Truly challenging private schools in NoVA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have two kids at the most sought after AAP center in FCPS. The work is challenging and the teachers are wonderful, but the program is still not right for kids with very high IQs. My kids (WISC scores of 144 and 148) are still just being pushed to memorize and calculate and are drowning in homework, there is no room for higher thinking or reasoning and no room for their endless creativity and crazy passions.

If you simply have a high acheiving student that can work at a fast pace, its great, but if your child is highly capable an out of the box thinker, it may not be the best fit. We are looking at Howard Gardner and The New School for next year.

I agree -- finally someone says it. I felt the work was just being crammed in to my DS. He was making all As in FCPS, but so are/were 30% of the class. If 30% of the class are "excelling" that means a certain number are just waiting around. The busy/work homework was a joke also. In private school, he says much more in depth in Math. "At FCPS the teachers just threw it at us, work sheet after work sheet. I just filled them out and got my 100%. Now I understand what Math much better" It has been wonderful to see the joy of learning come back to my student after years of the glazed eyes. Nice to not be worrying all the time, either. He is not a super high IQ kid.

Quoted pp here. May I ask where your ds is now?

[Anonymous]

Flint Hill in Oakton. It is more challenging than posters say it is, at least in MS. He is a smart kid, just not 140+ IQ (his aunt is).

[Anonymous]

I was just looking at their website earlier today. How's the homework load? I have a 4th grader and a 6th grader.

[Anonymous]

My DS is loving SSSAS. IQ over 140. So far so good.
It's not just about advanced math or science. A school needs to foster intellectual curiosity and an excitement surrounding learning, even for the smart kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS is loving SSSAS. IQ over 140. So far so good.
It's not just about advanced math or science. A school needs to foster intellectual curiosity and an excitement surrounding learning, even for the smart kids.

And to me, SSSAS fosters more love for and excitement for lacrosse and other sports.

Look at the stats at SSSAS on NMSF versus other area "elite" schools. Shocking difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which Trinity?
Holy Trinity?
Trinity Christian?
Trinity in Falls Church?

Trinity christian

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS is loving SSSAS. IQ over 140. So far so good.
It's not just about advanced math or science. A school needs to foster intellectual curiosity and an excitement surrounding learning, even for the smart kids.

And to me, SSSAS fosters more love for and excitement for lacrosse and other sports.

Look at the stats at SSSAS on NMSF versus other area "elite" schools. Shocking difference.

shocking good or shocking bad?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS is loving SSSAS. IQ over 140. So far so good.
It's not just about advanced math or science. A school needs to foster intellectual curiosity and an excitement surrounding learning, even for the smart kids.



And to me, SSSAS fosters more love for and excitement for lacrosse and other sports.

Look at the stats at SSSAS on NMSF versus other area "elite" schools. Shocking difference.





Yes, but the PSAT is a bubble test, so - while certainly prestigious if you are recognized as an NMSF, that doesn't indicate a necessarily creative or incisive - just a good test taker.

[Anonymous]

Ssas has way too much emphasis on sports for my taste. I have a non-athlete and an upper level gymnast. We have no need for school sports.

[Anonymous]

Agreed. And their college admissions stats are less than super-impressive. Top DC schools beat them by a mile. Most of their students who get into top schools do so through athletic recruiting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was just looking at their website earlier today. How's the homework load? I have a 4th grader and a 6th grader.

Homework increases considerably from 4th to 6th grade. About an hour for 4th grade, considerably more for 6th graders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was just looking at their website earlier today. How's the homework load? I have a 4th grader and a 6th grader.

Homework increases considerably from 4th to 6th grade. About an hour for 4th grade, considerably more for 6th graders.

That's really not attractive at all. ES kids shouldn't be spending that much time on homework.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was just looking at their website earlier today. How's the homework load? I have a 4th grader and a 6th grader.

Homework increases considerably from 4th to 6th grade. About an hour for 4th grade, considerably more for 6th graders.

That's really not attractive at all. ES kids shouldn't be spending that much time on homework.

I agree. Are there schools that seriously limit the amount of homework before Middle school? You would think that since they are free from the SOL testing constraints, there would be a better way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was just looking at their website earlier today. How's the homework load? I have a 4th grader and a 6th grader.

Homework increases considerably from 4th to 6th grade. About an hour for 4th grade, considerably more for 6th graders.

That's really not attractive at all. ES kids shouldn't be spending that much time on homework.

I agree. Are there schools that seriously limit the amount of homework before Middle school? You would think that since they are free from the SOL testing constraints, there would be a better way.

Do people who hate homework at least agree their kids should be reading on their own at home a lot? (so, anti-worksheet but still want their kids to read for fun and not just play video games be on Facebook?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was just looking at their website earlier today. How's the homework load? I have a 4th grader and a 6th grader.

Homework increases considerably from 4th to 6th grade. About an hour for 4th grade, considerably more for 6th graders.

That's really not attractive at all. ES kids shouldn't be spending that much time on homework.

I agree. Are there schools that seriously limit the amount of homework before Middle school? You would think that since they are free from the SOL testing constraints, there would be a better way.

Do people who hate homework at least agree their kids should be reading on their own at home a lot? (so, anti-worksheet but still want their kids to read for fun and not just play video games be on Facebook?)

My kids read all the time. At least an hour a day, and a lot more on the weekends. I never have to ask them to read. But at age 8, after school time should be for sports and romping around the yard and family time. Not for more of what they just had 7 hours of.