Anonymous
Post 04/27/2024 15:15     Subject: If private school were an option?
I’ve had kids at private school and in mcps. It really boils down to the specific schools that are being compared. Not all mcps are the same, not all private are the same, sometimes there are very different experiences in same private between two different grades. Sure, if we had unlimited money and acceptance at any private school we want, we’d go private.
Anonymous
Post 04/27/2024 15:10     Subject: If private school were an option?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Only if I were rich enough not to feel it, and only if my child were accepted to one of a handful of top private schools in the DMV.

That is, I think GDS or SFS are probably better than the education my child is getting in an MCPS magnet, but not by enough to sacrifice college tuition or retirement.

Most other privates, though? No, I think my kids are better served in MCPS.


The achievements of students in programs like Blair's SMCS are so much higher than privates like GDS or Sidwell that I can't see the value.


DP but are we only looking at this in terms of achievements? My kids attend MCPS, but I definitely envy private education for what I perceive as the superior training in writing and public speaking.

I don't think you have kids in MCPS.
Even in areas where you would think that private schools are better i.e. writing and public speaking, MCPS schools dominate these competitions, C-Span for example.


My comment was pretty mild, but sure, my kids don’t even go here. 🙄

I’m a public school product and parent through and through, but your string of argumentative replies just screams insecurity.
Anonymous
Post 04/27/2024 14:59     Subject: If private school were an option?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We're just finishing out K in Mcps in a "top ranked" school. We applied to and committed to a private for next year for 1st.

Dd needed smaller classes, more enrichment, and like many pps stated, a push to "do her best" that private will offer.

I wasn't impressed by anything in Mcps - teachers, admin, facilities, peer group, curriculum. I could go on.



Omg it’s kindergarten


Agree. Kids don’t learn much vastly different K-3 in public or private because you have to ensure the base level foundation for all kids. People are often surprised to discover this later on.


MCPS magnet high schools are really good, but you have to hold your nose and deal with the mediocrity, lack of enrichment or challenging work, etc. until then.


My MCPS kid was in magnet all but 2 years from K-12. You just need to know your options.


Good for you but my post didn’t say that there are no magnet options in early years. I know my options, thank you. Magnet high schools are good. The rest - CES, MS magnets, etc. are mediocre at best.

No private MS school can come close to TPMS, Clemento when it comes to STEM. None can touch Eastern when it comes to humanities, writing and public speaking.
In fact, they cannot even compete regular schools like with Hoover, Frost, Cabin Jones, SSIM, Pyle etc... in general. If these schools are mediocre at best, I feel sorry for the state of private MS: they are abysmal.
Anonymous
Post 04/27/2024 14:47     Subject: If private school were an option?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Only if I were rich enough not to feel it, and only if my child were accepted to one of a handful of top private schools in the DMV.

That is, I think GDS or SFS are probably better than the education my child is getting in an MCPS magnet, but not by enough to sacrifice college tuition or retirement.

Most other privates, though? No, I think my kids are better served in MCPS.


The achievements of students in programs like Blair's SMCS are so much higher than privates like GDS or Sidwell that I can't see the value.


DP but are we only looking at this in terms of achievements? My kids attend MCPS, but I definitely envy private education for what I perceive as the superior training in writing and public speaking.

I don't think you have kids in MCPS.
Even in areas where you would think that private schools are better i.e. writing and public speaking, MCPS schools dominate these competitions, C-Span for example.
Anonymous
Post 04/27/2024 14:41     Subject: If private school were an option?
Anonymous wrote:Only if I were rich enough not to feel it, and only if my child were accepted to one of a handful of top private schools in the DMV.

That is, I think GDS or SFS are probably better than the education my child is getting in an MCPS magnet, but not by enough to sacrifice college tuition or retirement.

Most other privates, though? No, I think my kids are better served in MCPS.

Not even close. No private school in the DMV can match the MCPS magnets.
Anonymous
Post 04/27/2024 09:34     Subject: If private school were an option?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We're just finishing out K in Mcps in a "top ranked" school. We applied to and committed to a private for next year for 1st.

Dd needed smaller classes, more enrichment, and like many pps stated, a push to "do her best" that private will offer.

I wasn't impressed by anything in Mcps - teachers, admin, facilities, peer group, curriculum. I could go on.



Omg it’s kindergarten


Agree. Kids don’t learn much vastly different K-3 in public or private because you have to ensure the base level foundation for all kids. People are often surprised to discover this later on.


Not many privates have to teach kids how to hold a book or a pencil, what an elephant is, or how to speak English. Privates absolutely have the advantage here. Schools can move on and focus on teaching writing, spelling, foreign language, etc. in the young ages because they have a well supported student body.


DP. My kid is in K this year and we recently toured a private, considering a move before our younger child starts. The things that intrigued me, in addition to this, were more time to play, more time to move, outdoor time, more specials (Spanish and science lab). I’m not looking for academic rigor at this age but I am looking to an encourage a love of school and learning. My kindergartener who adored preschool now complains about going to school and I hate that.
Anonymous
Post 04/27/2024 09:25     Subject: If private school were an option?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We're just finishing out K in Mcps in a "top ranked" school. We applied to and committed to a private for next year for 1st.

Dd needed smaller classes, more enrichment, and like many pps stated, a push to "do her best" that private will offer.

I wasn't impressed by anything in Mcps - teachers, admin, facilities, peer group, curriculum. I could go on.



Omg it’s kindergarten


Agree. Kids don’t learn much vastly different K-3 in public or private because you have to ensure the base level foundation for all kids. People are often surprised to discover this later on.


Not many privates have to teach kids how to hold a book or a pencil, what an elephant is, or how to speak English. Privates absolutely have the advantage here. Schools can move on and focus on teaching writing, spelling, foreign language, etc. in the young ages because they have a well supported student body.
Anonymous
Post 04/26/2024 23:42     Subject: If private school were an option?
Anonymous wrote:Do private schools teach kids how to write well? That is my biggest gripe with MCPS.


Yes. Most private schools have separate Language Arts and Literature classes, everyday. It’s not just English class for 60 minutes. It’s 90-110 minutes between the two subjects.
Anonymous
Post 04/26/2024 21:28     Subject: If private school were an option?
OO no one can answer this question for you

Each child is different

Public is almost always better than private.

We did a mix mostly public MCPS because my children math was their best subject and private isn’t no where near as good as public

Two of mine did boarding Phillips Exeter and Andover.








Anonymous
Post 04/26/2024 21:22     Subject: If private school were an option?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Depends what you need. For the sciences, the publics are better than most privates. For special needs and kids who need a smaller classroom environment, private school would likely be more nurturing than MCPS. But beware of the restrictions many private schools have...needing to have As to take AP classes which knocks out perfectly decent B+ kids and restrictions on where and how many colleges a kid can apply to. I wouldn't pay a ton of money to have a school restrict my kids' choices.


Private better for sciences.


No not even close.
Anonymous
Post 04/26/2024 21:19     Subject: If private school were an option?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We're just finishing out K in Mcps in a "top ranked" school. We applied to and committed to a private for next year for 1st.

Dd needed smaller classes, more enrichment, and like many pps stated, a push to "do her best" that private will offer.

I wasn't impressed by anything in Mcps - teachers, admin, facilities, peer group, curriculum. I could go on.



Omg it’s kindergarten


Agree. Kids don’t learn much vastly different K-3 in public or private because you have to ensure the base level foundation for all kids. People are often surprised to discover this later on.


MCPS magnet high schools are really good, but you have to hold your nose and deal with the mediocrity, lack of enrichment or challenging work, etc. until then.


My MCPS kid was in magnet all but 2 years from K-12. You just need to know your options.


What are these magnet options you speak of, before middle school? CES? Not til 4th grade. Immersion? Lottery. Am I missing something else?

Must be some special WPES thing.
Anonymous
Post 04/26/2024 20:21     Subject: If private school were an option?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We're just finishing out K in Mcps in a "top ranked" school. We applied to and committed to a private for next year for 1st.

Dd needed smaller classes, more enrichment, and like many pps stated, a push to "do her best" that private will offer.

I wasn't impressed by anything in Mcps - teachers, admin, facilities, peer group, curriculum. I could go on.



Omg it’s kindergarten


Agree. Kids don’t learn much vastly different K-3 in public or private because you have to ensure the base level foundation for all kids. People are often surprised to discover this later on.


MCPS magnet high schools are really good, but you have to hold your nose and deal with the mediocrity, lack of enrichment or challenging work, etc. until then.


My MCPS kid was in magnet all but 2 years from K-12. You just need to know your options.


What are these magnet options you speak of, before middle school? CES? Not til 4th grade. Immersion? Lottery. Am I missing something else?
Anonymous
Post 04/26/2024 18:50     Subject: If private school were an option?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We're just finishing out K in Mcps in a "top ranked" school. We applied to and committed to a private for next year for 1st.

Dd needed smaller classes, more enrichment, and like many pps stated, a push to "do her best" that private will offer.

I wasn't impressed by anything in Mcps - teachers, admin, facilities, peer group, curriculum. I could go on.



Omg it’s kindergarten


Agree. Kids don’t learn much vastly different K-3 in public or private because you have to ensure the base level foundation for all kids. People are often surprised to discover this later on.


MCPS magnet high schools are really good, but you have to hold your nose and deal with the mediocrity, lack of enrichment or challenging work, etc. until then.


My MCPS kid was in magnet all but 2 years from K-12. You just need to know your options.


Good for you but my post didn’t say that there are no magnet options in early years. I know my options, thank you. Magnet high schools are good. The rest - CES, MS magnets, etc. are mediocre at best.


+1 and I'm the pp that said we're moving our Ker out of Mcps after this year...we're also moving DC ASAP so that she can make friends and adjust socially in the new community.

Ofc we're aware of the options (grew up here so are probably even further dialed in that snarky "know your options" pp)...and know that the option also includes a swap out of current social group/school in our case. Also agree that those options are mediocre.
Anonymous
Post 04/26/2024 16:58     Subject: If private school were an option?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We're just finishing out K in Mcps in a "top ranked" school. We applied to and committed to a private for next year for 1st.

Dd needed smaller classes, more enrichment, and like many pps stated, a push to "do her best" that private will offer.

I wasn't impressed by anything in Mcps - teachers, admin, facilities, peer group, curriculum. I could go on.



Omg it’s kindergarten


Agree. Kids don’t learn much vastly different K-3 in public or private because you have to ensure the base level foundation for all kids. People are often surprised to discover this later on.


MCPS magnet high schools are really good, but you have to hold your nose and deal with the mediocrity, lack of enrichment or challenging work, etc. until then.


My MCPS kid was in magnet all but 2 years from K-12. You just need to know your options.


Good for you but my post didn’t say that there are no magnet options in early years. I know my options, thank you. Magnet high schools are good. The rest - CES, MS magnets, etc. are mediocre at best.
Anonymous
Post 04/26/2024 15:14     Subject: If private school were an option?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Only if I were rich enough not to feel it, and only if my child were accepted to one of a handful of top private schools in the DMV.

That is, I think GDS or SFS are probably better than the education my child is getting in an MCPS magnet, but not by enough to sacrifice college tuition or retirement.

Most other privates, though? No, I think my kids are better served in MCPS.


The achievements of students in programs like Blair's SMCS are so much higher than privates like GDS or Sidwell that I can't see the value.


DP but are we only looking at this in terms of achievements? My kids attend MCPS, but I definitely envy private education for what I perceive as the superior training in writing and public speaking.