Anonymous wrote:But that is when you compare a perfectly good public with a good private. What about when your choice is DCPS? Don’t pull that child, OP.

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Anonymous wrote:I know so many kids who are happy at these intense schools. They are really only a good fit for highly motivated kids who enjoy the academic slog. The rest of the kids hold on and have a fairly crappy high school experience.

There seem to be lots of students at GDS who aren't doing the academic slog and seem perfectly happy with a non-intense experience. And, of course, others who have opted for the opposite. Either is possible.

Anonymous wrote:I know so many kids who are happy at these intense schools. They are really only a good fit for highly motivated kids who enjoy the academic slog. The rest of the kids hold on and have a fairly crappy high school experience.

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Anonymous wrote:Pull him. Public may provide more opportunities to find something that really compels him - whether it be an extra curricular or an elective. The Big3 pile on homework and suck the life out of school. For kids that thrive on the grind it can be motivating but sounds like that is not your kid.

Is this the waitlist brigade? That’s a terrible idea. You send the kid to school to learn, develop but also for peer group, nurturing environment

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Anonymous wrote:My kid was kind of a “coaster” at a Big 3. Smart enough to get As and Bs with modest effort, but not driven in the way that many of his peers were. I’m glad we kept him in private even though he didn’t work to his potential. He’s now in college, and very much engaged in his classes, benefiting from the high standards that were the norm at his high school. I think if he had coasted through in public school he might be in a very different place.

This is my son too. He came to a Big3 from public in 9th several years ago.
He is also a coaster. He's very smart and can get As/Bs with modest effort while classmates work twice as hard (for example, he never reads the books for English but can bullshit his way through the quizzes, papers and exams).

He has a sister, also at a Big3 who I'd guess is not as naturally smart but works her ass off for straight As. I have occasionally wondered if we are wasting money by sending my son to private. He coasted to straight high As in public (about 99% in every class) and now he's coasting to A/Bs in private. Maybe we should have left him in public because he's probably get into a better college with a potentially ridiculously high GPA.

The thing that has kept us from moving him back is that he is benefiting from the high standards at the Big3. He may not do all the work but he is doing far more than he did in public and he's ultimately he's going to be much better prepared for college.

You seem weirdly proud your child doesn’t read assigned books.

no, that was not what I intended to convey at all. It really bothers me that he doesn't read the books. Just gave that as an illustration of lack of effort.

Did your son write his own essay for 9th grade admission? I’m surprised he got in. Usually the 9th grade admits are super stars.

Anonymous wrote:Pull him. Public may provide more opportunities to find something that really compels him - whether it be an extra curricular or an elective. The Big3 pile on homework and suck the life out of school. For kids that thrive on the grind it can be motivating but sounds like that is not your kid.

Anonymous wrote:Crazy idea — try to PARENT and teach and develop your kid, instead of farming it out to schools. Unless you’re too busy with the “prestigious” job gunning for the next promotion.