It’s no secret that private schools are often able to provide levels of resources, expertise and elegance not typically found in most public schools. Offering the best of the best is usually how administrators justify the hefty price tag that can accompany such an elite educational experience. And the cost of that education extends far past the immediate academic environment into a life-long impact on opportunity, access and preparedness.
After moving to Washington D.C. for a work assignment, I got a sneak peek into a world I had imagined but had never seen. I felt as though my friend had snuck me into a party that I had not been invited to, that I’d been admitted to a secret society I had no right to be in. It was aristocracy meets middle class. During that time I had some big revelations about education.
After I observed the disparity between the public schools my kids attended and the private schools my neighbors’ kids attended, I thought to myself, “I am so screwed and so are my kids.” I observed the degree of disparity in education and class that exists and foresaw life-long disparities perpetuated because of the divergent paths of public vs private school.
I learned many parents in Georgetown pay between $25K to $45K to send their children to school. Not high school, but elementary school. The average private elementary school tuition in the District of Columbia is approximately $23,700 per year. The Lab School, Sidwell, Landon, Whittle, National Cathedral School, all with the best and brightest teachers, the most innovative curriculums and evidenced based approaches to learning are priced in this range. High school costs are higher, much higher. Many parents work to pay these premium tuition prices themselves. Other students have trust funds and generational wealth. Some are lucky enough to receive scholarships allowing them access their families can’t otherwise afford.
The public schools in the heart of Georgetown, part of the Nation’s Capital, on the other hand, do not have enough books and supplies for all students, or access to adequate technology for all students the way that many private schools do. What they do have are metal detectors and security guards.
The private school down the street from my house had perfectly manicured lawns, an indoor pool, origami and coding clubs. Beautifully and intentionally appointed classrooms are the standard. I noted that one school’s curriculum has the kids physically active for 115 minutes per school day, while another integrates meditation and mindfulness. As the cars arrive at drop off, the teachers open the door for the students and greets each of the children with a smile. It’s a very joyful and connective routine.
Some public schools I witnessed have drop off lines in the middle of busy streets supervised with crossing guards. At the beginning of this year I saw D.C. parking officials ticketing the cars of elementary school parents who wanted to walk their little ones inside rather than push them out of the car at the entrance of the school. Some public schools have play space attached to their schools, others in D.C. do not. The middle school near us had a field but there was a common public walkway that separates it from the school. The day I was there the field looked like a muddy mess and was littered with equipment and trash. The teachers don’t have enough supplies, help or access to resources.
Jelleff Recreation Center is up the street from the public schools in the area. It is publicly owned and funded. It is a beautiful space for recreation with a beautiful field. Public school kids are not allowed to use the field, however. They can only look over the fence at the kids from prestigious private schools as they play lacrosse. The perfectly manicured lawns of this “public” space are in fact exclusive because of a no-bid contract for its control. The contract has been in place a long time and its continuation was recently reaffirmed by those officials elected to protect and represent the interests of ALL students.
I am no stranger to private schools myself. When I was in 3rd grade my mom sent me to a private catholic school. Unlike the tony establishments of Georgetown, it was operated out of the basement of a church and had partition walls. Classes were combined 1&2, 3&4, 5&6. My mother made that choice because of the negative reputation of the only 3rd grade public school teacher in our town. I continued on the path of private catholic schools through my Bachelor’s Degree. I went to a Public University to obtain my Master’s Degree. My mother paid for my entire education and I graduated with my Bachelor of Social Work Degree with no student loan debt. That private catholic school education carried an extra price tag especially for a single mother, but it was also nowhere near the exorbitant rates I saw while out in Washington, D.C.
Although I am a huge advocate for public education, my family has also made the decision to send our daughters to a private high school when we return to our Chicago suburb. It means we will need to generate an additional $1,200 a month to fund this education, although we will also apply for scholarships in an attempt to reduce the financial burden. For parents who do not have disposable income to pay for private school, to provide this luxury could mean the choice between the cost of education and saving for retirement. It decreases their ability to generate and accumulate wealth. It can mean working more hours, having two working parents, or working multiple jobs. It can look like less adult supervision for the children, less homework help and less time for enrichment activities. It can mean increased financial and emotional stress.
Disparities in wealth and education have always existed. While the disparity is not new, the gap is widening and expanding, and bridges are narrowing and contracting. The struggle is real, the problem is real, but how do we address it? For every person the answer to that question is different. For some it means advocating for improvements in their local schools, serving on school boards, becoming teachers or even funding scholarships. The one thing we can all do is to acknowledge the problem and start talking about it.
What role can you play in developing a solution to bridge the gap? How does disparity manifest in your life?
© Alexandra Phillips Burke - All Rights Reserved
Edited by R. Cavanaugh
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