Anonymous wrote:This thread is pretty interesting. OP asked a particular question looking for some concrete differences between two small groups of schools and looks like there are definitely some public school parents with a big old insecurity complex and chip on their shoulder who need to communicate their righteous values to go public (even though or if they could afford private, of course)... Even after OP and a few PPs remind ppl what OP is specifically asking about! If you know specific differences, tell us!! Those of us that are trying to decide between a private our child was accepted to (which we clearly don't have a moral problem with or we would not have applied), or our local public would like to know!! No need to convince us of your values, or get all defensive!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Here's why: if you, and any subsequent posters (!!) actually knew the neighborhoods surrounding Janney, Key, Mann, Lafayette and to a lesser extent, Murch, you would understand that 95% of the children attending these public schools are not from "all walks of life." They are all from "a privileged background." They are NOT socio-economicallly diverse. They all, with very very few exceptions, are the products of parents in the highest SES bands in the entire United States.

This is a fact. True, there are handfuls of somewhat lower income renters at a handful of these schools but the numbers do not lie.



+1 Well said, totally agree with your analysis.


I am one of the "subsequent posters" (not sure what the !! means). We could go probably go private but we choose to go to Hearst. It is possible to live in Ward 3 and attend a school that has kid from all walks of life. The other parents at the school have a very wide range of professions-- everything from lawyers and academics to restaurant workers and manual laborers. Hearst absolutely is socio-economically diverse and that is why we chose it, and actively did NOT choose Janney, Mann, etc.

One more time, with feeling: this is a thread that asks about Janney, Key, Lafayette, Mann and probably Murch.

It is not asking about Stoddert, Eaton, Hearst. It is not asking about private schools in Dallas. It is not asking about Catholic schools in south Chicago as an alternative to public schools in south Chicago.

Hi, thanks PP. OP here. Yes, please, the question is about GDS/Sidwell versus JKLM (in fact, we are considering Mann specifically) differences (i.e. curricular, academically speaking, teacher quality, languages exposure, arts, music, etc....)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about "international" diversity? Is my understanding that Sidwell, notably WIS, GDS and STA have a lot of international students.

JKLMs do as well. We have a tremendous number on international families at all schools in the area.

Mann has so many international students that we don't go to any of the auctions anymore because they are all held at embassies - just went through the security clearance process again and listing embassies and foreign contacts for ten years was too much. No more auctions for us, and sorry not to go. But really? Sometimes being a fed is a hassle....

Ha! Talk about your unintended consequences/headaches.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about "international" diversity? Is my understanding that Sidwell, notably WIS, GDS and STA have a lot of international students.

JKLMs do as well. We have a tremendous number on international families at all schools in the area.

Mann has so many international students that we don't go to any of the auctions anymore because they are all held at embassies - just went through the security clearance process again and listing embassies and foreign contacts for ten years was too much. No more auctions for us, and sorry not to go. But really? Sometimes being a fed is a hassle....

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about "international" diversity? Is my understanding that Sidwell, notably WIS, GDS and STA have a lot of international students.

JKLMs do as well. We have a tremendous number on international families at all schools in the area.

Anonymous wrote:

Here's why: if you, and any subsequent posters (!!) actually knew the neighborhoods surrounding Janney, Key, Mann, Lafayette and to a lesser extent, Murch, you would understand that 95% of the children attending these public schools are not from "all walks of life." They are all from "a privileged background." They are NOT socio-economicallly diverse. They all, with very very few exceptions, are the products of parents in the highest SES bands in the entire United States.

This is a fact. True, there are handfuls of somewhat lower income renters at a handful of these schools but the numbers do not lie.



+1 Well said, totally agree with your analysis.


I am one of the "subsequent posters" (not sure what the !! means). We could go probably go private but we choose to go to Hearst. It is possible to live in Ward 3 and attend a school that has kid from all walks of life. The other parents at the school have a very wide range of professions-- everything from lawyers and academics to restaurant workers and manual laborers. Hearst absolutely is socio-economically diverse and that is why we chose it, and actively did NOT choose Janney, Mann, etc.

One more time, with feeling: this is a thread that asks about Janney, Key, Lafayette, Mann and probably Murch.

It is not asking about Stoddert, Eaton, Hearst. It is not asking about private schools in Dallas. It is not asking about Catholic schools in south Chicago as an alternative to public schools in south Chicago.

Anonymous wrote:What about "international" diversity? Is my understanding that Sidwell, notably WIS, GDS and STA have a lot of international students.

Anonymous wrote:

Here's why: if you, and any subsequent posters (!!) actually knew the neighborhoods surrounding Janney, Key, Mann, Lafayette and to a lesser extent, Murch, you would understand that 95% of the children attending these public schools are not from "all walks of life." They are all from "a privileged background." They are NOT socio-economicallly diverse. They all, with very very few exceptions, are the products of parents in the highest SES bands in the entire United States.

This is a fact. True, there are handfuls of somewhat lower income renters at a handful of these schools but the numbers do not lie.



+1 Well said, totally agree with your analysis.


I am one of the "subsequent posters" (not sure what the !! means). We could go probably go private but we choose to go to Hearst. It is possible to live in Ward 3 and attend a school that has kid from all walks of life. The other parents at the school have a very wide range of professions-- everything from lawyers and academics to restaurant workers and manual laborers. Hearst absolutely is socio-economically diverse and that is why we chose it, and actively did NOT choose Janney, Mann, etc.

One more time, with feeling: this is a thread that asks about Janney, Key, Lafayette, Mann and probably Murch.

It is not asking about Stoddert, Eaton, Hearst. It is not asking about private schools in Dallas. It is not asking about Catholic schools in south Chicago as an alternative to public schools in south Chicago.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP, I get that you want to sound earnest, but you come across as smug and self-righteous. These are attitudes I'd hope to avoid.

Referring to PP at 17:16.

NP here. For crying out loud. You're beyond "smug and self-righteous." I'd insert other words here, but then I'd be playing your game. Not going to stoop to your level.

17:16 - thanks for your candor and thoughtfulness. I expect that lots of nastiness is going to be heaped on you, because there seem to be a vocal crew of people on here who hiss and piss at anyone who pauses to question the assumption that sending your kids to private school is automatically for the best. But please know that I for one thank you many many times over for your heartfelt message. You sound like a wonderful parent, and a wonderful person.