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There is an alternative to private school if you're flexible with what you want. You can send kids to one of the well-regarded parochial schools in Queens or Nassau, which charge less than $5K/year. Academics-wise, they are OK for the average student. The downside is that they don't have as many extra-curricular programs and sports as you would find in a suburban public school (which is a major reason why they cost less). Also, parochial school kids are taught at the same pace regardless of individual ability, so the burden is on the students to keep up with the lesson plan.
Like you, QueenstoLI, we are living in Queens and are contemplating a move to the suburbs (same choice between WCH and LI), specifically for schools. At this point, we can still take our time before moving out since we figured that it makes more sense financially for us to remain in Queens after crunching the numbers. We have only one school-age child who is currently attending a good parochial school in Central Queens. If parochial school is an option for you, you could make it come out cheaper even with 2 kids. Another option we are looking at is moving to a "lower tax" suburb like Pearl River or Franklin Square, yet continuing to send kids to parochial schools.
I appreciate everyone's thoughts and glad to see that others had to make difficult decisions and have turned out ok. Just a thought about the tax issue. I often have interesting discussions with my neighbors in Queens about the property tax issue in both LI and Westchester. My stance is that I pay approximately $ 4,500 a year here which is obviously low. However, in a few years my daughter will have to go to JH in my area which is awful and then two years later the same with my son. To send 2 kids to private school in my area would easily cost my family at least 12k to 15k a year on top of my property taxes of 4k. So, if you are intent on providing your children with a quality education, and you live in the City I don't know how relative the high taxes are. Not to mention I live on a 40 X 100 lot in a 1200 sq ft 3 bedroom.
That's the attraction of the suburbs. For between 12-20k that is largely tax deductible and depending on the size of the house and where -- you get a great education for both kids.
"For between 12-20k that is largely tax deductible..."
Show of hands on this board who DOESN'T fall under the AMT in Westchester? If so, you cannot deduct one cent of your property taxes (on Federal at least.)
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