Catholic School?

[JamesMom]

My son is enrolled in our Catholic Church's VBS program. He is a first grader and I submit the paperwork for the Religious Education class for next year this morning after dropping him off for VBS.

Since I was there anyways at the office I inquire if there is room in the Catholic School. Last year we were on the waiting list and enrolled him in public kindergarden.

Well to my total shock - there is room! I took the paperwork home. I would LOVE for him to enroll! The catch? $5,000 annual tution.

We don't have it.

I wish I never asked cause now I will try and figure out how to afford it.

Talk me out of it, please Our local district is just fine and my special needs youngest will be in their special ed program for at least the next year.
But this Catholic School ALWAYS has a waiting list so I feel like maybe this is providence.

Anyways, wanted to share,

 

[Liz&Griff'smom]

What are the average number of students in each class at the Catholic school compared to your local public school? Catholic schools are notorious for having a large number of students in each classroom. I would definitely check on this.Our children are in parochial school and we love it. We attend a school with low classroom size.

Does this school offer any type of scholarship? Financial assistance is available for all Catholic schools in my city. I would look in to it. It might help with your decision.

Sorry I am not much help. I hope that it works out for you.

 

[thistle922]

Is there a chance that they do a payment plan? Ours splits the payments up, we pay from June to February. I mean, yes, it's still a LOT of money, but breaking it up in to payments makes it a wee bit easier for us.

 

[holden]

Catholic school always offer some kind of financial assistance (even if it's just paying over the course of the year). For any student who has special needs, I would go with a public school.

I am a public school teacher but the product of 19 years of Catholic school (yes, BA and MA). I know I received a quality education, and I do think the religious aspect made a difference in the choices I have made (though I would not describe myself as religious). Our DD6 is attending public school, but we might switch to Catholic school at some point (depending on how she is doing). Our public school district is HUGE, and I don't want her lost in a sea of 1,000 classmates. Our high school is one of the largest in the state and the graduating classes are large. Plus, the high school is 30 min. from our house, not including bus stops.

It is your decison, but I would move my daughter to Catholic school if she was an independent student who does not need special services (either enrichment or otherwise).

Just my opinion, for what it's worth.

 

[JamesMom]

Thanks for the quick replies. Each first grade class will max at 25 students. don't know how many in 1st grade in public school, but kindy allowed 18-19 per class- so I am sure it is much higher for 1st.

It's a beautiful facility. High school scares me though. Tuition there approaches $10K a year so there is no catholic high school for our kids. We'd rather save that money for college. Public high has huge graduating classes - close to 800 kids.

thanks for the financial aid tip but I doubt we would qualify as we make well more than 10 (or even 15) times the tuition amount in income. We could make payments as we go, but, it's 3% fee and 7% interest - might be cheaper on a credit card. Plus we have savings... but rather not touch that due to the economy. Tutition is non-refundable for any reason. Uniforms and $4 daily lunch (can brown bag) will add up too, plus $350 admin fee and $150 fundraiser opt out.

We could swing it financially, but we would have to cut out alot out of our budget and it would set us up to almost double the cost when our DS4 is ready for school. *bites fingers*

Still undecided. Keep the replies coming - paperwork has to go back by Thursday or somebody else might get the slot. *fingers crossed*

 

[Erin1700]

I grew up in Catholic school but we decided to put DD in public school. Not only for costs, but the catholic schools here just arent what they used to be.
We have never doubted out decision. Whatever you decide will be best for you and your family!

 

[loriandmatt]

i am a strong supporter of a catholic school education. at first our son (14) was enrolled in catholic school because our public school options were not so great. but after moving and having better public schools in our area, we were very used to the other things that went along with the education in a catholic school (at least the ones we have experienced here) and thought they were the best option for us.

yes, it is grossly expensive. our son will be going to catholic high school this fall (yes, tuition including fees totals about 8K) and our daughter will be starting catholic kindergarten, so that will be another 3K - so over 11K between the two of them....but the inclusion of empathy, charity, respect for others and open talk about faith, these things are all worth the financial sacrifice.

not to say that there are not wonderful public school teachers/schools out there that pass along some or all of these values, but in my immidiate area catholic school was the place to go if you wanted to reinforce at school what we as parents try to teach in our home.

 

[momofrrr]

If putting your child in private school would make things tight what would happen if things got tighter? If your public school district is good then I would stick with them. In Texas there is a limit set for how many students can be in a class and it varies by age/grade. The higher the grade the more students allowed and I beleive that Kinder and 1st are the same or very close. Good luck.

 

[Karyna Gladys]

I agree with Liz opinion, check out if there is scholarship of anything to get the fee lower, since you really like that your kid attend that school.

 

[hedgehog2owl]

OMgoodness I was going to post a thread like this.

I live in a place were there are lots of catholic schools. The diocese has a scholarship fund as does each school. We were told by the financial officer at the school of our choice (the closest) that we should apply for financial aid, that we were shoe-in; that most people who weren't prudently well off got a pretty nice sum.

So we apply for diocesan funding @ $100
We applied for school funding @ $100
(both were required)

diocese gave us (wait for it)......................................$250
school gave us........................................................$125

!!!!!

total tuition due.......................................................$3450

!!!

the heck you say!

I like you am torn. I want a values centered education for dd, but out public school are the best in the county. It's too big (6 classrooms a grade!) for my tastes and it only goes to 4th grade. I am sorry 5th grade is too early to do something as damaging as middle school. Catholic schools are k-8

oh oh oh get this, this is the ***-kicker

There are 2 kindy teachers at the catholic school. I loved one of them. she was such a gentle soul, and it was just one of those time when you KNOW this person is the right person, yk?

Well last week -we are 'enrolled' at the school, even though we haven't paid the tuition yet- dd got a letter from this teacher. She's been assigned to her class!..oh but wait..dd..probably...can't...go..

Like I said there are SIX kindy teachers at the public school, and I know SQUAT about any of them.

I really don't know what to do.

My friend said she hear somebody told the vice principal that they couldn't afford tuition, and they lowered it for them! So that is an option I suppose, if I wanted to go there.

anyway, sorry to steal your thread, but I feel what you are saying.

 

[Couturier]

My kids go to Catholic school and the price is around 6,000 next year for all 3 of them without any scholarships. Well, we do get some,so that helps.

BUT......... here is what I do-

I work EVERYTHING I can, I work Bingo for the school 1x a week, I work Texas Holdem several times a year, and I work 2 mornings a week doing latch key at the school.

So our out of pocket cost is actually VERY VERY little and we are so lucky. Our public school has right around 30 in all the lower grades. My kids are in the 2 smallest classes at the Catholic School- 8 kids and 6 kids, hee hee! So they get basicly one on one attention on a daily basis.

We are a 1 income family, and make a small income at that, so we are blessed to have so many ways that I can pay for the tuition without paying out of pocket.

So my advice, ask if they have any work/tuition programs. You may be suprised!

Good luck on your decision!

Dana

 

[dezimber]

When I was in Catholic school my mom got a discount for being a member of the church and doing volunteer hours each month.

 

[java]

I attended 16 years of Catholic school. I was sending my son to Catholic Kindergarten. I had had a wonderful experience and a fantastic education so I was leaning toward that for our children.

Then we moved. And our public schools were just better. There was much more available to the kids at the public school. One thing that concerned me was that in my state I could have been a teacher at a Catholic school without my teaching degree. Not the case at the public school. They also don't pay as well at the Catholic school. So again my concern was the teacher. (although I am sure there are many wonderful teachers that dedicate their lives to teaching in a Catholic school)

I decided to send my kids through the public school system. It's a great blue ribbon district and my son is now in the public high school and that school is amazing. As a freshman he had access to college level classes. And he is already being recruited by colleges.

I have 3 other children working their way through the public school system.

We wanted our children to have a more rounded experience in school.

But again this is OUR district. I am happy with the public school system here - I don't know what I would do if I was unhappy with it.

It's a very personal decision. Make a pro and con list. See WHY you want to send him to Catholic school. Then decide if that's worth the $5000 a year.

Oh and on class size- our public school average class size is 17. the catholic has 32!

But one positive on the Catholic school that can't be argued is that they can kick someone out a lot faster than the public school does. So if there is a problem. They try to address it to the best of their ability and if that fails - see ya.

 

[mjkacmom]

Around here, the public schools are much better than the Catholic. In most cases, if a child needs special education, public school can meet those needs much better than Catholic, since the law mandates special education.

 

[mjkacmom]

Thanks for the quick replies. Each first grade class will max at 25 students. don't know how many in 1st grade in public school, but kindy allowed 18-19 per class- so I am sure it is much higher for 1st.

*

My kids have 17 children in their class in kindergarten, and my older kids have never had more that 19 in a class (public). Our teachers start out making $37,000 per year (with a BA), much more than teachers in private school, and get automatic raises for a MA. We have many teachers making 6 figure salaries, and our district pays for their education. Children who transfer from the Catholic schools have a heck of a time catching up.

 

[Gretchen3ajoshmom]

I am a product of (CT) public schools and send my 3 to our PA public schools... All 3 are "gifted" and are part of that program. They all have wonderful teachers and are excelling. My DS13 was part of the Pennsylvania Math League for 7th grade- placed first in his school , first in the county, and 2nd in the state- Springfield Public Schools are doing wonderful things for my children!

As far as the opening being providence, I think it may more likely be the economy. I know our catholic schools are seeing lower numbers as more and more families are putting numbers on paper and seeing ends not meeting.

Check out both options, ask to see curriculum and ask other parents what they lile/dislike.

Music is big for our family - catholic schools here do not offer instrumental - my ds13 plays trombone and my dd 9 plays violin- I could never afford those lessons...

Lots to consider....good luck with your choice!

 

[thistle922]

Children who transfer from the Catholic schools have a heck of a time catching up.

Honestly, this really depends on where you live and what your public districts are like. It is the complete opposite for us, you couldn't PAY me to send my son to the public schools around here. Additionally, the majority of the kids from the Catholic schools are much farther ahead than their public school counterparts. It really just depends on your location.

 

[brymolmom]

Hi there. Around here and in my personal experience, for 'average' middle-of-the-road kids, Catholic schools can be great. But for anyone outside of that average - be it on the low or high end, most of the public schools are better.

My own education many years ago - K through 8th at Catholic school in very affluent town, they did not offer advanced courses in 7th or 8th grade and did not offer any Regents exams (necessary to fulfill high school level courses in NY), so when I then turned to Public High School, I was WAY behind the other advanced kids.

So, to me, it has never been worth the $$. We are active in our church as I love for my kids to have the exposure to the good things/charity work/acting kind type of teachings, but if it was me,, all those years ago - I would much rather have had my parents put the tuition money in a college savings account for me and helped pay (more) for my college than spending that much on elementary school.

If you can't do it financially and if your public school is decent - don't do it. I believe that kids can have both good and bad experiences in both school types. It all depends on the kid, and the teachers he/she gets for the most part. You could have a WONDERFUL teacher who your child relates well with and they click well together in a public or private school. You'll just pay a lot less for it at the public one.

 

[JamesMom]

Well after talking it over with my husband, ever so briefly. He didn't even want to entertain the option of Catholic School. We are leaving for a two day trip to Great Wolf on Sunday, putting a new roof on the house on Monday and my mom is moving into a nursing home on Wednesday -- the budget simply won't permit private school at this time.

Thanks for all the replies and here's to winning the lottery

 

[Panotchr]

Great Wolf? Are you near Concord, NC? I live near there. You'll have to let me know how it is.

I taught in CS for over 10 years and my girls went to CS until we moved here to NC. Now they attend public school and I believe they are better off. I miss them going to Mass each week with their friends, but I really believe they are getting a better education overall. There is not a lot of room for variation in CS. I teach at a local PS and I love it too.

If it is meant to be, it will fall into place easily.

Kelly