Really looking for honest opinion about Sandy Spring Friends School

[Anonymous]

I have a tour coming up and really trying to get a good feel on how strong the school is academy. I really need honest feedback about the upoer school.

[Anonymous]

Why are you looking at it? It seems like a weird school. Try Gonzaga (if a boy) or Visitation (if a girl).

[Anonymous]

My kid is there. I haven't had a kid in any other school so I can't say how it compares academically to others. But my kid is challenged and made to think and write. They sometimes get As and have gotten plenty of Cs despite doing their homework - it isn't a Big-whatever pressure cooker, but just showing up isn't going to get you good grades, either. Kid has liked lots of the teachers and had a few they thought were not good teachers. Has made fabulous friends and plays lots of sports and that keeps them happy.

If your driving goal is the prestige of college admissions I don't think the school will make you happy. (You didn't say anything about college, but often that is what is actually in people's minds when they want to know whether a school's "academics are good".) SSFS will give your kid every opportunity to think and learn deeply, but they aren't going to insist that they do all the things to go to Harvard, either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is there. I haven't had a kid in any other school so I can't say how it compares academically to others. But my kid is challenged and made to think and write. They sometimes get As and have gotten plenty of Cs despite doing their homework - it isn't a Big-whatever pressure cooker, but just showing up isn't going to get you good grades, either. Kid has liked lots of the teachers and had a few they thought were not good teachers. Has made fabulous friends and plays lots of sports and that keeps them happy.

If your driving goal is the prestige of college admissions I don't think the school will make you happy. (You didn't say anything about college, but often that is what is actually in people's minds when they want to know whether a school's "academics are good".) SSFS will give your kid every opportunity to think and learn deeply, but they aren't going to insist that they do all the things to go to Harvard, either.

+1

[Anonymous]

We have only been in the middle school so can’t speak to lower school. I think it’s a wonderful place and would be very desired/competitive if it weren’t so far away. They definitely push the kids but also support where they need it. My kid will finish Geometry by the end of 8th so on par with other schools that can push their math kids. The writing and social studies program is strong, and the electives and clubs built into the day make the school day a little longer but let the kids be exposed to a lot of fun activities and enrichment. The sports are good but not great - it’s not where I’d send my kid if you are looking for an extremely athletic cohort where kids are aiming for D1 schools. Mostly, I love the down to earth vibe and the real feeling of wanting to raise these kids to be kind while also being academically challenged. We have another child at a Big whatever school and the normal was of the families means a lot to us.

[Anonymous]

We’re a new 9th grade family and have had experience with other private schools including another child at a big 3. We love the community at SSFS and the academics are great. Challenging without the 3 or 4 hours of HW that my other DC has at a big 3. But probably not quite the level of difficulty. I feel that the biggest difference is that the material is actually explained vs at the other big 3 where you are expected to figure out the math or science on your own. The teachers are amazing!

[Anonymous]

Do the teachers know when a child is struggling? Alternately, are they open to pushing kids to try harder or is it more easygoing, where they let kids kind of continue on whatever level they are at? (Not coast, but not challenge either)? I have spoken to two families who had kids in upper school and while they really liked the school, they did say they wished it had pushed their kids more (to be fair both kids now doing very well in college)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do the teachers know when a child is struggling? Alternately, are they open to pushing kids to try harder or is it more easygoing, where they let kids kind of continue on whatever level they are at? (Not coast, but not challenge either)? I have spoken to two families who had kids in upper school and while they really liked the school, they did say they wished it had pushed their kids more (to be fair both kids now doing very well in college)

Yes, they absolutely do, and they intervene quickly. Our child had a non-visible (and not mental health) medical issue mid-year, and when she stopped turning in work and not doing well on tests, her teachers were on it, with both her and us. We got plans in place to get back on track, and she finished the year much better than I expected.

As to whether kids are pushed/challenged, I would also say yes. Other kid is the sort who does all the homework but tends to not go above and beyond. I've seen comments on assignments, and it's clear that while he may have done the work, he's not getting full marks without taking it a step further. He's the kid who is absolutely capable of all A's with his full effort, but without that, he has some B's sneaking in here and there.

It isn't an academic pressure cooker, which I appreciate. I don't think high school is a time to be miserable, and it's also not mini-college. My kids will both graduate with about 4 AP classes (only ones that are of interest to them), and they already have better writing skills than a lot of the students that DH sees in graduate school.

In terms of teachers, the strengths tend towards English, languages, history, and arts. Math has been pretty good as well. Science is the area with the most room for improvement - a couple teachers have been great but a few have been decidedly bad. Nice people, just bad at teaching.

College admissions is kind of all over the place, which I think is to be expected. The goal is definitely to find the best fit, not the "best" college possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’re a new 9th grade family and have had experience with other private schools including another child at a big 3. We love the community at SSFS and the academics are great. Challenging without the 3 or 4 hours of HW that my other DC has at a big 3. But probably not quite the level of difficulty. I feel that the biggest difference is that the material is actually explained vs at the other big 3 where you are expected to figure out the math or science on your own. The teachers are amazing!

+1

[Anonymous]

Not sure where all this praise is coming from. I have two kids in US and the academics are not challenging for high achieving kids. Also that course options are quite minimal. If you’re interested in an art degree maybe it’s okay, but any kind of stem future this school has no where near the array of options schools that are similarly (or lower) priced have. The only leveling possible is in Math. Nothing else differentiates between students which means they really only have each to the middle. Academic excellence is not celebrated either as the school is more likely to promote the athletics. Discipline is also an issue, as nothing is addressed by the school. They will have their 4th US head in as many years, and the new person is being promoted from within because the head of school knows he’ll never attract outside talent at this point. The person being promoted doesn’t even have a degree with any kind of education or teaching background. She was the MS secretary just a few years ago. If you’re looking for academic or career teaching innovations you won’t it here. If your child is average and is not looking for a real challenge or just wants to focus on sports this may be okay. Teachers are not bad but the administration is really inept. We liked the MS here and really wished before we hit the hot mess that is the US. While the building is beautiful, what goes on inside is nothing great. We finally decided this is ridiculous as so much better is available for cheaper and are headed to a school that has way more to offer (for $10K cheaper!).

[Anonymous]

I agree with the previous post. Academics here is not a focus. Some of the earlier posts read like they were written by the marketing department. The US used to have an academic dean who was hired under the previous head to revamp the curriculum but quit under the current head cause he does not care to emphasize academics. It’s really just ok for average students who want to get through. Some of the teachers are good but the program is subpar. Just not worth the rate they charge.

[Anonymous]

With the 4th US head in as many years, now is not the time to start in that US. It will need time to become stable and then decide if it’s worth it now as it was years ago. Wait and see.

[Anonymous]

My son has been in their lower school for 3 years, and we have had 3 heads of LS in that time, with the current head just resigning this year. 5 teachers also resigned this year. There is a culture issue and low morale with the staff, which I believe stems from top leadership/admin. There is also no STEM program in the lower school and academic rigor is not a focus. The art program is amazing and we love all the outdoor space for recess and nature walks, which is great for younger kids, but could not justify paying the tuition just for those things. Our son is going to MCPS for 4th and 5th. Maybe if SSFS addresses their systemic issues and teacher morale we will be back in middle school. Right not way too much uncertainty for us to stay.

[Anonymous]

I can only speak to our experience in 9th grade, which has been incredibly positive. Challenging yet manageable, great group of kids. My kids loves their teachers and classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can only speak to our experience in 9th grade, which has been incredibly positive. Challenging yet manageable, great group of kids. My kids loves their teachers and classes.

+1. We’re another 9th grade family. Incredibly positive experience so far. Amazed at how great the school has been, both the community and the teachers. Even administrators have been great, much to the chagrin of a few unhappy posters. We have even had administrators call us at home to check on DC when they were out for a medical issue. Truly blessed to have found this underrated gem.