Like I said I consult for independent schools, and the DC prep schools, are not really prep at all. Maybe if they required their students to take physics and Calculus in their 9th grade year, and enroll in college classes for the next three years. Columbia was a blow off college, compared to Michigan and Indiana - I have been to all three. IU was the hardest, MU was next hardest, and Columbia was the easiest. Most midwestern kids attend MU or IU, a few do attend Chicago.

So many snobs on DCUM who assume private is inherently superior. Get real.

So many low class people on DCUM who constantly talk about "great publics". Get real.

Not so different wrt PP's claims. 4 and 5 may differ here, but that depends on which public and which private you are talking about. Certainly you can live in the DC area and both (or either) could be true.

Long story short -- both public and private schools vary. There are good schools in each category. Best choice depends on the student and the specific options available. Scale and hand-holding (support, personal attention) are the two most stable distinctions between public and private schools.

DC is not the Midwest. Different environment and facts.

I live in a Midwestern town, and work with independent schools. I have two adorable nephews, who I am worried about their education, and I work with both independent and public schools. I have seen good, bad, and ugly in both types of schools. Motivated kids will do well in high-preforming suburban schools and quality independent schools. I went to a public school that had over 1,000 students when I graduated, and now has over 2,200. The top 15% of my alma matter could duke it out with the local independent school, and easily win. The independent school has an enrollment of approximately 300 students, while had a class of 600. The top 50% of this public school's last graduating class would make the whole enrollment at the independent school. Here's what I have noted from my experience: 1.) Public school students are more independent, and not as closely monitored - one counselor per 550 students vs. one per every 60 kids. Public school students have to be motivated, and map out where they desire to go to. They must have a strong drive to succeed. 2.) Public schools have a lot more options for extracurricular activities - theater, band, choir, photography club, drama, FFA, leadership, service clubs, sports from football to golf - than the private school. Kids will leave the independent school for the public school for sports. Contrary to opinion, the independent school kids are typically average academically, when compared to the public school kids. 3.) Unmotivated kids are everywhere. I have had several friends who have sent their kids to the independent school, and all of their kids complain: their too many lazy kids, who parents pay for their grades. 4.) Economic and racial diversity are the two advantages of the independent school. The public school is being found by more Asian and Black parents, however, the school is still less than 15% minority. 5.) The public school has yet to send kids to an Ivy, but that may be due to the fact most of the kids are more locally, civic minded and choose either small privates, or state colleges. The independent school usually gets 3 or so kids to an Ivy school each year.

So the job is "good enough?" Pay's ok even if it isn't fulfilling and you can't do the kind of work you respect?

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Anonymous wrote:I don't know. I had a kid with a LD and some other issues, so I feared putting her into a public high school. My other children went to privates, but I think it was a waste of money. Public was good enough for them. It depends on the child, OP.

*good enough. That says it all. If are only aiming for "good enough" then no private school isn't worth. We are aiming a lot higher than good enough, so it's worth every penny.

Except that you're surrounded by people like this poster....

And, typically, they don't know squat about education, so what they're really buying is a status symbol and a network.

Wrong. We are a family of public school educators. We know all too well the many failings of that system.

None of which you identify in your post. And suggestion in your post that public is merely "good enough" while private is better is facile and inaccurate.

And in my professional and experienced position the are merely "good enough." I could care less if you agree, nor do I feel the need to prove anything to you. By all means you go pursue "good enough." The world needs your kind too. Somebody has to be willing to take the "good enough" paying jobs.

Wait - you're a teacher saying this?

Yes. 15 years experience and counting in a public school with a bunch of kids and parents who are OK with "good enough." The pay is much higher than private so I stay.

Being surrounded by other kids who are motivated to learn is a big plus of going to private high school. I personally don't want my child exposed to kids who are either lazy, unmotivated, distracted by girls, or just incapable of excelling. My DS, who went to MCPS through middle school, now attends an all boys high school. Most of his classmates are super bright and high achievers, and I have never seen him so motivated to get good grades. It is really nice to watch him grow and mature into a young man who wants to succeed. I know that would not have been the case if he stayed in public...I see his public school friends...and they have way too much free time on their hands to play video games and just be lazy.

In our northern VA neighborhood, it's for the really wealthy, Catholics and kids who aren't the brightest bulbs and whose parents don't want them in GE classes (which I get b/c our HS has a large FARMS population that's not really college bound). These are kids that wouldn't do well in honors or AP level classes - C level material.

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Anonymous wrote:I don't know. I had a kid with a LD and some other issues, so I feared putting her into a public high school. My other children went to privates, but I think it was a waste of money. Public was good enough for them. It depends on the child, OP.

*good enough. That says it all. If are only aiming for "good enough" then no private school isn't worth. We are aiming a lot higher than good enough, so it's worth every penny.

Except that you're surrounded by people like this poster....

And, typically, they don't know squat about education, so what they're really buying is a status symbol and a network.

Wrong. We are a family of public school educators. We know all too well the many failings of that system.

None of which you identify in your post. And suggestion in your post that public is merely "good enough" while private is better is facile and inaccurate.

And in my professional and experienced position the are merely "good enough." I could care less if you agree, nor do I feel the need to prove anything to you. By all means you go pursue "good enough." The world needs your kind too. Somebody has to be willing to take the "good enough" paying jobs.

Wait - you're a teacher saying this?

Anonymous wrote:I went to private high school and have yet to see a dime from any connections. Maybe I spent too much time with my head in a book rather than hangin with the lax bros. Oh well.

Exact same. Big 3, Fwiw. Most of the successful people I work with / live near went to public.