re: Private school in Baton Rouge versus public in Ascension

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Thee "good" public schools are still teaching to a standard of approaching basic. They may have good scores, but don't equate that to a good education. A good public school means most of the kids can read at almost the appropriate level.

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WTF are you talking about? The good schools have the vast majority of kids at Basic (which is like a C) or above.

The honor students are all much higher than basic.

My wife and I went to public school in EBR. Our moms are retired EBR teachers. I didn’t have a big issue with using the public schools in Ascension but my wife wanted a Catholic education for our kids.

I am not a baller and don’t think i’ll Have kids. If I did, I would likely send them to public so I can save that money for college instead

I always felt education starts at home. If you are an involved parent, kids will be ok. I don’t have kids though so my opinion may not be worth much

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Thee "good" public schools are still teaching to a standard of approaching basic. They may have good scores, but don't equate that to a good education. A good public school means most of the kids can read at almost the appropriate level.

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This!

I see way too many “honor roll” bumper stickers in LP and AP which tells me that those schools are in no way challenging. When I was in school—went to parochial K-12–it was actually an honor and an accomplishment to be on the honor roll. Now not so much. They’re definitely way better than EBR public schools but they have to cater to the masses; therefore, the curriculum is dumbed down. You definitely get what you pay for.

I’m not saying that kids from public schools can’t be successful but there’s definitely no comparison in regards to the level of education between public and private.

I can tell you from direct experience the difference.

Had 3 kids in Ascension public, and now have 3 kids in BR private.

The ONLY REASON we moved is because my kids were not learning enough at their previous school.

My kids are legit geniuses... chips off the old block. And like most public schools, they were taken advantage of by being at the top of their classes. No challenges for them, no pushing them to their limits.....in fact they were often made to help the other students who were falling behind.

Now, is it worth $50k a year ? For many that obviously varies on your financials. For us, it is a no brainer. Please note, I am by nature cheap as frick, and despite the incredible cost --- I feel it has been worth it. They teach more then just your basic reading and writing. They teach life lessons as well.

25 per class versus 15 -- this is huge.
Resources like you could not believe.
GREAT TEACHERS who are happy with their career choice -- utterly priceless.
Did I mention the resources? I went to a middle school play --- and I shite you not, it felt like a bigger and better production then when I was forced to go watch something at the Baton Rouge Little Theater.

Additionally, and not to make this too political, but the Ascension schools try to keep information away from the parents. My kids were not allowed to bring work home. Everything that was taught was to stay at school. We did not like this at all. We now have at least an hour of homework per night -- versus none -- and we wouldn't have it any other way.

TLDR - There is without question a difference in the quality. Please note - I have no problem with the previous school my children were at -- it was a good school -- this one is just a lot better.

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Ascension schools try to keep information away from the parents. My kids were not allowed to bring work home. Everything that was taught was to stay at school. We did not like this at all. We now have at least an hour of homework per night -- versus none -- and we wouldn't have it any other way.

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Which school(s) did your children attend? Our daughter has homework or studying nearly every night, and an agenda listing homework for each subject that has to be signed by the parents daily. They also have an app to inform parents of assignments due, etc. She’s at Oak Grove.

Responding to the OP, where you live in Ascension makes a huge difference in your commute. I used to live off of 42, and commuted to BR. It sucked a ton. Now, I live off of Old Perkins, which easily shaved 20 minutes off of my commute.

Our kid will go to Oak Grove (Bullion next year if she wasn’t finishing) - Prairieville Middle - Dutchtown.

I didn’t attend private school, nor is our child, so I don’t have strong opinions about private. Like public schools, they aren’t all great. I’d send my kid to a lot of BR public schools before I’d send her to Hosanna or whatever.