Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think 13:20 had a good list but I also think some people have lots of cash to spare and figure going to a school you apply to and pay for must be better than a school that’s free and takes everyone.

Basically a designer label for your kid’s education

I actually think the same thing but have a somewhat different take on it.

There’s a certain set of striver parents who work extremely hard and make a whole lot of money. They’re wholly focused on their careers and don’t have a lot of extra time for their kids. They often wait to have kids until they’re in their mid to late 30s or older, and by the time the kids hit high school they’re in or close to their 50s and are so far removed from being young and so consumed with career and achievement that it never even occurs to them to consider public school no matter how good the school is. It’s another way to justify working so hard and soften the guilt they feel for neglecting their kids for all those years. “We do this for the kids,” they lie to themselves.

It’s an insane way of thinking.

This is actually NOT a thing. Most parents at our local public has their kids in their mid to late thirties and will be in their 50s when their kids are in high school. We left public for private and the age range is the same - oddly it skews a slightly younger. And a good number are stay at home moms so there is no career “distracting them from their children” and making them “so busy” that they can’t consider public school. This is a really far left theory that makes no sense.

Whew! It is funny the things people tell themselves so they can sleep at night.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In some areas, people put their kids in private because they know they aren’t up to compete in the local publics. This is especially true if the local publics are majority Asian.

Yep. I’ve found this to be absolutely true!

I find this odd. We are in private school and most of are friends are as well and we are mostly zoned for the 'W' schools. Not being around Asians has never been discussed as one of the reasons for being in private - it's just a way of life. There's a private school world that you don't understand until you have been a part of it. There is an elitism that you will never really understand that includes belonging to the same country clubs, vacationing together, attending the same churches (if you are say, Catholic). And importantly, most of these kids will have jobs no matter how well or how poorly they do in high school and thereafter college because of their family and friend connections. Asian student performance therefore, plays no part in the motivation to go private. It would be odd to pay $30-50,000 to avoid Asian students. This is a stupid theory.

You are truly nauseating! Signed, your neighbor

I appreciate the honesty. I mean, the logic is BS but I appreciate that the poster is owning the elitist attitude.

My kid is in public school. He is a member of the same community pool as his friends, we go on vacations with families from school, we are in the same Scout Troop and rec sport teams as his friends. More likely then not he will end up with a good job because he is attending good schools and will go to college. Not all that different except that we are saving $20,000-$50,000 a year by sending him to a strong public school.

It actually IS different but that's okay. Your experience in what you consider a "good" public school is far different than private school but you don't know that because your kid has never been to private school. If you want to know the difference, visit the private school forum and ask parents if a "good" public school is just like a private school. Having done that, I can tell you it's not and others will confirm this. And we may all end up shoulder to shoulder in the same college/university - but remember the private school kids are extremely well connected and will always fall back into/revert back to their elite social circle. Going to the same institution of higher education doesn't thereby make your kid "on par" with a private high school graduate. I think it's comforting for public school parents to tell themselves this but really think about how this plays out during and after college - their connections versus your own; their ability to own home right off the bat because of wealth vs. your own kids; their ability to secure better internships with possibly less impressive college credentials because of who they know vs. your own kids; who they are able to socialize with vs. who your kids are able to socialize with. I'm not trying to be a snob but it's a whole world that you don't know about. It's best not to pretend you understand it.

#1 benefit for us is that my kid knows that a deadline and a due date are the same thing.

Anonymous wrote:I think 13:20 had a good list but I also think some people have lots of cash to spare and figure going to a school you apply to and pay for must be better than a school that’s free and takes everyone.

Basically a designer label for your kid’s education

I actually think the same thing but have a somewhat different take on it.

There’s a certain set of striver parents who work extremely hard and make a whole lot of money. They’re wholly focused on their careers and don’t have a lot of extra time for their kids. They often wait to have kids until they’re in their mid to late 30s or older, and by the time the kids hit high school they’re in or close to their 50s and are so far removed from being young and so consumed with career and achievement that it never even occurs to them to consider public school no matter how good the school is. It’s another way to justify working so hard and soften the guilt they feel for neglecting their kids for all those years. “We do this for the kids,” they lie to themselves.

It’s an insane way of thinking.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Some possible reasons:

-Those publics are huge
-Only super talented, experienced athletes can meaningfully participate in sports at those publics, versus kids getting to play, say, soccer or lacrosse for the very first time in 9th grade at a small private school
-Not every kid is a highly self-motivated, resourceful go getter who can succeed in a gigantic public school
-Mandatory 3 seasons of sports at private
-Privates are better at teaching writing
-At many privates, 99% (if not 100%!) of the class will go onto a 4-year college right after high school. At such privates, even all the kids in the lowest-levels of classes offered are college-bound
-Smaller class sizes in private
-Religious or ideological reasons
-Some privates focus on areas like typing, cursive, table manners, interacting with adults in the community

This is an excellent list. Only thing I'd add is a community of like minded parents. Of course there are active, involve parents in public but there are tons that are not. In private the community is often tight, supportive, actively involved. Which makes the whole experience better.

Makes the experience better for the parents, you mean? Because students don’t give a shot about that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In some areas, people put their kids in private because they know they aren’t up to compete in the local publics. This is especially true if the local publics are majority Asian.

Yep. I’ve found this to be absolutely true!

I find this odd. We are in private school and most of are friends are as well and we are mostly zoned for the 'W' schools. Not being around Asians has never been discussed as one of the reasons for being in private - it's just a way of life. There's a private school world that you don't understand until you have been a part of it. There is an elitism that you will never really understand that includes belonging to the same country clubs, vacationing together, attending the same churches (if you are say, Catholic). And importantly, most of these kids will have jobs no matter how well or how poorly they do in high school and thereafter college because of their family and friend connections. Asian student performance therefore, plays no part in the motivation to go private. It would be odd to pay $30-50,000 to avoid Asian students. This is a stupid theory.

You are truly nauseating! Signed, your neighbor

I appreciate the honesty. I mean, the logic is BS but I appreciate that the poster is owning the elitist attitude.

My kid is in public school. He is a member of the same community pool as his friends, we go on vacations with families from school, we are in the same Scout Troop and rec sport teams as his friends. More likely then not he will end up with a good job because he is attending good schools and will go to college. Not all that different except that we are saving $20,000-$50,000 a year by sending him to a strong public school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In some areas, people put their kids in private because they know they aren’t up to compete in the local publics. This is especially true if the local publics are majority Asian.

Yep. I’ve found this to be absolutely true!

I find this odd. We are in private school and most of are friends are as well and we are mostly zoned for the 'W' schools. Not being around Asians has never been discussed as one of the reasons for being in private - it's just a way of life. There's a private school world that you don't understand until you have been a part of it. There is an elitism that you will never really understand that includes belonging to the same country clubs, vacationing together, attending the same churches (if you are say, Catholic). And importantly, most of these kids will have jobs no matter how well or how poorly they do in high school and thereafter college because of their family and friend connections. Asian student performance therefore, plays no part in the motivation to go private. It would be odd to pay $30-50,000 to avoid Asian students. This is a stupid theory.

You are truly nauseating! Signed, your neighbor

*Attentive teachers who actually WANT to be in the classroom.
* Smaller class sizes than public schools.
* Great writing curriculum.
* Whole child development.
* Emphasis on a variety of forms of art.
* Opportunity for everyone to play sports/on sports teams.
* Safety - no school shootings, other violence, etc.
* Amazing field trips.
* No cell phone use allowed during the school day.
* Very limited Chromebook use - emphasis on handwritten assignments.
* Like-minded parents/community.
* One hour lunches, with a variety of healthy options.
* Recess everyday through middle school.
* Public speaking/debate emphasis.
* Circuit competitions - spelling and geography bees.
*
* Lifelong network and alumni network.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In some areas, people put their kids in private because they know they aren’t up to compete in the local publics. This is especially true if the local publics are majority Asian.

Yep. I’ve found this to be absolutely true!

I find this odd. We are in private school and most of are friends are as well and we are mostly zoned for the 'W' schools. Not being around Asians has never been discussed as one of the reasons for being in private - it's just a way of life. There's a private school world that you don't understand until you have been a part of it. There is an elitism that you will never really understand that includes belonging to the same country clubs, vacationing together, attending the same churches (if you are say, Catholic). And importantly, most of these kids will have jobs no matter how well or how poorly they do in high school and thereafter college because of their family and friend connections. Asian student performance therefore, plays no part in the motivation to go private. It would be odd to pay $30-50,000 to avoid Asian students. This is a stupid theory.

Anonymous wrote:Serious question, what are the benefits of Private school for those in Whitman/Churchill/Wooton/BCC school districts? The public schools are so good, just trying to understand why so many people in these school clusters are choosing private.

Turns out all these schools offer great opportunities for enrichment. In fact, many even less affluent ones do too and the kids do great. Who would've known!?!6

Anonymous wrote:In some areas, people put their kids in private because they know they aren’t up to compete in the local publics. This is especially true if the local publics are majority Asian.

“Aren’t up to compete” can also mean “Don’t want to spend hours in weekend school just to be three grade levels ahead.”

~ Asian

Anonymous wrote:In some areas, people put their kids in private because they know they aren’t up to compete in the local publics. This is especially true if the local publics are majority Asian.

Yep. I’ve found this to be absolutely true!

Anonymous wrote:Every family makes this calculus to some degree. Why aren’t families at Whitman sending their kids to BCC? Why aren’t families at BCC sending their kids to Wheaton? Why aren’t families at charters in DC sending their kids to Eastern HS?

I don’t know about DC but families in Whitman aren’t sending their kids to BCC because they aren’t zoned for BCC.

We picked the house that worked for us and were happy when it turned out to be zoned for BCC instead of Whitman.

In some areas, people put their kids in private because they know they aren’t up to compete in the local publics. This is especially true if the local publics are majority Asian.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every family makes this calculus to some degree. Why aren’t families at Whitman sending their kids to BCC? Why aren’t families at BCC sending their kids to Wheaton? Why aren’t families at charters in DC sending their kids to Eastern HS?

Cute how you don’t ask why families in Wheaton don’t send their kids to BCC

Because they can’t afford to. If they could, they would.