Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Learning Environments Anyone familiar with "Nobel Learning Communities"

We toured a small private school today that website states:
"Our school is part of Nobel Learning Communities, a network of more than 180 private schools, with a commitment to outstanding preschools and K-12 schools." The principal said a lot of the right things and the school was recommended by someone who works with gifted children, but, it's a private school, and we will be spending what we consider a big sum per month so we really want to know that it will be a better fit than the public school our daughter attends. I have a lot of calls out to parents whose children currently go to the school. Hope someone has heard something about these schools. They are spread across the country.

PS - it was rather odd. My husband and I are both public school people all the way. I was under the impression that private schools would look at the application and then give the hopefuls a call later. This principal, once she heard about our daughter (and her school scores and IQ) about jumped on us. It felt very strange. They also list a tuition of a certain amount on the application, but she said it would be 40% right off the bat. I happen to know that 40% rate is what most people pay. What's that all about? Is that how private schools work?

It is known that at many private colleges below the top tier, very few students pay the list price. It sounds silly to list a price of $50K and give almost everyone a $20K scholarship -- why not charge $30K? But parents and students appear to value the feeling of having won a "scholarship" and the ability to tell their friends that they have done so.

In 2012 JC Penney decided to move away from frequent sales and toward "everyday low prices". The strategy was a disaster, and the CEO who pushed the change was fired. People want to feel that they are buying on sale, even if the net price is high.

A similarly huckster-like sleight of hand applies to the (large) delta between the college list price and the actual price people pay.

A friend of mine's son goes to SIT and pays about 66 cents on the dollar because his son got a 'scholarship'.