How Strong is Burgundy Farm Country Day Academically?

[Anonymous]

We had fallen in love with BFCD when we heard that the academics are relatively weak compared to the DC privates (NCS, Sidwell, Maret, GDS). Certainly, a number of DCUM posts from bitter-sounding ex-parents suggest that this is the case. As BFCD only goes though grade 8, DC would have to transfer for high school. SSSA, Browne, and Westminster are not good fits.

If you look at BFCD's emissions list, they've had graduates attend a number of the DC privates, including Maret, which would be our top choice. it's hard to believe the academics are that bad, but it's difficult to tell from the outside.

if BFCD is truly as weak as some reports suggest, we would apply to the DC privates. Any ideas on how to verify a school's academic strength or weakness, preferably using more objective standards than parent opinion alone?

[Anonymous]

I am a BFCDS parent and find the academics strong, however, I do think a good indication of the academics is to look at both the high schools and colleges that accept BFDCS students and where alumni attend. I understand that a few ex-parents have recently posted not so positive items on the school, but I have to say the posts do not fair with our family's experiences.

[Anonymous]

I think it sounds like a great school. There was a sweet girl who was in my dd ballet class who goes there..family loved the school so much they they stayed even though they moved to McLean (which would be a tough commute)

[Anonymous]

If you actually look at the numbers for the past few years of their 8th grade grads, you will find that the "largest number" attend TC Williams. (Largest number in quotes because the classes are small sized so a majority may only be 8 -10 students per year). It's hard to say if that is a function of academics or economics.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Not a lot of answers, so I'm "bumping" in the hopes that more will respond. TIA!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Not a lot of answers, so I'm "bumping" in the hopes that more will respond. TIA!

OP what kind of feedback do you want to hear? They will provide your their high school placement stats and you can also get their college stats (where their 8th graders ended up in college).

Burgundy provides appropriate academics but they do not push them. They will allow a lot of creativity in assignments for example. In the early years, JK - 1, the focus in not on academics as much as it is on social and emotional growth.

The kids who graduate go on to standard high schools and colleges. They are not graduating a class full of kids headed to one or two Big 3 schools - they have a handful of kids each year going. The majority are going to public. Their college placements are again very standard and run of the mill schools. I don't personally see any problems with that but if you are looking for a school that is going to push academics, really focus on getting ahead in academics as quickly as possible, Burgundy is going to be a disappointment for you.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks, PP.

What I have heard and read is that grades 2-5 can be very iffy, meaning that kids do not necessarily get strong grounding in reading, writing, and math. Those are pretty important grades and constitute 4 years of an elementary school education. I've also been told MS math is terrible.

We really do not want a pushy academic environment for our child, hence our initial focus on BFCD. We also love BFCD's focus on nature, the environment, and experiential learning. However, we would be concerned if there was no support for DC in "getting ahead" where HE wants to be academically. We want a school that has the resources and teaching acumen to facilitate differentiated instruction while allowing kids to be kids.

When the PP poster says BFCD sends kids on to "standard" high schools and colleges, that's not very encouraging and seems to confirm what we've heard about weak academics at BFCD.

[Anonymous]

Burgundy alumni currently at TC Williams got into GDS, Maret, Potomac and Sidwell. Our families decided on TC for a variety of reasons. Burgundy students who graduated from TC last year went to Duke (TC's salutatorian -- number 2 at the largest public high school in Virginia-- was from Burgundy), Middlebury, Sewanee, and Wesleyan, among others. My point is that many of Burgundy's top students chose to go to TC, and the fact that they go to TC does not mean that they were unable to get into any other schools.

As to whether Burgundy prepares students academically, DC (and at least one other student from Burgundy) is in the top five students in their TC class of over 700 students. And many students who choose to go private also do well; last year's valedictorian at Maret was a Burgundy graduate.

Burgundy is a better environment for self-motivated students. I know several students who wanted to go further in math, and arranged with one of the middle school math teachers to receive additional instruction in the afternoon. Projects are often open-ended, which means that students can make as much or as little of them as they like. If your student requires more direction from teachers, a formal, traditional environment might be better.

[Anonymous]

16:36, Your statement below is helpful.

Burgundy is a better environment for self-motivated students. I know several students who wanted to go further in math, and arranged with one of the middle school math teachers to receive additional instruction in the afternoon. Projects are often open-ended, which means that students can make as much or as little of them as they like.

It suggests that the school does have teachers capable of giving motivated students more advanced instruction, but not necessarily as differentiated instruction within the classroom.

I've been afraid to ask these kinds of questions directly to the administration of Burgundy for fear that I will be labeled a "problem parent." Some of the comments on DCUM suggests that the administration is not very open to questions/suggestions. Parents with kids at Burgundy, what's your experience?

[Anonymous]

Former Burgundy parent here. I am not disgruntled, simply realistic. OP expect no differentiation at Burgundy. It has never been a part of the culture and I wouldn't count on support for independent advanced study as referenced by 16:36, The situation referenced was unique and it has never been a common occurrence. The fact that it was done once doesn't mean that it will be done again. Realistically, Burgundy cannot claim credit for where kids go to college. That is a function of high school. With regard to high school placement, there will be high IQ kids at any school and in any class that will do well no matter where they go to school. These children succeed in spite of Burgundy not because of Burgundy. Burgundy is a really fun, low key environment which is a good fit for some kids, but it is not provide a strong academic environment. It all depends on what you are looking for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had fallen in love with BFCD when we heard that the academics are relatively weak compared to the DC privates (NCS, Sidwell, Maret, GDS). Certainly, a number of DCUM posts from bitter-sounding ex-parents suggest that this is the case. As BFCD only goes though grade 8, DC would have to transfer for high school. SSSA, Browne, and Westminster are not good fits.

If you look at BFCD's emissions list, they've had graduates attend a number of the DC privates, including Maret, which would be our top choice. it's hard to believe the academics are that bad, but it's difficult to tell from the outside.

if BFCD is truly as weak as some reports suggest, we would apply to the DC privates. Any ideas on how to verify a school's academic strength or weakness, preferably using more objective standards than parent opinion alone?

BFCD isn't know for rigorous academics.

I know parents who send their kids there who were pissed to discover they were using the same curriculum as Alexandria City Public Schools (i.e., Everyday Math).

I also know four different ACPS teachers who've told me indepenently that Burgundy Farms students who have transfered into their classrooms have been at least six months behind their peers.

Caveats:

1) This was 2 years ago. Maybe it's different now.

2) I'm not sure that's a bad thing necessarily. I personally like Burgundy Farm's experiential philosophy and wish I could afford to send my children there. I'm not a fan of Drill and Kill that's spillover of NCLB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Burgundy alumni currently at TC Williams got into GDS, Maret, Potomac and Sidwell. Our families decided on TC for a variety of reasons. Burgundy students who graduated from TC last year went to Duke (TC's salutatorian -- number 2 at the largest public high school in Virginia-- was from Burgundy), Middlebury, Sewanee, and Wesleyan, among others. My point is that many of Burgundy's top students chose to go to TC, and the fact that they go to TC does not mean that they were unable to get into any other schools.

This doesn't compute to me. TC is really a very poor school, so the decision to pass over these private schools must be based more on pragmatic factors such as commute or economics than academics (unless there's some cynical calculation that if you survive TC that makes your college application stand out). I mean, if my dd got into Sidwell, I'd take a second job to make that happen.

[Anonymous]

20:51 while you would take a 2nd job to make Sidwell happen it doesn't mean every other family in the same situation would. And we don't know the situation. Do you have children at BFCDS?

20:46 do/did you have children attend BFCDS?

I'm not the OP but would also like to hear from current or recent parents about academics. TIA

[Anonymous]

The reason we chose TC over GDS (that was our top choice) was the commute and the fact that DC wanted a really big, diverse school. We've loved becoming part of the TC community. Second DC does not want such a big school. She isn't into sports, which is a good way to find friends at TC. We are looking at schools in the city for her.

[Anonymous]

What specifically are you interested in knowing about the academics? There is differentiation in the middle school math program. Students are allowed to modify assignments if they wish, but the teachers are not obsessing over giving them super-rigorous assignments. Kids learn to love learning at Burgundy, which most Burgundy families feel is much more important than cramming information.