Cost of sending kids to private school vs. buying a house in top school disctricts? (Fremont: rent)

[irwtfybb]

Hi,

With the high housing cost in neighborhood with top public schools, is there any analysis/recommendations/experiences on buying a house in a not so good school district and sending your kids to private schools?
thanks

[hsw]

Many choose a house in a safe, upscale area w/elem schools zoned for kids just from that area to avoid lower socio-economic gps (and save on needing to pay for pvt schools in academically dubious elem school yrs)

No public middle/high school seems to exist in SF region (or nearly any other urban region) with both academically strong schools (% kids entering top 5 colleges; % of kids who are NatlMerit Finalists) and likely physically safe (near-zero kids from lower socio-economic, non-education-oriented families), so private schools are part of basic cost of living for any families in affluent suburbs anywhere, sort of like how almost no families wish to live in public housing or use mass transit unless financially destitute

[silverkris]

I disagree with your assertion that affluent suburban areas have to send their kids to private schools.

Palo Alto Unified, Cupertino Union/Fremont Union High School District, Saratoga, Fremont Unified are some excellent districts. Of course, they are all pretty darned expensive in terms of housing costs - and that's because of the public schools.

You may want to do a calculation in terms of paying a higher mortgage and being able to deduct some of that in taxes vs. living in a less expensive area and having to send children to a private school and making the difference up in tuition.

[sonarrat]

Why not rent in a top school district? The cost is typically half or less compared with buying in the same spot.

[silverkris]

Originally Posted by sonarrat

Why not rent in a top school district? The cost is typically half or less compared with buying in the same spot.

good point - some families will rent out a tiny condo in Cupertino just for the schools.