Edit: Also happy to share my experiences in more detail if you are considering this path. My email is in my profile.
[1]http://blog.sfishome.com/san-francisco/san-francisco-public-...
Fortunately, we're able to afford a catholic school.
You probably should have stopped your comment there, then.
> I can't help but chuckle at the irony that you pay a premium...
vs
> I chuckle at the irony that Catholic schools charge a premium...
Unfortunately, there's a lot of inequity. Most suburban districts get 30% more state funding to do things like build olympic swimming pools and buy iPads. The local taxpayers in urban districts like the one I live in get glorified daycare with classes of 30-35 kindergarteners, and we get to fund a parallel charter school system that enriches the bondholders who built the schools.
I'm not the governor, don't serve in the legislature and have limited ability to influence our school board, whose hands are largely tied. My options are: go private, move, or have my child get an inferior education. I have the good fortune to make the choice that I made. If that makes me a poor christian, so be it.
Not at all what I meant. I might do the same in your situation. My comment was merely to point out how backward the situation is. That the intent of religion to unify people regardless of economic status is defied when their educational service requires wealth. And one of the reasons it's a premium service may (arguably) be due to economic exclusion.
I don't blame you one bit for providing your child the best education you can.
My parents were considering it because the school I was supposed to go to was a good 40 minute walk and they didn't provide a bus because we were still within the limit.
Wound up with a city bus pass instead.
They are often one of the only affordable ways to give your child a good education in neighborhoods where the state fails to provide a minimum acceptable public option.