Private/ Catholic School Mom's a few questions

We are considering Private or Catholic School for our DS in the future. Where does your child go? How do you like the school? Do they follow Common Core and what testing do they do? If you are comfortable, what is the tuition? Thank you so much for your help in advance. If not comfortable but willing to share please fm mail. Thanks again

Message edited 3/19/2014 3:46:51 PM.

Re: Private/ Catholic School Mom's a few questions

DS went to nursery school at a Catholic School. We decided that we are going to use our public school for elementary because the cost is just way too much for us. We aren't religious people either so it did not make a lot of sense. Honestly, my feeling is I want to use public school if I can and only spend money in the older grades if there becomes an issue with quality of education, bullying/bad kids. DH and I are both products of public school and feel we did just fine.

Re: Private/ Catholic School Mom's a few questions

Posted by bookgirl1017

We are considering Private or Catholic School for our DS in the future. Where does your child go? How do you like the school? Do they follow Common Core and what testing do they do? If you are comfortable, what is the tuition? Thank you so much for your help in advance. If not comfortable but willing to share please fm mail. Thanks again

Message edited 3/19/2014 7:35:54 PM.

Re: Private/ Catholic School Mom's a few questions

Posted by CunningOne

Posted by bookgirl1017

We are considering Private or Catholic School for our DS in the future. Where does your child go? How do you like the school? Do they follow Common Core and what testing do they do? If you are comfortable, what is the tuition? Thank you so much for your help in advance. If not comfortable but willing to share please fm mail. Thanks again

My kids go to our local parish Catholic school. I couldn't be happier! They are both excelling and doing great. Yes, they do follow Common Core and the principal started implementing it a year or two before it was mainstream, so the older kids didn't get too lost. My kids are younger, in 2nd and 4th grade.

As far as testing, they only do state tests for 4th, 6th and 8th grade. And of course, every October they take the Iowa tests (although I don't think they are called that anymore).

Tuition varies. Catholic school tuition is much more reasonable that private or Independent schools (like Friends, East Woods, Greenvale, Holy Child, etc)....But the tuition for Catholic schools will also vary depending on the school, parish and subsidies. Some have parish rates (if you belong to church and contribute) vs. non-parish rates. And some schools discount for additional siblings in the school.

On average, I'd say one kids is $5K. Some schools have tuition info on their websites, some don't. Not sure where you are located, but here's a link to all the Catholic schools:

Catholic schools links

Re: Private/ Catholic School Mom's a few questions

My dds go to catholic school in queens yes they follow common core, I believe all catholic schools do, private I don't know also tests are 4,6,8. In oct 3-8 takes the itbs-terra nova standardized test
Tuition for one I believe is around 5000 for 2 it's 6350

We r very happy with our school they r only in ore I but from what I have seen they will be staying

Message edited 3/20/2014 10:24:16 AM.

Private/ Catholic School Mom's a few questions

I'm in NJ and the average for Catholic school is about 4500k per kid and you get a discounted rate if you enroll more than one kid. My school offers a parish discount and I saved about 500 bucks. I just had to enroll in the parish and give a donation to the church twice a year. Not all schools have that option. Private schools I've researched were really expensive, upwards of 10k a year.

I decided to put my DS in catholic school mainly because missed the kindergarten cutoff by 2 weeks in my town. I'm very happy with his school and he is has learned and matures so much in the past 6 months. He had no formal pre-k so it amazing to see where he is at now and how much he has caught up. They do follow Common Core and the NJ public school curriculum in addition to the requirements set forth by the w archdiocese.

Terra Nova tests starts in 3rd grade. I heard that it has changed this year from previous and follows CC model. So I'm interested to see how it has effected my niece. She goes to catholic school as well and took the exams last Week.

It's a great school, so I will he keeping him in it. Also after further research, the public schools in my town are not great.

Eta: I went to public school all my life and flourished even though some were not so great. I just felt this school was better for my child and as of now (knock on wood) I can afford it.

Message edited 3/20/2014 10:35:15 AM.

Re: Private/ Catholic School Mom's a few questions

DS went to catholic kindergarten at Holy Family in Commack. I have nothing but good things to say about our experience there. We went for only 1 year because DS too missed the cut off for kindergarten in our district by 20 days and we KNEW he was ready academically and socially for kindergarten so we sent him there. He is now in first grade in public school.

They do follow common core but I think the implementation is alittle slower than the public schools.

We switched to public schools because in the end we live in a pretty good district and pay alot in taxes for that SD. So we thought why not give it a try. We told DS if he didnt like it by November, we would switch him back to catholic school...however he is IN LOVE with his school.

I think we paid about $4600 for the year but I think tuition went up this year over $5K but I dont know the exact cost.

ETA: About the tuition it goes up less per child...meaning it maybe $5K for 1 child but its say $8 for 2kids etc...(#s are just for example) at least this is how Holy Family was structured!

Message edited 3/20/2014 11:13:59 AM.

Private/ Catholic School Mom's a few questions

DD is in private school on LI. They do not follow common core teaching methodology. However, the standards for achievement for each grade level exceed common core standards. The tuition is much higher than Catholic school rates.

Re: Private/ Catholic School Mom's a few questions

Re: Private/ Catholic School Mom's a few questions

Posted by CunningOne

Posted by bookgirl1017

We are considering Private or Catholic School for our DS in the future. Where does your child go? How do you like the school? Do they follow Common Core and what testing do they do? If you are comfortable, what is the tuition? Thank you so much for your help in advance. If not comfortable but willing to share please fm mail. Thanks again

My kids go to our local parish Catholic school. I couldn't be happier! They are both excelling and doing great. Yes, they do follow Common Core and the principal started implementing it a year or two before it was mainstream, so the older kids didn't get too lost. My kids are younger, in 2nd and 4th grade.

As far as testing, they only do state tests for 4th, 6th and 8th grade. And of course, every October they take the Iowa tests (although I don't think they are called that anymore).

Tuition varies. Catholic school tuition is much more reasonable that private or Independent schools (like Friends, East Woods, Greenvale, Holy Child, etc)....But the tuition for Catholic schools will also vary depending on the school, parish and subsidies. Some have parish rates (if you belong to church and contribute) vs. non-parish rates. And some schools discount for additional siblings in the school.

On average, I'd say one kids is $5K. Some schools have tuition info on their websites, some don't. Not sure where you are located, but here's a link to all the Catholic schools:

Catholic schools links