Our daughter is applying to get into private for high school. Her school has too many fights, everyone cheats off of her, she gets picked on, she needs smaller class sizes, and she doesn't feel safe at public school anymore.

Moved to private from public at 9th grade. Tired of classrooms focused on the bottom rather than focusing on raising all students from where they are. Love the smaller environment and focus on community. Kids aren't perfect in private, but I've yet to hear of bathrooms closed due to vaping, overdoses, and fights. All things I've heard of at all three APS high schools. College counseling is tremendous and focused on the kids individually. Our child's homework is primarily written as are tests rather than leaning in on using the laptops to teach.

Smaller student body means greater opportunities to make sports teams, take on leadership roles in clubs, get parts in plays and musicals. Basically, more opportunities per student versus at much larger schools. Even if academics are on par with surrounding publics, the overall environment is better in our opinion.

Anonymous wrote:My question is what do middle class families do in this area public is declining but private even with aid is unaffordable so what do they do?

Go to public school and move to the one you want, like everybody else.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My question is what do middle class families do in this area public is declining but private even with aid is unaffordable so what do they do?

MOVE

Yeah. To where? All the good pyramids are prohibitively expensive.

Do some research. You complain that private schools are too expensive and it’s not fair that other people use them (but then the poster did decide to use them so the poster is complaining about themself?). If all the “good pyramids” are too expensive you live somewhere else. It’s not rocket science. Or you vote out the school board and local government that keeps letting this slide.

The answers are obvious. People voted for this over and over again and then are upset when what everyone complains about finally affects them too. “It’s not fair”. Yeah. Where have you been all this time?

So much bitterness for a Saturday morning.

The truth hurts, for you I guess. Grow up.

I’m not even the PP, was just pointing out your bizarre reaction.

Assume you are the same person who was ranting about people asking others to pay for them, when no one had actually done that.

Absolute nutters on this thread.

No, I am not the same poster ranting about people asking to pay.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My question is what do middle class families do in this area public is declining but private even with aid is unaffordable so what do they do?

MOVE

Yeah. To where? All the good pyramids are prohibitively expensive.

Do some research. You complain that private schools are too expensive and it’s not fair that other people use them (but then the poster did decide to use them so the poster is complaining about themself?). If all the “good pyramids” are too expensive you live somewhere else. It’s not rocket science. Or you vote out the school board and local government that keeps letting this slide.

The answers are obvious. People voted for this over and over again and then are upset when what everyone complains about finally affects them too. “It’s not fair”. Yeah. Where have you been all this time?

So much bitterness for a Saturday morning.

The truth hurts, for you I guess. Grow up.

I’m not even the PP, was just pointing out your bizarre reaction.

Assume you are the same person who was ranting about people asking others to pay for them, when no one had actually done that.

Absolute nutters on this thread.

Odd for you to post this. Get a life. You are the nutter. Look in the mirror.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My question is what do middle class families do in this area public is declining but private even with aid is unaffordable so what do they do?

MOVE

Yeah. To where? All the good pyramids are prohibitively expensive.

Do some research. You complain that private schools are too expensive and it’s not fair that other people use them (but then the poster did decide to use them so the poster is complaining about themself?). If all the “good pyramids” are too expensive you live somewhere else. It’s not rocket science. Or you vote out the school board and local government that keeps letting this slide.

The answers are obvious. People voted for this over and over again and then are upset when what everyone complains about finally affects them too. “It’s not fair”. Yeah. Where have you been all this time?

So much bitterness for a Saturday morning.

The truth hurts, for you I guess. Grow up.

I’m not even the PP, was just pointing out your bizarre reaction.

Assume you are the same person who was ranting about people asking others to pay for them, when no one had actually done that.

Absolute nutters on this thread.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My question is what do middle class families do in this area public is declining but private even with aid is unaffordable so what do they do?

MOVE

Yeah. To where? All the good pyramids are prohibitively expensive.

Do some research. You complain that private schools are too expensive and it’s not fair that other people use them (but then the poster did decide to use them so the poster is complaining about themself?). If all the “good pyramids” are too expensive you live somewhere else. It’s not rocket science. Or you vote out the school board and local government that keeps letting this slide.

The answers are obvious. People voted for this over and over again and then are upset when what everyone complains about finally affects them too. “It’s not fair”. Yeah. Where have you been all this time?

So much bitterness for a Saturday morning.

The truth hurts, for you I guess. Grow up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My question is what do middle class families do in this area public is declining but private even with aid is unaffordable so what do they do?

MOVE

Yeah. To where? All the good pyramids are prohibitively expensive.

Do some research. You complain that private schools are too expensive and it’s not fair that other people use them (but then the poster did decide to use them so the poster is complaining about themself?). If all the “good pyramids” are too expensive you live somewhere else. It’s not rocket science. Or you vote out the school board and local government that keeps letting this slide.

The answers are obvious. People voted for this over and over again and then are upset when what everyone complains about finally affects them too. “It’s not fair”. Yeah. Where have you been all this time?

So much bitterness for a Saturday morning.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My question is what do middle class families do in this area public is declining but private even with aid is unaffordable so what do they do?

MOVE

Yeah. To where? All the good pyramids are prohibitively expensive.

Do some research. You complain that private schools are too expensive and it’s not fair that other people use them (but then the poster did decide to use them so the poster is complaining about themself?). If all the “good pyramids” are too expensive you live somewhere else. It’s not rocket science. Or you vote out the school board and local government that keeps letting this slide.

The answers are obvious. People voted for this over and over again and then are upset when what everyone complains about finally affects them too. “It’s not fair”. Yeah. Where have you been all this time?

Live somewhere else as different pyramid or different metro area?

Either one.

Or a smaller house. Or a rental. One choice would be the very best educational pyramid but make other trade offs - an older, simpler car; a smaller mortgage or rent obligation. I see these giant houses out in the middle of nowhere with cruddy schools and I see the trade offs those parents make. And then they complain about their public schools.

You don't know that the "best public schools" aren't so great until you are in them. It's hard to really know about any school, public or private, until your kid is there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My question is what do middle class families do in this area public is declining but private even with aid is unaffordable so what do they do?

MOVE

Yeah. To where? All the good pyramids are prohibitively expensive.

Do some research. You complain that private schools are too expensive and it’s not fair that other people use them (but then the poster did decide to use them so the poster is complaining about themself?). If all the “good pyramids” are too expensive you live somewhere else. It’s not rocket science. Or you vote out the school board and local government that keeps letting this slide.

The answers are obvious. People voted for this over and over again and then are upset when what everyone complains about finally affects them too. “It’s not fair”. Yeah. Where have you been all this time?

Live somewhere else as different pyramid or different metro area?

Either one.

Or a smaller house. Or a rental. One choice would be the very best educational pyramid but make other trade offs - an older, simpler car; a smaller mortgage or rent obligation. I see these giant houses out in the middle of nowhere with cruddy schools and I see the trade offs those parents make. And then they complain about their public schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My question is what do middle class families do in this area public is declining but private even with aid is unaffordable so what do they do?

MOVE

Yeah. To where? All the good pyramids are prohibitively expensive.

Do some research. You complain that private schools are too expensive and it’s not fair that other people use them (but then the poster did decide to use them so the poster is complaining about themself?). If all the “good pyramids” are too expensive you live somewhere else. It’s not rocket science. Or you vote out the school board and local government that keeps letting this slide.

The answers are obvious. People voted for this over and over again and then are upset when what everyone complains about finally affects them too. “It’s not fair”. Yeah. Where have you been all this time?

Live somewhere else as different pyramid or different metro area?

Either one.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My question is what do middle class families do in this area public is declining but private even with aid is unaffordable so what do they do?

MOVE

Yeah. To where? All the good pyramids are prohibitively expensive.

Do some research. You complain that private schools are too expensive and it’s not fair that other people use them (but then the poster did decide to use them so the poster is complaining about themself?). If all the “good pyramids” are too expensive you live somewhere else. It’s not rocket science. Or you vote out the school board and local government that keeps letting this slide.

The answers are obvious. People voted for this over and over again and then are upset when what everyone complains about finally affects them too. “It’s not fair”. Yeah. Where have you been all this time?

Live somewhere else as different pyramid or different metro area?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My question is what do middle class families do in this area public is declining but private even with aid is unaffordable so what do they do?

MOVE

Yeah. To where? All the good pyramids are prohibitively expensive.

Do some research. You complain that private schools are too expensive and it’s not fair that other people use them (but then the poster did decide to use them so the poster is complaining about themself?). If all the “good pyramids” are too expensive you live somewhere else. It’s not rocket science. Or you vote out the school board and local government that keeps letting this slide.

The answers are obvious. People voted for this over and over again and then are upset when what everyone complains about finally affects them too. “It’s not fair”. Yeah. Where have you been all this time?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All these things you can find in good public school districts.

Most public school parents are ignorant about how bad public school education is because they have no point of comparison, especially those who are Millennials and Gen Z.

The best school district in VA is Falls Church. At the high school level, it is no match for Sidwell, NCS/STA, GDS, or Potomac.

I read this thread because I send child to one of these schools from Nova. My experience with my neighborhood cohort from is: they are just as educated — if not more so — than the private school set. This is because those schools place a huge emphasis on financial aid so there are many UMC kids. Not true in my neighborhood. Things change when you are talking about the local really great public HS which feeds from several neighborhoods. But the idea that my neighbors are stupid is ignorant. They are oft times hug believers in public schools. Nova is a big place.

Who places a huge emphasis on financial aid?
At most of the schools you listed above, 75% to 80%+ of families pay the total cost (tuition, plus fees). Walking the walk is much harder than talking the talk.

At Sidwell, 1 in 4 students in the US is on financial aid. 25%. That is MUCH higher than my local neighborhood elementary school bounded geographically by housing that costs $2M+. Sidwell US is WAY more economically diverse than most economically segregated neighborhoods.

LOL. Sidwell isn’t giving full rides! Even with a FA discount, tuition is too high for many families.

Anonymous wrote:Simple.

We can.

Fairfax schools have fallen of the past 10-20 years

Class sizes too big in public.

Failure of Public schools during COVID.

DEI and having to deal with the school board.

Transgender students in bathrooms.

Fights, assaults on campus. Very little discipline.

And I can go on and on…

Gross. Which private school admitted the MAGA bigot?