Childcare in SEA like elsewhere is crazy. We were on a waiting list all over the city for childcare before weād even told our families.
For infant care we were paying $2k a month for one. If weād used Bright Horizons it would have been closer to $3k. Itās less now that he is going to preschool in the fall.
Still, in the time heās been home, Iāve decided Iād pay triple.
Public school vary drastically by region. In the northeast some public schools compete with private and theyāre very good. If you live in Delaware you almost have to go to private school. My friends in the Midwest couldnāt believe I went to public school as no one in the middle class there does apparently. But also their private schools are only 10k a year. In the northeast the average private school that isnāt catholic is 30k+
Yep! And you cannot find a Parochial HS in MA thatās under $18-20K/yr (conservative estimate)
But the public school system in MA is tremendous.
This is the problem with groupthink. And it is very prevalent in the northeast, too.
I personally think there are tremendous societal benefits to almost everyone attending public schools, including those who can afford private. And yes, I practice what I preach.
Having grown up in Connecticut, there were a lot of very expensive private schools. But the public schools are so good in most parts, that it was not necessary to go to a private school. What always made me laugh in high school was the kids who went to a parochial school thought there were rich ($10k-$20k tuition is nothing when Choate is $40k+) and smart (some of the dumbest kids I know went to those schools and very few went to top colleges).
I went to the University of Chicago for undergrad and it was about 50/50 for private vs public school. Usually the students who went to private school went to an elite one (i.e. Horace Mann in NYC) and the public schools students just did not have as wealthy parents.
Ehā¦not in the Berkshires 
*On average, the public school system in Ma is tremendous.
A quick google shows it as #1
Thatās actually why weāre moving now. I loved our house so much, but wanted to move to a town with a great school system.
Education system rankings are quite easily, uh, swayed.
I went to HS in NYS and it really bothered me how the education was so tailored to the NYS standardized regents tests, which resulted in teachers just teaching that material - and then repeating it over and over and over.
No youāre totally right
The only message Iām trying to convey is their public system is good, in general. I went to public school in MA and loved it.
Grew up in Massachusetts town with good schools. Semed like Catholic schools were more for kids who needed extra attention or had behavioral issues. Was surprised when I got to college and in many places Catholic schools are the best option. In Boston, the best private day schools are definitely the secular Independent School League.
And Iād agree overall MA schools are very good. Sure there are some bad schools/districts but overall all the statistics show the state has the best or amongst the best schools overall.
Yep! And the ISLs are cracking $60K/yr now
I always felt the same way about the catholic schools when I was younger, but more for the kids who were top athletes. My observations were, there was a correlation between those top athletes and a need for extra help academically.
I am generalizing and not basing that off any statistics. Just my own observations.
No kid coming out of Sharon high school was going to get the grooming they needed to be looked at by a D1 football school. Whereas CM, BC High, and Xaverian will give them those opportunities.
Or if your a stud hockey player. Quite the options up this way.
Yes for sure. Those 3 schools above are just some examples of that. Couldnāt agree with you more.
Donāt tell me you went to Sharon High!!? OA grad here! We def arenāt pumping out the athletes!
Haha yes. Hockomock league!
I still go to Easton occasionally for the childrenās museum or if I want to wait 90 minutes for a brunch at the farmers daughters haha
My neighbours used to have couple of nice Swedish au pairs, also
I just moved back to town a couple years ago.
Childrenās museum is terrific. Kids love it.
Farmers daughter is great - but a 2 hr and a quick hundo on bfast is a once in a while treat. Give me Kellyās or stonebridge any day of the week.
Part of the reason Iām moving out of California is so I donāt have to put my kid in LA county public schools. Theyāre a shit show.
I have no issue with public school in general.
Awesome!
Totally agree with you.
We both went to school in NY and came right back to the area. Weāve been in Norfolk the past 5 years but just had an offer accepted in Medfield.
Really love it here and family is close by.
The richest people I know run daycares in Bostonā¦they live on the same street has the Henryās (owners of the Boston Red Sox)