Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s upside down world…but I wonder if boarding schools become more popular because they are net cheaper for many families compared to local day schools.

Deerfield said that no family will pay more than 10% AGI…in theory that means a family earning $500k will only pay $50k to attend Deerfield vs $60k+ in the DMV and $70k+ in NYC.

Gets significantly cheaper if your kid plays a travel sport like hockey since that’s included in the Deerfield price.

Yes, and Deerfield's admit rate has plunged even lower as a result. They used to be around 20% and now they're around 10% like Exeter and Andover. Their financial aid commitment has led to a spike in interest from upper-middle class families. For a typical upper-middle class DMV family raking in $250k-300k/year, spending $25k-$30k on a Deerfield education vs $60k on a Big 3 is a massive steal.

The difference is even greater than the tuition delta.

If you are a lacrosse/rowing/other expensive sport kid, you just saved $10-$15k per year on top of the $35k saved on tuition. And your grocery bill will go into a blissful free fall.

The family contribution percentage applies to all areas of the school: private test prep, preseason athletic travel, cultural travel overseas. I think the percentage even applies to individual music instruction? You’d have to check that one. But if you get a 60% tuition discount, that discount carries over into all things that add up on top of day school tuition, which does not cover those extras.

This isn’t unique to Deerfield. They are just leading the way, anlong with Andover and Exeter. Groton even has a name for the kids that all boarding schools are now courting: the missing middle. None of these schools want to limit their classes to billionaires and full rides. They want a mix. So the upper middle class families are definitely paying attention. The schools are following the generous private colleges who often make their schools less expensive than the student’s state school. It’s terrific!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you care about status and staying elite then BS is the way to go. While some students are there for the education, most are there because it’s a status symbol.

If your child moves to NY or LA or really anywhere, a BS education will benefit them more with the right crowds. Many in DC will argue that DC privates are well known but I disagree. I think Dallas privates are more recognized than DC privates besides maybe Sidwell. There isn’t enough money in DC.

This really doesn’t hold true, in my experience.

Kids were either at Andover for the education or for the education and because they have family legacy there.

These schools are just too hard to get into for someone who is only interested in it for status to have much of a chance at getting in and succeeding.

Andover’s unofficial motto is “sink or swim.” I found it much harder than college, FWIW.

Andover and Exeter are too big to give much hand-holding or warmth. They are basically liberal arts colleges for teenagers. If your kid wants a traditional boarding school experience with a strong sense of community, they need to look at Hotchkiss, Deerfield, St. Paul's, etc. all the schools with ~600 students or less have much more oversight. Or, consider applying to second-tier/third-tier boarding schools such as Westminster, Peddie, Avon, or Berkshire. These schools have a much broader array of academic talent, so there's not the "sink or swim" mentality or expectation students figure out material themselves.

PP here. I want to be clear — Andover teachers were still very supportive, and the sense of community is strong.

The motto comes from the academic intensity.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you care about status and staying elite then BS is the way to go. While some students are there for the education, most are there because it’s a status symbol.

If your child moves to NY or LA or really anywhere, a BS education will benefit them more with the right crowds. Many in DC will argue that DC privates are well known but I disagree. I think Dallas privates are more recognized than DC privates besides maybe Sidwell. There isn’t enough money in DC.

This really doesn’t hold true, in my experience.

Kids were either at Andover for the education or for the education and because they have family legacy there.

These schools are just too hard to get into for someone who is only interested in it for status to have much of a chance at getting in and succeeding.

Andover’s unofficial motto is “sink or swim.” I found it much harder than college, FWIW.

Andover and Exeter are too big to give much hand-holding or warmth. They are basically liberal arts colleges for teenagers. If your kid wants a traditional boarding school experience with a strong sense of community, they need to look at Hotchkiss, Deerfield, St. Paul's, etc. all the schools with ~600 students or less have much more oversight. Or, consider applying to second-tier/third-tier boarding schools such as Westminster, Peddie, Avon, or Berkshire. These schools have a much broader array of academic talent, so there's not the "sink or swim" mentality or expectation students figure out material themselves.

If your kid can handle it mentally and is interested, it can be an amazing experience. I attended BS in the late 1990s. My kids are not interested, so I am not pushing them, but I really loved my experience. I think it did affect me culturally, too, even though i did not grow up wealthy (attended on scholarship).

Anonymous wrote:It’s upside down world…but I wonder if boarding schools become more popular because they are net cheaper for many families compared to local day schools.

Deerfield said that no family will pay more than 10% AGI…in theory that means a family earning $500k will only pay $50k to attend Deerfield vs $60k+ in the DMV and $70k+ in NYC.

Gets significantly cheaper if your kid plays a travel sport like hockey since that’s included in the Deerfield price.

Yes, and Deerfield's admit rate has plunged even lower as a result. They used to be around 20% and now they're around 10% like Exeter and Andover. Their financial aid commitment has led to a spike in interest from upper-middle class families. For a typical upper-middle class DMV family raking in $250k-300k/year, spending $25k-$30k on a Deerfield education vs $60k on a Big 3 is a massive steal.

Anonymous wrote:It’s upside down world…but I wonder if boarding schools become more popular because they are net cheaper for many families compared to local day schools.

Deerfield said that no family will pay more than 10% AGI…in theory that means a family earning $500k will only pay $50k to attend Deerfield vs $60k+ in the DMV and $70k+ in NYC.

Gets significantly cheaper if your kid plays a travel sport like hockey since that’s included in the Deerfield price.

This is broadly correct. If you're a middle or upper-middle class family, the financial aid at a strong boarding school outstrips what you'd receive at the local day schools. Boarding schools are just much wealthier.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you care about status and staying elite then BS is the way to go. While some students are there for the education, most are there because it’s a status symbol.

If your child moves to NY or LA or really anywhere, a BS education will benefit them more with the right crowds. Many in DC will argue that DC privates are well known but I disagree. I think Dallas privates are more recognized than DC privates besides maybe Sidwell. There isn’t enough money in DC.

This really doesn’t hold true, in my experience.

Kids were either at Andover for the education or for the education and because they have family legacy there.

These schools are just too hard to get into for someone who is only interested in it for status to have much of a chance at getting in and succeeding.

Andover’s unofficial motto is “sink or swim.” I found it much harder than college, FWIW.

Family legacy is status

Yes. But most are not going solely because of family legacy. Legacy kids get rejected. Faculty kids get rejected.

It’s simply too difficult of a school for a kid to graduate without working hard.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you care about status and staying elite then BS is the way to go. While some students are there for the education, most are there because it’s a status symbol.

If your child moves to NY or LA or really anywhere, a BS education will benefit them more with the right crowds. Many in DC will argue that DC privates are well known but I disagree. I think Dallas privates are more recognized than DC privates besides maybe Sidwell. There isn’t enough money in DC.

This really doesn’t hold true, in my experience.

Kids were either at Andover for the education or for the education and because they have family legacy there.

These schools are just too hard to get into for someone who is only interested in it for status to have much of a chance at getting in and succeeding.

Andover’s unofficial motto is “sink or swim.” I found it much harder than college, FWIW.

Family legacy is status

Anonymous wrote:If you care about status and staying elite then BS is the way to go. While some students are there for the education, most are there because it’s a status symbol.

If your child moves to NY or LA or really anywhere, a BS education will benefit them more with the right crowds. Many in DC will argue that DC privates are well known but I disagree. I think Dallas privates are more recognized than DC privates besides maybe Sidwell. There isn’t enough money in DC.

This really doesn’t hold true, in my experience.

Kids were either at Andover for the education or for the education and because they have family legacy there.

These schools are just too hard to get into for someone who is only interested in it for status to have much of a chance at getting in and succeeding.

Andover’s unofficial motto is “sink or swim.” I found it much harder than college, FWIW.

If you care about status and staying elite then BS is the way to go. While some students are there for the education, most are there because it’s a status symbol.

If your child moves to NY or LA or really anywhere, a BS education will benefit them more with the right crowds. Many in DC will argue that DC privates are well known but I disagree. I think Dallas privates are more recognized than DC privates besides maybe Sidwell. There isn’t enough money in DC.

Anonymous wrote:It’s upside down world…but I wonder if boarding schools become more popular because they are net cheaper for many families compared to local day schools.

Deerfield said that no family will pay more than 10% AGI…in theory that means a family earning $500k will only pay $50k to attend Deerfield vs $60k+ in the DMV and $70k+ in NYC.

Gets significantly cheaper if your kid plays a travel sport like hockey since that’s included in the Deerfield price.

This is a good point. Compared to NYC privates that are about 70k, Deerfield is 74k and that includes room & board and access to elite sports teams for certain sports (hockey, lacrosse, etc.). I just looked it up and families making over 150k pay only 10% of income per child. That’s amazing financial aid!

My son went to Exeter and his connections with the business world are unreal. Most importantly, our family made lifelong friends people who have as many, if not more, connections than we have. Win win.

Anonymous wrote:It’s upside down world…but I wonder if boarding schools become more popular because they are net cheaper for many families compared to local day schools.

Deerfield said that no family will pay more than 10% AGI…in theory that means a family earning $500k will only pay $50k to attend Deerfield vs $60k+ in the DMV and $70k+ in NYC.

Gets significantly cheaper if your kid plays a travel sport like hockey since that’s included in the Deerfield price.

This is correct. I would only send my kid to boarding school if the cost was lower than their local private. A lot of parents feel the same way.

It’s upside down world…but I wonder if boarding schools become more popular because they are net cheaper for many families compared to local day schools.

Deerfield said that no family will pay more than 10% AGI…in theory that means a family earning $500k will only pay $50k to attend Deerfield vs $60k+ in the DMV and $70k+ in NYC.

Gets significantly cheaper if your kid plays a travel sport like hockey since that’s included in the Deerfield price.

The head of Exeter whose boys went to St Albans was not the head of Exeter when his kids were high school age. He was a practicing lawyer who lived here in DC. (Full disclosure I don’t know whether his kids went tint Albans or not- but I do know his kids were full grown adults by the time he became the principal)