Anonymous
12/09/2025 13:42
Subject: Why are private school applications still at an all time high?
If you cannot imagine why private schools are in demand, I say this with all love, you must be living under a rock. I'm trying very hard not to be mean.
It's no secret over years, in general, mainstream K-12 public education has hit huge road blocks. Some neighborhoods will have schools who fare better for certain but unless you have perfect kids, it will be hard no matter what school. Also, culturally, I think a lot of families esp UMC are seeking the "safety" academically of private v. public schools. It's really hard to justify going to public unless your public is heads and shoulders above and even then, unless your kid is taking all AP/honors and a terrific kid all around, be assured that they won't fall through the cracks somehow, somewhere along the way.
I would love my kids to go to public, unfortunately, I just don't trust public. And I say this with lifelong close friends who teach public HS.
I 100% believe that private is the way to go and more and more, we will all see a decay in public across the board regardless of community because more and more "good" families will opt for private. I'm not suggesting this is right or wrong but as a parent, it can be a hard choice to not go private, esp if you can afford it.
It's no secret over years, in general, mainstream K-12 public education has hit huge road blocks. Some neighborhoods will have schools who fare better for certain but unless you have perfect kids, it will be hard no matter what school. Also, culturally, I think a lot of families esp UMC are seeking the "safety" academically of private v. public schools. It's really hard to justify going to public unless your public is heads and shoulders above and even then, unless your kid is taking all AP/honors and a terrific kid all around, be assured that they won't fall through the cracks somehow, somewhere along the way.
I would love my kids to go to public, unfortunately, I just don't trust public. And I say this with lifelong close friends who teach public HS.
I 100% believe that private is the way to go and more and more, we will all see a decay in public across the board regardless of community because more and more "good" families will opt for private. I'm not suggesting this is right or wrong but as a parent, it can be a hard choice to not go private, esp if you can afford it.
Anonymous
12/08/2025 21:05
Subject: Why are private school applications still at an all time high?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Public school parent here - sorry to intrude. I just saw this under "recent topics."
I beg your indulgence. FWIW, I can definitely afford private school for my kids! For better or worse, I choose not to.
If OP's facts are correct, I find the increasing demand for privates school curious, too. I'm not certain the college outcomes are that much better when you account for family wealth and education. In fact, private school outcomes might be worse when you make those accounts.
It's true that class sizes are too big in public school. There are also some unpleasant and weird kids. But tough situations teach resilience that can be useful later in life.
Just saying I'm surprised we're not at an equilibrium, and instead we are in an era of dramatically increasing demand for private school. I guess I would chalk it up to the wealthy getting wealthier.
It is all very interesting and as someone said it’s all anecdotal - but my anecdote is a good friend of mine is a teacher at a top private and said she would never send her kids there because it’s such a bubble that when they get out into the real world they don’t know how to deal with anything. To your point about the benefit of exposing your kids to tougher situations or situations where they have to navigate them and figure them out without too much hand holding.
What a crazy claim to make. I can assure you that kids that go to private schools do just fine in life. There are thousands of adults in the DMV who went to private school who are successful in the “real world.”
Let me help you with this, your teacher friend would "never send her kid to private" because your friend could never afford it. Those who can, do, send their kids to private.
Huh? You really think all of the families at Churchill Langley etc just can’t afford private and that’s why the kids are there..laughable
Yes I do actually think that. Or couldn't get a good student aid package.
Anonymous
12/08/2025 20:48
Subject: Why are private school applications still at an all time high?
Anonymous wrote:I just read an article that staff at Alice Deal in DC chose to eliminate reading full novels from the 8th grade curriculum.
That was an opinion piece and the Deal teachers are saying it was incorrect.
Anonymous
12/08/2025 15:53
Subject: Why are private school applications still at an all time high?
Anonymous wrote:When they stopped tracking and did honors for all, people who have $ are leaving. I went to public schools in Moco and believe in public education but I'm seeing it degraded so much from my time. Too many kids; too many discipline problems and not high enough expectations. We are not in MS yet but seriously considering going private. My kids aren't super duper gifted, but they are good, call and hardworking students who like school but would do so much better with smaller glasses and a peer group that's focused on learning.
This is why we left, plus teachers being stripped of all input on curriculum and how it is taught. Private school is a desirable product.
Anonymous
12/08/2025 15:28
Subject: Why are private school applications still at an all time high?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Public school parent here - sorry to intrude. I just saw this under "recent topics."
I beg your indulgence. FWIW, I can definitely afford private school for my kids! For better or worse, I choose not to.
If OP's facts are correct, I find the increasing demand for privates school curious, too. I'm not certain the college outcomes are that much better when you account for family wealth and education. In fact, private school outcomes might be worse when you make those accounts.
It's true that class sizes are too big in public school. There are also some unpleasant and weird kids. But tough situations teach resilience that can be useful later in life.
Just saying I'm surprised we're not at an equilibrium, and instead we are in an era of dramatically increasing demand for private school. I guess I would chalk it up to the wealthy getting wealthier.
It is all very interesting and as someone said it’s all anecdotal - but my anecdote is a good friend of mine is a teacher at a top private and said she would never send her kids there because it’s such a bubble that when they get out into the real world they don’t know how to deal with anything. To your point about the benefit of exposing your kids to tougher situations or situations where they have to navigate them and figure them out without too much hand holding.
What a crazy claim to make. I can assure you that kids that go to private schools do just fine in life. There are thousands of adults in the DMV who went to private school who are successful in the “real world.”
Let me help you with this, your teacher friend would "never send her kid to private" because your friend could never afford it. Those who can, do, send their kids to private.
This is often repeated but not always true. I know plenty of people, myself included who can afford to send their kids to private or could with a bit of financial aide and yet don’t. People prioritize other things, like being able to pay for college, or providing outside experiences and extra curricular to go alongside regular education, or setup greater future nest eggs.
Sure.
But the people who can truly afford private school can also afford all those other things you listed. It truly is a subset of the very privileged.
My two cents: it’s sad that public schools can’t raise the bar and operate more like privates. The reality is that those of us who grew up in Montgomery County a million years ago (think: 70s/80s/early 90s) remember when MCPS managed to properly educate the masses. While I went to area privates, I had cousins and neighbors and friends in other parts of the county who went to area publics and they went on to good colleges and grad schools, etc.
Something changed.
And the reality is that we aren’t talking about what changed and how to address it.
Rather, we have families who are fed up with mcps who are now scrambling to jump ship and get their kids into private school…whatever it takes.
Anonymous
12/08/2025 15:16
Subject: Why are private school applications still at an all time high?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Applications for admissions to most private schools in the DMV area area keep getting more competitive every year. One school we are applying to for 9th ( from our K-8) told us that applications have been up 70% this year.
I can understand why applications were up during the pandemic , but why are people still increasingly applying to privates five years later ?
Has the quality of education gone down at the public schools? Did people do well in the stock market over the past few years?
Just asking a genuine question.
DCUM’s standard answer for a question about public schools is to find a way to do private instead. In a lower income forum, the stock answer is find a way to homeschool. People will do anything but try to reform something that benefits all of society and not just their own tribe.
We were burnt out on trying to work within publics during COVID and beyond including advocating for our SN kids at the individual level and at the district/school board level. It's exhausting. We are in private now and everyone is doing well, including us. We did try for reforms to no avail. Just check your assumptions
Anonymous
12/08/2025 13:07
Subject: Why are private school applications still at an all time high?
Given Montgomery County’s current budget woes, MCPS is unlikely to improve and private school applications from MoCo families are likely to continue to increase.
https://x.com/adampagnucco/status/1998054101116977546?s=42
https://x.com/adampagnucco/status/1998054101116977546?s=42
Anonymous
12/08/2025 12:30
Subject: Why are private school applications still at an all time high?
My anecdote is many private school teachers are underpaid and so could not pay the high tuition at the schools where they teach if they were relying solely on their take-home pay. But many have high-earning spouses.
Anonymous
12/08/2025 11:50
Subject: Why are private school applications still at an all time high?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Public school parent here - sorry to intrude. I just saw this under "recent topics."
I beg your indulgence. FWIW, I can definitely afford private school for my kids! For better or worse, I choose not to.
If OP's facts are correct, I find the increasing demand for privates school curious, too. I'm not certain the college outcomes are that much better when you account for family wealth and education. In fact, private school outcomes might be worse when you make those accounts.
It's true that class sizes are too big in public school. There are also some unpleasant and weird kids. But tough situations teach resilience that can be useful later in life.
Just saying I'm surprised we're not at an equilibrium, and instead we are in an era of dramatically increasing demand for private school. I guess I would chalk it up to the wealthy getting wealthier.
It is all very interesting and as someone said it’s all anecdotal - but my anecdote is a good friend of mine is a teacher at a top private and said she would never send her kids there because it’s such a bubble that when they get out into the real world they don’t know how to deal with anything. To your point about the benefit of exposing your kids to tougher situations or situations where they have to navigate them and figure them out without too much hand holding.
My anecdote is that lots of teachers at our private send their kids to our school because they think it provides a better education than public. My other anecdote is a number of public school teachers also send their kids for the same reason.
Anonymous
12/08/2025 11:14
Subject: Why are private school applications still at an all time high?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Public school parent here - sorry to intrude. I just saw this under "recent topics."
I beg your indulgence. FWIW, I can definitely afford private school for my kids! For better or worse, I choose not to.
If OP's facts are correct, I find the increasing demand for privates school curious, too. I'm not certain the college outcomes are that much better when you account for family wealth and education. In fact, private school outcomes might be worse when you make those accounts.
It's true that class sizes are too big in public school. There are also some unpleasant and weird kids. But tough situations teach resilience that can be useful later in life.
Just saying I'm surprised we're not at an equilibrium, and instead we are in an era of dramatically increasing demand for private school. I guess I would chalk it up to the wealthy getting wealthier.
It is all very interesting and as someone said it’s all anecdotal - but my anecdote is a good friend of mine is a teacher at a top private and said she would never send her kids there because it’s such a bubble that when they get out into the real world they don’t know how to deal with anything. To your point about the benefit of exposing your kids to tougher situations or situations where they have to navigate them and figure them out without too much hand holding.
You can argue the reverse though too. My kids (and I, back in the day) have experienced both public and private, and a large public school can lack real world preparation in its own way. If you're a solid student and don't break major rules, it's real easy to fly under the radar and not have to push yourself, really be accountable, and "show up" on a regular basis – all things that matter a lot later in life.
Anonymous
12/08/2025 11:14
Subject: Why are private school applications still at an all time high?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Public school parent here - sorry to intrude. I just saw this under "recent topics."
I beg your indulgence. FWIW, I can definitely afford private school for my kids! For better or worse, I choose not to.
If OP's facts are correct, I find the increasing demand for privates school curious, too. I'm not certain the college outcomes are that much better when you account for family wealth and education. In fact, private school outcomes might be worse when you make those accounts.
It's true that class sizes are too big in public school. There are also some unpleasant and weird kids. But tough situations teach resilience that can be useful later in life.
Just saying I'm surprised we're not at an equilibrium, and instead we are in an era of dramatically increasing demand for private school. I guess I would chalk it up to the wealthy getting wealthier.
It is all very interesting and as someone said it’s all anecdotal - but my anecdote is a good friend of mine is a teacher at a top private and said she would never send her kids there because it’s such a bubble that when they get out into the real world they don’t know how to deal with anything. To your point about the benefit of exposing your kids to tougher situations or situations where they have to navigate them and figure them out without too much hand holding.
What a crazy claim to make. I can assure you that kids that go to private schools do just fine in life. There are thousands of adults in the DMV who went to private school who are successful in the “real world.”
Let me help you with this, your teacher friend would "never send her kid to private" because your friend could never afford it. Those who can, do, send their kids to private.
This is often repeated but not always true. I know plenty of people, myself included who can afford to send their kids to private or could with a bit of financial aide and yet don’t. People prioritize other things, like being able to pay for college, or providing outside experiences and extra curricular to go alongside regular education, or setup greater future nest eggs.
Anonymous
12/08/2025 11:11
Subject: Why are private school applications still at an all time high?
Because most people don’t want to pay for what it actually takes to maintain a quality society. Instead they want low taxes and listen to politicians promise the Sun the Moon the Stars and yet have no concept about delivering for the world they live in.
Schools can’t fix everything, but that seems to be where the most pressure exists to fix things.
When you live in a society where the top 1% control more than the other 98% combined this is what happens.
Schools can’t fix everything, but that seems to be where the most pressure exists to fix things.
When you live in a society where the top 1% control more than the other 98% combined this is what happens.
Anonymous
12/08/2025 10:31
Subject: Why are private school applications still at an all time high?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Public school parent here - sorry to intrude. I just saw this under "recent topics."
I beg your indulgence. FWIW, I can definitely afford private school for my kids! For better or worse, I choose not to.
If OP's facts are correct, I find the increasing demand for privates school curious, too. I'm not certain the college outcomes are that much better when you account for family wealth and education. In fact, private school outcomes might be worse when you make those accounts.
It's true that class sizes are too big in public school. There are also some unpleasant and weird kids. But tough situations teach resilience that can be useful later in life.
Just saying I'm surprised we're not at an equilibrium, and instead we are in an era of dramatically increasing demand for private school. I guess I would chalk it up to the wealthy getting wealthier.
It is all very interesting and as someone said it’s all anecdotal - but my anecdote is a good friend of mine is a teacher at a top private and said she would never send her kids there because it’s such a bubble that when they get out into the real world they don’t know how to deal with anything. To your point about the benefit of exposing your kids to tougher situations or situations where they have to navigate them and figure them out without too much hand holding.
What a crazy claim to make. I can assure you that kids that go to private schools do just fine in life. There are thousands of adults in the DMV who went to private school who are successful in the “real world.”
Let me help you with this, your teacher friend would "never send her kid to private" because your friend could never afford it. Those who can, do, send their kids to private.
Huh? You really think all of the families at Churchill Langley etc just can’t afford private and that’s why the kids are there..laughable
Anonymous
12/07/2025 19:23
Subject: Why are private school applications still at an all time high?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Public school parent here - sorry to intrude. I just saw this under "recent topics."
I beg your indulgence. FWIW, I can definitely afford private school for my kids! For better or worse, I choose not to.
If OP's facts are correct, I find the increasing demand for privates school curious, too. I'm not certain the college outcomes are that much better when you account for family wealth and education. In fact, private school outcomes might be worse when you make those accounts.
It's true that class sizes are too big in public school. There are also some unpleasant and weird kids. But tough situations teach resilience that can be useful later in life.
Just saying I'm surprised we're not at an equilibrium, and instead we are in an era of dramatically increasing demand for private school. I guess I would chalk it up to the wealthy getting wealthier.
It is all very interesting and as someone said it’s all anecdotal - but my anecdote is a good friend of mine is a teacher at a top private and said she would never send her kids there because it’s such a bubble that when they get out into the real world they don’t know how to deal with anything. To your point about the benefit of exposing your kids to tougher situations or situations where they have to navigate them and figure them out without too much hand holding.
What a crazy claim to make. I can assure you that kids that go to private schools do just fine in life. There are thousands of adults in the DMV who went to private school who are successful in the “real world.”
Let me help you with this, your teacher friend would "never send her kid to private" because your friend could never afford it. Those who can, do, send their kids to private.
Anonymous
12/07/2025 19:22
Subject: Why are private school applications still at an all time high?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Public school parent here - sorry to intrude. I just saw this under "recent topics."
I beg your indulgence. FWIW, I can definitely afford private school for my kids! For better or worse, I choose not to.
If OP's facts are correct, I find the increasing demand for privates school curious, too. I'm not certain the college outcomes are that much better when you account for family wealth and education. In fact, private school outcomes might be worse when you make those accounts.
It's true that class sizes are too big in public school. There are also some unpleasant and weird kids. But tough situations teach resilience that can be useful later in life.
Just saying I'm surprised we're not at an equilibrium, and instead we are in an era of dramatically increasing demand for private school. I guess I would chalk it up to the wealthy getting wealthier.
It is all very interesting and as someone said it’s all anecdotal - but my anecdote is a good friend of mine is a teacher at a top private and said she would never send her kids there because it’s such a bubble that when they get out into the real world they don’t know how to deal with anything. To your point about the benefit of exposing your kids to tougher situations or situations where they have to navigate them and figure them out without too much hand holding.
What a crazy claim to make. I can assure you that kids that go to private schools do just fine in life. There are thousands of adults in the DMV who went to private school who are successful in the “real world.”