What are you going to do for school aged kids?

mauceddie

I am kind of stressing over the daycare situation for DD next year when she goes to school.

 

We are actually debating sending DD to private school next year.  It's 8% of our take-home income to send both kids to private school. I have NEVER been a private school fan (seems elitist) but I wonder if it would be better for the kids or not. Still, $175K for their education is a shitload of money. Especially since they may thrive in public school. I can't really send them to this private school later than kindergarten because it's a French immersion program so they need to start there. (Although we could bus them to the public French immersion school).

One of the big selling points for me is the quality of their before and after school care. Obviously I can get care for public schools, but this is a "known commodity" even if it's much more $$. 

I should also add, that I currently work 80%, and we'd pay for school by me going to 100% Full Time. So, less time with my kids but no impact on finances.  

RoxyLynn

What are the public schools in your area like?  If they're substandard or routinely violent, I'd do whatever I could to manage private school.  If they're good academically and have sports/activities, I'd save the $.

mauceddie

She'd be bussed to one of two schools I don't know which and I don't have a choice).  One is ranked highly, the other is not. I don't believe there is any issue of violence, the difference is based on a higher % of special needs, ESL, lower income, etc. . 

AlisaS

I'll be in your shoes in a few years. Our public schools are actually very, very good but I am worried about the economy. Private school would run us 50K per year, though, for both boys! I keep telling myself I could give them a fabulous 4 week education in Europe every year (w/ Mommy and Daddy included) for less!

I am kind of taking a wait and see approach. The problem is you need to aply to private schools early before you know if you get the good school or the crappy one, right?

14years

mauceddie:

She'd be bussed to one of two schools I don't know which and I don't have a choice).  One is ranked highly, the other is not. I don't believe there is any issue of violence, the difference is based on a higher % of special needs, ESL, lower income, etc. . 

Tough call, but if you don't know which one you'd get, I would probably go for the private school for now.  And I, too, have never been a fan of private education.  But, it sounds like the worst case scenario is that DD ends up in the lower ranked school, being bussed there, and then you still have the open question of after school care.  That would be too much uncertainty for me, and for 8% of take home income, I'd probably choose the more known outcome -- good school, known and good after school care.

barkers4jmm

mauceddie:

She'd be bussed to one of two schools I don't know which and I don't have a choice).   

Not knowing which - that sucks.  I'd probably go with the private school right now, assuming you're okay with going back to work 100% and it overall works for your family.  I appreciate known commodities when it comes to children's well-being.

 

fIowerchild

There are excellent after-programs here. The bus picks them up at school and takes them to play sports, crafts, etc. Then I will pick them up from there.

Another option for us - get a part time nanny for after school care.

mauceddie

barkers4jmm:

mauceddie:

She'd be bussed to one of two schools I don't know which and I don't have a choice).   

Not knowing which - that sucks.  I'd probably go with the private school right now, assuming you're okay with going back to work 100% and it overall works for your family.  I appreciate known commodities when it comes to children's well-being.

Yes, and I am the type to stress over the unknown. She could end up in an amazing situation, or a terrible one. At least with the private school, I know she'll be in a fantastic school with fantastic before/after care.

kbud9

$175k for private school???what the heck kind of schook is this? My kids are in private (catholic school) and a very good one and i only pay $8k a year

shouldbworkin

I am really struggling with this!  First, DS is a little on the immature side, but very smart and fine socially.  He would be fine to go into kindie, if he was in a smaller classroom.  But, all of our public schools have suffered huge budget cuts this year and even kindie classes are going to have 30 kids in them.  He's at a Montessori school now and could stay there for kindie, but then I feel we'll be in a worse position the following year b/c he'll just be that much farther ahead of the public school kids and still immature.  There's no way he could go into public school kindie after doing kindie at Montessori.  I've considered an early 5's program, but it's only 1/2 a day and he already goes to school a full day, so that would be weird.  There is a private school with smaller class sized and a huge bill, but everyone who makes under $200k is on scholarship apparently. 

so, I will probably sign him up for public school, but see where he's at in the summer.  I may just send him and see how he does.  If I don't like the school or I think he needs to repeat kindie, I may consider sending him to private school then.  I will still go to the orientation for the private school and check it out.   

As for before/after school care - I will work FT, but DH and I will have different hours.  I'll go in earlier and he'll come home later.  Elementary schools get out at 4 here, so I hope to not need aftercare or only a half hour or so.  If DS goes to public school, he'll be dropped off at home where my ILs will be waiting for him, which would be very nice.

mauceddie

kbud9:

$175k for private school???what the heck kind of schook is this? My kids are in private (catholic school) and a very good one and i only pay $8k a year

Ha ha. That's the total cost, not per year. Have you added it up?

ETA: I'd love to have the income where $175K was only 8% of my yearly take home

AlisaS

mauceddie:

kbud9:

$175k for private school???what the heck kind of schook is this? My kids are in private (catholic school) and a very good one and i only pay $8k a year

Ha ha. That's the total cost, not per year. Have you added it up?

ETA: I'd love to have the income where $175K was only 8% of my yearly take home

Ha! Me, too! 

YellowBride

I plan to send DD to public school and either sign her up for the Y's after-care at the school or pay my SAHM neighbor to get her off the bus and keep her for an hour or so till I get home from work...

In your situation, it sounds like you could afford private school, so I'd probably go with that...

luvmagoldn

Friend of ours moved to England and it sounds pretty similar.  They have two different schools in their "district" but have no control over where their daughter will be assigned.  They are opting for private because of that.

We have really good public schools in our area but we are considering sending the boys to Catholic school.  DH went to Catholic school until college and I was public then went to a Catholic college.  I worry about public schools "teaching to the test" and wonder how much real learning goes on.

I think if we can afford it, they will go to private school.

jlw2505

Is the before and after school care the only reason you would do the private school?  Honestly, if you are in an area with good public schools, I would look into your options for the care rather than jump to provate school.  My disctrict has a great before and after school program that we will be using.  They even have a summer program so for other than about 2 weeks at hte end of summer, we are covered and some school closings but they have care over most school breaks as well.  The daycare my girls are currently at also has a school aged program and they bus the kids to and from school so that is also an option we might consider at least in the beginning when my older one starts to save having 2 drop off/pick up locations but most likely not since the school one is great and less expensive.  I have some friends that also hire a sitter for before and after school.  OUr school starts at 9:40 so we will for sure be doing the before school but DH and I are going to look and see if we can figure something out to be home in time to meet the school bus rather than doing the after school care.  I work from 2x a week so those days are covered but we'll see if we can work it out for the other 3 days or just have them in after school care 3 days a week since it won't be for that long - at hour at most but most likely less since DH will get one and I'll get the other.

kbud9

AlisaS:

mauceddie:

kbud9:

$175k for private school???what the heck kind of schook is this? My kids are in private (catholic school) and a very good one and i only pay $8k a year

Ha ha. That's the total cost, not per year. Have you added it up?

ETA: I'd love to have the income where $175K was only 8% of my yearly take home

Ha! Me, too! 

Ha! guess i didnt read the whole post