Anonymous
Post 02/03/2026 07:40     Subject: $60k

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Sorry, but I do not see any difference in success ratio between my friends, whose kids went to Sidwell and whose kids went to good public schools....the Sidwell kids did not go to better colleges, nor did they get better jobs.


Maybe that's true for the 2 Sidwell kids you know. As soon as you enter Sidwell, your chances of success skyrocket.


That’s just a laughable assertion. A high IQ and motivated kid with high SES parents is going to do just as well if not better if they go to BCC or Whitman as compared to Sidwell.


That's one big fat lie. Smart kids drown at competitive MoCo public schools. The resources + advising + academics + small class size at Sidwell naturally breeds kids that stand out.


lol sure they drown all the way to college

But yes, if you have a child who cannot cope with some discomfort or need to be self-sufficient, then a private school has additional value.

Also remember that we are talking about Hilton not Sidwell.
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2026 07:39     Subject: $60k

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Fascinated again to see parents of kids that go to public schools hate on parents of kids that go to private. All kids will have a chance to succeed. Relax. But don't judge us for spending $ for a good K-12 experience along the way...


It’s insecurity.

Of course kids can succeed in a lot of ways.

But to argue private school kids are:
- simply in need of hand holding
- set to do worse than public school kids in college admissions and job prospects

… just reeks of insecurity.

Generations of people would not pay high sums of money for schools that actively HARM college admissions and job prospects.

I’ve gone to public school in high SES areas and have gone to elite private schools. While it’s absolutely true that people can succeed in either path, an excellent private school has the resources that no public school has — outside of the very top magnet schools.

That has concrete benefits at all educational levels, if the school leverages the resources effectively.

Is that fair? No. But life isn’t fair.


There is literally an entire economic theory demonstrating that price does not correlate to quality in some luxury goods. It’s called “conspicuous consumption.”

I don’t really care if it is fair or not - you are welcome to blow $1 mil if you have it.


If you want to equate a top private school and conspicuous consumption (yeah, I graduated high school, so I know what that is too), that’s great. But it just shows you have no experience with what a top private school can actually provide.


The question is does it provide $1 mil worth of value when there is no evidence that it will improve your child’s college admissions chances?
Anonymous
Post 02/03/2026 07:38     Subject: $60k

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Have the $60k schools given up on socioeconomic diversity entirely?



Supposedly, from the financial aid, there will be a bit of diversity. But I agree there will be less. Are there still discounts for the IMF/World Bank/Embassy families?


Those families typically earn high incomes, so not sure about your question.


Only the Fund. Not high enough to make $60k a no-brainer and not low enough to bring any meaningful socioeconomic diversity.
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2026 22:29     Subject: $60k

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Sorry, but I do not see any difference in success ratio between my friends, whose kids went to Sidwell and whose kids went to good public schools....the Sidwell kids did not go to better colleges, nor did they get better jobs.


Maybe that's true for the 2 Sidwell kids you know. As soon as you enter Sidwell, your chances of success skyrocket.


That’s just a laughable assertion. A high IQ and motivated kid with high SES parents is going to do just as well if not better if they go to BCC or Whitman as compared to Sidwell.


That's one big fat lie. Smart kids drown at competitive MoCo public schools. The resources + advising + academics + small class size at Sidwell naturally breeds kids that stand out.


Also breed entitled kids.
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2026 21:39     Subject: $60k

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Fascinated again to see parents of kids that go to public schools hate on parents of kids that go to private. All kids will have a chance to succeed. Relax. But don't judge us for spending $ for a good K-12 experience along the way...


It’s insecurity.

Of course kids can succeed in a lot of ways.

But to argue private school kids are:
- simply in need of hand holding
- set to do worse than public school kids in college admissions and job prospects

… just reeks of insecurity.

Generations of people would not pay high sums of money for schools that actively HARM college admissions and job prospects.

I’ve gone to public school in high SES areas and have gone to elite private schools. While it’s absolutely true that people can succeed in either path, an excellent private school has the resources that no public school has — outside of the very top magnet schools.

That has concrete benefits at all educational levels, if the school leverages the resources effectively.

Is that fair? No. But life isn’t fair.


There is literally an entire economic theory demonstrating that price does not correlate to quality in some luxury goods. It’s called “conspicuous consumption.”

I don’t really care if it is fair or not - you are welcome to blow $1 mil if you have it.


That’s not the definition of “conspicuous consumption.”

Conspicuous consumption — or Veblen goods — describes cases in which high prices increase demand because of status signaling.

It doesn’t say that price and quality are not correlated. It simply says price isn’t sufficient evidence of quality.

Maybe if you had gone to a private school, you’d understand Veblen’s theory.
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2026 21:37     Subject: $60k

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Sorry, but I do not see any difference in success ratio between my friends, whose kids went to Sidwell and whose kids went to good public schools....the Sidwell kids did not go to better colleges, nor did they get better jobs.


Maybe that's true for the 2 Sidwell kids you know. As soon as you enter Sidwell, your chances of success skyrocket.


That’s just a laughable assertion. A high IQ and motivated kid with high SES parents is going to do just as well if not better if they go to BCC or Whitman as compared to Sidwell.


That's one big fat lie. Smart kids drown at competitive MoCo public schools. The resources + advising + academics + small class size at Sidwell naturally breeds kids that stand out.
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2026 21:34     Subject: $60k

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Fascinated again to see parents of kids that go to public schools hate on parents of kids that go to private. All kids will have a chance to succeed. Relax. But don't judge us for spending $ for a good K-12 experience along the way...


It’s insecurity.

Of course kids can succeed in a lot of ways.

But to argue private school kids are:
- simply in need of hand holding
- set to do worse than public school kids in college admissions and job prospects

… just reeks of insecurity.

Generations of people would not pay high sums of money for schools that actively HARM college admissions and job prospects.

I’ve gone to public school in high SES areas and have gone to elite private schools. While it’s absolutely true that people can succeed in either path, an excellent private school has the resources that no public school has — outside of the very top magnet schools.

That has concrete benefits at all educational levels, if the school leverages the resources effectively.

Is that fair? No. But life isn’t fair.


There is literally an entire economic theory demonstrating that price does not correlate to quality in some luxury goods. It’s called “conspicuous consumption.”

I don’t really care if it is fair or not - you are welcome to blow $1 mil if you have it.


If you want to equate a top private school and conspicuous consumption (yeah, I graduated high school, so I know what that is too), that’s great. But it just shows you have no experience with what a top private school can actually provide.
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2026 20:24     Subject: $60k

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Have the $60k schools given up on socioeconomic diversity entirely?



Supposedly, from the financial aid, there will be a bit of diversity. But I agree there will be less. Are there still discounts for the IMF/World Bank/Embassy families?


Those families typically earn high incomes, so not sure about your question.
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2026 19:59     Subject: $60k

Anonymous wrote:Have the $60k schools given up on socioeconomic diversity entirely?



Supposedly, from the financial aid, there will be a bit of diversity. But I agree there will be less. Are there still discounts for the IMF/World Bank/Embassy families?
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2026 19:21     Subject: $60k

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Fascinated again to see parents of kids that go to public schools hate on parents of kids that go to private. All kids will have a chance to succeed. Relax. But don't judge us for spending $ for a good K-12 experience along the way...


It’s insecurity.

Of course kids can succeed in a lot of ways.

But to argue private school kids are:
- simply in need of hand holding
- set to do worse than public school kids in college admissions and job prospects

… just reeks of insecurity.

Generations of people would not pay high sums of money for schools that actively HARM college admissions and job prospects.

I’ve gone to public school in high SES areas and have gone to elite private schools. While it’s absolutely true that people can succeed in either path, an excellent private school has the resources that no public school has — outside of the very top magnet schools.

That has concrete benefits at all educational levels, if the school leverages the resources effectively.

Is that fair? No. But life isn’t fair.


There is literally an entire economic theory demonstrating that price does not correlate to quality in some luxury goods. It’s called “conspicuous consumption.”

I don’t really care if it is fair or not - you are welcome to blow $1 mil if you have it.
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2026 19:13     Subject: $60k

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Haven't seen next year's tuition because my Snail is moving on but this year was $58K for day, approx. $75K for boarders and an additional $15K if your daughter simply can't live without her own horse.

And, yes, I think it is worth every penny.


Is this Madeira?

Yes


What clued you in? The unique mascot? The boarding / day split? Or did you need to get all the way to the horses to figure it out.
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2026 13:34     Subject: $60k

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Fascinated again to see parents of kids that go to public schools hate on parents of kids that go to private. All kids will have a chance to succeed. Relax. But don't judge us for spending $ for a good K-12 experience along the way...


It’s insecurity.

Of course kids can succeed in a lot of ways.

But to argue private school kids are:
- simply in need of hand holding
- set to do worse than public school kids in college admissions and job prospects

… just reeks of insecurity.

Generations of people would not pay high sums of money for schools that actively HARM college admissions and job prospects.

I’ve gone to public school in high SES areas and have gone to elite private schools. While it’s absolutely true that people can succeed in either path, an excellent private school has the resources that no public school has — outside of the very top magnet schools.

That has concrete benefits at all educational levels, if the school leverages the resources effectively.

Is that fair? No. But life isn’t fair.


+100

Totally agree and DP.

I went to top public and Pvt schools and it's a difft culture entirely. Who you are determines your success for sure. Butlers face the obvious - having resources will provide more opportunities.

Having less kids in a class offers more time with a teacher. Etc, etc. Pvt schools with this snow storm have mostly gone back to class this wk. public is for the most part still out. I made friends in public and private but those in private schools were for the most part somehow more worldly. Not that they were nicer or smarter but it's a different flavor of kid. Some will be more comfortable socially with public culture and some in private.

It's a matter of personality and preference but as a parent I'm comparing not the concept of public v Pvt but rather best environment for my kid and what their needs require to get the most out of academics. And some may be best with a blend of Pvt and public. It's wrong to bash either side - most of us parents all try to make the best choices we can for our kids.
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2026 10:07     Subject: $60k

Anonymous wrote:Fascinated again to see parents of kids that go to public schools hate on parents of kids that go to private. All kids will have a chance to succeed. Relax. But don't judge us for spending $ for a good K-12 experience along the way...


It’s insecurity.

Of course kids can succeed in a lot of ways.

But to argue private school kids are:
- simply in need of hand holding
- set to do worse than public school kids in college admissions and job prospects

… just reeks of insecurity.

Generations of people would not pay high sums of money for schools that actively HARM college admissions and job prospects.

I’ve gone to public school in high SES areas and have gone to elite private schools. While it’s absolutely true that people can succeed in either path, an excellent private school has the resources that no public school has — outside of the very top magnet schools.

That has concrete benefits at all educational levels, if the school leverages the resources effectively.

Is that fair? No. But life isn’t fair.
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2026 09:47     Subject: $60k

Anonymous wrote:Have the $60k schools given up on socioeconomic diversity entirely?



Yes, if you care about socioeconomic diversity you can go to public schools or cheaper private schools.
Anonymous
Post 02/02/2026 09:33     Subject: $60k

Have the $60k schools given up on socioeconomic diversity entirely?