Anonymous
Post 01/08/2024 10:34     Subject: Intimidated about being an outsider
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Find a classical school. Often much less expensive but still a very rigorous education.


The unspoken expectation is that every family will have a single income earner making base 500k with a SAHM who can serve on a part time free basis with school operations. Many of them will state this on the tour. I recall one bringing this up when I toured it. We chose not to apply for this reason not because we couldn’t afford it financially but because we are dual income.



I'm not sure this is true. I have two children in a "Big 3" and in both classes, the majority of families appear to have 2 working parents, and while some of those dual-income families (tbh, probably at least 50% ) have one person who earns $400k+ and another who works part time or a less demanding job, there are plenty with both parents government attorneys, or a teacher and a professor, etc.

also-
"Is it feasible that an outsider from PG to just walk into the whole process of choosing and applying to schools without guidance?"

Yes. absolutely. if you read this board you will see plenty of "unhooked" people who get in, even without consultants. Yes, you will have to pay a lot of attention to the process (as does everyone!) but there's a lot of good information on this board and other places online that can help. you can absolutely do this, and you will not necessarily feel out of place. go for it!
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2024 00:10     Subject: Intimidated about being an outsider
Anonymous wrote:

I have a child in grade 1 in PG County. Their therapist and an outside psychologist suggested that they are bored in school and needs more than what the school offers. We have extracurriculars but it doesn't help the other 30 hours a week they're in school. We are just looking for a more personal experience, nicer environment, with academically interesting offerings. (Distance is not a factor.) My spouse and I grew up in working class families and we don’t know anything about the private school world. We don't have any friends with kids at the schools discussed on DCUM. Sure, I can read the steps of “how to apply” but there are all of the nuances such as answering personal statements, how to make your kid look like a star, what connections you have, and the interview process. Is it feasible that an outsider from PG to just walk into the whole process of choosing and applying to schools without guidance? Should I hire one of those edu consultants? I’d love to hear some support from anyone else who has been intimidated by this scene. Do you get the sense of any families at your kids' schools that they aren't elite, and are doing well? FWIW we applied to FCS on a whim for Kinder and were outright denied.

The other part - our income is low 200's, one child. I feel like we are in that in-between of too high for financial aid but not enough to actually pay full $50k tuition. In our early research, the only schools that fit our budget (20k) would be religious schools but we are not religious. Should we still apply to the schools that are a good fit regardless of budget, and see what is offered?


If your HHI is low 200's, you can afford $50k tuition without a doubt. If you bought into a house with a huge mortgage, have expensive car payments, etc. then you aren't budgeting for private school as a priority. If you are socking every extra dollar into 529 for college, that would be the only real reason to justify you not being able to afford it.
Anonymous
Post 01/08/2024 00:02     Subject: Intimidated about being an outsider
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Stay in PG. at least no one will ever make you or your child feel unwelcome. Take your 20-30K a year and supplement your child’s experience. Take them to Japan, get them math tutors, buy a grand piano for them.

Save so that you are in a better position by the time that high school comes around.


This. When does your school start a gifted program OP? You can do a lot of supplementation or save to buy somewhere else for the cost of private school plus the private school commute.


TAG identification in PGCPS is in 1st or 4th grade. Testing is in November and ALL 1st/4th graders are tested. Parents can also nominate to have their child tested. Based on testing results, parents have until March to apply for entry into the TAG program. OP's student doesn't seem to be/wasn't recognized as gifted, or, at least, I don't get that impression based on the information provided. It sounds like OP's student is having a difficult time integrating appropriately in the classroom and is possibly regarded as more of a disruption (possibly some attention, hyperactivity, executive functioning concerns) thus, they are now looking for a smaller, less traditional environment that will hopefully cater to those needs.
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2024 17:00     Subject: Intimidated about being an outsider
Look at WES in Bethesda. I recall families who commuted from PG. It is a very diverse school economically and racially.
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2024 16:55     Subject: Re:Intimidated about being an outsider
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You’re not poor and you should be able to afford 20-30 k tuition on your income while still meeting regular savings goals. If that’s not realistic for you, you have a debt problem. Keep your kid in public until you pay off enough of your debt that you can direct that cash flow to tuition.


Ignore this racist, classist idiot. Apply for financial aid, OP. Plenty of people do.


Plenty of white people have too much debt. Why do you assume that this poster is a minority? Who's the racist now?


Suuuuuuuuure, that's what you meant.
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2024 16:55     Subject: Intimidated about being an outsider
Anonymous wrote:Stay in PG. at least no one will ever make you or your child feel unwelcome. Take your 20-30K a year and supplement your child’s experience. Take them to Japan, get them math tutors, buy a grand piano for them.

Save so that you are in a better position by the time that high school comes around.


This. When does your school start a gifted program OP? You can do a lot of supplementation or save to buy somewhere else for the cost of private school plus the private school commute.
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2024 16:51     Subject: Intimidated about being an outsider
Anonymous wrote:Find a classical school. Often much less expensive but still a very rigorous education.


I am having trouble identifying classical schools (not trivium) in this area.

* Maybe someone who knows could start a separate thread listing them ?
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2024 15:03     Subject: Intimidated about being an outsider
Burgundy Farm in Alexandria - always has families from PG county