How do the *islanders* do it?

Linda from Michigan said:

"I liked the "How do statesiders do it, that's the question I have" comment. I second that one."

Good point, Linda from Michigan.

There are after all, some things about island living that can be less expensive. Case in point (something that was pointed out to me actually, by my Mother-in-Law who lives in the states):

A previous poster said the following with respect to Good Hope, a private school on St. Croix, which she indicated was “the top end of private schools” on the island:

“Kindergarten tuition is $6,500 per year, and it goes up from there. High school is $10,000. There is a slight discount for a second or third child in the same family.”

And then a subsequent poster indicated that perhaps there has been a rate increase of $1000 (or so).

Here are the current tuition rates for Detroit Country Day -- a “top end” private school in the Metropolitan Detroit area:

Kindergarten: $18,260

Grades 1 - 2: $18,260

Grades 3 - 4: $19,060

Grade 5: $20,110

Grades 6 - 8: $21,860

Grades 9 -12: $23,110

Good grief!

I am quite positive that if one compared the two facilities, it would be apples and oranges. The cusomer base up in Met. Detroit would be dissimilar to the school in StX. with a resultant discrepancy in teacher qualifications, experience, electives offered etc.
Country Day is only at the top end of the VI scale - not the US scale.

My 16 year old will be moving down this summer to stay for good. She has opted (her choice based on meeting people from a variety of the schools here) to attend the STx Educational Complex. She feels that she will have no problem being a stateside white girl and feels more comfortable than those kids that go to the private schools. She is no slacker - brains or work ethic - just lives a different life - and understands the financial implications and has friends that go there already.

I feel that after attending complex, she will attend UVI for her first 2 years of college then move on to the college of her choice.

Good morning everyone and happy belated Mother's Day to all the hot mamas on this board!

Some responses:

Before we moved to STT, we lived in the tiny town of Warren, Connecticut and my children attended school in Cornwall. Both towns are located in rural, isolated Litchfield County.

I appreciate your comments coolchica,
"And a note for the woman with young children--bravo! Yes, there are many places stateside where your children can experience diversity, but there is something to be said for your example of fearlessness."

I am pretty fearless, I must admit to that. It's just maintaining the balance between being fearless and making good decisions for my family. My girls definitely know that I am a very strong, independent woman and they know that they can achieve anything that they put their minds to. People thought I was crazy to move down here (no PMV, had never been to STT in my life), but the USVI Dept. of Ed made me a good deal and paid for my plane ticket along with two months rent.

The question about putting my girls in the public high school (and middle school for that matter), is a touchy subject for me. As a long-time proponent of public education and as a public high school teacher I had some difficulty with the decision to put my 13 year old in private school for 7th grade. She has never been very outgoing, she is shy, quiet and keeps to herself. She did attend Sibilly for 2 years and made one really good friend so we decided to send her to the same school where her friend was going. My daughter loves All Saints and I think we will keep her there for the rest of her schooling.

My youngest child is another story. She can mix and mingle with any crowd and is a social butterfly. She can 'code-switch' between Caribbean English and standard English and her best friends are West Indian and Frenchie. I'm not sure what we will do with her. I would have no problem with her attending BCB for middle school and CAHS for high school. She would also have the added advantage of having me at the high school with her, and she is very comfortable on the CAHS campus. As the child of a teacher, you get extra perks-you already know a lot of the teachers in the public school system and they look out for you.

At this point in my life I can only think a month or two ahead of time. I will have to deal with those decisions when the time comes.

As Jane said apples and oranges. Here in Los Angeles we have the Buckley School. Tuition k-5 $23,100.00 5-12 is $26,000.00

Kid go to private school in the VI's to get a good education. Kids go to Buckley to get education, plus.

Thank you for your honesty. I do hope that prospective transplants are paying atttention to this.