Affordable good schooling

Prep School Admissions
1

<p>Hi, I've been reading the posts on the forums here for sometime now. </p>

<p>I'm a single mom with two kids who are very smart and I'd like to try and give the best I can for them. My income is in the upper end of low-range, and I don't think I can afford all the expenses of a private school. Is there a list of schools with relatively affordable tuition, but with good schooling that can help provide my kids with good training for admissions into IVY, MIT, etc.? I don't mind relocating if I have to, but boarding schools are obviously not an option.</p>

<p>I know that every school may be good if the student applies him/herself, but I'm just looking for helpful information to be able to fully explore my available options. </p>

<p>Thanks in advance.</p>

2

<p>Many schools give generous financial aid. Several offer 100% FA to families making $75-80K per year, with a sliding scale for a larger income. Not sure where you fit in financially but don’t rule out boarding schools.</p>

3

<p>Ditto to what creative1 said. The financial aid generosity of many of the top schools is stunning. If your kids are bright, really good students, and have some extracurricular interests, you will probably be surprised at what’s available to them.</p>

4

<p>Thank you. The problem with majority of financial aid offered is that it is not a grant and requires me to pay back. The problem I face is that with schooling it is not over for me. I have to put them through college as well, which can also be very expensive.</p>

5

<p>The financial aid I am talking about is a grant - does not need to be paid back. Here’s some examples:</p>

<p>[Phillips</a> Academy - Need Blind Admission at Andover](<a href=“http://www.andover.edu/Admission/TuitionAndFinancialAid/Pages/default.aspx]Phillips”>http://www.andover.edu/Admission/TuitionAndFinancialAid/Pages/default.aspx)</p>

<p>[Phillips</a> Exeter Academy | Can I Get Financial Aid?](<a href=“http://exeter.edu/admissions/15848.aspx]Phillips”>http://exeter.edu/admissions/15848.aspx)</p>

<p>[St</a>. Paul’s School ~ Tuition and Finances](<a href=“http://www.sps.edu/podium/default.aspx?t=5675]St”>http://www.sps.edu/podium/default.aspx?t=5675)</p>

6

<p>I don’t know what you mean by, “boarding school is obviously not an option.” </p>

<p>Do you mean that it is something that you would not consider for your family or that it is too expensive? If it is something that you would not consider, there is nothing to be right or wrong about; but if you mean that you could never pay for it, please listen to the others. I have been overwhelmed by the generosity of the schools that admitted my son. Please don’t let finances discourage you and your children from exploring the boardings schools.</p>

7

<p>Some states have magnet schools for the gifted. If you are willing to relocate, you should consider applying. </p>

<p>[School</a> Choices for Parents](<a href=“http://www2.ed.gov/parents/schools/choice/definitions.html]School”>School Choices for Parents)</p>

<p>[What</a> is a Magnet School? - Public School Review](<a href=“http://www.publicschoolreview.com/articles/2]What”>What Is A Magnet School?)</p>

<p>HOWEVER, I’m not certain what you might mean by, “good schooling that can help provide my kids with good training for admissions into IVY, MIT, etc.” College admissions does not have a logical relationship to the quality of academic preparation. Many elite colleges strive to build diverse student bodies. The leading students in a so-so public school may have a leg up in elite college admissions.</p>

8

<p>

ronsmom, that is NOT true for most (all?) of the top boarding schools. Financial aid is in the form of “scholarships” for which there is no re-payment obligations. However, I assume that most of that scholarship aid is given with a “pay it forward” philosophy, i.e., these same financial aid recipients will become important benefactors for the school later in life. I know that our own son already fully understands and appreciates that too.</p>

9

<p>Yep, </p>

<p>Clarification needed. If BS is not an option because you aren’t willing to let “go” I hope you reconsider. I get that comment a lot here - i.e. “How could you let your child go.” I didn’t. I let her fly with other eagles.</p>

<p>I know of parents relocating from our region to stronger districts in other states. Problem is - those “best schools” are coveted by the locals as well so there is often a waiting list or a methodology as to who gets in and how to apply.</p>

<p>Having said that, if you’re looking at future universities such as MIT, Jefferson in Virginia is one of the best math and science magnets in the country and is one of the few public schools where students are admitted in “multiples.” (i.e. higher rates than others)</p>

<p>[TJHSST</a> - Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology](<a href=“http://www.tjhsst.edu/]TJHSST”>http://www.tjhsst.edu/)</p>

<p>If you’re looking elsewhere, caveat: Some sources such as TIME magazine’s list of top High Schools isn’t a good barometer. It measures the percentage of students taking certain tests (such as AP or IB) but doesn’t measure the percentage of students “passing” them.</p>

<p>I say look at Boarding Schools. You’d be surprised what you’ll find.</p>

10

<p>ExieMITAlum, that’s funny, as I just came to the conclusion that Newsweek’s list of “America’s Best High Schools” would be a good place to start. If the criteria included the percentage of students passing AP or IB exams, the list would be very helpful.</p>

<p>Boston Magazine listed the best high schools in Massachusetts in a recent issue. Many of the criteria measured town affluence, rather than educational excellence. Low student-teacher rations, the percentage of graduates who attend college, the $ spent per student, and SAT scores are all closely correlated to affluence. If one bases excellence on the percentage of students who pass the state tests in the 10th grade, that still says nothing about gifted students’ experiences in the classroom. Most of those students could probably pass the tests in middle school, so state test passage rates don’t measure their education (or lack thereof).</p>

<p>I prefer Newsweek’s approach.

I agree–but there is often a waiting list for the honors track in the “good suburban” schools.</p>

11

<p>ronsmom</p>

<p>2 years ago, I also thought BS were not a reality for my family. Then I learned of the generous grants (no repayment) and was shocked to learn my kids actually had a better shot with their stats getting funding for BS than for college.</p>

<p>Besides the schools Creative mentioned, I’d also suggest looking at a few further down in the prestige list as well, like Peddie (NJ) and Mercersburg ¶.</p>

<p>We looked at private day schools, cyber schools, home schooling and the cost of moving.
In the end, the best deal for our family was not BS, but if it weren’t for the BS being part of the equation I doubt the private day school all my kids now attend would have made the substantial offer they did. Our family does have to complete volunteer work at the school in exchange for tuition discounts. </p>

<p>My point? Be open minded and explore all avenues. We got lucky, but we wouldn’t have gotten to the school my kids attend if we didn’t explore all options.</p>

<p>My position to get a kid to top colleges is:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Keep them interested in academics.
This requires knowing your children. 1 of mine needs hands-on activities; another needs to be able to “skip” repetitive homework for concepts he already understands. </p></li>
<li><p>Let them know college is expected. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>This provides a goal.</p>

<ol>
<li> Keep them on academic par with intellectual peers. </li>
</ol>

<p>The web has leveled the playing field and permits you to fill in gaps in education. Khans Academy is one of the great sites that can do this.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Participate in gifted talent searches (CTY, CTD, TIP). Even if you can’t afford the programs, it allows kids to become familiar with standardized tests.</p></li>
<li><p>For top schools, keep the kids well rounded with sports, arts, academics. BS automatically provide this type of curriculum. Looking into BS made our family realize the importance of the “balance.” We no longer view sports as secondary to academics; although we still remain not very good in the athletic skill department.</p></li>
</ol>

12

<p>Periwinkle,</p>

<p>I hear ya and I’m right there with ya. Sad that there isn’t a better barometer, huh? When a local administrator figured out how Newsweek calculated who made the list and who didn’t, the school pushed more students (and parents) to consider IB as a high school track/choice. That “influx” put the school on the list. Only - few of those children actually went on to get an IB diploma or do well on AP exams. Now the “inclusion” on the list is a major recruiting tool (sigh) because no one looks closer to exam the “other statistics”</p>

<p>[America’s</a> Best High Schools: The FAQ - Newsweek](<a href=“http://www.newsweek.com/2010/06/13/america-s-best-high-schools-faq.html]America’s”>America's Best High Schools: The FAQ)</p>

<p>Luckily us CC parents are more saavy than that. </p>

<p>Some on the list really match their reputations (albeit many in wealthy areas). Still - there are others that give one pause. I stumbled on this blog today: (caveat - I can’t vouch for the source but it makes an interesting observation about two DC schools:</p>

<p>[Why</a> Newsweek’s Best High School List Is Useless - DCist](<a href=“http://dcist.com/2010/06/why_newsweeks_best_high_schools_lis.php]Why”>http://dcist.com/2010/06/why_newsweeks_best_high_schools_lis.php)</p>

<p>I wish Newsweek would just report the percentage AND the scores.</p>

<p>Thank goodness for Boarding school. At least we all know what we’re getting :-)</p>