<p>
My D does, too, but she had taken a summer program at one of the colleges with a large number of kids who were going to Stuyvesant or were already enrolled there and she felt they were very clannish, so that definitely colored her perception. Also, the commute from Staten Island to pretty much anywhere is a little bit of hell on earth.</p>
<p>Living on Staten Island - you don’t need Stuy. Staten Island Tech is smaller, and academically is on par with Stuy.</p>
<p>We considered it, but commute there from our part of Brooklyn is much worth than to lover Manhattan.</p>
<p>Staten Island Tech isn’t comparable because it is so small and specific. The only language taught is Russian and it’s a very engineering-specific school without the bells and whistles of other schools. Even its sports teams are shared with another school entirely. It is an utterly magnificent school, but not right for everyone, especially someone like my D who likes a lot of options. She is double majoring and double minoring in college because she thinks it’s the best path to her dream, and she was similar in high school. She likes choices!</p>
<p>Russian as a second language would be a HUGE plus for my D (she is a first gen American, and we speak Russian at home :)). Definitely better than Spanish that my D hated.</p>
<p>My friend’s niece has graduated from Staten Island Tech and now is a happy UPenn student majoring in Business and Science.</p>
<p>Being small is also a HUGE plus for me. I could never understand the attraction of huge HSs. I don’t know how you can manage this huge number of teenagers.</p>
<p>Thinking about it - I guess it may become a possible option for my younger D.</p>
<p>
My D did the IB program and several extremely unique internships and was able to study three languages, which wouldn’t have been possible in Tech. All of the public high schools on Staten Island, except Tech, are broken into houses. Each house has its own head of house, guidance counsellor and administrative assistant, as well as teachers who work in those houses based on interests and experience. It works very well and I think our public high schools are quietly among the best in the city at the upper level.</p>
<p>My D would not have wanted to take Russian to the exclusion of Latin. Her entire career plans hinge on being fluent in Latin.</p>
<p>Manhattanboro your S’ experience sounds very much like mine! PS 125 - JHS 118 - Friends :)</p>
<p>Newstudentmom: aside from parochial schools, and Bay Ridge Prep, I didn’t think there were any inexpensive privates. Certainly there are none anywhere near us. And some that send such a huge percentage to Stuy? Wow. Where?</p>
<p>Re: Stuy. The kids I know chose Bard over Stuy, probably in part because of the size, not because of the program.</p>
<p>My child and a number of her friends also chose their magnet MS/HS over Stuyvesant. D visited, did not like the cut throat environment (I am a grad of the specialized high schools and big schools. She has always attended small schools so she got no argument from me) and wanted to stay in with her friends. In the end it still worked out as they still went off to Ivies/Stanford/Top LACs.</p>
<p>Yeah, I know of Trinity School in NYC. Just this past weekend, I went on their website to see what exactly was so great about the school and the first thing I checked was the tuition. I believe it average $35k a year? </p>
<p>I know a couple of kids that go to Trinity School, because so many of them end up in the Columbia Science Honors Program, and even though they are smart, there are kids with public school educations that are just as intelligent. </p>
<p>I really don’t see why people pay so much for something like elementary school… My god. Maybe for the rich, it’s worth it for college preparatory school, even. I can imagine they want their kids to be in an elite tier of highly educated students, but from the kindergarten level? Wow…</p>
<p>You do it because it may be the only point of entry. Our neighborhood PS is fine until about 4th grade. After that, things get ugly. It can be HARD to get into a good private school at that point. </p>
<p>There are some good, less expensive private schools in other boroughs. Here’s a link to one that attracts a fair number of students from my neighborhood. [Garden</a> School](<a href=“http://www.gardenschool.org/]Garden”>http://www.gardenschool.org/) It gives some merit money, BTW. I don’t have any personal experience, but the neighborhood families that use it seem to like it. It runs about half the cost of Manhattan privates. It doesn’t do as well in college admissions as the Brearleys and Collegiates, but almost everyone does go to a 4 year college.</p>
<p>Some of my Protestant neighbors use the Geneva School in Manhattan, which, while expensive, is still cheaper than most independent schools. UNIS is also less expensive, especially in the lower grades. It is the most popular private school in my neighborhood. </p>
<p>I’m glad my offspring got into a good public gifted & talented program.</p>
<p>This is just ridiculous. 39k for preschool? I think this is selfish. If I sound offensive…oh well. Maybe I don’t understand certain things but I didn’t pay more than a few hundred dollars for preschool for both my girls and they have always attended public schools out in the boonies. My oldest has been accepted to lots of great schools and just received full tuition to Ohio State. </p>
<p>Then again, I am easily offended. Just saw one of my FB friends who is unemployed and on welfare bought a huge ridiculous obnoxious television with her husbands tax return and student loans. This is a crazy world!</p>
<p>Why exactly is it selfish?</p>
<p>Not a smart move - maybe, waste of money - maybe, but why selfish?</p>
<p>And how is it different from buying any luxury items such as expensive cars, jewelry, vacation property, etc.</p>
<p>People should have freedom to decide how to spend their own money. Now if they were asking for someone else to subsidize their spending - it would be a different conversation. I understand there are quite a few really wealthy people living in Manhattan, and they choose to send their children to some extremely expensive private nursery schools. It’s their money, their kids and their choice. I may not agree with it, but I don’t think I have a right to tell them what to do.</p>
<p>For any newcomers who are saying it’s ridiculous, please read the thread in its entirety, especially the more recent posts from NYers who are living the experience and have tried to navigate NYC public schools. And don’t judge until you have lived it.</p>
<p>Mspearl, what is selfish about it? Those families keeping their own money and not giving it to you?</p>
<p>^ I don’t really care zooser, people can spend their money however they want to and I can have an opinion on it if I want to. Perhaps I shouldn’t say selfish as much as foolish. It is preschool. I don’t understand why anyone would need to spend that much but hey, do what you want.</p>
<p>I am not out there trying to stop anyone from spending their $ on whatever they want to. Sheesh. Sorry if I do feel it a little self serving to spend so lavishly on preschool when other children don’t have enough to eat!!!</p>
<p>And no, I don’t need those families to give me any money. That is a silly assumption. But my God! Is it SO bad to believe in being generous?!?!?!?!?!?! I am very thankful I do not live in a place like New York City with so many poor schools and families so pressured to go to such lengths. It is terrible that public schools are so lacking and I truly feel bad for people stuck in this situation. </p>
<p>I regret even commenting on this. And like I said, spend your money however you want. Whether it be on 150 inch televisions or 40k for preschool. It is your conscience not mine.</p>
<p>
What is a silly assumption is that the people who pay that much money for preschool aren’t generous. As a NYC resident and someone who volunteers in a big way, I can tell you it’s the people at the top of the food chain (the evil lawyers, investment bankers, etc.) who keep the charities afloat, who do things like adopt public schools and single-handedly provide the funds for public school kids to have enrichment opportunities that would otherwise be impossible. I may not be one of the people who can donate at that level, but boy am I grateful for them! I’m glad I was able to help clarify this for you. The country has enough trouble without people making assumptions that are even more divisive.</p>
<p>???
I am very thankful I do not live in a place like New York City with so many poor schools.</p>
<p>NYC spends $19,000 per student.
<a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/26/education/26spending.html[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/26/education/26spending.html</a></p>
<p>Emerald, I didn’t know that. Thanks. However, if there are so many great public schools, why do people spend so much on privates? </p>
<p>Zooser you are right in many ways. :)</p>
<p>I didn’t say they were great, I said they spent a lot.</p>
<p>bureaucracy.</p>
<p>NYC might spend that much per student, but for the most part, it has in some very poor schools with a shameful dropout rate, although there are notable exceptions. The system is dealing with intense poverty, not simply education.</p>
<p>I know this is obvious. It’s just when I see that $ figure, I can’t let it stand alone.</p>