<p>Yes, the kid is acting like a jerk. Has he ever said other unkind remarks before to your son? At what point do you wish to get involved when your son gets mean comments, name calling,etc from peers, friends (yes, happens), classmates, teammates. Frankly, I think the remarks are not a big deal. Kids often denigrate each others things. </p>
<p>However, I can also tell you that when my kids went to a top private school in an area that also happened to be one in one of the best school districts in the region, the top school overall was hands down better in just about every area, and the subject would come up on occasion and it was said in a very matter of fact way. It was a fact. In fact the highschool parent groups from the public school asked and got help on college apps from that private school. Both schools worked to gether on things, but really, the private school quality was much, much better in just about all respects. If anyone at the private school, however, heard unkind, nasty type remarks being made about the local school or kids, that would likely be countered with a reproach, and I would not let it go if my kid were saying such thing in a mean way. </p>
<p>The public schools do not have the privilege of picking and choosing who they take and have to deal with kids thrown out of the public schools, kids who have issues that such private schools won’t touch. There is a lot to be said for the public school as well. </p>