He was accepted to several of the top private schools in the Atlanta area this year. Anyone have any experience with moving from public to private schools? Should he attend a private school or continue in the public school system here?
How is this even a question given the state of public schooling in the USA?
My parent's sacrificed so I could go to one of the top private schools in the area (I had to wear a pressed shirt, blazer and tie every day to school).
As I approach 40 I look back and it was one of best things my parents did for me.
Professionally, it continues to open doors in my areas as many of the alum (like myself) work for and are executives in some of the top companies in the area. I'm able to network easily because of the alum network provided.
The benefits of private schooling go far beyond education.
I graduated from one of the top private schools in Florida in the 90's. Interestingly, I have never had to use the network in my career, although I'm sure if I needed it, would be amazing. We have multiple Fortune 500 CEO's but the real value of my experience was in the day-to-day prep and performance for the work I do now.
I would say if you are ITP, you need to go private. If you like ATL but want better educational opportunities for your kids, move to Cobb County. Specifically anywhere districted for Walton, Lassiter, or Pope High School as these are far better than any private school you will find in Atlanta. Most anywhere in East Cobb will provide the best opportunities in GA. Fulton County Schools are very poor by comparison unless you get up to milton or roswell area. Other nice areas that have good schools would be Johns Creek and Duluth. Again, i would just move to Cobb though.
I taught at ATL area independent schools. While Pace/Lovett/Westminster have religious missions, they are far from religious schools. It is practically an afterthought at this point compared to Holy Innocents, Marist, Whitefield and other schools that prioritize religion.
That being said, if you can go to Westminster and afford it, it will open doors for a lifetime. If you invest that $33K+ a year for four years instead and go to a public school, get the Hope scholarship and go to Tech or UGA, your child can probably buy a house when they graduate college hahaha.
Wow. Lots of responses. I'll try to address some of the questions/statements.
"He got in, huh? You mean several schools that you will PAY for him to attend would like him as a student so they can receive your money? Fascinating!"
Yes. Similar to a college or university. He had to apply, interview, write essays (for some), have recommendations, take placement tests, etc.
"As a general rule..." - I'm not looking at a general rule. I'm looking specifically these (an a couple other) schools.
Your (2) opinions are very short-sighted.
I actually gave some very detailed information about the 4 schools you mentioned in another post that for some stupid reason Letsrun decided to delete. Insanity. It actually had some info you sought, and I actually did some research for you to write that post.
I'll be VERY brief about what I wrote about the 4 so as not to upset the baby monitor who deleted my other post.
AIS: Non-religious and is open to and supports people of all religions, race, sexual preference, etc.
Westminister, Lovett, and Pace are all Christian schools that have Christianity at their core. If that's for you, then fine, but if not, then perhaps not fine. Too many discount this when looking at private schools.
The ONE that seems to have more of a singular focus on academics is AIS. If I were in your shoes, and I HAD to pick one of those private schools, I would pick the one that isn't bogged down by religious ideology...and that one is AIS.
I do remember that post early in this thread. It was quite bigoted and the mods were correct in deleting that post. In all honesty, your "research" was from wikipedia entries and from what looked like the school homepages. In addition, calling some of the schools "gross" is childish. I'm looking for a lot more insight than that. A lot of people have given their personal experiences with those or similar schools - both private and public. That is the insight that is helpful, not you your wiki research.
I'm a two-strikes and you're out kind of guy. You've given two very useless posts in this thread. Please move on. Thanks.
I would choose Westminster. Phenomenal school with great facilities and top notch faculty. The other Atlanta privates and public schools pale in comparison.
And Flagpole has no idea what he is talking about, yet speaks like an expert on the role of religion in the Westminster curriculum.
INCORRECT! (The part of your comment that I bolded).
Westminster is a CHRISTIAN school. It says this right on their website: "Westminster is a Christian school. We hold a deep commitment to our Christian mission, seeking to model the scriptural description of Jesus as “growing in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52)."
I told the OP that he may like that or may not. Nothing I have said about that school is wrong. Anyone who IGNORES the fact that a school has a religious core if that core isn't important to them though is a FOOL.
I taught at ATL area independent schools. While Pace/Lovett/Westminster have religious missions, they are far from religious schools. It is practically an afterthought at this point compared to Holy Innocents, Marist, Whitefield and other schools that prioritize religion.
That being said, if you can go to Westminster and afford it, it will open doors for a lifetime. If you invest that $33K+ a year for four years instead and go to a public school, get the Hope scholarship and go to Tech or UGA, your child can probably buy a house when they graduate college hahaha.
I see those schools have done a good job pulling the wool over your eyes. Ok.
I actually gave some very detailed information about the 4 schools you mentioned in another post that for some stupid reason Letsrun decided to delete. Insanity. It actually had some info you sought, and I actually did some research for you to write that post.
I'll be VERY brief about what I wrote about the 4 so as not to upset the baby monitor who deleted my other post.
AIS: Non-religious and is open to and supports people of all religions, race, sexual preference, etc.
Westminister, Lovett, and Pace are all Christian schools that have Christianity at their core. If that's for you, then fine, but if not, then perhaps not fine. Too many discount this when looking at private schools.
The ONE that seems to have more of a singular focus on academics is AIS. If I were in your shoes, and I HAD to pick one of those private schools, I would pick the one that isn't bogged down by religious ideology...and that one is AIS.
I do remember that post early in this thread. It was quite bigoted and the mods were correct in deleting that post. In all honesty, your "research" was from wikipedia entries and from what looked like the school homepages. In addition, calling some of the schools "gross" is childish. I'm looking for a lot more insight than that. A lot of people have given their personal experiences with those or similar schools - both private and public. That is the insight that is helpful, not you your wiki research.
I'm a two-strikes and you're out kind of guy. You've given two very useless posts in this thread. Please move on. Thanks.
Well, you obviously want religion (Christian religion) to be a core part of your son's academic preparation so much so that you want to pay $30,000 a year or more (unless you are poor) for it. I have no issue with that. Good luck.
I would choose Westminster. Phenomenal school with great facilities and top notch faculty. The other Atlanta privates and public schools pale in comparison.
And Flagpole has no idea what he is talking about, yet speaks like an expert on the role of religion in the Westminster curriculum.
INCORRECT! (The part of your comment that I bolded).
Westminster is a CHRISTIAN school. It says this right on their website: "Westminster is a Christian school. We hold a deep commitment to our Christian mission, seeking to model the scriptural description of Jesus as “growing in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52)."
I told the OP that he may like that or may not. Nothing I have said about that school is wrong. Anyone who IGNORES the fact that a school has a religious core if that core isn't important to them though is a FOOL.
I literally used to teach there. I might know more about it than you, a person who is getting their info by looking at the website.
I taught at a competitor to Westminster. It was a phenomenal school but it paled in comparison to Westminster; although we used to beat the in XC/track (different divisions for state though).
Westminsters resources are second none.
My own children attend public schools in Gwinnett.
Flagpole is clueless about Westminster. I taught there in the 90s. I'm an atheist. Yes, it's nominally a Christian school but they don't slam dogma down your throat, especially compared to the Catholic school I attended as a child.
Academically and with sports, Westminster is topnotch. You can't go wrong sending your child there.
I do remember that post early in this thread. It was quite bigoted and the mods were correct in deleting that post. In all honesty, your "research" was from wikipedia entries and from what looked like the school homepages. In addition, calling some of the schools "gross" is childish. I'm looking for a lot more insight than that. A lot of people have given their personal experiences with those or similar schools - both private and public. That is the insight that is helpful, not you your wiki research.
I'm a two-strikes and you're out kind of guy. You've given two very useless posts in this thread. Please move on. Thanks.
Well, you obviously want religion (Christian religion) to be a core part of your son's academic preparation so much so that you want to pay $30,000 a year or more (unless you are poor) for it. I have no issue with that. Good luck.
How many times are you gonna embarrass yourself in one thread?
INCORRECT! (The part of your comment that I bolded).
Westminster is a CHRISTIAN school. It says this right on their website: "Westminster is a Christian school. We hold a deep commitment to our Christian mission, seeking to model the scriptural description of Jesus as “growing in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52)."
I told the OP that he may like that or may not. Nothing I have said about that school is wrong. Anyone who IGNORES the fact that a school has a religious core if that core isn't important to them though is a FOOL.
I literally used to teach there. I might know more about it than you, a person who is getting their info by looking at the website.
So, you are telling me it is NOT a Christian school? I haven't said ANYTHING about it other than it is a Christian school. Their website says that it is. Are you saying they are lying on their website?
Say what you will about the website. I know faculty there. I know students there. It is pretty much secular. These kids aren’t reciting bible verses.
There is no "pretty much secular" when it CLEARLY states that their mission is Christian-based. If that's what the OP wants, then fine, but that is completely incorrect to say it is in any way secular. My guess is that they don't dance with snakes or speak in tongues or any serious nonsense like that, but it is founded on Christian principles, and they adhere to them and embrace them. ANYONE going there needs to understand that.
Flagpole is clueless about Westminster. I taught there in the 90s. I'm an atheist. Yes, it's nominally a Christian school but they don't slam dogma down your throat, especially compared to the Catholic school I attended as a child.
Academically and with sports, Westminster is topnotch. You can't go wrong sending your child there.
I never once said that school slammed dogma down anyone's throat. I said it identifies as a Christian school and they adhere to and embrace Christian principles. That's it. Not only am I not clueless, I am 100% right about what I have said.
Well, you obviously want religion (Christian religion) to be a core part of your son's academic preparation so much so that you want to pay $30,000 a year or more (unless you are poor) for it. I have no issue with that. Good luck.
How many times are you gonna embarrass yourself in one thread?
I have not done so at all yet at anytime anywhere, so I don't have an answer for you. I guess ZERO is my answer.
I taught at ATL area independent schools. While Pace/Lovett/Westminster have religious missions, they are far from religious schools. It is practically an afterthought at this point compared to Holy Innocents, Marist, Whitefield and other schools that prioritize religion.
That being said, if you can go to Westminster and afford it, it will open doors for a lifetime. If you invest that $33K+ a year for four years instead and go to a public school, get the Hope scholarship and go to Tech or UGA, your child can probably buy a house when they graduate college hahaha.
Thanks for your perspective. That was our experience as well in our visits and my son's interviews and shadowing. They are not exclusionary of other religions either. They following the teachings of Jesus which aren't all that bad. ;)
Paying for it is not an issue at this point. We're looking for the best opportunity for him.
I would choose Westminster. Phenomenal school with great facilities and top notch faculty. The other Atlanta privates and public schools pale in comparison.
And Flagpole has no idea what he is talking about, yet speaks like an expert on the role of religion in the Westminster curriculum.
INCORRECT! (The part of your comment that I bolded).
Westminster is a CHRISTIAN school. It says this right on their website: "Westminster is a Christian school. We hold a deep commitment to our Christian mission, seeking to model the scriptural description of Jesus as “growing in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52)."
I told the OP that he may like that or may not. Nothing I have said about that school is wrong. Anyone who IGNORES the fact that a school has a religious core if that core isn't important to them though is a FOOL.
Do you not think that after going to open houses, parent/faculty dinners, interviews, shadowing, etc. and still considering those schools that we have more than the elementary understanding that you gleaned from the homepage of their websites?
INCORRECT! (The part of your comment that I bolded).
Westminster is a CHRISTIAN school. It says this right on their website: "Westminster is a Christian school. We hold a deep commitment to our Christian mission, seeking to model the scriptural description of Jesus as “growing in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52)."
I told the OP that he may like that or may not. Nothing I have said about that school is wrong. Anyone who IGNORES the fact that a school has a religious core if that core isn't important to them though is a FOOL.
I literally used to teach there. I might know more about it than you, a person who is getting their info by looking at the website.
Thank you for your input.
Ignore this guy. He thinks that reading wikipedia or their website tells you everything about a school. His post that the mods deleted was bigoted and childish.