle school in our pyramid (which DC also attended) rates a "9." Honestly, I can't see that the middle school was any better than the high school; in fact, I think there is much to prefer about the high school. At any rate, we were/are extremely happy with both schools. I put absolutely zero stock in greatschools ratings.

I'm not naming it because I don't want the debate to get very specific about a particular school. Think 5 or 6 on GreatSchools measurements, vs. the "excellent" publics that rate more like a 9 or 10.

Anonymous wrote:The publics can be amazingly bad.

In this area?? Unless we're talking about DC or PG County, I wouldn't be too concerned.

Anonymous wrote:The publics can be amazingly bad.

So can the privates, and you pay for the privilege of their ineptitude.

Option #1 save for college and invest for retirement. Eventually your investments will throw enough cash to pay all of your expenses. Become a capitalist and prosper.

The publics can be amazingly bad.

1, then 3 if for some reason 1 wasn't working out. But I wouldn't bail on the local school without reason.

We are doing #2.

As opposed to using labels like "excellent" that seem to come from reputation, I'd think long and hard about what my particular child needed, and then tour schools and ask a million questions with that in mind. I'd then choose the school that fit him or her best.

Schools are really important to me, so it's something I'd invest in, but I also wouldn't assume that a school was or wasn't better for a specific kid based on reputation alone.

Can you name your school cluster?

Option 1.