Anonymous
04/22/2026 11:00
Subject: Any benefit of private elementary school?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Today I visited a good public elementary school in DC. While I understand that kids in public high schools may have some behavioral issues, what I saw at the elementary level was that this public school is much better than my current private school.
To begin with, it has four different teachers specialized in math, science, social studies, and English. At our current private school, which is considered “elite,” the homeroom teacher teaches all of those subjects, and not especially well to begin with.
Yes, class sizes are slightly bigger in the public school, but are there really any meaningful benefits to a private elementary school? Compared with our current private school, I don't see any major advantage.
You should know that the school environment is only one factor. Even elite private schools, like Sidwell and GDS, cater to the mean. For example, world language and math are not tracked at all. Yes, they pay close attention, kids are happier, and students with issues receive counseling. Yes, we pay $60 a year for maybe an improvement in their education. But as an immigrant, I realized much of learning happened outside school. Want to have solid Math? Join RSM. Want to master a second language? Join weekend school. Want to learn an instrument? go to Levine.
The only things private schools really excel at are writing instructions and PE every day. And yes, your kid might meet some VIP/fancy kids early on.
This is correct. We opted for a "cheap" religious private for that reason. I have public parent friends asking me if the classes are accelerated or if they are working a grade above in math, or if there's school orchestra, and that's not really what I think private school is for us. We just want a normal, back-to-basics, low tech + levels/tracking + behavior standards elementary experience for young kids. Publics (at least in our neighborhood) have gone way off the deep end in terms of going socially/politically radically left and prioritizing events, celebrations, inclusion and SEL over everything else.
Anonymous
04/22/2026 10:55
Subject: Any benefit of private elementary school?
Anonymous wrote:We send our children to a parochial school, so not an expensive private school. Aside from the religious instruction, the school's decision not to use any EdTech is a huge draw. We get a full 9 years to build their attention spans and ability to read difficult texts without the distraction of a laptop or tablet before they get to high school. The very high behavioral standards are also great.
The kids don't use Chromebooks or iPads at all during K-8, except maybe computer lab for typing? That is great. Our parochial uses tech much much less than the local public, but they still allow iPads occasionally even in grade 3. DD reports getting to do MathFactsLab for 10 minutes a couple of times after finishing her classwork. We began looking at non-religious privates and I was shocked that many of them proudly report having lots of tech use starting in lower elementary. I guess parents paying 40-50K per year want that money to go toward something flashy or expensive, or at least admin seems to think so.
Anonymous
04/22/2026 10:52
Subject: Any benefit of private elementary school?
Anonymous wrote:Today I visited a good public elementary school in DC. While I understand that kids in public high schools may have some behavioral issues, what I saw at the elementary level was that this public school is much better than my current private school.
To begin with, it has four different teachers specialized in math, science, social studies, and English. At our current private school, which is considered “elite,” the homeroom teacher teaches all of those subjects, and not especially well to begin with.
Yes, class sizes are slightly bigger in the public school, but are there really any meaningful benefits to a private elementary school? Compared with our current private school, I don't see any major advantage.
You should know that the school environment is only one factor. Even elite private schools, like Sidwell and GDS, cater to the mean. For example, world language and math are not tracked at all. Yes, they pay close attention, kids are happier, and students with issues receive counseling. Yes, we pay $60 a year for maybe an improvement in their education. But as an immigrant, I realized much of learning happened outside school. Want to have solid Math? Join RSM. Want to master a second language? Join weekend school. Want to learn an instrument? go to Levine.
The only things private schools really excel at are writing instructions and PE every day. And yes, your kid might meet some VIP/fancy kids early on.
Anonymous
04/22/2026 10:24
Subject: Any benefit of private elementary school?
We send our children to a parochial school, so not an expensive private school. Aside from the religious instruction, the school's decision not to use any EdTech is a huge draw. We get a full 9 years to build their attention spans and ability to read difficult texts without the distraction of a laptop or tablet before they get to high school. The very high behavioral standards are also great.
Anonymous
04/22/2026 09:27
Subject: Any benefit of private elementary school?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Slightly bigger class sizes?
I feel like you are just stirring the private/public debate once again
In public there are 20 kids per classroom, and in our private 12. Yes, slightly bigger.
What public only has 20 kids per classroom in elementary school?
Mann
But the teacher is always busy managing the class. The teacher has little time to pay attention to individual students.
Our public has 19 and an aide half time. Still not enough to overcome the crappy curriculum.
Anonymous
04/22/2026 09:04
Subject: Any benefit of private elementary school?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Slightly bigger class sizes?
I feel like you are just stirring the private/public debate once again
In public there are 20 kids per classroom, and in our private 12. Yes, slightly bigger.
What public only has 20 kids per classroom in elementary school?
Mann
But the teacher is always busy managing the class. The teacher has little time to pay attention to individual students.
They also have a partner teacher.
Anonymous
04/22/2026 08:45
Subject: Any benefit of private elementary school?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The best part of private elementary is the classmates and their families. There is a level of sophistication and intelligence that only exists at private schools.
The unwashed masses in public elementary are dealing with issues we pay to avoid.
This is an extremely snobbish comment, reflecting the terribleness of DCUM and private parents in DC.
It is accurate. Why does it bother you?
It bothers me because it shows the shallowness and terribleness of people, and it reflects how divided American society is. No matter how privileged this PP is, I can't imagine their kids growing up into decent people. It may be the PP we sought to avoid.
Grow up.
No, not worth it. Also, no matter how rich and elite you live among the masses.
You should take some responsibility. If your kids are slumming it in public school, you only have yourself to blame. Don’t get mad when people work hard to give their kids a better life.
My kids are in private. But I don't send them to private school to avoid the so-called "unwashed mass".
Wink wink.
Anonymous
04/22/2026 08:31
Subject: Any benefit of private elementary school?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The best part of private elementary is the classmates and their families. There is a level of sophistication and intelligence that only exists at private schools.
The unwashed masses in public elementary are dealing with issues we pay to avoid.
This is an extremely snobbish comment, reflecting the terribleness of DCUM and private parents in DC.
It is accurate. Why does it bother you?
It bothers me because it shows the shallowness and terribleness of people, and it reflects how divided American society is. No matter how privileged this PP is, I can't imagine their kids growing up into decent people. It may be the PP we sought to avoid.
Grow up.
No, not worth it. Also, no matter how rich and elite you live among the masses.
You should take some responsibility. If your kids are slumming it in public school, you only have yourself to blame. Don’t get mad when people work hard to give their kids a better life.
My kids are in private. But I don't send them to private school to avoid the so-called "unwashed mass".
Anonymous
04/22/2026 08:30
Subject: Re:Any benefit of private elementary school?
Anonymous wrote:Main benefit of private for me is that it is not a device-based education.
I hope not. But aren't GDS, Sidwell, and Holton all using Chromebooks and websites to submit homework in Middle school?
Anonymous
04/22/2026 06:56
Subject: Any benefit of private elementary school?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The best part of private elementary is the classmates and their families. There is a level of sophistication and intelligence that only exists at private schools.
The unwashed masses in public elementary are dealing with issues we pay to avoid.
This is an extremely snobbish comment, reflecting the terribleness of DCUM and private parents in DC.
It is accurate. Why does it bother you?
It bothers me because it shows the shallowness and terribleness of people, and it reflects how divided American society is. No matter how privileged this PP is, I can't imagine their kids growing up into decent people. It may be the PP we sought to avoid.
Agreed, unfortunately there are people like PP everywhere...
Anonymous
04/22/2026 06:06
Subject: Re:Any benefit of private elementary school?
Main benefit of private for me is that it is not a device-based education.
Anonymous
04/21/2026 22:46
Subject: Any benefit of private elementary school?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The best part of private elementary is the classmates and their families. There is a level of sophistication and intelligence that only exists at private schools.
The unwashed masses in public elementary are dealing with issues we pay to avoid.
This is an extremely snobbish comment, reflecting the terribleness of DCUM and private parents in DC.
It is accurate. Why does it bother you?
It bothers me because it shows the shallowness and terribleness of people, and it reflects how divided American society is. No matter how privileged this PP is, I can't imagine their kids growing up into decent people. It may be the PP we sought to avoid.
Grow up.
No, not worth it. Also, no matter how rich and elite you live among the masses.
You should take some responsibility. If your kids are slumming it in public school, you only have yourself to blame. Don’t get mad when people work hard to give their kids a better life.
Anonymous
04/21/2026 22:39
Subject: Any benefit of private elementary school?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The best part of private elementary is the classmates and their families. There is a level of sophistication and intelligence that only exists at private schools.
The unwashed masses in public elementary are dealing with issues we pay to avoid.
This is an extremely snobbish comment, reflecting the terribleness of DCUM and private parents in DC.
It is accurate. Why does it bother you?
It bothers me because it shows the shallowness and terribleness of people, and it reflects how divided American society is. No matter how privileged this PP is, I can't imagine their kids growing up into decent people. It may be the PP we sought to avoid.
Grow up.
No, not worth it. Also, no matter how rich and elite you live among the masses.
Anonymous
04/21/2026 22:32
Subject: Any benefit of private elementary school?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Slightly bigger class sizes?
I feel like you are just stirring the private/public debate once again
In public there are 20 kids per classroom, and in our private 12. Yes, slightly bigger.
What public only has 20 kids per classroom in elementary school?
Look at Rosemary Hills ES for starters…parents who opt for public for elementary send their kids there for the small class size and it’s only K-2. But yeah, some folks may scoff at its socioeconomic diversity (ie. a much more accurate indicator of actual diversity) and send Lil’ Jonny to private instead.
Anonymous
04/21/2026 22:18
Subject: Any benefit of private elementary school?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The best part of private elementary is the classmates and their families. There is a level of sophistication and intelligence that only exists at private schools.
The unwashed masses in public elementary are dealing with issues we pay to avoid.
This is an extremely snobbish comment, reflecting the terribleness of DCUM and private parents in DC.
It is accurate. Why does it bother you?
It bothers me because it shows the shallowness and terribleness of people, and it reflects how divided American society is. No matter how privileged this PP is, I can't imagine their kids growing up into decent people. It may be the PP we sought to avoid.
Grow up.