Re: If you could afford it...would you send your DC to a top school that costs $$$$

If I could afford it, I would definitely send my kid to the best of the best.

The only thing that comes to mind is that these top schools sometimes stress kids out and put too much pressure on them to perform - kwim? And if I noticed that my DD's personality wasn't well suited to that kind of environment I'd put her in something a little less competitive.

Re: If you could afford it...would you send your DC to a top school that costs $$$$

Re: If you could afford it...would you send your DC to a top school that costs $$$$

No I would not. I went to one. I would especially not pay $$$ for elementary school .

Message edited 12/14/2009 7:54:08 PM.

Re: If you could afford it...would you send your DC to a top school that costs $$$$

I would if I didn't have good public school options. I would definitely scrutinize and compare the similar options. I always make sure I'm getting the most value for my money!

Re: If you could afford it...would you send your DC to a top school that costs $$$$

Re: If you could afford it...would you send your DC to a top school that costs $$$$

Re: If you could afford it...would you send your DC to a top school that costs $$$$

If I were wealthy enough that we could easily afford that with no issues at all, then yes, I think I would. I don't see it being a decision I'll ever have to make unfortunately

Re: If you could afford it...would you send your DC to a top school that costs $$$$

Re: If you could afford it...would you send your DC to a top school that costs $$$$

No. I pay enough in taxes to send DS to public school here in NJ.

Re: If you could afford it...would you send your DC to a top school that costs $$$$

I am really torn on this question.

DH teaches in puclic school so he says in no way will our children be going to private school.

I went to private school from 8-12th grade. My parents paid alot of money for me to go there. I was really a slacker. I didn't do that great. I didn't go to a great college (although it was very expensive also) and I never really was good in classes. Just very very lazy. My parents could tell you stories!

I think just because you spend alot of money on education doesn't necessarily mean a child will go to the best schools.

Re: If you could afford it...would you send your DC to a top school that costs $$$$

Posted by johnsae

Posted by KateDevine

Posted by Ophelia

Posted by jambalady

Posted by KateDevine

I would only do it if my public school not good.

But I'm a public school kid

I agree. I'm a public school kid and not the best public school either and I think I did pretty well in life.

I have a TON of friends (yes, MANY) that all came from NYC public schools that went all Ivy...Yale, Brown, Cornell, UPenn. and many of them were from immigrant families.

that's why I don't see myself doing it.

To further that...

My SIL is 16 and goes to a very $$$$$$$$$$$ private school and I canNOT even handle the sh1t they get away with there. And allll of the keeping up with the joneses, its appalling to me.

I've heard this and know this about the school we are considering for DD...hardly any diversity and it's all about keeping up with the joneses....sigh.....

Re: If you could afford it...would you send your DC to a top school that costs $$$$

Me personally absolutely not. I went to private school my entire life as did my sister. she went to college for one semester and dropped out never to return, what a waste of $ IMO. she is not the only one, I can't tell you how many kids I went to school with did not go on to college , or started but didn't finish. you never know if your children will want to continue on to college and I think they would do just as well in Public school if they are motivated.

Re: If you could afford it...would you send your DC to a top school that costs $$$$

Re: If you could afford it...would you send your DC to a top school that costs $$$$

Nope.
We are in a good district.
I want my kids to go to a coed school.
My DH went to a Catholic School and he even said "Our kids are going to public school". He has nothing against Catholic, but, we are in a good district, so, we can't see spending all that $$

Re: If you could afford it...would you send your DC to a top school that costs $$$$

I would not. My main reason being that a lot of private school teachers are not certified nor do they have to be (this depends on the school but I have found many don't require it), and some don't even have degrees in education. The only way I would pay for private school would be if there was an issue with our public school system.

Re: If you could afford it...would you send your DC to a top school that costs $$$$

I think that's just over the top price wise and I would say that a school like that is going to be filled with very weathy people. So unless I was equally wealthy, I would not want my child to be the one there with the least, and have to scrape by to afford that. But thats JMO.


If the public schools are fine, or even other private schools cost a lot less, I would go with those options.

Re: If you could afford it...would you send your DC to a top school that costs $$$$

Absolutely. We actually considered a few private schools here. Although not as expensive as $30K a year , it was on average about $10-12K a year. Then we had a few change of events go on, and we knew that it was impossible to afford it. However, we do send our children to Catholic school now and we do pay for thier tuition. We know our public school system is good, but we chose this route for a number of reasons and we are very happy.

Re: If you could afford it...would you send your DC to a top school that costs $$$$

I went to an expensive CT boarding school, followed by an ivy league college, and would pay to send DS to an elite school, but I do not agree with single-sex education. And we live in a top district here, so I doubt we would send DS to a private school.

In terms of keeping up with the Joneses, I was one of the least wealthy in my school, and you learn your own values--whether private or public, your DC is going to learn your values. If you are materialistic in your home, DC will learn that from you. No matter how much money I had, I will drive a Honda. Because that's kind of what I learned from my parents and my $$$ schools--that expensive cars, shoes, clothes, etc., don't matter to me.

Re: If you could afford it...would you send your DC to a top school that costs $$$$

Posted by chmlengr

Absolutely. We actually considered a few private schools here. Although not as expensive as $30K a year , it was on average about $10-12K a year. Then we had a few change of events go on, and we knew that it was impossible to afford it. However, we do send our children to Catholic school now and we do pay for thier tuition. We know our public school system is good, but we chose this route for a number of reasons and we are very happy.

Re: If you could afford it...would you send your DC to a top school that costs $$$$

While I value a strong "book-education", I could never send my kids to a same sex only school. DH was in an all-boys school, he's told me a lot of things. I couldn't do it. I like a more diverse environment, mimicking life beyond the books, gaining experience with different walks of life.

It's a personal decision though.

Re: If you could afford it...would you send your DC to a top school that costs $$$$

hrm

If i had the kind of money to entertain this idea. I may for those first 5yrs. I'd re-evaluate my child's progress at that point.

I went Private/Catholic/Public (most years) I do believe those first years are important to establish good habits and basics.

I think, however, at that young of an age, they are eager to learn and basically sponges. When they are a little older they show their interests in school. My brother had none. I had tons. Unfortuantely we both went public school. He thrived until he gave up and dropped out for a college degree instead. He's just getting by now with no fancy job or titles. I suffered and fell behind due to being bored until they caught on and put me in Honors/G&T/AP later. I finished HS but never got a degree and do well for myself.

Degree or no degree does not determine a person's value in life. Spending tons of money on a child who is not appreciative for the education seems a waste to me, but it also seems a waste not to invest in a child who is eagar to learn.

So if money was no object, sure.

However if it was a stretch I'd probably find a similar program perhaps less aggressive yet more affordable.

Re: If you could afford it...would you send your DC to a top school that costs $$$$

I dunno, there were MANY kids from my public high school graduating class who went on to Ivy League schools so I kind of agree that nothing is guaranteed.

One would have to consider that their child's learning style may not gel with the expectations of a school this type would be. Do they make accommodations for children with learning disabilities? Speech/language delays? I am not talking about intelligence, but learning style. Things like this may not be detected or diagnosed until long after nursery school age and then one would be out a boatload of cash. Im speaking as an educator, not as a parent.

Re: If you could afford it...would you send your DC to a top school that costs $$$$

Absouletly not I think alot of these schools put too much expectations on a child from to young. I believe in raising a well nutured child. Would I love it if he went to college SURE does that mean that if he doesn't I will die no. I came from a public school (and not a good one either) and I got accepted in to Brown. I think that if you send your kid to private school and save the money you were going to put towards it for something later on in life for him you might be teaching him something much more substantial. As he gets older show him how a savings account works. How to use credit wisely, and spend wisely, budgeting. Look at all the IVY leaguers out there that are being hit so hard by this recession. All because they overspent. JMHO

Re: If you could afford it...would you send your DC to a top school that costs $$$$

Re: If you could afford it...would you send your DC to a top school that costs $$$$