Tag: t_SDXQ

mount`pressure{U.S.home budget #index page

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This is a master index page …

SDXQ #Junli chat #2

Posted on by tiger40490

National school ranking is fairly reliable. You can cross check a few websites such as schooldigger.com.

Junli pointed out the enrichment programs might be much more available in good school districts. One of the enrichment programs might be important to your kid.

 

DeepakG@学区房pressure: yourself(!!peer pressure)=the issue

Posted on by tiger40490

The strain + pain I feel due to SDXQ

  • higher price tag -> heavier mortgage
  • longer commute -> less time for family or rest
  • or both

I complained about peer pressure. It’s real. I can imagine that “most” [1] of my Chinese and Indian peers live in top school districts and send their kids to good schools there. I feel poor as a parent if my kids don’t go to some school in a good school district, whereas the kids of my peers do.

Paradoxically, if my kids can’t compete in a top school and transfer to a regular school in a good school district, I won’t feel the guilt. That particular guilt is about providing enough for my kids — Real peer pressure. Then Deepak raised Point #1 why don’t you care about the serious peer advice that you should not live away from family? Strangely, I have a robust defense against the “family separation” accusation and peer pressure. But why am I defenseless against the “school district” peer pressure? Because deep in my psyche, I still believe a decent school is a probably necessity for my kids.

If the regular U.S. schools are as lousy as I feared in my subconscious, then my kids can stay in Singapore schools.

When I feel the unwanted pressure to buy a school district house, I immediately blame the peer pressure but actually the key is my mentality.

[1] https://tanbinvest.dreamhosters.com/2017/07/14/shades-of-grey-peers-owning-sd/

 

 

top SDXQ: 1st impression #May2017

Posted on by tiger40490

The good public schools have more funding thanks to pTax, more extra-curriculum programs, but more importantly …. the fellow students are presumably more serious, more disciplined, even if they don’t yet show “self-direction”. Family upbringing is the neighborhood is the key factor in my view.

The higher academic standard is, in my view, a by-product of the school culture (校风). I am not sure if the innate talent of students are higher in a good public school vs a regular school. But if students work harder (mostly due to parents’ effort) for many years, they will be able to learn faster, absorb more and tackle higher academic challenges. The stronger foundation and study habits make them more capable learners, even if they weren’t more intelligent in the beginning. I blogged about this in https://1330152open.wordpress.com/2016/08/16/roller-coaster-academic-competition/

SDXQ,charter,catholic schools…

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In this country, clearly rich students enjoy better education. I wish that we parents don’t need to care about the different schools and let the “opamp” operate in whatever environment there is, but reality is, all the Chinese parents I know seem to choose good school districts.

Tim Yao (parent of 2 Catholic school students) said Catholic schools are much more strict than public schools. He felt physical safety is a top concern — drugs, sex and guns are common in public high schools, though some students are fine.

In terms of academic and discipline levels, I feel many of the middle class families choose good school districts or private schools, so the remaining students would have an average standard below the national average.

The Young security guard told me private schools are known to be much stricter. If you don’t put in effort and perform badly you could be kicked out. Teachers are on top of students.

k-8 schools in
avg school districts		 k-8 schools in
GOOD school districts		 high schools in
GOOD school districts		 Catholic private schools charter schools
home prices
+ pTax		 affordable considered a financial investment no pattern no pattern
annual fee free free free for eg 10k+ free
extra-curriculum LG2 more possibly more possibly more
funding hopefully sufficient more than avg school districts more than public schools no pattern
fellow students below average probably more academic even stronger as other families move over possibly more disciplined more selective at the popular schools
discipline, control presumably too loose presumably more. Comparable to discipline in private schools could be more strict
competition presumably low higher might be too competitive
for some students
class size  NYC tend to be bad sometimes smaller sometimes smaller

##frugal living]branded SDXQs

Posted on by tiger40490

If school district becomes a real requirement, we could consider

1st look: good SDXQ, private schools(le2Alok

Posted on by tiger40490

Hey Alok,

My landlord has a son in a private high school, in the last year. I spoke to this lad — talented and very bright. I said most students there are rich. He said his son doesn’t come from a rich family but these schools have grants to take in academically outstanding students, like his son.

I said some parents buy an expensive house in a top school district, but he feels private schools are still better. He said the teacher/student ratio is much higher and distractions much lower. He said if you are the academic type in a (average) public school, you will be called a nerd (by your peers?) and likely lose your motivation.

He emphasized over and again, that despite these external factors, student’s motivation is ultimately the key. His son is motivated.

I feel if I have enough financial resources I may still choose a top school district, since my property would appreciate. However, if my son suffers in his school then I would consider a private high school, provided I can afford it.

My recent view favors private high school — https://tanbinvest.dreamhosters.com/2017/07/20/private-high-schoollow-cost-area-like-bayonne/

Another friend said good schools offer additional programs not available in the average schools. I can only guess — perhaps these are extra-curriculum programs. If the student struggles academically and misses out on these programs, then it’s kind of wasted. The best match would be a student with adequate academic abilities (not necessarily top of the school) and with spare capacity to experience the additional learning opportunities.

NJ SDXQ ranking – Alok

Posted on by tiger40490

https://www.niche.com/k12/rankings/public-school-districts/best-overall/s/new-jersey/

Ranking is more about school culture, student attitude, rather than grades, which depend heavily on the individual.

[‎5/‎4/‎2017 3:49 PM] Garg, Alok:

in new york, i have heard of few very neglected schools in Bronx etc but new jersey in general is not that difference but people just get picky to feel good about paying attention to kids i guess.

[‎5/‎4/‎2017 3:59 PM] Garg, Alok:

actually, as long as school has enough programs to keep kids busy, i would consider it good.. after that, its up to parents and PTA to participate and help make their kids experience even better

[‎5/‎4/‎2017 4:08 PM] Garg, Alok:

actually i dont think school ratings tell the academic strength of kids of the region as many parents can even choose to homeschool their kids and still have kids who get straight As.

[‎5/‎4/‎2017 5:01 PM] Garg, Alok:

400k 0.5 acre plot with 3-4 rooms house , parking and basement. 2 floor house I guess

SDXQ i.e. school district #Junli chat #1

Posted on by tiger40490

For some buyers, I feel school district is more about appreciation than education env, and least about uni admission.

  • XR said some families actually rent a home in a good school district in order to enroll the kids in the local high school.
  • Chen Yuan did that in Mar, 6M in advance.
  • Bill (ICE) also suggested renting in a school district
  • Junli said you can even get a friend (XR?) to help you fake it.

Good school districts have affluent families, so general house valuation is higher. For my limited budget, I would end up with

  • small house
  • low RD
  • long commute
  • CC not superior
  • higher pTax rate (about half go towards school district) as rent to hold this investment

The effect of the “top high school” on kids is … multifaceted.

  • Joe’s son said private school pressure is too high, so he used drugs!
  • Yes the fellow students tend to be motivated, since the families in the district are richer.
  • Don’t count on the school district to improve the chance of entering a top uni!
  • If you are in a top high school (in a good school district), but not in the top 25%, it may Not help you get into a top uni. Junli agreed. Junli shared that some Chinese parents transfer to a less competitive school, so the child can become top and has a higher chance to enter a top uni. On the other hand, Junli also said the top high schools are well-known nationally, and possibly receive “preferential treatment” by the top unis.
  • I also shared with Junli that the Asian students’ lead in high school doesn’t last beyond high school.
  • See the post about ECA offered by top schools (Junli said these are important to uni admission)

[17]毕业以来第一次感到钱不够 #SDXQ

Posted on by tiger40490

我生活极其节俭．太太也很勤俭．有了两个孩子，在新加坡我一人的收入也足够一家人的开销．经常能剩 30% – 50%. 但是2017 这次赴美，好像毕业以来第一次感到钱不够．存款和收入都是．这个感觉, 出现在选择哪个区买房的时候!

以前我一直相信, 房子小,比较旧的蓝领劳动阶层地区, 就避免房价问题了. 但是, 我想尽办法仍旧不可回避一个问题, 就是这样的地区学校可能不够好, 甚至太差.