Anonymous
06/01/2026 10:00
Subject: Public School Kid Has MUCH Better Ivy Chances Than Private School Kid
Anonymous wrote:There are just as many if not more legacies in public schools than private schools.
Just as many in number, but not as a percentage.
That is the fundamental problem with this thread: no one can agree on whether they want a school that sends the LARGEST NUMBER of kids to Ivies or the school that sends the HIGHEST PERCENTAGE of kids to Ivies.
And neither of those is what OP wanted to talk about, which was how, at least in their perception, for two similar kids (same HHI, similar academic ability), the public school kid has a better chance of admission to an elite college. That’s not about raw numbers or percentages, it’s about results controlling for inputs.
Until DCUM is able to agree on what we’re talking about, this conversation will just go around in circles.
Anonymous
05/31/2026 21:52
Subject: Public School Kid Has MUCH Better Ivy Chances Than Private School Kid
Anonymous wrote:There are just as many if not more legacies in public schools than private schools.
I agree.
But, I mean the ones at issue on this board: inner MoCo, Blair, TJ, northern APS, some FPS, FCPS, J-R. These rich public schools are filled with T10 legacies and also many rich parents. We were in public until Big 3 HS and it’s a misconception that fancy privates are dominated by legacy. That was also completely true of my child’s public school cohort. Most of our child’s friends parents had undergrad or graduate degrees from a Top 10 school. It’s about the same at our private.
Anonymous
05/31/2026 21:13
Subject: Public School Kid Has MUCH Better Ivy Chances Than Private School Kid
There are just as many if not more legacies in public schools than private schools.
Anonymous
05/31/2026 21:04
Subject: Public School Kid Has MUCH Better Ivy Chances Than Private School Kid
I just don’t think this is actually true in how it plays out in outcomes. My son (went to public school) is at Univ of Chicago and said most of the kids he has met there either went to private school or graduated from top public magnet schools (eg multiple kids from TJ, Blair magnet, etc). During their freshman year, the kids who went to regular public schools knew each other and bonded over this.
Anonymous
05/31/2026 20:52
Subject: Public School Kid Has MUCH Better Ivy Chances Than Private School Kid
Anonymous wrote:I have two kids in high school right now. The oldest is at a top private and the youngest opted for Jackson-Reed. I say they are roughly equal in intelligence, but the private school kid works much harder and has more work. However, the private school kid has managed to pull a 3.8 GPA compared to the J-R sibling with a 4.4 GPA.
According to Naviance, the private school kid has almost no shot at a T10 admission and MAYBE a chance at Vanderbilt, Emory, Rice, WashU if they apply ED1. He has good UChicago chances, but he doesn't want to go there. The J-R kid is right on target for Ivies, Stanford, MIT, Duke, etc. And what's more interesting, is that there are <10 applicants to the absolute top colleges each from J-R every year compared to like 1/2 of the private school kids gunning for the T10.
What are their test scores?
Anonymous
05/31/2026 20:33
Subject: Public School Kid Has MUCH Better Ivy Chances Than Private School Kid
Our public is Montgomery Blair, which is considered the best public in Maryland, a well educated state. Even there, out of a class of 800+, 2 went to Harvard last year. Two out of 800+. Give me an f*** break and stop with the nonsense that public school kids are all getting into Ivy's and people are burning money going to privates. I understand that some people are too cheap to pay for their children's education and preferred to fund their retirement, I get it. But stop with the nonsense please.
Anonymous
05/31/2026 19:35
Subject: Re:Public School Kid Has MUCH Better Ivy Chances Than Private School Kid
Or. You could try to get your kid into Washington Latin (public charter) where there are sub-100 students per class, and this year are sending kids to MIT, Yale, Stanford, Cornell, and Princeton.
Anonymous
05/31/2026 18:33
Subject: Public School Kid Has MUCH Better Ivy Chances Than Private School Kid
Anonymous wrote:I have two kids in high school right now. The oldest is at a top private and the youngest opted for Jackson-Reed. I say they are roughly equal in intelligence, but the private school kid works much harder and has more work. However, the private school kid has managed to pull a 3.8 GPA compared to the J-R sibling with a 4.4 GPA.
According to Naviance, the private school kid has almost no shot at a T10 admission and MAYBE a chance at Vanderbilt, Emory, Rice, WashU if they apply ED1. He has good UChicago chances, but he doesn't want to go there. The J-R kid is right on target for Ivies, Stanford, MIT, Duke, etc. And what's more interesting, is that there are <10 applicants to the absolute top colleges each from J-R every year compared to like 1/2 of the private school kids gunning for the T10.
This is news to you, OP?
Anonymous
05/31/2026 18:32
Subject: Public School Kid Has MUCH Better Ivy Chances Than Private School Kid
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:So a public school parent came into the private school forum with this PSA?
We don't care.
And that's not sour grapes. The ivies have devolved into a false idol for spelling bee winning strivers and first gen kids destined go into debt and develop inferiority complexes.
This is def a private school parent. So tired of friends who go private telling me I’m “gaming the system,” by staying in public. They’re obsessed with college outcomes and think they’re owed it because they spent a shit-ton of $$ on MS and HS.
You need better friends, no one owes me anything cause I spent money on my kid's education from 6 months to 18... it is on me the whole time to make sure my kid is doing his best and it is up to him to decide his path once he hits that 18 year point. Sure, I'm going to guide him and unlock every door I can to get him where he wants to go, but I don't think the money I'm sinking into education needs to lead anywhere in particular.
Anonymous
05/31/2026 17:51
Subject: Public School Kid Has MUCH Better Ivy Chances Than Private School Kid
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I call bull****. In 2025, Jackson-Reed didn't send a single student to Harvard, Stanford, or MIT. PolarisList.com . If you are just going to make up stuff, you have to keep your claims vague and not capable of easy verification.
Given that Jackson-Reed doesn't send ANY students to Harvard, Princeton or MIT, your DC's chances there are essentially zero. Granted, your DC's chances at a top private are maybe only 3 percent, but those private school chances are still better. Each family has to decide for itself whether a nominal increase in chance is worth a few hundred thousand dollars, but it is b.sh__ that chances are better in publics, even in top publics.
No the stats do not lie they are published by public schools
Public’s always have a better record
Absolutely absurd to send your kid to a private for college admissions unless you are uber wealthy with major connections like the Kushner or trumps lol
Mine graduated from MCPS all Ivy acceptances all accepted at places like MIT places like Michigan or UNC or Georgia Tech etc
PP obviously doesn't understand simple statistics or even math. Publics have higher numbers because they have hugh classes. At MCPS, the percentage going to Harvard. MIT, Princeton are awful. The stats don't lie, check the Polaris List.
HYPS are accepting less than 3% of applicants overall. Public HS are huge, and can have a graduating class of 500-800 kids, most of whom aren't rich kids playing rich kid recruited sports. THey're also largely not bold-faced name kids or children of legacies. So comparing the percentage of kids who get into HYPS from a public HS and a big 3 private school shows a lack of understanding of applicant pools.
Anonymous
05/31/2026 17:29
Subject: Public School Kid Has MUCH Better Ivy Chances Than Private School Kid
Anonymous wrote:So a public school parent came into the private school forum with this PSA?
We don't care.
And that's not sour grapes. The ivies have devolved into a false idol for spelling bee winning strivers and first gen kids destined go into debt and develop inferiority complexes.
This is def a private school parent. So tired of friends who go private telling me I’m “gaming the system,” by staying in public. They’re obsessed with college outcomes and think they’re owed it because they spent a shit-ton of $$ on MS and HS.
Anonymous
05/31/2026 17:22
Subject: Public School Kid Has MUCH Better Ivy Chances Than Private School Kid
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I call bull****. In 2025, Jackson-Reed didn't send a single student to Harvard, Stanford, or MIT. PolarisList.com . If you are just going to make up stuff, you have to keep your claims vague and not capable of easy verification.
Given that Jackson-Reed doesn't send ANY students to Harvard, Princeton or MIT, your DC's chances there are essentially zero. Granted, your DC's chances at a top private are maybe only 3 percent, but those private school chances are still better. Each family has to decide for itself whether a nominal increase in chance is worth a few hundred thousand dollars, but it is b.sh__ that chances are better in publics, even in top publics.
No the stats do not lie they are published by public schools
Public’s always have a better record
Absolutely absurd to send your kid to a private for college admissions unless you are uber wealthy with major connections like the Kushner or trumps lol
Mine graduated from MCPS all Ivy acceptances all accepted at places like MIT places like Michigan or UNC or Georgia Tech etc
PP obviously doesn't understand simple statistics or even math. Publics have higher numbers because they have hugh classes. At MCPS, the percentage going to Harvard. MIT, Princeton are awful. The stats don't lie, check the Polaris List.
Anonymous
05/31/2026 14:51
Subject: Public School Kid Has MUCH Better Ivy Chances Than Private School Kid
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I call bull****. In 2025, Jackson-Reed didn't send a single student to Harvard, Stanford, or MIT. PolarisList.com . If you are just going to make up stuff, you have to keep your claims vague and not capable of easy verification.
Given that Jackson-Reed doesn't send ANY students to Harvard, Princeton or MIT, your DC's chances there are essentially zero. Granted, your DC's chances at a top private are maybe only 3 percent, but those private school chances are still better. Each family has to decide for itself whether a nominal increase in chance is worth a few hundred thousand dollars, but it is b.sh__ that chances are better in publics, even in top publics.
No the stats do not lie they are published by public schools
Public’s always have a better record
Absolutely absurd to send your kid to a private for college admissions unless you are uber wealthy with major connections like the Kushner or trumps lol
Mine graduated from MCPS all Ivy acceptances all accepted at places like MIT places like Michigan or UNC or Georgia Tech etc
Lies and cope! 🤣
Compare Sidwell’s Ivy+ acceptances to any DC Metro public (non-magnet). Sidwell consistently has a higher percentage of matriculations to Ivy+ schools. Let’s not forget, Sidwell is sending approximately 12% of its seniors to UChicago alone this year.
Most people only care about the results controlling for HHI, SAT, ED status, and recruited athlete status. It’s not at all clear that Sidwell has better results controlling for those elements.
Most families choose a high school for the peer group and the high school experience, not because it increases their child’s odds of getting into a particular college.
When it comes to Sidwell, on DCUM, the goalposts are always moving. Sidwell doesn’t have a monopoly on legacies, wealthy students with high stats, and/or athletic recruits.
Just admit that Sidwell’s students do exceptionally well, and enjoy the rest of your day. Acknowledging the truth is free.
Sure, I’ll admit it. Sidwell curates a cohort of students who do exceptionally well in college admissions. There is no more comprehensively curated cohort in Ward 3!
Anonymous
05/31/2026 14:37
Subject: Public School Kid Has MUCH Better Ivy Chances Than Private School Kid
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I call bull****. In 2025, Jackson-Reed didn't send a single student to Harvard, Stanford, or MIT. PolarisList.com . If you are just going to make up stuff, you have to keep your claims vague and not capable of easy verification.
Given that Jackson-Reed doesn't send ANY students to Harvard, Princeton or MIT, your DC's chances there are essentially zero. Granted, your DC's chances at a top private are maybe only 3 percent, but those private school chances are still better. Each family has to decide for itself whether a nominal increase in chance is worth a few hundred thousand dollars, but it is b.sh__ that chances are better in publics, even in top publics.
No the stats do not lie they are published by public schools
Public’s always have a better record
Absolutely absurd to send your kid to a private for college admissions unless you are uber wealthy with major connections like the Kushner or trumps lol
Mine graduated from MCPS all Ivy acceptances all accepted at places like MIT places like Michigan or UNC or Georgia Tech etc
Lies and cope! 🤣
Compare Sidwell’s Ivy+ acceptances to any DC Metro public (non-magnet). Sidwell consistently has a higher percentage of matriculations to Ivy+ schools. Let’s not forget, Sidwell is sending approximately 12% of its seniors to UChicago alone this year.
Most people only care about the results controlling for HHI, SAT, ED status, and recruited athlete status. It’s not at all clear that Sidwell has better results controlling for those elements.
Most families choose a high school for the peer group and the high school experience, not because it increases their child’s odds of getting into a particular college.
When it comes to Sidwell, on DCUM, the goalposts are always moving. Sidwell doesn’t have a monopoly on legacies, wealthy students with high stats, and/or athletic recruits.
Just admit that Sidwell’s students do exceptionally well, and enjoy the rest of your day. Acknowledging the truth is free.
Anonymous
05/31/2026 13:57
Subject: Public School Kid Has MUCH Better Ivy Chances Than Private School Kid
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I call bull****. In 2025, Jackson-Reed didn't send a single student to Harvard, Stanford, or MIT. PolarisList.com . If you are just going to make up stuff, you have to keep your claims vague and not capable of easy verification.
Given that Jackson-Reed doesn't send ANY students to Harvard, Princeton or MIT, your DC's chances there are essentially zero. Granted, your DC's chances at a top private are maybe only 3 percent, but those private school chances are still better. Each family has to decide for itself whether a nominal increase in chance is worth a few hundred thousand dollars, but it is b.sh__ that chances are better in publics, even in top publics.
No the stats do not lie they are published by public schools
Public’s always have a better record
Absolutely absurd to send your kid to a private for college admissions unless you are uber wealthy with major connections like the Kushner or trumps lol
Mine graduated from MCPS all Ivy acceptances all accepted at places like MIT places like Michigan or UNC or Georgia Tech etc
Lies and cope! 🤣
Compare Sidwell’s Ivy+ acceptances to any DC Metro public (non-magnet). Sidwell consistently has a higher percentage of matriculations to Ivy+ schools. Let’s not forget, Sidwell is sending approximately 12% of its seniors to UChicago alone this year.
Most people only care about the results controlling for HHI, SAT, ED status, and recruited athlete status. It’s not at all clear that Sidwell has better results controlling for those elements.
Most families choose a high school for the peer group and the high school experience, not because it increases their child’s odds of getting into a particular college.