Anonymous wrote:

The evidence shows private schools are overrepresented at top colleges. 30-40% of Ivy League students come from private schools.

Thats funny because I see a ton of posts on the college forum about this private school kid and that private school kid applying for and getting denied by Harvard and Princeton, and they're instead looking at Hamilton or Bates or Notre Dame.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Private school parent here: we send our kids to private because we value childhood and want our kids to cultivate love of learning, sound foundation for friendship development, safety etc. We don't send our kids to private to necessarily get them into an Ivy.

I hope this assuages the tender feelings of public school parents who are truly obsessed with our forum.

+1
I send my gifted kids to top private and yet am encouraging them to apply to state colleges. There is a reason for everything I do and I don’t need to explain it.

Having known a lot of Ivy League kids (NE boarding school grad), I completely agree.

Most people don’t realize how poor the undergrad Harvard education actually is, and how insufferable the kids are.

The university’s rep comes from its grad programs, not undergrad.

My high school best friend’s dad left a tenured Harvard professor job to teach at University of Vermont because he couldn’t stand the kids.

I think going to an excellent state school (Michigan, UVA, etc) can be better preparation for the real world than a lot of private colleges.

People who think it’s Ivy League or bust are primarily people with little direct knowledge of higher ed.

Anonymous wrote:Private school parent here: we send our kids to private because we value childhood and want our kids to cultivate love of learning, sound foundation for friendship development, safety etc. We don't send our kids to private to necessarily get them into an Ivy.

I hope this assuages the tender feelings of public school parents who are truly obsessed with our forum.

+1
I send my gifted kids to top private and yet am encouraging them to apply to state colleges. There is a reason for everything I do and I don’t need to explain it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Imagine what would have happened if you invested in the stock market that $480k of tuition that you shelled out...

That’s ok. I already invested plenty in the stock market.

It’s funny. I have wealthy family members who sent their kids public - because they didn’t get wealthy by wasting their money, and also expect a lot out of their kids, and also are not insecure about their kids’ ability to succeed in public.

You don’t only have to have the money to attend a private but also have to believe that it provides something in addition to education - like prestige in the here and now (apart from whatever educational value it has) or additional support for a kid you believe cannot really hack it in public, or you just want to give your kid the present material benefits of private (like a nicer campus, etc).

That’s ok. It works for my family. If I had less money, public would work us as well.

Same. Although public is not as integrated. I know I pay a premium for on campus private piano and on campus individual executive coaching and on campus mandatory sports. I value these things AND value my time, so it works for me.

Anonymous wrote:I’ll take “Things that aren’t worth $60k/year for $1000, Alex.”

I’ll take things I can’t afford even if they’re worth it for . . .

Yeah, OP, I feel it too. Two kids, full pay is a struggle

Anonymous wrote:Private school parent here: we send our kids to private because we value childhood and want our kids to cultivate love of learning, sound foundation for friendship development, safety etc. We don't send our kids to private to necessarily get them into an Ivy.

I hope this assuages the tender feelings of public school parents who are truly obsessed with our forum.

I love this argument and it’s one I forgot when making my list.

Our kid goes to a K-8. We were deciding between a K-8 and a K-12. One reason we decided on a K-8 was the Head of School saying they try to extend childhood.

That doesn’t mean low expectations.

It means keeping a sense of wonder. A certain innocence without being naive.

He also talked, though, about how in a K-8, the middle schoolers have the chance to show leadership at a time when they’re often overlooked and are many times struggling.

That emphasis on both the proper development of young kids and attention to those tough middle school years is in part why we chose a K-8.

I wonder how these anti-private school parents would feel about these schools if they actually sat down with a good head of school and asked: “what is the value that you think your school brings, and how does that value show up every day for students?”

Private school parent here: we send our kids to private because we value childhood and want our kids to cultivate love of learning, sound foundation for friendship development, safety etc. We don't send our kids to private to necessarily get them into an Ivy.

I hope this assuages the tender feelings of public school parents who are truly obsessed with our forum.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In private school, my kid gets:

- systematic phonics instruction

- instruction in writing and essay crafting starting in 1st grade

- smaller classes (14 kids)

- a true incorporation of art, music, science, etc rather than this being an afterthought

- ample time outside every day

- NO time wasted on state testing

- very few if any disciplinary issues. Two kids were being bullies last year. The school expelled them.

- Extensive write ups in report cards, explaining in depth how she’s doing.

- Teachers will set up meetings in 24 hours after we email them to talk to us about anything.

All of that is worth $45,000/year to us. It might not be for someone else, but it’s pointless for someone to come in here and claim — without presenting evidence — that private school is a waste of money.

I appreciate the candor and detail here. Lots of valid reason why you might send your kids to private school. Lots of valid reasons why you would not.

The one argument that drives me insane is when public school parents compare college results.

If you're sending your kid to private school to get into a "Top 20" college, you've wasted a lot of money. There's great data showing top public school students have equal if not better "results" than private school students. The reason to send you kid to private school should look a lot more like what PP has shared.

PP here. Thank you.

I agree that public school students in magnet high schools do just as well as top private schools. A couple (TJ, Stuy) might do better.

Overall, however, private schools are overrepresented in elite colleges.

The Crimson has good data on this: https://interactives.thecrimson.com/2024/news/feeders

But college admissions is really besides the point. It’s more about everything I mentioned.

Anonymous wrote:In private school, my kid gets:

- systematic phonics instruction

- instruction in writing and essay crafting starting in 1st grade

- smaller classes (14 kids)

- a true incorporation of art, music, science, etc rather than this being an afterthought

- ample time outside every day

- NO time wasted on state testing

- very few if any disciplinary issues. Two kids were being bullies last year. The school expelled them.

- Extensive write ups in report cards, explaining in depth how she’s doing.

- Teachers will set up meetings in 24 hours after we email them to talk to us about anything.

All of that is worth $45,000/year to us. It might not be for someone else, but it’s pointless for someone to come in here and claim — without presenting evidence — that private school is a waste of money.

I appreciate the candor and detail here. Lots of valid reason why you might send your kids to private school. Lots of valid reasons why you would not.

The one argument that drives me insane is when public school parents compare college results.

If you're sending your kid to private school to get into a "Top 20" college, you've wasted a lot of money. There's great data showing top public school students have equal if not better "results" than private school students. The reason to send you kid to private school should look a lot more like what PP has shared.

In private school, my kid gets:

- systematic phonics instruction

- instruction in writing and essay crafting starting in 1st grade

- smaller classes (14 kids)

- a true incorporation of art, music, science, etc rather than this being an afterthought

- ample time outside every day

- NO time wasted on state testing

- very few if any disciplinary issues. Two kids were being bullies last year. The school expelled them.

- Extensive write ups in report cards, explaining in depth how she’s doing.

- Teachers will set up meetings in 24 hours after we email them to talk to us about anything.

All of that is worth $45,000/year to us. It might not be for someone else, but it’s pointless for someone to come in here and claim — without presenting evidence — that private school is a waste of money.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

The evidence shows private schools are overrepresented at top colleges. 30-40% of Ivy League students come from private schools.

and what evidence shows these kids wouldn’t have the same result in public?

You guys are like innumerate. But perhaps not surprising since you are willing to pay $1 mil for something the rest of us get for free.

Now we’re talking hypotheticals, which are — conveniently for you — impossible to substantiate one way or another.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Imagine what would have happened if you invested in the stock market that $480k of tuition that you shelled out...

That’s ok. I already invested plenty in the stock market.

It’s funny. I have wealthy family members who sent their kids public - because they didn’t get wealthy by wasting their money, and also expect a lot out of their kids, and also are not insecure about their kids’ ability to succeed in public.

You don’t only have to have the money to attend a private but also have to believe that it provides something in addition to education - like prestige in the here and now (apart from whatever educational value it has) or additional support for a kid you believe cannot really hack it in public, or you just want to give your kid the present material benefits of private (like a nicer campus, etc).

That’s ok. It works for my family. If I had less money, public would work us as well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Imagine what would have happened if you invested in the stock market that $480k of tuition that you shelled out...

That’s ok. I already invested plenty in the stock market.

It’s funny. I have wealthy family members who sent their kids public - because they didn’t get wealthy by wasting their money, and also expect a lot out of their kids, and also are not insecure about their kids’ ability to succeed in public.

You don’t only have to have the money to attend a private but also have to believe that it provides something in addition to education - like prestige in the here and now (apart from whatever educational value it has) or additional support for a kid you believe cannot really hack it in public, or you just want to give your kid the present material benefits of private (like a nicer campus, etc).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

The evidence shows private schools are overrepresented at top colleges. 30-40% of Ivy League students come from private schools.

and what evidence shows these kids wouldn’t have the same result in public?

You guys are like innumerate. But perhaps not surprising since you are willing to pay $1 mil for something the rest of us get for free.

That’s ok. We can afford it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

The evidence shows private schools are overrepresented at top colleges. 30-40% of Ivy League students come from private schools.

and what evidence shows these kids wouldn’t have the same result in public?

You guys are like innumerate. But perhaps not surprising since you are willing to pay $1 mil for something the rest of us get for free.