Basis independent McLean is for nerdy stem focused kids. Their college acceptance is good for kids without any hooks.

How is their TJ acceptance rate? Considering a lot has changed for TJ with admission changes is it worth trying for TJ or stay in BIM for high school also?

Anonymous wrote:Almost makes you wonder how the majority of DC area families, with HHIs <$100K, manage to survive at all.

It's hard unless you can rely on kinship networks.

Almost makes you wonder how the majority of DC area families, with HHIs <$100K, manage to survive at all.

We have 2 in MS in a 2nd tier private - no FA and it's hard. HHI $375k. When you add in learning disability tutoring and therapy, vacations, savings, activities and general daily life like eating out, having a cleaning lady and such things, $400k becomes very comfortable but not like I'm partying lifestyle wise. We can do it but it is not like we're rolling in it

I know a lot of people always say $300k, 350k, 400k is a lot of money and it absolutely is but it's just that these days, everything costs and unless you're doing a beach or camping vacation every time you take time off, you definitely will find that $100k does not go as far as it used to, even compared to a couple of years ago. You add up a lunch out for 4 people and it's a $75 bill including tax and tip for a bowl of pho and some appetizers! You add up the airfare to a warm major metro city for Spring Break for 4 and yeah, it's going to cost a few thousand for that 1 week trip for your family. If you live in Arlington or Del Ray or whatever, yeah, you need a $300k HHI with 2 kids to live in comfort.

But with 1 kid in private OP - I think you will find you will definitely fit into most of the crowds at any of the privates around here.

Believe me when I tell you that it's not like everyone is making $400k+ who go to private - not anymore anyway!!

Used to be a man could send four kids to Sidwell on a factory salary.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Poor” can be poor for different families. Yes but $400 k in DC area is poor as these schools are also very expensive like over $50,000 per year. And DC area has so much money…not sure how it is in NYC or LA private schools.

No, even in DC, $400,000.00 is not poor. Pop that bubble. Get some perspective.

Yes, she is writing from the perspective of someone who is not in the upper range of income (ie, poorer than) as compared to other families who are full-pay at private schools in the area.

Yeah - most folks see “poor” as an absolute status and so recoil when it’s used relatively. But we all know what folks means and what’s the harm on this forum? Now, if you go to across the river to southeast DC and start talking about how $400K is “poor” that’s a different story. But no reason to coddle the sensibilities of aggrieved “just” UMC folks, ie folks like me that remain far south of 400K. I’m blessed and good.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you may be overestimating some of the families' wealth at DC privates. I was shocked to read that Ketanji Jackson's net worth is "only" $2 million. She's early 50s and her husband is a surgeon, and her kids went to GDS. Very high prestige, not much wealth. Maybe they spent all of their money on tuition? I think there are a fair number of families like that at DC privates.

Do you truly believe that is their net worth?

I'm going by a recent article in Forbes (paywalled now) about the Supreme Court Justices' net worth. Hers is the lowest. Are you suggesting she hides wealth better than all of the other justices?

I am suggesting that lawyers know exactly what they are required to report and how to allocate assets to minimize what they want to minimize. Like many wealthy people at DC privates.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you may be overestimating some of the families' wealth at DC privates. I was shocked to read that Ketanji Jackson's net worth is "only" $2 million. She's early 50s and her husband is a surgeon, and her kids went to GDS. Very high prestige, not much wealth. Maybe they spent all of their money on tuition? I think there are a fair number of families like that at DC privates.

Do you truly believe that is their net worth?

I'm going by a recent article in Forbes (paywalled now) about the Supreme Court Justices' net worth. Hers is the lowest. Are you suggesting she hides wealth better than all of the other justices?

That's probably just her net worth not their family net worth. He's a trust fund kid from old money and, yes, I'm sure makes plenty as a surgeon.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Poor” can be poor for different families. Yes but $400 k in DC area is poor as these schools are also very expensive like over $50,000 per year. And DC area has so much money…not sure how it is in NYC or LA private schools.

As always, this is as nonsensical as claiming that millionaires are poor compared to billionaires.

The difference between a million and a billion dollars is roughly a billion dollars.
Why is that so hard for people to understand.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Poor” can be poor for different families. Yes but $400 k in DC area is poor as these schools are also very expensive like over $50,000 per year. And DC area has so much money…not sure how it is in NYC or LA private schools.

No, even in DC, $400,000.00 is not poor. Pop that bubble. Get some perspective.

Yes, she is writing from the perspective of someone who is not in the upper range of income (ie, poorer than) as compared to other families who are full-pay at private schools in the area.

Anonymous wrote:You are super rich.

No no no. You have not been around the super rich if you think this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you may be overestimating some of the families' wealth at DC privates. I was shocked to read that Ketanji Jackson's net worth is "only" $2 million. She's early 50s and her husband is a surgeon, and her kids went to GDS. Very high prestige, not much wealth. Maybe they spent all of their money on tuition? I think there are a fair number of families like that at DC privates.

Do you truly believe that is their net worth?

I'm going by a recent article in Forbes (paywalled now) about the Supreme Court Justices' net worth. Hers is the lowest. Are you suggesting she hides wealth better than all of the other justices?

Sorry, Brett Kavanaugh's is the lowest, but not by much. And he's not married to a surgeon

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you may be overestimating some of the families' wealth at DC privates. I was shocked to read that Ketanji Jackson's net worth is "only" $2 million. She's early 50s and her husband is a surgeon, and her kids went to GDS. Very high prestige, not much wealth. Maybe they spent all of their money on tuition? I think there are a fair number of families like that at DC privates.

Do you truly believe that is their net worth?

I'm going by a recent article in Forbes (paywalled now) about the Supreme Court Justices' net worth. Hers is the lowest. Are you suggesting she hides wealth better than all of the other justices?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you may be overestimating some of the families' wealth at DC privates. I was shocked to read that Ketanji Jackson's net worth is "only" $2 million. She's early 50s and her husband is a surgeon, and her kids went to GDS. Very high prestige, not much wealth. Maybe they spent all of their money on tuition? I think there are a fair number of families like that at DC privates.

Do you truly believe that is their net worth?

How does Kenyan McDuffie afford GDS?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:None of the private schools in the DMV are for the super-rich. That happens more in NYC, LA, etc. You would fit in at any of them.

Also in the 400k-range HHI with one child in a DC private school. I agree that it's not quite like NY or LA, but our daughter is definitely in the lower half of the family income range. The average student in her school has at least one biglaw partner (or equivalent) parent, and as a very rough ballpark, I'd guess that the median HHI in her school is 750K. Not a lot of "super rich," but definitely a good number of kids who have nice summer homes and the like. It's not a huge deal for her, but she's certainly ended up more friendly with the kids who are not from the richest families.

Thanks for this. I’ve wondered this too about schools in this area, and appreciate OP’s concern for her daughter. My family was comfortable but I grew up going to a NYC area private and was definitely made to feel less-than, to say the very least.