Amid Recession, Parents Sticking With Ross School

Nurturing. Eclectic. Cerebral. Global.

These are words used by parents of students to describe the private, independent school with campuses in East Hampton and Bridgehampton.

And as a recovery to a prolonged economic downturn lingers on, it's concepts and feelings like those, which are in turn handed down to their children, that are continuing to gather parents' support despite the price tag - which could eclipse $50,000 for a high school student and near $20,000 for nursery school students.

"As a parent, there isn't much more you could ask for then to have your son or daughter saying, 'Yes, I'm going to school today!' That's a big deal," said Miche Bacher, who sends her two sons, ages 13 and 14, to Ross.

Bacher praised the staff at Ross much like other parents interviewed. Calling education an extremely personal and particular choice for each individual, she credited faculty for "embracing" particularly her older son and allowing him to grow into his own.

She admits her younger would probably be well off in many learning environments, though at this point in time, what's best for the family is best for the kids.

Not that it's easy, by any stretch.

"To be honest, we have as a family had to sacrifice in a large way," she said. "That doesn't go for everybody, but for us, we've sacrificed vacations, new upgrades in terms of this, that and other things. We're more careful and conscious, and this is the choice we're making."

It's a choice Ross' Head of Schools, Michele Claeys, said more parents are making, despite the challenges the costs may incur. Ross graduated its biggest class this spring, with 60 students. 

And as the school celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, Cleays said the school's reputation is growing and maturing to the point that donors are realizing the potential in giving to Ross School's mission of helping form "thoughtful, articulate, interested, global citizens," as Cleays said.

The first graduating class just marked its 10th year out of school.

"When people are limiting their philanthropy, I think they want to make education a priority," Cleays said, adding that fund-raising efforts have required a little more work in the past couple of years.

In June, the at its big fundraiser for scholarships.

"And we're fortunate that people identify Ross as a worthy educational institution."

Ross has tried to do its part by keeping tuition increases below the National Association of Independent Schools average over the past two years, with jumps of 3.08 and 3.56 percent, respectively. And financial aid increased from 9 percent of expenses to 15 percent of school expenses from 2008-2009 to 2009-2010.

But for parents, hitting tuition payments remains a challenge. 

"For me, it's a little tough," said Southampton resident Paul Hoffman, who sends his 4-year-old daughter to Ross. Hoffman is in the building business, so business has picked up recently, he said.

"But it's a priority. I'm like the guy who maybe rents an apartment but owns a Ferrari, because that's a priority to him," he said. "If I had to take her out, I don't think there's anything wrong with the public schools. But I hope I don't have to."

George Costello, a North Fork resident, sends his youngest daughter, sixth grader Emily, to Ross. He said some of Emily's friends are not going back next year because the families "can't hold on any longer."

Costello said the "incredible learning environment" was what drew he and his wife to send their daughter to Ross two years ago. And he's going to hold on as long as he can to send her there.

"At the time we first sent her there, we could afford it," he said. "But we'll see how it goes. We'll see how the economy goes."