Yes but the ones on FA aren’t spending $200k+on their kids k-12 education. For example, Sidwell Friends’ tuition is currently $42,327 and 23% of their students receive FA which means over 3/4 of the students are full pay. Assuming the student begins in pre-k thru 12th that’s approx $550,000; an investment by the parents not just in an excellent education but in the outcome. Even if it is high school only it’s still almost $170,000. Yes, for some people that’s pocket change and perhaps in DC the public schools are not a possibility but there are plenty of private schools that exist along side excellent public school systems and they are selling more than just an excellent education.
I’m not assuming…I know plenty of people who chose to send their kids to private or boarding schools with the expectation that it would significantly increase their chances of admission to an elite college/university.
I agree that not all parents at private schools act like the ones portrayed in the article nor am I excusing their behavior in any way. My point is that many but obviously not all, parents who “ purchase” private school are doing so because they expect a return on their investment in the form of admission to T20 school. Should they expect it is a different question. And under no circumstances should they treat the CCs or other students as discussed in the article.
And the point of my first post was not to defend poorly behaved parents but to wonder if private schools enrollment might hit some headwinds if admissions results don’t meet consumer expectation.
I’m not for or against private schools.