I chickened out on this topic. But Val mentioned "just how toxic the environments at some of these schools are." I'm just chiming in to totally agree and to add that the toxicity is also contagious.

There may be only a smallish subset of parents applying an unwholesome level of pressure/expectation. But the competitiveness it breeds rips through the school system like the worst kind of virus. I don't know if loving, unconditional support is adequate vaccination against it for my son. If not, we'll have to leave for saner pastures. Who knows, though, how you can truly spot where those are.

And for reference on the real estate thing, a modest 4/2 on a larger lot in our neighborhood just sold, in less than a week, for a touch over $6,000,000. You cannot overstate the madness.