Hellobee Boards Topic: If your child attended private Elementary and Middle, would you send them to public High?

Hellobee Boards Topic: If your child attended private Elementary and Middle, would you send them to public High? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:03:10 +0000 PinkElephant on "If your child attended private Elementary and Middle, would you send them to public High?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-child-attended-private-elementary-and-middle-would-you-send-them-to-public-high#post-2391106 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 14:59:59 +0000 PinkElephant 2391106@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Mama Bird: It makes me sad to hear this...we are also in NYC and debating whether our daughters would be ok in the public school system for a few years. I don't think it would stunt her learning-wise if she's in the "wrong" public school (because we all know there are "good" ones and "bad" ones) for, say, Pre-K through 1st grade, but I'm very worried about just what you said - what could it do to her love for school/learning if there's too much focus on academics/too much time spent disciplining/a multitude of other factors....sigh... MrsSCB on "If your child attended private Elementary and Middle, would you send them to public High?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-child-attended-private-elementary-and-middle-would-you-send-them-to-public-high#post-2391099 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 14:58:30 +0000 MrsSCB 2391099@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I think it completely depends on the schools, so it's hard to say. If the elementary and middle weren't great, but there was a good public high school, then probably! Or vice versa (public for the first years and private later). I went to all public because the schools were great in my area, but if they hadn't been, I'm sure that might have been different. @BandDmommy: Hey, you're from where I grew up! My H and I went to TJ :-) PinkElephant on "If your child attended private Elementary and Middle, would you send them to public High?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-child-attended-private-elementary-and-middle-would-you-send-them-to-public-high#post-2391082 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 14:55:02 +0000 PinkElephant 2391082@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @mediagirl: Yup! The Catholic school dances/parties were the best place to get into all sorts of trouble! :) I know many people who went to private elementary/middle schools, and public high school. Primarily because the public high school offered better diversity, enrichment programs, etc. If we go the private elementary school route for my kids, I'd most likely make the transfer at middle school though. I think that's an easier/better time to transition than high school. Mrs Z OT on "If your child attended private Elementary and Middle, would you send them to public High?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-child-attended-private-elementary-and-middle-would-you-send-them-to-public-high#post-2391066 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 14:51:15 +0000 Mrs Z OT 2391066@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I agree with the PP that it depends on the reason for private school. I think if it's a parochial/religious school, then continuing private makes sense. In our case, if DD goes private in our current neighborhood, it will be to attend a private gifted school as our (excellent) district's gifted enrichment program doesn't begin until 3rd grade . After 8th grade, she will likely attend the public HS as it has ample accelerated and AP programs available. In our old neighborhood, we would have likely done the same, regardless of giftedness. In that area, the elementary schools were lacking, but the HS drew from a larger area and had a good reputation. ShootingStar on "If your child attended private Elementary and Middle, would you send them to public High?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-child-attended-private-elementary-and-middle-would-you-send-them-to-public-high#post-2390934 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 14:12:27 +0000 ShootingStar 2390934@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I think it depends what the motivations for private school are. We've debated sending DS to private school. There's a reasonably priced, nice looking school really close to our house. Our town elementary school has been dipping in the Great Schools rating, so we've debated sending him to private school. But the school that's nearby because girl-only at 9th grade. winniebee on "If your child attended private Elementary and Middle, would you send them to public High?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-child-attended-private-elementary-and-middle-would-you-send-them-to-public-high#post-2390740 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 13:02:25 +0000 winniebee 2390740@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I went to Catholic grade school and jr. high and then public high school. It was fine curriculum wise...though I think socially it was a little hard on me at first....just because the public school kids have gone to school together their whole lives. JoJoGirl on "If your child attended private Elementary and Middle, would you send them to public High?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-child-attended-private-elementary-and-middle-would-you-send-them-to-public-high#post-2390734 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 13:00:13 +0000 JoJoGirl 2390734@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Mama Bird: ohhhhh yeah NYC public is a different beast. mediagirl on "If your child attended private Elementary and Middle, would you send them to public High?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-child-attended-private-elementary-and-middle-would-you-send-them-to-public-high#post-2390733 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 13:00:08 +0000 mediagirl 2390733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @MamaG: that's the same way it is here. There are a considerable amount of K-8 private schools but the number drops drastically when you look for high. We think we want to send our lo to a private elem and middle but to be honest, the cost of high is prohibitive unless something changes in the future. My husband did public K-8 and Catholic high and was happy with his experience so this would be the opposite for our kid. Mama Bird on "If your child attended private Elementary and Middle, would you send them to public High?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-child-attended-private-elementary-and-middle-would-you-send-them-to-public-high#post-2390731 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 12:59:13 +0000 Mama Bird 2390731@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @wonderstruck: @FaithFertility: @JoJoGirl: to clarify - I mean the NYC system specifically. And again, this is just based on close family experience - out of 8 siblings, cousins and nephews who went through it, 5 dropped out at various points, and none of them are particularly dumb. And it's not the teachers, it's the environment and the way the system is run. I definitely appreciate teachers who care! FaithFertility on "If your child attended private Elementary and Middle, would you send them to public High?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-child-attended-private-elementary-and-middle-would-you-send-them-to-public-high#post-2390696 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 12:48:35 +0000 FaithFertility 2390696@https://boards.hellobee.com/ In my area there are a few very good private Elem and Middle schools, but only 1 private HS and it is a lotto to get in, so many do go to Public HS we have a few that are great!! Mamaof2 on "If your child attended private Elementary and Middle, would you send them to public High?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-child-attended-private-elementary-and-middle-would-you-send-them-to-public-high#post-2390692 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 12:46:50 +0000 Mamaof2 2390692@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @MamaG: I wonder that too - if I had continued to Catholic HS it would have been a 50 min bus ride one way - ugh!!! The K-8 school was 5 mins from my house! JoJoGirl on "If your child attended private Elementary and Middle, would you send them to public High?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-child-attended-private-elementary-and-middle-would-you-send-them-to-public-high#post-2390687 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 12:45:31 +0000 JoJoGirl 2390687@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Mama Bird: Wow :( I had a phenomenal experience with public school in elementary and middle (and high). I went to Harvard so I guess they didn't completely destroy my love of learning? MamaG on "If your child attended private Elementary and Middle, would you send them to public High?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-child-attended-private-elementary-and-middle-would-you-send-them-to-public-high#post-2390685 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 12:44:50 +0000 MamaG 2390685@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I was a public school kid, but I did notice in the area I grew up, there were a fair number of options for religion based education (catholic or lutheran) through 8th grade. But for high school years there was only one school of each and it wasn't in "town". I would guess the reduced access to the private high school influenced some families to put their child in the public high school. I wonder why there are (were?) so many more options up through 8th grade but considerably less for high school. FaithFertility on "If your child attended private Elementary and Middle, would you send them to public High?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-child-attended-private-elementary-and-middle-would-you-send-them-to-public-high#post-2390683 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 12:44:09 +0000 FaithFertility 2390683@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Mama Bird: I'm so sorry that you feel that way, as a first grade teacher it is my goal to not just teach them the standards but light the fire for learning and for their own passions!! I also know I'm not the only teacher that feels that way! Hope you come across other teachers that feel the same and can show you otherwise!! wonderstruck on "If your child attended private Elementary and Middle, would you send them to public High?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-child-attended-private-elementary-and-middle-would-you-send-them-to-public-high#post-2390672 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 12:34:00 +0000 wonderstruck 2390672@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Mama Bird: What a shitty generalization to make about public schools and teachers. peachykeen on "If your child attended private Elementary and Middle, would you send them to public High?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-child-attended-private-elementary-and-middle-would-you-send-them-to-public-high#post-2390660 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 12:27:37 +0000 peachykeen 2390660@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I went to Catholic school K-12 (K-8 grade school, then 9-12 HS). I liked it fine, although I think I might have benefited from public HS in some ways. For instance, you couldn't avoid a sub-par math teacher - if you were going to take geometry, this was the only teacher for the course! (500 students vs 1500+ at the public HS) About 1/4 of my grade school friends went to public HS, and I think they were just as happy as those of us at the Catholic HS. I think we were a little more insulated, mainly because everyone had known each other for years and it was a very supportive environment. I wouldn't worry too much about it whatever you decide. Mama Bird on "If your child attended private Elementary and Middle, would you send them to public High?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-child-attended-private-elementary-and-middle-would-you-send-them-to-public-high#post-2390653 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 12:23:44 +0000 Mama Bird 2390653@https://boards.hellobee.com/ If I could, I'd do private in the early years and public HS. There are many decent HS here, but the problem is making it that far. It seems, from my family's experience, that in the early years the public school system can neither teach the basics properly nor give a child a love of learning - in fact, once you've been through it any love of learning you had is likely to be destroyed. A self-motivated kid can still get a great education, but DS for example is more influenced by peers and probably not gifted enough to test out of the system - not a good combo. Mrs. Lemon-Lime on "If your child attended private Elementary and Middle, would you send them to public High?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-child-attended-private-elementary-and-middle-would-you-send-them-to-public-high#post-2390641 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 12:17:24 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2390641@https://boards.hellobee.com/ If we started them off in private we would likely continue in HS, unless a public HS afforded them an opportunity the private did not. For example team sports or some type of academic magnate program. Half of the kids I went to elementary school with went to private for middle and high school. I don't know anyone that switched from private to public for HS unless they were failing out of private or had behavior issues. JoJoGirl on "If your child attended private Elementary and Middle, would you send them to public High?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-child-attended-private-elementary-and-middle-would-you-send-them-to-public-high#post-2390621 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 12:04:16 +0000 JoJoGirl 2390621@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Depends on the high school. I went to a very high-quality public high school that always gets ranked nationally for test scores, etc. MANY kids in my class went to private school through 8th then came to public to get the most out of the programs and education offered there. .twist. on "If your child attended private Elementary and Middle, would you send them to public High?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-child-attended-private-elementary-and-middle-would-you-send-them-to-public-high#post-2390620 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 12:03:54 +0000 .twist. 2390620@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I would probably give them the option, yea. BandDmommy on "If your child attended private Elementary and Middle, would you send them to public High?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-child-attended-private-elementary-and-middle-would-you-send-them-to-public-high#post-2390607 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 11:55:28 +0000 BandDmommy 2390607@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Our neighbor sends his kids to gifted private school, Nysmith and then sends them to a gifted magnet public high school, Thomas Jefferson HS. His kids are mini geniuses. Mommy Finger on "If your child attended private Elementary and Middle, would you send them to public High?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-child-attended-private-elementary-and-middle-would-you-send-them-to-public-high#post-2390605 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 11:53:56 +0000 Mommy Finger 2390605@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I went to Catholic school from 1-8 grade and then to the Catholic HS for freshman year. We moved states the summer after my freshman year (it sucked!) and I visited both the local Catholic and public HS. For some reason, I HATED the Catholic HS and went public. I really loved the HS that I went to my freshman year. BKCaribBaby on "If your child attended private Elementary and Middle, would you send them to public High?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-child-attended-private-elementary-and-middle-would-you-send-them-to-public-high#post-2390562 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 11:31:07 +0000 BKCaribBaby 2390562@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We're contemplating the opposite actually. littlebug on "If your child attended private Elementary and Middle, would you send them to public High?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-child-attended-private-elementary-and-middle-would-you-send-them-to-public-high#post-2390543 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 11:20:57 +0000 littlebug 2390543@https://boards.hellobee.com/ It happened all the time in my public school district where I grew up. Kids went to the local Catholic elementary and middle school, then transferred into our high school. HabesBabe on "If your child attended private Elementary and Middle, would you send them to public High?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-child-attended-private-elementary-and-middle-would-you-send-them-to-public-high#post-2390538 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 11:18:49 +0000 HabesBabe 2390538@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Not me personally, but two close friends went to Catholic school school K-8, and then chose public high school. They liked it better-- more diversity, more options for extracurriculars and activities/clubs, and just a change in scenery (they were tired of the same old crowd after 9 years, I guess). I do have one friend who went to Catholic school K-12 and was OK with it, but wished her parents had let her have a more "traditional" high school experience. Mamaof2 on "If your child attended private Elementary and Middle, would you send them to public High?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-child-attended-private-elementary-and-middle-would-you-send-them-to-public-high#post-2390517 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 11:08:04 +0000 Mamaof2 2390517@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @808love: yes at that age it sure made me feel better! @mediagirl: true! mediagirl on "If your child attended private Elementary and Middle, would you send them to public High?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-child-attended-private-elementary-and-middle-would-you-send-them-to-public-high#post-2390509 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 11:05:07 +0000 mediagirl 2390509@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Mamaof2: hahaha. That's so funny. In the area where I grew up, it seemed like the private high school kids had more access to drugs than the public kids. More money, maybe? 808love on "If your child attended private Elementary and Middle, would you send them to public High?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-child-attended-private-elementary-and-middle-would-you-send-them-to-public-high#post-2390496 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 11:01:54 +0000 808love 2390496@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Mamaof2: Lol! Something like a sign can be so comforting. Now I understand why the schools made us put up Bully Free Zone signs. Mamaof2 on "If your child attended private Elementary and Middle, would you send them to public High?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-child-attended-private-elementary-and-middle-would-you-send-them-to-public-high#post-2390488 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 10:56:56 +0000 Mamaof2 2390488@https://boards.hellobee.com/ This was me. I went to Catholic school (K-8) and then once in HS we could choose public or private. Oddly enough out of the 18 kids in my 8th grade class only 4 went to Catholic HS. It was a little scary for me at first going from such a small school to a bigger one but it worked out great in the end - no regrets! Side story - I was so convinced that everyone was going to try to get me to do drugs - I mean, terrified! When I pulled up that 1st day I saw a sign that said "drug free zone" and I was like "Whew, thank goodness" :silly: Mamasig on "If your child attended private Elementary and Middle, would you send them to public High?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-child-attended-private-elementary-and-middle-would-you-send-them-to-public-high#post-2390485 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 10:56:01 +0000 Mamasig 2390485@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I would continue on with private school. I went to catholic school from K-12 and an all girls school for 9-12. The plan is the same for my kids. I feel like if you want that private experience for your kids why stop for high school? If anything, influences are stronger at that age. Not saying that bad kids aren't in private school, but in my experience it's definitely different.