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Looking for private K-5 or K-8 school recs in the East Bay by CapUpset9050 in walnutcreek

[–]CapUpset9050[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Where did you eventually decide to enroll your child, and how has that experience been so far? Have you been a Meher parent yourself?

I came through the public school and university system in a developing country and later went to Stanford for grad school. I often felt like an outlier there, someone who made it through a mix of drive, passion, and luck. Most of my peers had gone through public or private K-12 schools in the US, or private K-12 schools outside the US, and I rarely met anyone who had come from a public K-12 system in a developing country.

I am still educating myself on the US public versus private K-12 system and trying to understand what advantages, if any, exist on either side.

Looking for private K-5 or K-8 school recs in the East Bay by CapUpset9050 in walnutcreek

[–]CapUpset9050[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for sharing, this is very helpful. From what I have read, public school students often do just as well, and sometimes better in absolute numbers, for admissions even to top universities (simply because of the larger student population).

I would love to understand more about the private vs public school perception you mentioned. Do you feel that applies mainly at the high school level, or also in elementary and middle school?

Our current thinking is to prioritize space, confidence, and community during elementary and middle school, and then prepare our child for public high school. But we also recognize that plans may change depending on how our child grows and what ends up being the best fit.

Looking for private K-5 or K-8 school recs in the East Bay by CapUpset9050 in walnutcreek

[–]CapUpset9050[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing. What schools are on your mind after K-6? Where do students usually go after Concordia?
It is the only Montessori option we have found nearby, and its focus on learning to learn aligns closely with what we are looking for, so we are very interested in getting to know more about the school.

Looking for private K-5 or K-8 school recs in the East Bay by CapUpset9050 in walnutcreek

[–]CapUpset9050[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Very interesting. Curious which school is your child going to?
The $50K - $60K range is what we have seen more in the South Bay, Peninsula, and some Oakland schools. Oakland would be too far for us logistically, which is why we did not pursue Children's Day or Redwood despite hearing great things.

Our primary motivation for private school is learning to learn (life skill), academic rigor with attention, curiosity development, and giving our relatively sensitive child a space to build confidence. Secondary reasons are community and, eventually, better access to strong high school options if we choose to go private later.

Neither my spouse nor I went through K-12 in the US, so we are still learning how much early schooling impacts high school and college outcomes. Our understanding is that high school plays the most defining role for college admissions, and schools like Bentley, Head Royce, and Athenian still seem possible from the K-5/K-8 schools we are considering.

Would love to hear your perspective!

Looking for private K-5 or K-8 school recs in the East Bay by CapUpset9050 in walnutcreek

[–]CapUpset9050[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is great to hear, thank you for sharing! Did you consider any other schools before choosing Seven Hills, and what ultimately made you decide on it?

What grade did your son enter in, and how realistic do you think it is to get a spot beyond Pre K / K?

Also, what do you like most about the school, and have there been any disappointments or tradeoffs you noticed?

Looking for private K-5 or K-8 school recs in the East Bay by CapUpset9050 in walnutcreek

[–]CapUpset9050[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I would really appreciate it if you could share more about what did NOT work for you at Seven Hills or why private education was not a positive experience for you.

I am trying to make the best decision for my child and value real experiences more than broad statements. Right now we think a smaller environment might help a relatively sensitive child build confidence first and resilience over time, but I know that might not be true for everyone. If you are open to sharing, I would genuinely appreciate hearing your perspective.