Gifted programs: Dover, Wellesley, etc.? (Boston, Needham: low income, rent, homes)

[chicagoliz]

Originally Posted by mwbms28

As for the statement that private schools are not remotely stronger... The average SAT score for the highest-scoring public school in the state is from Lexington, at 1875 (taken from MA DOE website 2015-2016). The median SAT score for students at Roxbury Latin 2290 (scores out of 2400).

Don't you have to take a test and/or actually apply to Roxbury Latin and then actually be admitted? If they only admit kids who are already performing highly and score well on tests, of course their average test scores will be higher than a school that has to accept every kid who lives in the district.

[CaseyB]

Originally Posted by chicagoliz

Don't you have to take a test and/or actually apply to Roxbury Latin and then actually be admitted? If they only admit kids who are already performing highly and score well on tests, of course their average test scores will be higher than a school that has to accept every kid who lives in the district.

Yes, just like any private school there are admission requirements.

[robr2]

Originally Posted by chicagoliz

Don't you have to take a test and/or actually apply to Roxbury Latin and then actually be admitted? If they only admit kids who are already performing highly and score well on tests, of course their average test scores will be higher than a school that has to accept every kid who lives in the district.

Yes. Depending on age, Roxbury Latin requires students seeking admission to take the Independent School Entrance Exam, Secondary School Admission Test, or the City of Boston Examination Schools Entrance Exam.

[Whatsnext75]

In all fairness though I think the 'average joe' or even the 'upper average Joe' on here probably does find it ridiculous that people spend a million dollars on a home in a top town then another 40k-50k a year on private school tuition. Seems like people get richer and richer around here everyday.. some people just have that much money i guess.

[CaseyB]

Originally Posted by Whatsnext75

In all fairness though I think the 'average joe' or even the 'upper average Joe' on here probably does find it ridiculous that people spend a million dollars on a home in a top town then another 40k-50k a year on private school tuition. Seems like people get richer and richer around here everyday.. some people just have that much money i guess.

Not everyone moves there for the schools. It's a very pretty town, safe and convenient for Boston commuting.

[Whatsnext75]

Well obviously they arent moving there for the schools if they are choosing to send their kids to private schools. My point was that i understand why it might not make sense to some people as to why you would live in a town with a top school district and then send your kids to private school. We have friends in needham who pay over 30k a year to send their kid to private kindergarten. At that age im not sure what the diffence is in a private kindergarten vs a public kindergarden in needham. Im sure plenty of people here will tell me why though...smaller classroom size is the only one i can think of.

[chicagoliz]

Originally Posted by Whatsnext75

We have friends in needham who pay over 30k a year to send their kid to private kindergarten. At that age im not sure what the diffence is in a private kindergarten vs a public kindergarden in needham. Im sure plenty of people here will tell me why though...smaller classroom size is the only one i can think of.

To this point, Needham still has half day Kindergarten, I believe. Some people want full day or the preschool/daycare where they had been sending the kid offers Kindergarten, along with the care hours of the daycare. So, if both parents work, they might do this because it is easier.

Another reason I know some people send kids to a private K, but go to public later is that sometimes a kid misses the cutoff for K, but can enroll at a private K. Then the school will allow them to enroll in first the next year if they show they successfully completed K. (Some districts don't allow this, in that they require the kid to meet the cutoff even if they go to first. So sometimes people will do K and 1 in a private and then switch over.)

Otherwise, I tend to agree with you that it seems silly. Unless your kid has a problem that the public school just can't address or isn't able to address as well as some private school, it strikes me as a waste of money and, frankly, not as good for the kid, because they are not in the community with their fellow students. But, plenty of people do it. And lots of people do things I wouldn't do.

[CaseyB]

Also, some people enroll their child in a private school early because it gives them a foot in the door at that school. Much harder to get a space when the child is older.

[Whatsnext75]

Good points. I didnt even think of half day programs vs full day and trying to get a foot in the door.

[MikePRU]

Originally Posted by chicagoliz

To this point, Needham still has half day Kindergarten, I believe.

I believe full day K starts next year in Needham. There are also an abundance of before and after school programs both public and private that people take advantage of if it's a dual income family.