Kids are expensive…as you can see from this video.  The window guy comes tomorrow.

And private school is expensive especially if you think private school tuition will be your only cost.

Here is a list of the top 5 expenses,  other than private tuition, that parents should know about when applying to or looking at affording private school.  Keep in mind, even if you are receiving tuition assistance you are expected to contribute what you can.

1. Annual Giving — Every family is expected to give something, whether it’s $10 or $10,000.
2. Uniforms — If your school requires them, you will have to buy them.
3. Fundraisers — Fundraisers usually fund a particular portion of the school’s budget such as tuition assistance or the graduates classes trip.  Every parent is expected to participate.
4. Books — Last year books for my son, who was entering 7th grade, cost over $300!  You will have to buy books if your child is going into private middle school or private high school.
5. Teacher Gifts — Each school does them differently, but part of the private school culture is to buy gifts to show your appreciation for your teacher.  Many schools are moving to a “gift pot” where parents donate funds to a pot that is then divided up between the classroom teachers.  This is a great way to give what you can and feel is appropriate without worrying if you’re giving too much or too little.

There are other costs associated with private school.  So it’s important that you check with each school and ask “Other than tuition, what other expenses should I anticipate?”

It’s a sound and reasonable question that helps you….

Get Your Child Into Private School

Good News

Across the state of CA, enrollment was down 4.3% last year.

The cause for the drop is of course, thought to be the economy.

So if you are looking at private school, your odds of getting in have just increased.

Bad News

But according to my own little impromptu, totally non scientific survey, it seems to be down mostly at the high school level. My guess is that parents of kids who had attended private elementary school feel their kids can hold their own in public middle and high school.

Also, it might be a time when parents really do start to think  “Hmmm, how am I going to afford college for him?”

If you are looking at private elementary school, the competition can be tough. Parents are trying to scrape together money to get their kids away from the public school cuts.

In the end, your best bet for entrance is to

know what you’re doing!!!!

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/localnews/ci_15929607

I am home visiting my mom, 15 miles from where I grew up.  I took a drive at night up to Ridgefield to hit the CVS (didn’t pack enough sniffle medicine).  I’m driving in the dark, unlit, not well marked winding roads where it is not uncommon to see a dear dart out in front of you.  And I’m thinking this is not unlike the private school admissions process.
I grew up driving these roads. I know to watch the side for dear or raccoon. I know how much to slow down on a sharp turn, and I know to watch for lights coming out of a driveway.

But if you grew up in a city or in a town where the roads are laid out in grids, with street signs that have names like Maple, Walnut and Pine and are well let navigating these windy roads can be overwhelming and confusing, not unlike the private school admissions process.
So if you are navigating this process for the first time, make sure you get help from someone who knows the roads.  These roads have caused many accidents.  You don’t want your child to among the casualties.

Why not knowing where your first choice private school ranks actually helps you and your child.

The US News Best High School ranking came out a few months ago. When it first came out, I was just jumpy with anxiety.  I HATE these kinds of lists.  They have two very bad effects:

1.    They make parents anxious wondering if their child’s education is good enough.

2.    Make US news about 35% more money on advertising.

Here is why these rankings mean nothing.

First, they measure only analytical data.  They don’t measure the success of the students. A successful career is not only not guaranteed, but really, there is no correlation between private schools and business success.  Heck there is no correlation between private school and college success!

Second, the report also further emphasizes the notion that there is a linear line to success.  Good schools lead to “good” colleges and then a “good” career or “good” graduate schools.  Success is not linear, it’s creative, exploratory and fun.
So just look at the list like a list.  It has no bearing on how good a parent you are or how much success your child will have.

http://www.usnews.com/sections/education/high-schools

2006 Ted Talk

Click the arrow to begin playing the video.

2010 Ted Talk

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NYT says:  Despite Push, Success at Charter Schools is Mixed

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/02/education/02charters.html?pagewanted=3&hp

What struck me about this article….

1. How parents are reacting to the sense of community even when test scores are not improving their kids academic achievements!  Again proving to me how community is THE most important factor in schools private or public.
2. How none of the schools were using any of the new educationally sound and proven methods of learning.  They are just reproducing kids who know how to take tests.  My question is can these kids THINK, THEORIZE, ANALYZE and COMMUNICATE their ideas?

Somebody, please get these people a copy of  A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink.  These high performing charter schools are NOT doing anyone any good unless they drop the old factory preparation educational style!

Hello, hello, people!!! Are you listening!

Our education system is broken. It’s not about the what (smaller classrooms, more drills, it’s about the how (writing with everything even math, experimentation, active learning.)

Sheesh is anyone reading the studies?

Pallas and Ezra. December 2009. Flight to Maine

I was thinking about our Christmas trip east to see family recently.  There are no direct flights from LA to their home, so my kids and I spent a few extra hours in the airport waiting for connecting flights.

At one point, as the kids and I sprawled on the cold and hopefully not too dirty carpeted floor waiting for a connecting flight that was a few hours away, I looked up and saw it.

It had floor to ceiling windows.
It had big leather chairs.
It had glass tables.
It had free drinks and other perks to make traveling more comfortable.
The people in it looked comfortable, happy and well adjusted.

I was looking at the Delta Sky Club.
I was jealous.
I wanted in.

And that is exactly how I felt when I looked at private schools.

The schools had floor to ceiling educational tools.
Big cozy learning corners.
Different methods and gadgets to help kids learn.
Offered extras that I wish I had when I was a student.
The teachers and students and parents looked comfortable, happy and well adjusted.

And there it was again the

Private vs. public debate

It’s everywhere, not just in education.
Delta Sky Club leather comfy chairs vs. stiff chairs and dirty carpets.
Private sports club vs. the YMCA
And it you can’t really afford it, the question is…

Is it worth it?

Does the Delta Club make waiting any easier?
Doe the private club make playing tennis any better?
Does that private school education really make your child smarter or better prepared?

As parents, we want to get our kids an education that will get them to a destination that will make them feel fulfilled and happy.

So now the question is….

Is that destination worth paying for?

And the answer depends on

what you value
and how full your wallet is.

How smart is your kid?

Above average, average, brilliant?

If your child is 5 or under,  you probably think your child is the brightest (and cutest) thing if not on the planet then, at least in the town or city where you live.  You tell yourself “My kid is smart!”

There is one problem with that statement.

It answers the wrong question.

The right question is

HOW is your child smart?

Every single one of is really smart — just differently.

• Art (my late husband) could spell ANYTHING and define a word correctly after only seeing it once.

• I have a friend how is an AMAZING graphic artists.

• My babysitter is seriously gifted with kids.

• My son’s friend is a true math WHIZ.

• My kids are gifted athletes in every sport they choose to play (My blog, my bragging rites!!)

• My friend has a natural talent for combining foods.

• The doctor that worked with Art during his first cancer battle was gifted at figuring out how to treat cancer effectively.

• My neighbor is a gifted real estate agent, who even in the down economy was making money.

All these people are smart.

Only many of them don’t think they are because they (and their parents) have been asking the wrong question.  It’s

HOW ARE THEY SMART?

HOW ARE YOU SMART?

HOW IS YOUR CHILD SMART?

In your search for private school, it’s important to ask the right question.

It changes the focus of your application from “who are we competing against” to “this is how my child is different.”

THAT small shift WILL get your application noticed!