Most truly low income kids could not attend a private school in this area because of the costs beyond tuition. Even if those families got 100% off tuition and a stipend for other expenses like transportation, uniforms, extracurriculars, and school trips there are still other barriers in place. The commute time cutting into hours they need to be working or helping watch younger family members. Then you have to factor in the different needs those students have. Low income students disproportionately need ELL services and accommodations for special needs. Even if there aren’t diagnosed disabilities or delays these students are typically in remedial classes so low that they aren’t offered at area privates. This is not because the students aren’t capable but they do not have the same support and resources at home. The wonder stories you hear about a homeless child graduating at an elite private school and going on to an Ivy are rare outliers. Students need familial support and guidance to succeed at these types of schools. DCUM is so disconnected from reality that saying “truly poor kids” means kids who have hhi of 150-250k who can afford to be at the k-8 with their kids but can’t swing the 40-50k for a private high school. Kids who are in the periphery of the upper class lifestyle through sports and extracurriculars but not at the country clubs or expensive international trips. Kids who blend in easily and don’t disrupt thw environment too much.

Anonymous wrote:I know of multiple kids who get 50% off and they live it 1.5M homes and higher in McLean and Bethesda and are receiving significant financial aid for their kid in a top school. Also worthy of note- these are not top athletes, students, etc.

Anyone else seeing this?

Or like the mom and daughter that had their full trip to Europe paid by the school? Some people really know how to work the system.

Anonymous wrote:The question in my mind is who is really here FA? Who is the wealth being redistributed to. I think that if it’s a moral question of whether you believe that a schools student body should be made up if (1) the very best academic students regardless family income, (2) the very best athletes regardless of income, (3) a mix of students from different economic backgrounds. I have a problem with 3. I support 1 and 2.

FA isn’t really being used for those purposes however and plays a different role. It’s bragging rights here in DC about amount of aid, #of families on aid, diversity of student population. So there isn’t really an incentive to insure that FA is being appropriately awarded only for purposed (1) and (2).

Ok, so you think FA should only be distributed only to athletes and the highest achieving academic students? What about other talents (e.g. arts, culinary). Kids have diverse talents and contributions. Completely disagree with your notion that academic and athletic meritocracy should be the only considerations. This is bizarre. There is something we can all learn from varying socioeconomic scenarios and the exposure it brings from each spectrum. I like that FA is need based and some people have an opportunity to make possible the impossible due to FA and in some cases, now have an opportunity to be pushed to be the best artist, athlete, researcher, writer, speaker, doctor, chef, etc. whatever they aspire to be.

The question in my mind is who is really here FA? Who is the wealth being redistributed to. I think that if it’s a moral question of whether you believe that a schools student body should be made up if (1) the very best academic students regardless family income, (2) the very best athletes regardless of income, (3) a mix of students from different economic backgrounds. I have a problem with 3. I support 1 and 2.

FA isn’t really being used for those purposes however and plays a different role. It’s bragging rights here in DC about amount of aid, #of families on aid, diversity of student population. So there isn’t really an incentive to insure that FA is being appropriately awarded only for purposed (1) and (2).

Anonymous wrote:Are you all just now realizing this? Welcome to how financial aid works. The formula looks at the expenses and doesn't punish for poor financial decisions. That's why all flash and no cash people with high mortgages and car payments get aid while others in modest, paid off houses, beater cars, and no vacations don't.

And this is why people are contributing less or not at all because the formula is obviously not looking at the correct things and certainly not evenly. Why should a GS-12 family get to have a stay at home parent, live in a wealthy community and paying little to do so, get 90% financial aide, while a family with two working GS-11s pay for everything and then only get 40% financial aide.

Anonymous wrote:Are you all just now realizing this? Welcome to how financial aid works. The formula looks at the expenses and doesn't punish for poor financial decisions. That's why all flash and no cash people with high mortgages and car payments get aid while others in modest, paid off houses, beater cars, and no vacations don't.

It was never about financial need. It was always about income redistribution.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think that schools want to ensure they get a good mix of candidates and those whose parents fall in the middle might choose not to even bother applying otherwise. Getting some small % of financial aid takes the sting out, enough to make it worthwhile to apply. this results in a more balanced student body. This is just a guess! We are not getting financial aid. So I don't really know. But it doesn't bother me. I'm sure the schools have a system that works and it's not really everyone's business to be mad or judgy. (well, maybe it's DCUM's business ha)

+1. It’s also recognizing financial reality. A family making $150-200k probably can’t swing a $50-60k tuition. A family making $250-300k would struggle to do this for more than one kid, etc. If the schools want these kids this is what they have to do.

No, it’s all about lifestyle choices.

Exactly.

We make 350k/year and have one kid in private. No financial aid or assistance from family. It can be done.

Are you all just now realizing this? Welcome to how financial aid works. The formula looks at the expenses and doesn't punish for poor financial decisions. That's why all flash and no cash people with high mortgages and car payments get aid while others in modest, paid off houses, beater cars, and no vacations don't.

Anonymous wrote:I know of multiple kids who get 50% off and they live it 1.5M homes and higher in McLean and Bethesda and are receiving significant financial aid for their kid in a top school. Also worthy of note- these are not top athletes, students, etc.

Anyone else seeing this?

Should be obvious that having some people not pay their fair share means that some people are paying more than theirs.

This will continue driving tuition up and up and up until parents stand up to the insanity.

FA is a funny thing. We scrape and budget to send our kids to private school. Our school provides a military scholarship for kids of active duty. I retired from the military a few years ago and contribute to the fund. Until… this year when an active duty family we know shows up on full ride from the scholarship we contribute to. That is not the issue. We want to support military families & kids. The issue I have is that they did not take into consideration the other parents job - which is a Dr in a very high pay specialty. Ridiculous. I contribute to their scholarship and guaranteed they make more than we do as civil servants.

Our family earns a six-figure income, but without significant tuition discounts, we wouldn't be able to afford private school for our kids. While we are very frugal, living in this area is financially challenging. We apply to schools in hopes of providing our children with a good education. It's up to the school to decide whether to offer a tuition discount to our kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a GS-12 Fed with a stay-at-home wife, and we live in a 4M+ McLean neighborhood that is owned by her parents (no mortgage). They also pay property taxes, maintenance, landscape, and upkeeping of the house. We are only responsible for electricity and water bills. I have three kids at two different big3 private, and they each receive about 90% of the financial aid. Her parents pay the remaining 10% of the tuition.

Grifter.

Jealous much?

Anonymous wrote:I am a GS-12 Fed with a stay-at-home wife, and we live in a 4M+ McLean neighborhood that is owned by her parents (no mortgage). They also pay property taxes, maintenance, landscape, and upkeeping of the house. We are only responsible for electricity and water bills. I have three kids at two different big3 private, and they each receive about 90% of the financial aid. Her parents pay the remaining 10% of the tuition.

Grifter.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think that schools want to ensure they get a good mix of candidates and those whose parents fall in the middle might choose not to even bother applying otherwise. Getting some small % of financial aid takes the sting out, enough to make it worthwhile to apply. this results in a more balanced student body. This is just a guess! We are not getting financial aid. So I don't really know. But it doesn't bother me. I'm sure the schools have a system that works and it's not really everyone's business to be mad or judgy. (well, maybe it's DCUM's business ha)

+1. It’s also recognizing financial reality. A family making $150-200k probably can’t swing a $50-60k tuition. A family making $250-300k would struggle to do this for more than one kid, etc. If the schools want these kids this is what they have to do.

No, it’s all about lifestyle choices.

That’s what you tell yourself. The schools are interested in getting kids enrolled, especially if they pay most of the full price, so they deal with the reality that families are facing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think that schools want to ensure they get a good mix of candidates and those whose parents fall in the middle might choose not to even bother applying otherwise. Getting some small % of financial aid takes the sting out, enough to make it worthwhile to apply. this results in a more balanced student body. This is just a guess! We are not getting financial aid. So I don't really know. But it doesn't bother me. I'm sure the schools have a system that works and it's not really everyone's business to be mad or judgy. (well, maybe it's DCUM's business ha)

+1. It’s also recognizing financial reality. A family making $150-200k probably can’t swing a $50-60k tuition. A family making $250-300k would struggle to do this for more than one kid, etc. If the schools want these kids this is what they have to do.

No, it’s all about lifestyle choices.