Private School Suggestions (Dallas, Plano, Garland: buying a house, buying, elementary schools)

[gengoblue123]

Hi, I am looking for top private school suggestions for my 4 kids who range in grades from 4th through 7th grade. We currently attend a Lutheran school but are open to other suggestions. We are hoping to be in the $15K-$20K per year range if that’s a possibility? We are also hoping to relocate close to a strong dance and gymnastics program if anyone has recommendations on that…..

Thanks in advance!

[rabbit33]

Well, "top" consists of St. Mark's and Hockaday.

But they've got to be very very intelligent to get in.

Do you just want a list of private schools in the Dallas area? You could look that up for yourself. Where do you live?

[tcualum]

15-20k for a top private school in Dallas is very unrealistic. Tuition is much higher than that. Getting all 4 kids into the same good private school the same year is next to impossible.

[MenardMQ]

Originally Posted by tcualum

15-20k for a top private school in Dallas is very unrealistic. Tuition is much higher than that. Getting all 4 kids into the same good private school the same year is next to impossible.

Yes, I'm going to echo this sentiment. 4 children at those ages, you better be a C-Level Exec at a Fortune 100 company with significant contacts with board members and parents at the schools you are considering.

The wealthiest families that are in a position to afford to send 4 children to "top Dallas Private schools" already started the planning for admissions when the nannies were wiping those children's butts.

Just read through the angst from parents in these threads about Dallas private school admissions.

In short, you're probably going to be staying put, or you are about to embark upon a full time job for the next many years playing the admissions game with parents that make just as much money or more (there's always someone with more money), have smarter children than yours - spread across multiple schools, admissions directors, testing, and then you might get 1 or 2 of them into different schools. Possibly.

if you think of it in betting terms, this would be like winning a 8-way parlay across Football, Basketball, Soccer, and Baseball. Haha..

[MenardMQ]

Additionally, to be honest, you'll probably be better off buying a house in University Park, and enrolling the children in HPISD. You could put the 140k/year in tuition towards the home, and I there is no shortage of superior dance and gymnastics viens of parents in the park cities.

[FarNorDFW]

You could get close to threading this needle with Cistercian if you have all boys but the dance and gymnastics suggests you have daughters.

[tcualum]

Originally Posted by MenardMQ

Yes, I'm going to echo this sentiment. 4 children at those ages, you better be a C-Level Exec at a Fortune 100 company with significant contacts with board members and parents at the schools you are considering.

The wealthiest families that are in a position to afford to send 4 children to "top Dallas Private schools" already started the planning for admissions when the nannies were wiping those children's butts.

Just read through the angst from parents in these threads about Dallas private school admissions.

In short, you're probably going to be staying put, or you are about to embark upon a full time job for the next many years playing the admissions game with parents that make just as much money or more (there's always someone with more money), have smarter children than yours - spread across multiple schools, admissions directors, testing, and then you might get 1 or 2 of them into different schools. Possibly.

if you think of it in betting terms, this would be like winning a 8-way parlay across Football, Basketball, Soccer, and Baseball. Haha..

When my high school junior was a toddler I went to a talk given by the woman who wrote the guide to DFW private schools. During the Q&A a very pregnant woman asked what she needed to do to get her unborn child on the lists for the best local private schools.

[JTC Mom]

Most Catholic elementary schools will be close to your budget (non-parishioner rates are generally $13-16K at the well-known Catholic). It's very difficult to get 4 students in to any of them, even if you are a parishioner. Some of the well-known, well-regarded ones are:
St. Thomas Aquinas (Lakewood)
Christ the King (Park Cities)
St. Rita (North Dallas)
St. Monica (North Dallas)
Prince of Peace (Plano)

After elementary school it will be tough to stay within your budget. Most of the top private schools are $25-$35K per year.

There are great gymnastics and dance options in Plano and Frisco for sure. Also some good ones in North Dallas and Garland. I'm sure there are others. Those are just ones I know of. Good luck.

[ChristieP]

Originally Posted by MenardMQ

Additionally, to be honest, you'll probably be better off buying a house in University Park, and enrolling the children in HPISD. You could put the 140k/year in tuition towards the home, and I there is no shortage of superior dance and gymnastics viens of parents in the park cities.

This
If you can afford the tuition for 4 kids, then you can afford a HPISD mortgage.