<p>Pacific</a> Palisades ~ Palisadian-Post</p>
<p>I bet this affects/effects the New England boarding school scene next year.</p>
<p>You bet it will affect the scene in fall 09 or 10?</p>
<p>Waiting lists for Fall 09 and admissions for 2010.
Hey, maybe Obama can get the academic qualities of most public schools on par with Andover, SPS or Harvard-Westlake with an infusion of a few ten billion…or so of taxpayer dollars:)</p>
<p>Are you of the opinion that public school districts are notorious for their failure to transform budgets into quality education? Is it so that the more tax dollars you throw at them, the lower the quality of the product?</p>
<p>No 
Public schools are underfunded in my opinion. But it is notable that when they go to charter school the quality of education rises (SAT test score results) [Charter</a> school - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charter_school]Charter”>Charter school - Wikipedia). It’s all about accountability on the part of the teachers AND admin!!</p>
<p>Now back to the waitlist season. You are one of those who has been rather steadfast in the conviction that, when faced with the need to write a $40,000 check this summer, many boarding school parents will suddenly recognize that their local school options are very appealing. The Palisades Charter High School story is just another facet of this dilemma that parents will face. Do you believe that because it is really a discretionary expense, the cost of boarding school is approaching a critical threshold above which interest in such schools will rapidly begin falling off? How much are those stretched-to-the-breaking-point low and mid six-figure income families who do not qualify for aid willing to sacrifice for what is, after all is said and done, a luxury?</p>
<p>Interest in expensive FP boarding schools in so far as the "common " man’s family goes…will fall off for a bit. Remember the pendulum swings both ways. It will be out of the price range for most middle class families, unless/until the FA Gods bring down the requirements to include the middle class.
How many will sacrifice…is up to the individual families how far they will stretch their retirement.
Pan, you are a super bright guy, what do you think?</p>
<p>Sarum, I think that in the vast underbelly of America, many families that a generation ago required only one wage earner to attain an acceptable standard of living now require two. I think that the income level at which people feel in jeopardy with respect to the essentials of health care, and education, and retirement is rising. Families that just a generation ago assumed that these were rights afforded those living in a civilized society now struggle each day to attain them. And I feel that the cost of a college education, and most certainly the cost of a boarding school education, are rapidly becoming out of reach for the vast middle of American families. Boarding schools are at a critical pivot point: should they raise their cost much higher, they will complete the process of shutting out families that are neither wealthy, nor low enough in income to deserve aid. But maybe that is what they want.</p>
<p>No, boarding schools do not want to shut out the middle class from their education opportunities.
I do know (away from subject) on the upside, that the pool of young teachers this year is outstanding, far beyond any previous years in memory. BS headmasters are being flooded with great applications from young graduates that in the past would have headed to Wall Street, Commercial Business Development, Real Estate, etc.
Back to topic, I don’t think the Obama health care option (if it passes) will be a viable choice for a middle class family (very cheap health care) that would rather use their $10,000 of insurance money for a Boarding School…do you? My point is that there is nothing in the next four years that would indicate to me that middle class families will get relief so that they will be able to once again afford to send their kids to a NE Boarding School via full pay.</p>
<p>Sarum, I concur that no relief is on the horizon for the middle. And by the way, I am monitoring the situation with respect to the wait list movement that you have been predicting!</p>
<p>It’s August when the check is due, right? Maybe BS will magically find some FA for those kids whose parents cannot afford to send them now?</p>
<p>Well, for weeks I have been struck by how confident you are that some will not enroll or not return at the last minute. If I am not mistaken, you might have even given some hope to waitlistees. Now, I certainly have regard for your opinion, but I am just waiting to see what transpires.</p>
<p>Don’t wait on my account , my junior is currently going to SPS next fall. I have no professional cred. I thought we were just chatting in here?:)</p>
<p>sarum, what would you do if you got the call from DA?</p>
<p>What would you do?
Catg I don’t see your name on the 2009 Acceptance/wait Lists <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/664905-master-list-2009-acceptances-12.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/664905-master-list-2009-acceptances-12.html</a> or next to the BS Resource Parent or Current student List <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/667365-resource-list-current-bs-parents-students-5.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/667365-resource-list-current-bs-parents-students-5.html</a> . Are you planning on applying to BS next year?:)</p>
<p>that is the toughest call. I think it might depend on the kid as i get a totally different cultural feel at each place. DA more intensely athletic with HUGE pgs walking around. dress code gives it a more nyc , ct. feel. SPS less athletic, less rah rah more reflective. both schools have incredibly, incredibly loyal alums that i never see from a or e. just my 2 cents.</p>