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06.15.08, 08:30 AM NY Schools
54 replies
Anderson or second tier K-8 private? Anyone else in this situation? What are your thoughts? TIA [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
NY Schools 06.15.08, 08:30 AM Flag
 

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Private. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 08:35 AM Flag
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If you choose private, there goes a seat at A. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 08:36 AM Flag
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Private [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 08:39 AM Flag
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Anderson. Hands down [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 08:47 AM Flag
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If paying for private will be a financial strain, I would definitely take Anderson. If finances aren't an issue, I would seriously consider proximity. As our DC's K year comes to a close, I am grateful that he's at a school that's close to our home. A full school day is tiring, but even now that he's used to the length of the day, it's great to have a short commute, the flexibility of last minute playdates or just hanging out at the local playground w/other school friends w/out feeling pressure to get home during rush hour. GL w/your decision. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 08:52 AM Flag
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[ Removed by moderator ] [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 08:55 AM Flag
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Wish I could you help you w/specifics, but don't know much about Anderson, especially for MS. I do know a great family whose DC will be starting K (has older sibling at A). They adore the school and couldn't be a nicer, low-key family. What does your gut say? I loved many of the K-8 private schools thought they did an especially good job w/handling the awkward MS years. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 08:58 AM Flag
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ITA with you ! My gut feeling tells me that for K Anderson looks better but that it's going to be downhill during middle school. Thank you!! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 09:02 AM Flag
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Then I'd do private [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 09:05 AM Flag
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You cannot possibly predict what either school's middle school strengths and weaknesses will be in 7 years when your child is about to attend middle school. Think about what you want for your child in the next few years. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 09:10 AM Flag
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You can make a pretty good prediction down the road--private schools are generally consistent in their quality (with a few outliers). [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 09:18 AM Flag
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yes, and I predict being at a 2nd tier private for MS is a ticket to boarding school, not to mention low self esteem for being at a crappy private with average peers. Just my 2 cents...and the reason we dropped 2nd tier private. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 10:15 AM Flag
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Congratulations, you get today's insight and sensitivity awards. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 10:16 AM Flag
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it is the reality we have been down this road. remember, everyone is so hyped to get a spot, that they are now crowing if they get into a private that wasn't opened in the last couple of years. but these schools are very mediocre, and most of the kids who end up at them are very average at best. most will not go on to top HSs or colleges. they will be nurtured and coddled, but it won't translate into the real world, and they won't have smarts and resourcefulness to help them out. I would not go this route. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 10:23 AM Flag
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That is a totally inaccurate statement. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 10:24 AM Flag
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no, it isn't. and to be honest, I would rather my dc be with other smart kids in a program with prestige related to smarts than an average private with average kids whose parents can afford private. prestige counts, as well. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 10:29 AM Flag
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Wow, that was uncalled for an incorrect. Yes, some dc from K-8 do go to boarding school, but that is because that is what they and their families want. Many go on to TT and 2nd-Tier NYC privates and many to selective public. They tend to have very high self-esteem and be self-direct b/c k-8 schools are generally good at cultivating both. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 10:20 AM Flag
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You say "boarding school" like it is bad word! Beleive it or not, the better boarding schools have better facilities, a wider range of activities and stronger college admissiosn than even some of NYC's top schools! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 02:31 PM Flag
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Boarding school rocks. At least, TT boarding school does. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 06:50 PM Flag
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OR here: One big plus for private is not being subject to the DoE. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 09:12 AM Flag
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Another plus is that you won't be with the above misguided poster who wants the prestige of Anderson. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 10:47 AM Flag
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look, it doesn't hurt to have prestige be part of the equation and you know it. as long as the education is very good as well, seems silly not to want the prestige. it will help the kids for the next step [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 11:39 AM Flag
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I think most people understand the quality of education in the K-8 schools. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 11:56 AM Flag
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anderson is a K-8, and the quality is high. In addition, the peer group is more consistently strong intellectually [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 12:05 PM Flag
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but you are talking about k-12 schools like trinity and dalton that take a large number in later years. K-8s, private or public cannot be judged on college placement. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 01:18 PM Flag
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Trinity takes in a LOT of kids for HS (I read 60 or so). Not Dalton. Relative to their big size (90) in the lower school, most kids continue on and they take in about 20 new kids for HS. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 02:25 PM Flag
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That is nearly 25% increase in students and can account for a significant portion of students who go on to the "best" colleges on Dalton's list. I believe they also have a few early admissions years too (5th or 6th?) [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 02:28 PM Flag
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np--Dalton may admit around 6-8 kids or so for 6th grade. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 08:50 PM Flag
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I think any school that admits at K is subject to intellectual, emotional, ethical and energy -level inconistencies. The schools which take in large number of students above 6th grade (and have a mission of academic rigor) tend to be those with the best college exmissions. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 12:26 PM Flag
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I love when people write well-reasoned, sound posts. Thank you from a gen'l ed mom who's happy w/DC's school. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 02:16 PM Flag
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thank you....by the way, this was not meant to be dismissive of the education available at k-8s or gen eds or non UB-TT privates or citywide g&ts......just that admissions on 4 yos can yield all sorts of results. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 02:22 PM Flag
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You didn't sound dismissive. Your point was clear and non-judgmental. We need more posters like you around here. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 02:32 PM Flag
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I have a child in an upper grade of a K-8 school. I think you may find a wider range of kids in the private school. Is there a religious component that's important to you? I think the K-8 schools work on the whole child more than a public schools are able to do. My child has an ethics class, for instance. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 09:15 AM Flag
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what do you mean by wider range? diversity of interests? diversity of backgrounds? academic abilities? thanks! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 09:27 AM Flag
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np: there is no doubt far more kids of average intelligence at lower tier privates. we are ending K at one, and I have been surprised by the overall level of the kids. the tiers are meaningful, and if we get anderson, we are out of here! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 10:19 AM Flag
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np: I have heard just the opposite from other parents. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 10:21 AM Flag
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of course, you have. no parent will admit this, but I am an insider who is hoping to leave. it would serve no one at these schools to put down the school, but the level of the peer group is just not that high. a couple will surpass everyone, but on average, these schools are for average kids whose parents want private for other reasons. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 10:26 AM Flag
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the funny thing is, the kids you define as average all have college educated paretns (and will go themeselves) aand porbably score at least 94- 95 ERBs! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 12:31 PM Flag
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college educated parents, yes. likely to go to college, yes. high erb scores, probably not. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 01:52 PM Flag
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np: the dc I know all had high scores and many with 95+ didn't get in [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 02:06 PM Flag
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yes, most will have mid 90s and above. ther will be some 99s and a few high 80s who do well on playdates and fit in well on other aspects fo the "profile." [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 02:20 PM Flag
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what school? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 02:13 PM Flag
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By wider range, I meant a range of academic abilities. I do think my child's school challenges all the kids. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 10:40 AM Flag
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Went on Anderson tour...Admissions person explained that 95% of middle schoolers recvd their 1st choice high school this year...Those numbers sound a bit impressive, esp for those who may not be able to afford private... [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 12:09 PM Flag
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You do know that this past year was easier for high school admissions and most K-8s can claim the same. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 01:25 PM Flag
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First choice HS does not mean much, as you adjust first choice based on where you think you can get in. Just like you do with MS. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 06:51 PM Flag
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We're at Anderson. If your kid was smart enough to be admitted, they will benefit from the peer group, as well as the level of teaching. Seems like an easy decision vs. a 2nd tier private, especially if money matters at all. Tougher choice vs. a 1st tier private. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 02:08 PM Flag
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I would defi'ly take TT over Anderson or Hunter. But it depends on the kind of 2nd tier. If the 2nd tier you are talking about is St Anns, St B, Nightingale, ECFS, Riverdale, then I will take 2nd tier private if money is not an issue. But if 2nd tier is Dwight, BWL, Hewitt, etc., then Anderson. Anderson is under DOE, doesn't have many extras (I've toured) and afterschool pales compared to private afterschool, privates are better in many ways. But Anderson has uniformaly smarter kids than 3rd tier privates. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 02:19 PM Flag
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ITA. I have a hunch the K-8 is Cathedral and that has a non-academic component that many people find compelling. We did, but didn't apply b/c it was too far from home. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 02:33 PM Flag
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Hmm... if my choice is between Cathedral or SHSH or Town and Anderson, I'd take Anderson despite the lack of extras and smaller class size and more resources. These schools are small (privates) and their afterschool will be more limited than bigger privates. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 02:45 PM Flag
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>also, if it only goes up to 8th grade, it's not as compelling as sending dc to another private that goes up to 12. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 02:47 PM Flag
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I'd take all those schools over Anderson and know someone who took one of them over Hunter [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 02:56 PM Flag
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We chose a wonderful small private school over Anderson and are very happy. Private schools offer so much to the whole child that it's difficult to explain. We could not be happier with the individual attention DC gets and the flexibility that private schools can provide. We were skeptical about the DOE , the crowded building and the lack of diversity we saw at Anderson. I don't think DC needs to be only with gifted kids and we enjoy the "normal" kids at our school. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.15.08, 06:08 PM Flag
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Not everyone can afford to go that route - or are planning to save that $240-$300K for dc's college. Public school builds character. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.10.08, 06:57 PM Flag
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