Public vs. Private School

[Soul_Patch]

Curious what the collective thinks here about private vs. public school. Unfortunately we live in a somewhat less than desirable public school district (Taft). Our son is 5 years old and will start school after this summer. We have been looking at all kinds of options for school, including moving out to Boerne to be in some better school districts.

If our house doesn't sell, we have been considering private school, but it seems to range from 3500ish for church based schools and up to around 15K for top notch secular schools (St. Mary's Hall, Keystone). We have found a decent school in the middle of the pack at around 7400 a year for elementary school. Would run a 740 a month in 10 payments with a bevy of other fees due here and there. That isnt a drop in the bucket, and we are trying to decide whether or not it is worth it.

How many of you guys send your kids to private school and has it been worth the cost? Do you apply for and get any financial aid? Is it loans or scholarships or both? I really don't want to take on any debt, but I have heard many times that it is almost like prepaying for college as a lot of these schools turn out 90% or more of their students to top notch colleges.

Thanks for the info!

[cantthinkofanything]

We send our daughter to private school. The big benefits are the smaller classes and some insulation to the problems associated with public schools. While there are some of the same issues, they are not as prevalent. And for the most part, you can assume that the other kids at the school are from similar backgrounds with parents that are involved and concerned about them. Also, if your child likes sports, there is a much better chance of them getting to play. My daughter is a decent athlete but there's no way she'd get the amount of time she's getting right now in soccer, basketball, volleyball, etc. This fills her time with something positive rather than hanging out with friends trying to find something to do. Idle hands and all that.

The downsides, which are substantial IMO, are 1) how sheltered and unaware she is of what goes on outside of her school and 2) having such a small class where she's not really getting the diversity of a larger school and meeting and getting along with kids from different backgrounds. We're concerned that it's breeding a naivete that could eventually hurt her when she has to get out in the real world.

Of course the downsides are direct consequences of the reasons why we put her there in the first place. But for us anyway, the pros outweigh the cons.

[TDMVPDPOY]

i went to private for both

primary school just let them enjoy being a kid man, no point wasting money on upperclass primary schools...

[cantthinkofanything]

i went to private for both

primary school just let them enjoy being a kid man, no point wasting money on upperclass primary schools...

Did you go to Catholic school?

There wasn't any aspect of my daughter's elementary school experience that kept her from being a kid. In fact, because of the smaller classes and relative ease in dealing with them, they were allowed more freedom than had they been in a public school with 20+ kids in the room.

And by 4th and 5th grade, there is a very noticeable difference in what they are exposed to in public vs. private. No matter how attentive you are to what your kid is exposed to at home, you're putting them in an environment where they will be in contact with kids with parents who don't care what they see or watch on TV or internet.

[Drachen]

Curious what the collective thinks here about private vs. public school. Unfortunately we live in a somewhat less than desirable public school district (Taft). Our son is 5 years old and will start school after this summer. We have been looking at all kinds of options for school, including moving out to Boerne to be in some better school districts.

If our house doesn't sell, we have been considering private school, but it seems to range from 3500ish for church based schools and up to around 15K for top notch secular schools (St. Mary's Hall, Keystone). We have found a decent school in the middle of the pack at around 7400 a year for elementary school. Would run a 740 a month in 10 payments with a bevy of other fees due here and there. That isnt a drop in the bucket, and we are trying to decide whether or not it is worth it.

How many of you guys send your kids to private school and has it been worth the cost? Do you apply for and get any financial aid? Is it loans or scholarships or both? I really don't want to take on any debt, but I have heard many times that it is almost like prepaying for college as a lot of these schools turn out 90% or more of their students to top notch colleges.

Thanks for the info!

I have my daughter in private school and it costs in the area of 6000-6500 a year after all fees are accounted for. We love it for the fact that there are smaller class sizes (her kindergarten class is about 18 kids and there are 2 teachers in each kindergarten class). Also, one of the main reasons that private school was important to me was that I went to St. Monica's in Converse when I was a child (until 4th grade) and by the time I moved to public school, I was nearly a year and a half ahead of where they were at. True to form, my daughter is learning things that seem to be ahead of the curve for her age group (in fact the lady at her day care tells me that she gets kids to work on their homework and my daughter's is most challenging). My wife mentioned to me that she loves the fact that when we drop off our daughter in the car line, that the teachers working the car line always take the time to say hi to my daughter and pay attention to the kids because when she was taking my step daughter to car line when she was little at a public school, the teachers would either be talking to each other or just otherwise not paying attention to the kids. CTOA also brings up a good point in that the parents are paying for this so you can bet that they are involved. Worst case scenario, a household must volunteer at least 10 hours a year at the school.

I don't know if all schools have it, but if you were worried about the expense, there is a program (at least at our school) where you can be one of the guys selling beer/wine at the stands at spurs games and other att center events and you get a percentage of the sales of your stand taken off of your monthly tuition. Also, the tuition at our school is spread over 12 (instead of 10 months). Let me know if you have any other questions.

[Spur|n|Austin]

I went to St. Louis School in Austin from 1st grade through 8th and then went on to public high school. When I have kids I will most likely do the same with them, it was a great experience. You get a better education, imo as you get more attention from the teacher with the smaller classes, there's no drugs or violence, and they also teach good morals. My girl is a teacher at a public middle school and it's rough, things that I had no idea about as a kid. That brings up the argument that one may be a bit sheltered though and more prone to being bad once they get to high school or college but it didn't happen to me or all the kids I went to school with. All that I am still in contact with are successful and happy.

[Soul_Patch]

I have my daughter in private school and it costs in the area of 6000-6500 a year after all fees are accounted for. We love it for the fact that there are smaller class sizes (her kindergarten class is about 18 kids and there are 2 teachers in each kindergarten class). Also, one of the main reasons that private school was important to me was that I went to St. Monica's in Converse when I was a child (until 4th grade) and by the time I moved to public school, I was nearly a year and a half ahead of where they were at. True to form, my daughter is learning things that seem to be ahead of the curve for her age group (in fact the lady at her day care tells me that she gets kids to work on their homework and my daughter's is most challenging). My wife mentioned to me that she loves the fact that when we drop off our daughter in the car line, that the teachers working the car line always take the time to say hi to my daughter and pay attention to the kids because when she was taking my step daughter to car line when she was little at a public school, the teachers would either be talking to each other or just otherwise not paying attention to the kids. CTOA also brings up a good point in that the parents are paying for this so you can bet that they are involved. Worst case scenario, a household must volunteer at least 10 hours a year at the school.

I don't know if all schools have it, but if you were worried about the expense, there is a program (at least at our school) where you can be one of the guys selling beer/wine at the stands at spurs games and other att center events and you get a percentage of the sales of your stand taken off of your monthly tuition. Also, the tuition at our school is spread over 12 (instead of 10 months). Let me know if you have any other questions.

You mind sharing what school this is? If not, is it a secular school or a church based?

We are strongly considering Trinity United Methodist (4800 a year) or The Christian Montessori Academy (7800 a year)

Another concern I have is him making friends throughout primary school, then having to change schools and likely losing all those friends when he gets to middle or high school. Any of you that have went through that before, is it tough?

[cantthinkofanything]

You mind sharing what school this is? If not, is it a secular school or a church based?

We are strongly considering Trinity United Methodist (4800 a year) or The Christian Montessori Academy (7800 a year)

Another concern I have is him making friends throughout primary school, then having to change schools and likely losing all those friends when he gets to middle or high school. Any of you that have went through that before, is it tough?

It's always a little tough but not too bad as long as they are changing schools when that particular phase starts. If the middle school starts at 6th grade, it will be far easier on him if he joins the school then as opposed to 1 year later when cliques have already been formed. Same with high school.

[leemajors]

I can't afford private school so I have never thought about it. She is currently in second grade and her "aunt" that works there has helped her get the best teachers in every grade so far. She's lucky enough to be in the Any Given Child Fine Arts Initiative classroom at her school, the pilot classroom for Austin. Funding got approved recently to spread it throughout the school district.

[Drachen]

You mind sharing what school this is? If not, is it a secular school or a church based?

We are strongly considering Trinity United Methodist (4800 a year) or The Christian Montessori Academy (7800 a year)

Another concern I have is him making friends throughout primary school, then having to change schools and likely losing all those friends when he gets to middle or high school. Any of you that have went through that before, is it tough?

Check your PM.

As far as acclimating to a new school, the cool thing is the fact that parents are so involved so you will meet them and you will be able to help keep up friendships. Additionally, if you do it at a cut off (say when high school begins) there are a lot of parents who are going to do the same, so you might have a situation where several of your child's friends are going to the same high school at the same time. Lastly, kids are resilient, just try and support them through it.

[Blake]

Imo, no need to waste money on private elementary school.

I would consider sending the kid to a private middle school if you are worried about bullies; private high school for sports if they want to play but aren't great.

If your kid turns out to be big on academics or really good at sports, I'd recommend public high school.

if your kid turns out to be a lazy ass, then definitely don't waste a dime on private school.

[Drachen]

Imo, no need to waste money on private elementary school.

I would consider sending the kid to a private middle school if you are worried about bullies; private high school for sports if they want to play but aren't great.

If your kid turns out to be big on academics or really good at sports, I'd recommend public high school.

if your kid turns out to be a lazy ass, then definitely don't waste a dime on private school.

It's all about the foundation, that is why I think it is important.

[cantthinkofanything]

Imo, no need to waste money on private elementary school.

I would consider sending the kid to a private middle school if you are worried about bullies; private high school for sports if they want to play but aren't great.

If your kid turns out to be big on academics or really good at sports, I'd recommend public high school.

if your kid turns out to be a lazy ass, then definitely don't waste a dime on private school.

Waste of money?

Knowing and meeting every teacher and knowing with absolute certainty that they care about my child and her education? Putting her in a small class where the teacher's time is divided by 10 kids instead of 30? Letting her attend a school that lets her work at her own pace and can challenge her? Instead of holding her back to wait on 25 other kids that can't read yet? An environment that encourages her to think on her own, giving her the confidence to move on to the next level. Giving her every advantage I can in these formative years?

Best money I've ever spent tbh.

[Drachen]

Waste of money?

Knowing and meeting every teacher and knowing with absolute certainty that they care about my child and her education? Putting her in a small class where the teacher's time is divided by 10 kids instead of 30? Letting her attend a school that lets her work at her own pace and can challenge her? Instead of holding her back to wait on 25 other kids that can't read yet? An environment that encourages her to think on her own, giving her the confidence to move on to the next level. Giving her every advantage I can in these formative years?

Best money I've ever spent tbh.

[leemajors]

lol absolute certainty.

[TDMVPDPOY]

Did you go to Catholic school?

yeh i did, nothing special about it.....at the end of the day it all comes down to ur kid if he/she is interested in learning new stuff....

whether your going to a co-ed or non co-ed school, if you have a compe ive nature you can excel in any environment....

[DisAsTerBot]

there's plent of crappy teachers at private schools as well. Attended both and am really happy I was able to attend public school before attending a private high school. The kids I knew in private high school who had attended private their whole life were for the most part very sheltered. Be it socially, economically, they just didn't have a decent sample size of people. Just my experience obviously.

[lebomb]

Every girl that I knew that went to private schools most of their lives turned out to be the biggest lying, cheating, giving up the ass hoes. And Im not just talking about San Antonio. Its like they were sheltered their whole lives and then cut loose when they went to a public highshool or college.

[sonnytris]

It's not the schools. The same information is at both private or public? It's little Tommie who will not seek the information ? They expect someone to hand it to them /

[DisAsTerBot]

Every girl that I knew that went to private schools most of their lives turned out to be the biggest lying, cheating, giving up the ass hoes. And Im not just talking about San Antonio. Its like they were sheltered their whole lives and then cut loose when they went to a public highshool or college.

this. x10000 if it's catholic school

[DisAsTerBot]

Also, attending catholic high school really helped me to see the bull of organized religion (catholicism especially). That is something I will be forever grateful for.

[Drachen]

It's not the schools. The same information is at both private or public? It's little Tommie who will not seek the information ? They expect someone to hand it to them /

The smaller class sizes aren't available in public schools. Let's set all of that aside though and assume that all else is equal. Everyone says that parental engagement is one of the biggest problems in education today. Well, private schools don't seem to have the same problem with that that public schools do.

[cantthinkofanything]

yeh i did, nothing special about it.....at the end of the day it all comes down to ur kid if he/she is interested in learning new stuff.... whether your going to a co-ed or non co-ed school, if you have a compe ive nature you can excel in any environment....

That wasn't my point to your first comment. You mentioned not sending them to private school because they needed to still be kids. Which sounds like someone who's been subjected to the oppressive teaching of a Catholic school.

[I. Hustle]

Private School = COMPLETE waste of time. Only morons s out cash to send their kids to them.

[Blake]

Waste of money?

sorry, but that's my opinion based on my cir stance.

My kid is doing great in public school and there about 18 kids in her class, so for me, I see paying private elementary school tuition as a waste.

If you see it as an investment, great.