Public School w/extras Vs. Private School

[gerald]

This statement cracks me up. How by any means how can you tell that your kids are "farther along" than all the other kids.

There are some great private school and some great public schools. I teach in a great pubic high school in a upper class area. We have a great number of kids that go to private school for K-8 and than transfer to our public HS due to all the "extra" classes available. We offer 5 languages, an engineering academy, a working public TV studio, a IB program, over 20 AP clasess and the list goes on, .

Many of the students that come to the HS with their expensive, wonderful, private school education often struggle with the social aspect of school. Many provate school are very small with the same kids moving from grade to grade. They never learn to adjust to new environment and so on.

I would advise you to spend some time in both environments. Tour the school during school hours when students are engaged in learning. Don't just visit during "open house" when everyone puts their best foot forward.

Don't go by test scores alone. They only tell a small part of a schools picture. Look at the students interactions with the teachers and other students. Look at the creativity in the clasroom -are the walls decorated proudly with the students work. Look at the "extras" your child might enjoy. If they are into performance - look at the arts programs, if they are into sports - check out the facilities and attend a few games.

Whatever you decided respect others decisions and realize what is best for your family is not the best for everyone.

Trust me, when your children are scoring in the 80-85% nationally in reading, math, science and social studies on the ITBS vs. what the scores from the local elementary school are...They are ahead.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

Trust me, when your children are scoring in the 80-85% nationally in reading, math, science and social studies on the ITBS vs. what the scores from the local elementary school are...They are ahead.

No, that means that your children are scoring better than the average score for the public school, which can't be selective about its student body.

 

[4orm]

We have been having this conversation almost daily in our home. The public schools in our neighborhood are abysmal. We cannot afford to move to one of the better districts with their million+ dollar homes. We have applications in to a few private schools and if we get in thing are going to be pretty tight financially. There is one school we really hope to get accepted at, the others make us wonder if we want to home school and take that money to travel (like a previous poster mentioned since we already travel but would have to stop with tuition costs). I'm pretty sure we'd feel very badly if we had her at one of our local sub-par public schools knowing we could have her at a school we know to be a better environment all around. There are too many things to get into in regards to our local public. It's sad things have gone the way they have in so few years but they have and I would feel negligent knowing what I know and subjecting her to it.

 

[budbeerlady]

We have chosen private school for Dd.
We pay out over $7,000 in tuition a year. For me its been a no brain-er, her cousins are the public schools same grade, same town. They have 31 kids in the class, Dd has 18. They have computer lab once a week, DD has it daily and is assigned a laptop to do her work on for the year. They do not have a designated art class, Dd has it 2x a week, she has Spanish daily, they do not.

Compare apples to apples to get a good idea for your area, and then seek out the best education for YOUR child!

 

[gerald]

No, that means that your children are scoring better than the average score for the public school, which can't be selective about its student body.

Thanks for making my point.

 

[rvchat]

There are two parochials somewhat near us, and i can't get scores or info on anytying on them.

Where do I look?


thnks

Have two kids in private school...The cost is $10,000 for the pair...It is a NCLB Blue ribbon school and tests in the top 10% in the Iowa's every year. All the neighbors kids go to the local public school. I can tell you that my kids are farther along then the public school kids. We live in a upper middle class area with decent public schools.

We also have to commute the kids to school each day as its about 20 miles away. As long as we have the financial ability the kids will never go to public school.

 

[ccgirl]

There are two parochials somewhat near us, and i can't get scores or info on anytying on them.

Where do I look?


thnks

I would call the schools and see what they have available. My DD took IOWA's for the 1st time this year. I don't think it is required (but I could be wrong). I don't believe my DD publishes it's test scores. Athough the entire class scored at least 80%; they do not feel this is a great measure of the learning. Sure, it means they scored higher than 80% of the students that took it but it is one test. Some students don't test well, etc. If you are interested in either, I would ask for some literature and tour the schools. My DD goes to a tiny parochial and none have had trouble adjusting. By the time they get to the 9th grade they are very strong in their beliefs. Of the current 8th grade, 8 went to one of the best IB charter schools in the country, 1 went to public, a couple went to private academies and the rest went on to Catholic high schools. Again, just like public schools not all private schools are created equal either.

 

[nicki.momof3]

No, that means that your children are scoring better than the average score for the public school, which can't be selective about its student body.

Still not clear

How are you proving that YOUR child is ahead of all the public school kids in your neighborhood? Have their parents given you their childrens scores. All "above the national average" says is what the entire student body averaged on the test.

If teh public school had a high number of student with disabilites than that would bring the schools "average" down. It does not mean your child is ahead.

You need to get over yourself - WOW!

This is the exact attitude I hate from elite private school parent - we have $$ so our kids are smarter.

 

[gerald]

Still not clear

How are you proving that YOUR child is ahead of all the public school kids in your neighborhood? Have their parents given you their childrens scores. All "above the national average" says is what the entire student body averaged on the test.

If teh public school had a high number of student with disabilites than that would bring the schools "average" down. It does not mean your child is ahead.

You need to get over yourself - WOW!

This is the exact attitude I hate from elite private school parent - we have $$ so our kids are smarter.

Ahhhh....outcomes the insecurities of the public school teacher who has to put down someone who wants to send their kids to a private school.

Let me guess you work in Jersey?

 

[fakereadhed]

I don't want to start a war, but I do know our private school has higher standards and the kids are generally(there is a range, just like public)ahead of the kids in our public school system based in smaller class size(1:7 average) plus exceeding the public school's curriculum standards. One example off the top of my head, the state required K to recognize 18-30 sightwords by the end of the year. Our school requires 50, and they are also spelling words. They have the luxury of individual attention compared to the 1:30 ratio for public school in our district. Due to budget cuts they are trying to push it to 1:35! It isn't arrogant to assume that the kids would advance quicker, it's just a matter of class size. I am sure the teachers at public schools could teach those kids tons more in a year if they had only 14 students and a full time aide.

 

[js]

Around here $10k a year won't get you a really good private school - double that for high school and you MIGHT get them into a college prep high school. You'd be better off with a good public school and $10k in enrichment.

I agree somewhat about the costs.

OP, I see you are from NY and that is where I am from.
I did not read all the responses but did you end of informing us if you mean
Grades 1-8 or High School, BIG Difference.

My dd is in a college prep HS and I pay for it, although over $10K.
Do I think it is worth it, especially now that she is ending her Junior Year, you bet ya! She has small classes, APs and a college advisor that we have been meeting with since freshman year. When we visited colleges, starting last summer, I sat and smiled to myself hearing Admissions talk and telling us what we need, etc., she has been FULLY prepared.

Now, I also have a ds who is in 7th grade, which I also pay for his schooling but not over or very close to 10K.
While I think he can get "more" out of the system in PS, I choose his school since I like the rules inforced and small classes. Do I think he is anymore prepared than a 7th grader at a PS, perhaps not, but I don't send him there for those reasons. I know he will get into the HS he/we want him to go to, so that works for us.

Do I think my dd is better prepared than the students in the PS or larger CS in my area, Absolutely!

Given what I know now, I would still do it the same exact way.

 

[nicki.momof3]

Ahhhh....outcomes the insecurities of the public school teacher who has to put down someone who wants to send their kids to a private school.

Let me guess you work in Jersey?

I am not putting down all parents that send their children to private schools. As I said in my first post there are great private schools and great public schools. No one can say that one is "better" than the other based on one or two factors.

The only person I am putting down is YOU. You clearly think you and your children are "above" all other children. It is your attitude that I hate, not private schools.

All children are different and have different talents and none are above or better than the next. It is great you think your child is smart - wonderful. I promise you those poor public school kids in your neighborhood have strength that your child can not match. It does not make anyone better or above the other.

A childs success is not only based on a # on a test. It is on their well rounded performance. Social success is as important as good grades.

PS - I don't live in Jersey - but wow what a negative attitude you have towards all Jersey teachers - again with the elite attitude. Whats wrong with Jersey teachers?????

 

[gerald]

I am not putting down all parents that send their children to private schools. As I said in my first post there are great private schools and great public schools. No one can say that one is "better" than the other based on one or two factors.

The only person I am putting down is YOU. You clearly think you and your children are "above" all other children. It is your attitude that I hate, not private schools.

All children are different and have different talents and none are above or better than the next. It is great you think your child is smart - wonderful. I promise you those poor public school kids in your neighborhood have strength that your child can not match. It does not make anyone better or above the other.

A childs success is not only based on a # on a test. It is on their well rounded performance. Social success is as important as good grades.

PS - I don't live in Jersey - but wow what a negative attitude you have towards all Jersey teachers - again with the elite attitude. Whats wrong with Jersey teachers?????

Hmmmmm......Where to start. I never said my children are above all children. I made an observation that I believed my children where farther along than kids in the same grade at public school. You than questioned why I had that belief by saying my statement "cracked you up". So instead of citing some anecdotal evidence I mentioned the ITBS as something that influenced my opinion between the two schools.

Confronted with that evidence you choose an ad hominem attack.

It was you my dear that escalated the conversation into personal attacks because you have a insecurity about those parents that send their kids to private schools.
I

 

[nicki.momof3]

Hmmmmm......Where to start. I never said my children are above all children. I made an observation that I believed my children where farther along than kids in the same grade at public school. You than questioned why I had that belief by saying my statement "cracked you up". So instead of citing some anecdotal evidence I mentioned the ITBS as something that influenced my opinion between the two schools.

Confronted with that evidence you choose an ad hominem attack.

It was you my dear that escalated the conversation into personal attacks because you have a insecurity about those parents that send their kids to private schools.
I

You didn't answer the question - what's wrong with Jersey teachers? Not being from Jersey (never even been there) I would love to know.

 

[nicki.momof3]

All the neighbors kids go to the local public school. I can tell you that my kids are farther along then the public school kids.

Here is a refresher on your original statement. No where does it say in your opinion. It sounds like - you know your children are better or ahead. Again no way you can know this information. Purely your opinion - not fact.

 

[mjbaby]

Trust me, when your children are scoring in the 80-85% nationally in reading, math, science and social studies on the ITBS vs. what the scores from the local elementary school are...They are ahead.

And how much does this outcome cost? My kids' (public) school routinely posts well above the 90th percentile across the student body and into the mid-90s for math and science. If we ever dipped down in to the 80-85 range, there'd be a mob at the district office gates. Frankly, I think you're being had.

Tuition at private, non-sectarian institutions in my area runs $25K and up. We are considering it for middle and high school (or possibly just high school, unsure yet) simply because I believe in starting early to create the bonds, connections and networks that enhance academic learning. Additionally, although our local high school is excellent, it simply cannot compete on amenities and opportunities.

 

[gerald]

And how much does this outcome cost? My kids' (public) school routinely posts well above the 90th percentile across the student body and into the mid-90s for math and science. If we ever dipped down in to the 80-85 range, there'd be a mob at the district office gates. Frankly, I think you're being had.

Tuition at private, non-sectarian institutions in my area runs $25K and up. We are considering it for middle and high school (or possibly just high school, unsure yet) simply because I believe in starting early to create the bonds, connections and networks that enhance academic learning. Additionally, although our local high school is excellent, it simply cannot compete on amenities and opportunities.

You're right. I could have given Wilson and the rest of the house staff rasies with those funds, but how would I ever face my friends at the club if they knew my kids went to public school.

 

[gerald]

You didn't answer the question - what's wrong with Jersey teachers? Not being from Jersey (never even been there) I would love to know.

Look again........I never said anything was wrong with Jersey teachers. I ask if that's where you were from.


You continue to extrapolate words and ideas from my statements that I never claim to make.

 

[gerald]

Here is a refresher on your original statement. No where does it say in your opinion. It sounds like - you know your children are better or ahead. Again no way you can know this information. Purely your opinion - not fact.

See answer in post above.

 

[Planogirl]

Bickering about which is best certainly proves nothing except that people have strong opinions. Both can be good and both can be bad.

I would suggest researching the options in your area and just go from there.