We (parents) are a product of both public and private schooling. Our children previously attended FCPS and now have been at Flint Hill School for many years.
First of all FFX Underground may not be the best source for information about private schools. Comments about the Headmaster and the sports teams are just totally off base and incorrect. Besides, it is not just the sports 'winning' -- it is the team plus individual experience and effort that makes for a superb development and learning experience.
Since I have the experience and insider perspective I can fully agree with the previous post on the major benefits of FHS. The whole culture and philosophy of the school is 100% driven towards student success and achievement. Excellence is taught, and excellence is expected. The faculty and the curriculum are just outstanding. They are really into each of the kids, and they do many individual things to help reach and motivate the children to learn (and kids have different ways of learning -- teachers are very attuned to that).
The classroom experiences are absolutely innovative and educational. The children do not just read about Indians living in our nation before other settlers and religion came. A native Virginia Indian tribe sets up a teepee on campus and they experience it in real life. The children even take time with mallets to help carve out a wooden dugout canoe! That is real learning.
In 3rd grade they actually had the students decide on a product to make and sell and 100% literally run their own business. They earned a unit of money in class for good achievements. Then they spent the money to make their product, market their product, price the product, have a cash register to provide change. They got to count their own profits after all of their expenses and sales. My son better appreciates what is truly happening every time he sees something for sale in a store. What an outstanding real-life lesson!
And FHS has rolled out technology in an educational way to all students in all grade levels, as recently profiled in the Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/high-tech-vs-no-tech-dc-area-schools-take-opposite-approaches-to-education/2012/05/12/gIQAv6YFLU_story.html
It is amazing to see your son or daughter driving a multimedia presentation from a PC onto a large whiteboard -- with all of it featuring their own work from the previous months (their own math papers, writing papers, spelling papers, art work, music class videos, and special projects).
No question FCPS is one of the top public school systems in the nation. Despite a number of issues in general your kids will receive a good mainline education there.
But there is no question that an 18 to 1 ratio is a much better teaching and learning environment. Plus FHS has special programs and specialists in each grade and class to provide differential education -- children ready for a little more advanced curriculum and coursework and content will get it. Children a little behind the curve in a certain subject will get the extra attention they need. This reality is one of the most important considerations and benefits to us as parents.
Yes tuition costs are upwards of $30K. Do you get what you pay for? Well consider that over 700 local families with over 1,000 pre-K thru 12th grade children have aid yes to FHS and continue to say yes every year. You only have one chance to give your children the best K-12 education that you can. If you want this, and you are willing to sacrifice or reprioritize some other things to afford it, you will have made an excellent decision for your child.
Several years back there were some upper schoolers from some 'prominent' families who committed a major rules infraction. They were all expelled from school -- that type of conduct will just not be tolerated and everyone knows it. Frankly, 99% of the parents agreed with that type of expectation, leadership and decision making in this particular situation. And to those who say 'well the high schoolers just made a mistake' the expelled kids could re-apply for admission after a year went by and assuming they had done something to address the core problems. [Again -- this was a significant infraction].
You really need to attend a Flint Hill School open house and see more for yourself. Go on campus and meet the administrators, visit the classrooms and music and art labs, and speak with the teachers and students.