Private Schools Cost Less Than You May Think

CATO ^ | September 8, 2003 | David Salisbury

[NativeNewYorker]

Dalton is top-notch academically, heavily over-represented in Ivy placements. Politically, it is very PC, and aesthetically, the kids dress the way I did in the 70s, ie, like slobs. :)

[Clemenza]

Dalton is top-notch academically, heavily over-represented in Ivy placements. Politically, it is very PC

Phillips Bend-Over, er, Andover is much the same way, albeit in a rural setting.

The U of Chicago Lab School was as lefty as they come (I lived nearby while in Grad School, and talked to many parents) but the academic standards were top notch and they encouraged critical thinking. I understand they now have a conservative student group as well.

[CdMGuy]

It doesn't matter how much poor people pay in taxes. The state and local governments are already paying to educate poor children in public schools. Here in California, public schools get so much per pupil per day of attendance. On a school year basis, it adds up to over $7,000 per pupil as I recall.

So, if the state offered a voucher for $4,000, that student would no longer attend public school, the public school would no longer get so much per day for that student. In theory, the taxpayer would save about $3,000 per year if the student left the $7,000 public school for a $4,000 private school.

Of course, the teachers' union would be demanding that the state pay the $3,000 savings to the school, or even more outrageously continue to pay the school the full $7,000 even though the student is no longer there. But that is a different battle to fight.

[AlanSC]

Well, I just enrolled my daughter in a Montessori preschool (she will be four next month) and I can let you know how it goes. At the orientation, they said they use a phonics program for teaching and to expect the kids to be reading within a couple of months. From the little I've seen, it seems like a good choice that will lay down a great foundation.

[EuroFrog]

The taxes you will pay in your lifetime will more than cover 18 years of private education costs.

Not to mention, your children having a better education, will hopefully have better paying jobs than your average public school joe, will also pay higher amounts in taxes than their public school peers.

It makes sense to me anyway.

[EuroFrog]

Oh oh!!! And since social security will be bankrupt by the time you retire (of course, that depends on your age) you might as well get a chunk of that money now.

[EuroFrog]

We are currently stationed in Germany so my oldest (7yr in the 2nd grade) unfortunately goes to a DoDDS school. We come back stateside somewhere between Feb and June, you can bet your boppers I will do anything short of selling my ass to put him and my daughter (3) into private school.

[MalcolmS]

>>>What should I have answered? <<<

You could have said . . .

My kids will go to school for 13 years each. I will pay property taxes for my entire life. Over time, I will pay for their tuition 5X over (or whatever is appropriate--I guess this won't be true if you have a dozen kids).

[rmlew]

It is a "progressive" school. Virtually every wacky idea that comes out of Columbia Teacher's College is tested at Dalton. Of course the kids at Dalton all have tutors so the damage is limited.

There are far better private schools in NYC:
Trinity, Collegiate (I went there), Horace Mann, Spence, Chapin and Brearley are all academically superior.
Riverdale, Fieldston, Nightingale, are on par with Dalton, but are not as famous. (Fieldston/Ethical Culture is the country day school equivalent of Dalton)
1/3 to 1/2 of the Kids get into Ivy League Schools. In fact the top NYC schools are in the top 10 national ones.
http://www.newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/urban/education/features/1510/
Here is a list of the private High Schools in NYC
http://www.scoreraiser.com/private_school_list.htm

http://www.questmag.com/schools.html

[cyberaxe]

.....send-em south.....

.....FUMA.....

[MEGoody]

"You don't pay enough in taxes to cover the cost."

Did she show you how she figured this? Because she's wrong.

[Centurion2000]

She countered with, "You don't pay enough in taxes to cover the cost

ANYONE owning a house is paying for it.

[Maigrey]

But you do. You should point out the costs associated with sending your kids to social indoctrination centers.

[vikingcelt]

Montessori does look good on paper but in practice it's something else. My granddaughter started going to Montessori when she was 3 so she was in pre-school for about 3 years there. When it came time for first grade it became obvious that it was not the right choice. I found a private girl's school for her and that's where she's been going ever since and doing very, very well there. The problem is that it only goes through 5th grade (she's in 4th grade now) so after that I don't know what will happen. I've been paying her tuition (about $10,500 a year) but I can't afford to pay that anymore after next year.

[NativeNewYorker]

The imbalance between the demand for and supply of quality educational venues is depressing.

[netmilsmom]

Thanks everyone!
I was put on the spot and didn't know what to say. Great answers!

[Spyder]

Youch! And I thought Hawaii was bad. Our most expensive elite schools here are around 11K per year through 12th grade (Punahou, Iolani, and Mid Pacific).

My kids attend an excellent nondenominational Christian school for about 5K each per year (One high school freshman, one senior) and they could go to our own church school (but with an awful commute) for about 3K.

[finnman69]

Dalton is top-notch academically, heavily over-represented in Ivy placements. Politically, it is very PC, and aesthetically, the kids dress the way I did in the 70s, ie, like slobs. :)

That's how it was when I graduated Dalton in the late 80's. We had 60 out of 110 graduate to Ivy league colleges. Great academics, creepy spoiled kids. it's a trade off. Personally I hold a lot more respect for my 1-9 school, Allen-Stevenson with it's dress code, and non PC environment.

[finnman69]

Of course the kids at Dalton all have tutors so the damage is limited.

I remember a lot of the kids had therapists also. Wealthy angst as well as the Mercedes's, limos, and other drivers picking up kids after school.

[So Cal Rocket]

Anyone familiar with private schools that use the Carden method? I'm sending my pre-K daughter to a Carden school this year and was wondering if any one of my Freeper Friends had any experience with them.