we could almost afford private for both kids (with very serious sacrifices) and for one with little sacrifice. But god, I don't want them to be the poor kid in a school. At our private there are kids a little bit richer and kids a lot poorer, and no super rich. I prioritize education and know there is more to education than just academics. If a family member said to me they would pay for private for our kids with no strings attached, right now, I wouldn't accept. I'm not at cmi but a school kinda like it.

NP. We are not at CMI but we are at similar charter that focuses on the whole child. We can also afford private (it wouldn't be super easy but we'd manage with limited budget adjustments). We have spoken to many private families and have gone to open houses. Having an AA son and prioritizing certain things like diversity are important to our family. My DS also has certain emotional needs that I think are being met in a great way at his charter. That's not to say that private is out of the picture all together. Just saying, right now, his needs are best met where he is. We have a close friend who has a kid that is "high energy", they have been told by many privates that they may not be a good fit. Not every kid fits into a perfect little bubble and if a family thinks their current school is the best fit for their family, people should not judge them and say that they aren't prioritizing their kids education.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MS is so much harder than people here seem to think. It's why schools with much more than CM fail, and why so many in DC who can go private choose to.

It's a little tired hearing people say "we could afford to go private, but choose not to". Really? You're so wealthy you can spend an extra $25K per ano, and yet you're betting on a completely unproven idea with a very low potential for success ?

Shenanigans.

You must not know much about the CMI community. We could also easily afford to go private but chose CMI because of the amazing education out child is receiving. We are betting on a known administration and community. Sounds like a safe bet to me.

Actually, I do know some CM families, in more than one grade. They are happy enough, but don't pretend it's anything close to a private school.

I never compare it to a private. I said we chose it even though we could afford private.

You realize this is just telling us about your values and it isn't a testament to the quality of CM, right? I have toured Sidwells, GDS, and WIS. The education and attention students receive there is far superior to CM. If you could "easily" afford to go private, what you're basically saying is you care less about your child's education than whatever else you're using the money for (house/cars/vacations/retirement/etc). That's fine, but that's a value statement for you and doesn't really help others evaluate the school.

NP here. Choosing to send your kids to a public school instead of a private is certainly a reflection on your values. For me, it means I value diversity and my children being exposed to others who are different, rather than sticking them in a bubble made up of only other rich kids with no learning disabilities or anything else that might challenge their sheltered conception of the world.

Get off your high horse. And get out more Bertie you comment on something about which you obviously know nothing.

Then leave the thread and find a school that suits your child. Carry on...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MS is so much harder than people here seem to think. It's why schools with much more than CM fail, and why so many in DC who can go private choose to.

It's a little tired hearing people say "we could afford to go private, but choose not to". Really? You're so wealthy you can spend an extra $25K per ano, and yet you're betting on a completely unproven idea with a very low potential for success ?

Shenanigans.

You must not know much about the CMI community. We could also easily afford to go private but chose CMI because of the amazing education out child is receiving. We are betting on a known administration and community. Sounds like a safe bet to me.

Actually, I do know some CM families, in more than one grade. They are happy enough, but don't pretend it's anything close to a private school.

I never compare it to a private. I said we chose it even though we could afford private.

You realize this is just telling us about your values and it isn't a testament to the quality of CM, right? I have toured Sidwells, GDS, and WIS. The education and attention students receive there is far superior to CM. If you could "easily" afford to go private, what you're basically saying is you care less about your child's education than whatever else you're using the money for (house/cars/vacations/retirement/etc). That's fine, but that's a value statement for you and doesn't really help others evaluate the school.

Far superior to CMI? Based on what metric? In fact, how can you compare privates to publics at all?

We get it, you post on every CMI thread, but you are really growing dull.

Believe it or not, there's more than one person out here who isn't buying what you are trying to sell.

Anonymous wrote:NP here responding to PP. I do not have a DC at CM, but I'm interested in applying. I think you are a really sad person. How would you know what goes on in a school your child doesn't attend? Why so judgmental? Why are you so interested in a school you seem to despise? There is a thread already about you. You may want to read it...

Not the PP to whom you refer, and you are far off base. There is nothing sad about describing obvious differences in school offerings and quality. By the same token, there is nothing nefarious in drawing obvious conclusions.

If you say that you can afford GDS or WIS or NCS, but you chose CM instead, then you clearly prioritize something more than education. They are not in the same class, at all. To pretend otherwise is willful delusion.

To try to convince others into this delusion, is deliberately deceptive.

I do wish we had more middle/high school options instead of elementary/middle. It feels like it's just kicking the can a few years down the road.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MS is so much harder than people here seem to think. It's why schools with much more than CM fail, and why so many in DC who can go private choose to.

It's a little tired hearing people say "we could afford to go private, but choose not to". Really? You're so wealthy you can spend an extra $25K per ano, and yet you're betting on a completely unproven idea with a very low potential for success ?

Shenanigans.

You must not know much about the CMI community. We could also easily afford to go private but chose CMI because of the amazing education out child is receiving. We are betting on a known administration and community. Sounds like a safe bet to me.

Actually, I do know some CM families, in more than one grade. They are happy enough, but don't pretend it's anything close to a private school.

I never compare it to a private. I said we chose it even though we could afford private.

You realize this is just telling us about your values and it isn't a testament to the quality of CM, right? I have toured Sidwells, GDS, and WIS. The education and attention students receive there is far superior to CM. If you could "easily" afford to go private, what you're basically saying is you care less about your child's education than whatever else you're using the money for (house/cars/vacations/retirement/etc). That's fine, but that's a value statement for you and doesn't really help others evaluate the school.

NP here. Choosing to send your kids to a public school instead of a private is certainly a reflection on your values. For me, it means I value diversity and my children being exposed to others who are different, rather than sticking them in a bubble made up of only other rich kids with no learning disabilities or anything else that might challenge their sheltered conception of the world.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MS is so much harder than people here seem to think. It's why schools with much more than CM fail, and why so many in DC who can go private choose to.

It's a little tired hearing people say "we could afford to go private, but choose not to". Really? You're so wealthy you can spend an extra $25K per ano, and yet you're betting on a completely unproven idea with a very low potential for success ?

Shenanigans.

You must not know much about the CMI community. We could also easily afford to go private but chose CMI because of the amazing education out child is receiving. We are betting on a known administration and community. Sounds like a safe bet to me.

Actually, I do know some CM families, in more than one grade. They are happy enough, but don't pretend it's anything close to a private school.

I never compare it to a private. I said we chose it even though we could afford private.

You realize this is just telling us about your values and it isn't a testament to the quality of CM, right? I have toured Sidwells, GDS, and WIS. The education and attention students receive there is far superior to CM. If you could "easily" afford to go private, what you're basically saying is you care less about your child's education than whatever else you're using the money for (house/cars/vacations/retirement/etc). That's fine, but that's a value statement for you and doesn't really help others evaluate the school.

Far superior to CMI? Based on what metric? In fact, how can you compare privates to publics at all?

We get it, you post on every CMI thread, but you are really growing dull.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MS is so much harder than people here seem to think. It's why schools with much more than CM fail, and why so many in DC who can go private choose to.

It's a little tired hearing people say "we could afford to go private, but choose not to". Really? You're so wealthy you can spend an extra $25K per ano, and yet you're betting on a completely unproven idea with a very low potential for success ?

Shenanigans.

You must not know much about the CMI community. We could also easily afford to go private but chose CMI because of the amazing education out child is receiving. We are betting on a known administration and community. Sounds like a safe bet to me.

Actually, I do know some CM families, in more than one grade. They are happy enough, but don't pretend it's anything close to a private school.

I never compare it to a private. I said we chose it even though we could afford private.

I also said that. You may want to go back and reread my post.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MS is so much harder than people here seem to think. It's why schools with much more than CM fail, and why so many in DC who can go private choose to.

It's a little tired hearing people say "we could afford to go private, but choose not to". Really? You're so wealthy you can spend an extra $25K per ano, and yet you're betting on a completely unproven idea with a very low potential for success ?

Shenanigans.

You must not know much about the CMI community. We could also easily afford to go private but chose CMI because of the amazing education out child is receiving. We are betting on a known administration and community. Sounds like a safe bet to me.

Actually, I do know some CM families, in more than one grade. They are happy enough, but don't pretend it's anything close to a private school.

I never compare it to a private. I said we chose it even though we could afford private.

You realize this is just telling us about your values and it isn't a testament to the quality of CM, right? I have toured Sidwells, GDS, and WIS. The education and attention students receive there is far superior to CM. If you could "easily" afford to go private, what you're basically saying is you care less about your child's education than whatever else you're using the money for (house/cars/vacations/retirement/etc). That's fine, but that's a value statement for you and doesn't really help others evaluate the school.

My child's education is my top priority. He is getting the best and most well suited education for him at CMI. As I said, I was not making the private school comparison, just saying we chose based on what is best for our child and did not have to consider finances. Our savings go towards high school, college and grad school for our children. If you want to be negative, go ahead. I am a positive person and won't put down other schools.

Cmi gives our kids a personalized education that suits each child there. The support they get is amazing.

NP here responding to PP. I do not have a DC at CM, but I'm interested in applying. I think you are a really sad person. How would you know what goes on in a school your child doesn't attend? Why so judgmental? Why are you so interested in a school you seem to despise? There is a thread already about you. You may want to read it...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MS is so much harder than people here seem to think. It's why schools with much more than CM fail, and why so many in DC who can go private choose to.

It's a little tired hearing people say "we could afford to go private, but choose not to". Really? You're so wealthy you can spend an extra $25K per ano, and yet you're betting on a completely unproven idea with a very low potential for success ?

Shenanigans.

You must not know much about the CMI community. We could also easily afford to go private but chose CMI because of the amazing education out child is receiving. We are betting on a known administration and community. Sounds like a safe bet to me.

Actually, I do know some CM families, in more than one grade. They are happy enough, but don't pretend it's anything close to a private school.

I never compare it to a private. I said we chose it even though we could afford private.

You realize this is just telling us about your values and it isn't a testament to the quality of CM, right? I have toured Sidwells, GDS, and WIS. The education and attention students receive there is far superior to CM. If you could "easily" afford to go private, what you're basically saying is you care less about your child's education than whatever else you're using the money for (house/cars/vacations/retirement/etc). That's fine, but that's a value statement for you and doesn't really help others evaluate the school.

Anonymous wrote:I missed the "like a private" post. But to answer your question, some at the school may feel this way because the classes are small and there is a lot of focus on the socio-emotional aspect of development. Everyone knows our kids at the school and has a vested interest their well-being. Kindness and respect are large parts of the community. The school grounds also give it that feel. Despite this we are very aware that it's a public school.

Maybe PP was referring to another PP who said "CMI had everything this private had and more"

Anonymous wrote:Why isn't shining stars mentioned when you're mentioning Lee? You do know that Lee only has a second grade now, and shining stars has a fourth?

I would love a progressive crunchy middle school option for my (potentially) ellington-bound DC... But our options are all kind of complicated. I feel like I'm forced to lottery every year possible, even if my DC is happy where they are, just to have a shot at getting a spot that will go through middle school. I am also increasingly convinced that Deal will not work for my DC, even with its separating into smaller cohorts.

I don't know what to do.

Cap City is the original progressive and crunchy charter. It goes thru 12th.