Anonymous
Post 03/12/2013 14:47     Subject: Beauvoir or Key School??
+1
Anonymous
Post 03/12/2013 13:51     Subject: Beauvoir or Key School??
10:49 poster is ill informed. Stress does not define the year. I am a parent of current Key 5th grader and it has been a great year -- superb teachers, small class size and a great school community. No parent I have spoken to likes the school search and application process, but then who does? As for out placements, it seems most of the Key class of 2013 are gaining admission to their preferred schools.
Anonymous
Post 03/12/2013 13:40     Subject: Beauvoir or Key School??
See a bunch of typos--sorry
Anonymous
Post 03/12/2013 13:40     Subject: Beauvoir or Key School??
People have different priorities. Not making a judgement on these priorities just acknowleding them. The idea of having my child in anything less than what I consider to be the very best early childhood enviornment, and not having to worry as much about outplacement, outweighs the stress of having to pay for private school. Believe me, the financial stress is there but as someone who went to private school, giving my child something different, i.e. public school, to me, rightly or wrongly, also means something less and the idea of that pains me. Choosing private school means that I don't have the option of staying at home--but my hours and job are failry flexible so I really feel as if I have the best of both worlds. Getting back to the OP, it really does depend on the level of financial stress your family is comfortable with. While it's great that so many public school children have been able to get into STA--it does become much more difficult if you are not at Beauvoir--and really the competition for all the privates beccomes harder just from a sheer numbers standpoint. I know STA siblings and children of legacies who did not get in. You are not in an easy position--we were in the same position and it is a VERY hard dec. What ever your gut tells you will be the right thing to do for you and your family. I hope it all works out.
Anonymous
Post 03/12/2013 12:36     Subject: Beauvoir or Key School??
Anonymous wrote:I've heard through acquaintances that there is nothing more stressful than to be in 5th grade at Key. It means that you haven't figured out your child's options and time is ticking. Not judging, just saying. I have heard plenty of stories of normal, nice families who feel like last-man-standing because all of their kid's friend have moved on to private or have another option by 5th grade. I guess there is a reason the 5th grade only has a total of 27 kids. That says a lot!


For us, it was more like: That saves a lot, which for our family is a big de-stresser. Kids love 5th at Key--getting to be the "seniors" w/classmates who have been their friends for most of their lives. (DD going to big 3 for 6th.)
Anonymous
Post 03/12/2013 12:16     Subject: Beauvoir or Key School??
I am a DC native and big 3 alum, and although we still have time to decide where to send our LO, I am both concerned about the cost of privates and the differences in quality of public and private schools. We are also in the Key school district.

For the PP who asked why alums' children still get preference, FWIW, my family made sacrifices and investments to send myself and my siblings to those schools, and we continue to be a part of the community. I would hope that is taken in to consideration if/when my child applies to that school, although I agree that it should not be an automatic in.
Anonymous
Post 03/12/2013 10:49     Subject: Beauvoir or Key School??
I've heard through acquaintances that there is nothing more stressful than to be in 5th grade at Key. It means that you haven't figured out your child's options and time is ticking. Not judging, just saying. I have heard plenty of stories of normal, nice families who feel like last-man-standing because all of their kid's friend have moved on to private or have another option by 5th grade. I guess there is a reason the 5th grade only has a total of 27 kids. That says a lot!
Anonymous
Post 03/12/2013 10:14     Subject: Beauvoir or Key School??
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Congrats on Beauvoir! Our seven (pre-k to 5th) years at Key were great for us. DC makes As but isn't top of class at Key. Did well on SSAT (w/no prep, other than 6.5 years at Key). We aren't interested in an all girls/boys school but applied DC to similarly ranked schools and DC was accepted w/no connections. Very few (if any) Key kids are going to Hardy for 6th. DC's outcome is the same for all of the classmates we know (who aren't moving to Deal district or Montgomery County). I wouldn't trade those DCPS/Key years for anything. In addition to being free, we're so glad DC had an opportunity to attend a public school, where there are great teachers and best of all, a super smart, caring, thoughtful, friendly, down-to-earth community. Good luck in your decision making.


So, PP, some of DCs classmates will be moving to avoid Hardy ? I assume that means the parents are selling their home because the school of their choice placement for Middle School did not work out ? Isn't that what OP is trying to avoid ?


Assumption is incorrect (along with the assumption that all Key families own homes). With only 27 children (total for the two 5th grade classes), most of whom are going to private after Key, I don't feel that it's appropriate to discuss the reasons for other families' decisions not to attend private schools (though they seem pretty obvious once your assumption is ruled out).
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2013 22:01     Subject: Beauvoir or Key School??
Anonymous wrote:Well said. And yes, I am one of those dc natives who is sending my child to a different school then the one
I attended. And it it my sincerest hope that I will not feel, at some point, pressured to send my child to my alma mater because despite how schools may change over the years, I think this particular school has changed for the worse (it was pretty full of mean people to begin with).


I've seen this play out in a few families, but mostly because the DC was already at the feeder school. No doubt there are some 9 year olds who are very upset at a decision parents have just informed them of this week. Just like in Poldergeist, " Listen to mommy, turn away from the light, or you will be in big trouble !"
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2013 21:46     Subject: Beauvoir or Key School??
Anonymous wrote:Following on PP's thought, we over heard loud conversation in coffee shop yesterday. Child leaving Beauvoir and "we haven't decided yet" in response to question about where child is going next year. Unclear if child got in or not but not a straight shot for that family for one reason or another.


"haven't decided yet" suggests that the family actually has a choice, as in 2 or more acceptances to choose from. So, basically that speaks to Beauvoir outplacement.
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2013 21:37     Subject: Beauvoir or Key School??
Anonymous wrote:Congrats on Beauvoir! Our seven (pre-k to 5th) years at Key were great for us. DC makes As but isn't top of class at Key. Did well on SSAT (w/no prep, other than 6.5 years at Key). We aren't interested in an all girls/boys school but applied DC to similarly ranked schools and DC was accepted w/no connections. Very few (if any) Key kids are going to Hardy for 6th. DC's outcome is the same for all of the classmates we know (who aren't moving to Deal district or Montgomery County). I wouldn't trade those DCPS/Key years for anything. In addition to being free, we're so glad DC had an opportunity to attend a public school, where there are great teachers and best of all, a super smart, caring, thoughtful, friendly, down-to-earth community. Good luck in your decision making.


So, PP, some of DCs classmates will be moving to avoid Hardy ? I assume that means the parents are selling their home because the school of their choice placement for Middle School did not work out ? Isn't that what OP is trying to avoid ?
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2013 21:15     Subject: Re:Beauvoir or Key School??
40% of children residing in DC attend schools other than DCPS. Charter space is limited . School with out Walls is just as competitive to get into as DC Private ( with just as much testing to qualify and also interviews) Parents who live in CoHi,Shaw, U St, Mt P,Petworth, and NOMA look into everything, including Private. That's not being elitist, that's trying to keep you work/life balance in place , and keep your home, while pursuing a great education for your child. Those are very practical considerations.

No one is denigrating Eaton or Key on this thread or even weighing in on merits of public vs private, except to say that Wilson ( Cohi PS) or Dunbar( NOMA, Petworth PS) are not options. Perhaps you think the out of bounds family who lives in Petwrth should just skip the Private school application process and send their kid to Dunbar HS ? Have you been inside Dunbar HS ? I ask because I have ben inside that school and, no, I will not be sending my child there. Ditto Wilson.

OP has expressed a preference for Saint Albans and asked her DS's chances of 4th grade accept at STA in 4 years if she turns down the Beauvoir accept at this time.

Instead of answering her question on odds, you are trying to steer her choice based on your own value judgement:

Beavoir = elitist snob, staying in DCPS at Key= down to earth nice people. LOL, I know lots of parents at Key who have their nose in the air. For example, " we chose public school because we don't want to be with those elitists in private school, sniff, sniff"

Words of advice: drop the sanctimony.


Anonymous
Post 03/11/2013 20:59     Subject: Beauvoir or Key School??
Oh come on DC public school advocates! These schools are not on par with private schools and stating this fact does not make one an elitist or out of touch! Even at the very best dc public schools, there is an over crowding problem and the individualized attention is just not there. Even my friends, and yes, us private school people do mingle and are even close with the public school crowd, who gush about their dc public schools in the same breath talk about over crowding but act like it doesn't affect the quality of education. And for the person who presupposes that private schools do not have middle class families, how closed mind and uninformed. We are middle class and send our child to private school. Why is it ok to bash the private school set while extolling just how much better public school is and all the "real" (what ever that means) public school families. Class war fare, reverse snobbery.
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2013 20:43     Subject: Beauvoir or Key School??
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Calling yourself a parent who is "going for it for the kids we love" might not make you an elitist, but it does make you an ass. Your comment suggests that others - those who didn't apply/get into STA didn't love their kids. Come to think of it, it makes you an elitist too b/c it pre-supposes that STA is better.



PP, your reaction is pretty twisted. Did you not see " Waiting for Superman" ? Perhaps you don't live in Washington ? One wonders why you are lurking on the DCUM Private School forum as you seem so totally out of touch with what every parent of a 4 year old in this city goes through whether they are going for the " out of bounds" DCPS lottery, hoping they get lucky with the Charter school lottery or are throwing a hope and a prayer at their DC maybe getting accepted into Private School. No parent in DC wants their kid in a poorly performing DCPS, and many , many schools are just that. They don't serve our children, and yes, ALL try to get out. ALL. I don't believe a single parent in this city wants to send their kid to ( insert name of the worst DCPS you know) . No parent. We all love our kids. Not every parent will find an altternative solution. Many of my friends have sold or rented out their house and moved to Bethesda or Arlington. Some people don't own a home, and can't afford to move because they can't afford to rent in Bethesda. Yes, there are people in this city who, horrors do live on like $300/week and , no they can't afford to "just find an apartment somewhere else" . Does not mean they aren't looking at voucher program, Charter schools , and yes, Private schools. Why not ?


Do you not have any friends with children about 3 or 4 years old ? Why are you lurking on this thread when you are so obviously out of touch with the concerns of DC parents ?

What is your dog in the fight of whether the OP sends her child to Beauvoir or not ? OP wants Saint Albans, that is her end game. What is your purpose here ? To try to convince her that ," all DC Privates schools are filled with elitists" and she should not bother ? " If she were a decent human being she'd stick with the "real people" in DCPS. Really ? Would you say this to a Mom who lives in Ward 7 and who's son was just offered almost a full FA package to STA ? Its a great opportunity, nothing more, nothing less.


Um, seriously? This entire thread is about whether Op should send her child to Beauvoir ($30k+) or to Key school (neighborhood where houses are approx. 1mm). Where exactly is the woe-is-the-poor-ward 7-parent-with-no-options take coming from?? This entire thread is elitist if you hadn't noticed. Also, do you really think 1st or 2nd grade at Beauvoir is significantly better than what is happening at Key school. You are a fool and a joke. Signed, DC resident


Didn't say Beauvoir was better tahn Key or better than Eaton. They do have similar curriculuums. But, your assumption that the OP is of a prividledged class is wrong. This is site is read on the internet. You have no idea who the OP is. Many parents place their kids at Eaton or Key from out of bounds, and from some neighborhoods with really bad schools, like: Trinidad, NOMO, and CoHi. Linclon and Wilson are not an option for our kids. It sounds like it is you, PP, who needs to meet soem middle class people.
Anonymous
Post 03/11/2013 20:39     Subject: Beauvoir or Key School??
Well said. And yes, I am one of those dc natives who is sending my child to a different school then the one
I attended. And it it my sincerest hope that I will not feel, at some point, pressured to send my child to my alma mater because despite how schools may change over the years, I think this particular school has changed for the worse (it was pretty full of mean people to begin with).