But at a much cheaper price. And even with “less challenges”, private schools aren’t perfect, and without challenges of their own. Are a few less challenges worth $40k (give or take)? It would have cost me over $120k to send three kids through private school. Even with the extra “challenges”, my kids did well in public school (one that has a reputation for having more challenges than most) and went/are going to college almost for nothing out of pocket because of academic achievement in high school. How would private school have been a better investment in my case, which is far from unique?

 

To be clear I was applauding the really good public schools.

And that is what? A good sports school? A school that ranked 5th out of 8 in ACT scores when I did my research? FYI, The lowest ranked has the best program for LD students. An all boys school? Not a good option if you had grand daughters. Cov. Latin is an option as an accelerated school that allows bright students to skip grades. Each of the schools offer an excellent fit for any given student. Have to gauge what is best from the outside based upon the cost of tuition.

 

Yes. A damn good sports school. I have one grandkid now. He’s a boy. If I lived in NKY and my grandson played sports he would go to CovCath. Without question. I assumed CovCath cost more than what it actually does so to me, IMO, for what I want out of a school, it seems like a bargain.

Just not true IMO. Not saying anything negative, but plenty of public schools are jsut as good. Some better than most privates.

 

I agree, and you get a little more exposure to people from different walks of life.

Those numbers are hard to compare when you take into account the school sizes. Cov Cath is the largest school in the diocese, so they are logically going to have a larger number of students who will score lower on their ACT. I haven't checked recently, but although they may be in the relative middle for ACT scores, they were *fairly* recently leading the diocesan high schools in total number of Governors Scholars and National Merit Finalists.

On ACT scores, how a school publishes the scores can be misleading. Is the school publishing the average of ALL students in that class who took the ACT? Or is the school just reporting the average of the top 20% of the ACT scores?

On ACT scores, how a school publishes the scores can be misleading. Is the school publishing the average of ALL students in that class who took the ACT? Or is the school just reporting the average of the top 20% of the ACT scores?

 

Also true. I got a 27 on the ACT my sophomore year at Cov Cath, and then never took it again. So then I wouldn't have had my 27-ish score the following two years to average in against the guys who might be taking it over again because they got crappy scores the first or second times.

Who knew me being a proponent of private schools would cause such a response. :lol2:

 

You all act like I demeaned public education in my post. All I said is I, as in me (not anyone else), think private schooling is a great decision and investment.

I went to public school and a lot of my college friends went to private schools. I had friends from my high school who had above 4.0 and well above 30 on their ACT who wanted to go to med school, but took a long time adjusting to how to study and learn in college. My private school friends often had 3.5ish GPAs in HS and high 20’s on their ACTs but are currently excelling in med school. I don’t necessarily believe private school kids are smarter than public school kids, but they were certainly A LOT more prepared for the college life and what it takes to get it done once they get there.

It’s the rigor of private schools.

Yes. A damn good sports school. I have one grandkid now. He’s a boy. If I lived in NKY and my grandson played sports he would go to CovCath. Without question. I assumed CovCath cost more than what it actually does so to me, IMO, for what I want out of a school, it seems like a bargain.

 

While Cov Cath may have an outstanding sports program you had better hope the PP2035 is a stud. Lots of competition to make and or start a team.

In my younger years, I helped a fundraiser to keep Newport Catholic open and to stop them from combining with Brossart. I later moved south of Brossart and was thinking how wonderful that super school combining those 2 high schools would have been. As my children went on to high school my feeling reversed again. My oldest was able to start on his HS team and would have struggled to get minutes if those 2 schools were one power house. I liked the idea of those 2 schools offering more positions for more kids. Twice as many of everything giving more kids more opportunities to participate. Knowing the majority of those kids will not be playing after high school.

Priorities on choosing a High school should be about the education and the extra curriculars that are offered that best suit the child.

I went to public school and a lot of my college friends went to private schools. I had friends from my high school who had above 4.0 and well above 30 on their ACT who wanted to go to med school, but took a long time adjusting to how to study and learn in college. My private school friends often had 3.5ish GPAs in HS and high 20’s on their ACTs but are currently excelling in med school. I don’t necessarily believe private school kids are smarter than public school kids, but they were certainly A LOT more prepared for the college life and what it takes to get it done once they get there.

 

Completely agree here. I went to a public high school where I challenged myself but it was still pretty easy to coast through with a good GPA. I attended Centre and it was the biggest wake up call I have ever had. I ended up doing fine but my adjustment period on learning how to study and not just coast by was much more difficult than most who attended private schools (which was the majority of the students there).

 

That being said, every student is different and every public school is different as well. But as far as the overall trend that is what I noticed.

While Cov Cath may have an outstanding sports program you had better hope the PP2035 is a stud. Lots of competition to make and or start a team.

In my younger years, I helped a fundraiser to keep Newport Catholic open and to stop them from combining with Brossart. I later moved south of Brossart and was thinking how wonderful that super school combining those 2 high schools would have been. As my children went on to high school my feeling reversed again. My oldest was able to start on his HS team and would have struggled to get minutes if those 2 schools were one power house. I liked the idea of those 2 schools offering more positions for more kids. Twice as many of everything giving more kids more opportunities to participate. Knowing the majority of those kids will not be playing after high school.

Priorities on choosing a High school should be about the education and the extra curriculars that are offered that best suit the child.

 

The competition to make the team is what I want him to experience more than anything. As I mentioned earlier we are moving to Lexington and I plan to send PP2035 to LCA. If we were in Louisville it would be Trinity, St. X or Male. If we lived in NKY it would be CovCath or Highlands.

 

There aren’t many better life lessons than working as hard as you can and using your talent to the best of your abilities and then seeing the outcome. In life there are going to be times when you aren’t good enough. You have to figure out what you can and can’t do and adjust. You have to compete in damn near everything and you also have to learn how to become an asset to help the team achieve success. Life lessons like that can’t be taught in the classroom all of the time and more often than not the life lessons kids learn in HS sports have a lasting impact on them more than anything else that they learned in school.

The competition to make the team is what I want him to experience more than anything. As I mentioned earlier we are moving to Lexington and I plan to send PP2035 to LCA. If we were in Louisville it would be Trinity, St. X or Male. If we lived in NKY it would be CovCath or Highlands.

 

There aren’t many better life lessons than working as hard as you can and using your talent to the best of your abilities and then seeing the outcome. In life there are going to be times when you aren’t good enough. You have to figure out what you can and can’t do and adjust. You have to compete in damn near everything and you also have to learn how to become an asset to help the team achieve success. Life lessons like that can’t be taught in the classroom all of the time and more often than not the life lessons kids learn in HS sports have a lasting impact on them more than anything else that they learned in school.

 

And what if HE chooses to be in the band or become and artist instead of playing sports? No wonder you love Lavar Ball so much.

For Admiral Farragut Academy in St. Pete grades 8 through 12, with the student living at home, the cost is about $24,000/year. If the student is to be boarded on campus, US citizen rates are about $42,000/year for 5 day boarding, over $49,000/year for 7 day boarding. International students must pay over $52,000/year and must live on campus. Summer rates are not included in those figures.

And what if HE chooses to be in the band or become and artist instead of playing sports? No wonder you love Lavar Ball so much.

 

Then he would go to a school that has a good band or a good art program. This ain’t rocket science. It ain’t hard to put your kids in a school that will allow them to nurture their talent.

Edited May 25, 20188 yr by Colonels_Wear_Blue
Rule #2

JMO, but private schooling if one can afford to do it, is the absolute best investment you can make.

 

 

Along those same lines, I don't know of anyone that has ever been turned away from a private (at least Catholic) school because they couldn't afford the tuition.

On the whole that may be true. It all depends on the school.

 

I used to teach at a private school that I wouldn’t even consider sending my kids. Now I work for a public school that I’d love to send my kids.

As someone who recently graduated from a private school, I couldn't be more thankful for it. One of the things I loved is that (imo) there's a bigger sense of unity and school pride than what I see at public schools.

 

Now, I also recognize that public schools are just as good of a choice. Living in Northern Virginia I see pretty spectacular public schools with incredible academics. It's a matter of personal preference and what you/the kid believes is the best choice.