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

Im just reading this and had to tell you what I am presently going thru:
I sent my boys to a private school from pre-k to present (my oldest will be going into 1st grade in Sept) w/o much thought, because when we moved to the area we currently live in, my DHs friend's children attended this school and couldnt stop boasting about the credentials and it's reputation for acedemic excellence. The cost was very steep, but we had the same thought as you do: "nothing is more important than our children's education" - Well altho it is a wonderful school, I will be enrolling my kids into PS next september, for many reasons. First, I never bothered to check and see that my PS happened to be a great rated school....but the main reason is that there isnt a "PTA"in my childrens current private school, its instead a "PA":
teachers arent a part of the organization, and the "Parents Association" are extremely clique-y, if youre "in" - great, if not...you are left out of activities that go on in the school...and its extremely unfair,, I understand that I am not the only one to experience this, and according to friends who also have their kids in private schools, this seems to be more common than not.
The moms in the PA are all very good friends who went to the same school and no matter how "nice" you are, if you arent part of the click (ie.a wife of a doctor) you arent acknowledged...even w/in the group there is a chain of command depending on who's DH is highest ranking...and it is extremelely unfair. I send my children to this school NOT to make friends-honestly it doesnt bother me at all to not be invited to extracurricular gatherings and cocktails parties....BUT it does bother me when the same parents are voted to go on every school trip or in-class activity, and I am paying the same $ as they are to be left out of sitting in my children's class when it's a holiday or school event! Anyway this really gave me a bad taste for the school, altho the education they get is excellent, I cannot see myself dealing with this same bunch from now til they graduate, I cannot stand the pretension and negativity. My Dh&I came from a catholic school education and we did just fine...and honestly, my kids didnt really need to know French at 4 years old-lol...sorry this is so long, but JMO....good luck w/your decision!

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

Not worth it. To me, if you have even an inkling of concern about the price, you're not gonna be wealthy enough to fit in and keep up with the joneses at that school. Like so many other posters said, just being able to afford the school is the tip of the iceberg-- there's the whole lifestyle that comes along with that kind of exclusive setting, and you wouldn't want your child to be one of the "have nots".

Also, I have a lot of friends from childhood that did go to an exclusive private high school (I went to Catholic school too though it was not $$$$), and to be honest my husband, who grew up dirt poor and came from the public school system in an economically depressed rural area, has been more successful career-wise than any of them. So much of success comes from within the individual.

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 $$$$

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

We have this debate at home everyday - whether or not to send the girls to public school, or scrimp and save to send them to the local jewish school that has some of the highest rankings.

We're starting to lean against private school, even though we could afford it. Personally, I'd rather put the money towards a house in a better public school district - that way my children will have the benefit of attending a public school (which I'm a huge proponent of), and at the same time, the money saved, and put towards a house in a better district as opposed to private school will serve as a long-term investment for us.

DH and I have talked about it ad nauseum - we both agree that it isn't the school that makes the child - it's the family setting, the ideals and the family philosophies that make the real impact. I know that my children will strive and succeed no matter where they are, whether public or private school, because of our home values, so I don't necessarily see the benefit to spending all that money for private school, as long as we're in a good district, and we enrich their curriculum ourselves outside of school.

And, to add, I personally prefer a setting that's more diverse than private school. But, that's just our personal preference...

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.
If I were that wealthy, that I could afford a school like that, I'd be moving to a neighborhood with an outstanding public school system.