Any thoughts about WIS?

[Anonymous]

How would you rank Washington International School with respect to top private schools in the DC area (for instance GDS, Maret or Sidwell) in terms of academic standards? Any thoughts about the rigor of their IB program? How successful is their balance between foreign language immersion and thorough preparation in all subject matters (math and science, English literature and writing, for instance)?

[Anonymous]

I'd love to hear responses on this topic too. Or any info in general on WIS, as we're thinking of applying there next year. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

We have friends who have sent/are sending their children there, and they are happy with the school. The kids who have graduated have gone to first-rate colleges. That said, for these friends, bilingualism is a high priority. It's not for us, and when I toured the school, I came away with the sense that investing that much time and effort in learning a second language required tradeoffs that I personally was not happy with. For ex, they don't have a science lab for the early grades (to the best of my recollection), and more broadly, once they switch to the half-English/half-second languge format, I am skeptical that the instruction in the second language can be as rich as the instruction in English--primarily because most of the kids are never going to have the same fluency in that language as they do in English. Yes, many of the kids end up going to the same colleges as graduates of GDS, Sidwell, etc., but I felt that although the destination is the same, the journey isn't. So we decided not to apply.

(Just to clarify--it's not that I think the academic standards are not rigorous; it's more that I'm concerned about the depth, breadth, and creativity of the instruction.)

[pollyanna]

Anonymous wrote:We have friends who have sent/are sending their children there, and they are happy with the school. The kids who have graduated have gone to first-rate colleges. That said, for these friends, bilingualism is a high priority. It's not for us, and when I toured the school, I came away with the sense that investing that much time and effort in learning a second language required tradeoffs that I personally was not happy with. For ex, they don't have a science lab for the early grades (to the best of my recollection), and more broadly, once they switch to the half-English/half-second languge format, I am skeptical that the instruction in the second language can be as rich as the instruction in English--primarily because most of the kids are never going to have the same fluency in that language as they do in English. Yes, many of the kids end up going to the same colleges as graduates of GDS, Sidwell, etc., but I felt that although the destination is the same, the journey isn't. So we decided not to apply.

(Just to clarify--it's not that I think the academic standards are not rigorous; it's more that I'm concerned about the depth, breadth, and creativity of the instruction.)

I agree with PP. Also if you have access to SAT scores WIS students do not do as well as the other schools mentioned here. We were really attracted to the second language opportunity but in the end decided against WIS for the reasons PP stated.

[Anonymous]

What are the non-international families like at WIS?

Are they generally the type of families that populate the fancy NW privates (wealthy, powerful, etc.)?

[Anonymous]

My 4 year old is in the second year at WIS. Our child loves it. We love it. The teachers and parents are great. Our child seems to be progressing well. What will happen 5 or 10 years down the line? I don't know. But for now both my wife and I think that we could not have made a better choice. Honestly the best people to talk to about WIS are those whose kids go there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are the non-international families like at WIS?

Are they generally the type of families that populate the fancy NW privates (wealthy, powerful, etc.)?

They fit into several broad categories:

1) A few who have a wonderful world view, with a strong interest in foreign languages and cultures.

2) A few who have one parent who is from another country. Not sure if that makes them "non-international," though.

3) A large number who did not get into Beauvoir, Maret, Sidwell, and are now trying to make the best of their disappointment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the non-international families like at WIS?


3) A large number who did not get into Beauvoir, Maret, Sidwell, and are now trying to make the best of their disappointment.

And how well does this work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the non-international families like at WIS?

Are they generally the type of families that populate the fancy NW privates (wealthy, powerful, etc.)?

They fit into several broad categories:

1) A few who have a wonderful world view, with a strong interest in foreign languages and cultures.

2) A few who have one parent who is from another country. Not sure if that makes them "non-international," though.

3) A large number who did not get into Beauvoir, Maret, Sidwell, and are now trying to make the best of their disappointment.

I would add a fourth category: a large number of enlightened and non-parochial parents who elected WIS as their first choice both for its unique academic program AND in order to be at a safe distance from attitudes like that of the previous poster.

[Anonymous]

I don't see World Bank/IMF or diplomatic families in the list. Should add them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the non-international families like at WIS?

Are they generally the type of families that populate the fancy NW privates (wealthy, powerful, etc.)?

They fit into several broad categories:

1) A few who have a wonderful world view, with a strong interest in foreign languages and cultures.

2) A few who have one parent who is from another country. Not sure if that makes them "non-international," though.

3) A large number who did not get into Beauvoir, Maret, Sidwell, and are now trying to make the best of their disappointment.

I would add a fourth category: a large number of enlightened and non-parochial parents who elected WIS as their first choice both for its unique academic program AND in order to be at a safe distance from attitudes like that of the previous poster.

Which previous poster? I was the one who asked how well it works and I'm genuinely curious. Do parents get over wishing their kids were elsewhere and start to love WIS? If not, how does that impact things? Totally didn't mean to sound offensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't see World Bank/IMF or diplomatic families in the list. Should add them.

The PP refered to "non-international" families. Get with the program, sister.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 4 year old is in the second year at WIS. Our child loves it. We love it. The teachers and parents are great. Our child seems to be progressing well. What will happen 5 or 10 years down the line? I don't know. But for now both my wife and I think that we could not have made a better choice. Honestly the best people to talk to about WIS are those whose kids go there.

Fully agree. We are also at our second year at WIS, which has always been our first choice (and not for lack of excellent alternatives: our child was accepted in 8 top private schools). We continue to be impressed with the quality of education and the way in which the curriculum is conceived--not only for the foreign language instruction, which is outstanding, but also for the content in other disciplines. And, as stated by the previous poster, families are also very welcoming and open-minded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 4 year old is in the second year at WIS. Our child loves it. We love it. The teachers and parents are great. Our child seems to be progressing well. What will happen 5 or 10 years down the line? I don't know. But for now both my wife and I think that we could not have made a better choice. Honestly the best people to talk to about WIS are those whose kids go there.

Fully agree. We are also at our second year at WIS, which has always been our first choice (and not for lack of excellent alternatives: our child was accepted in 8 top private schools). We continue to be impressed with the quality of education and the way in which the curriculum is conceived--not only for the foreign language instruction, which is outstanding, but also for the content in other disciplines. And, as stated by the previous poster, families are also very welcoming and open-minded.

Sorry, there simply are not "8 top private schools" in the DC area.

And besides, if you are saying that you turned down Beauvoir, Maret, and Sidwell for WIS, then you are either stretching the truth or out of our mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 4 year old is in the second year at WIS. Our child loves it. We love it. The teachers and parents are great. Our child seems to be progressing well. What will happen 5 or 10 years down the line? I don't know. But for now both my wife and I think that we could not have made a better choice. Honestly the best people to talk to about WIS are those whose kids go there.

Fully agree. We are also at our second year at WIS, which has always been our first choice (and not for lack of excellent alternatives: our child was accepted in 8 top private schools). We continue to be impressed with the quality of education and the way in which the curriculum is conceived--not only for the foreign language instruction, which is outstanding, but also for the content in other disciplines. And, as stated by the previous poster, families are also very welcoming and open-minded.

Sorry, there simply are not "8 top private schools" in the DC area.

And besides, if you are saying that you turned down Beauvoir, Maret, and Sidwell for WIS, then you are either stretching the truth or out of our mind.

PP, why so rude? As long as there are 9+ private schools in DC, 8 of them will be "top." I would say, though, that if WIS was first choice, it would seem like a waste of $ to also apply to B, M and S.