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Field School?
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Anonymous
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Just total random curiosity: I drive regularly by this school's lovely building, and it occurs to me that I never hear anything about it in this forum--even searching the archives doesn't bring up much. Is this a school for special needs? Is it a last resort type of school? What is it and why is it never mentioned? Like I said, I'm really just curious. Thanks.
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Anonymous
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I *think* it emphasizes the arts more than some other independent upper schools in DC.
Also, someone in admissions at Lowell told me that several of their graduates go to on to Field. |
Anonymous
| It's a great school; it probably isn't discussed much here because it starts at 7th grade, I believe. One of my colleague's kid goes there and they are very happy with it. |
Anonymous
| I had a post-college boyfriend who went to Field (back when it was in Kalorama) and then to Williams for college. He was very intelligent, an amazing writer, and nice guy. My imporessions of it are from him and, based on that, I am impressed. I also met some of his high-school friends who were also back in Washington and they seemed smart and accomplished. I don't know if it would be the right school for my son or daughter but the right kid flourishes there. |
Anonymous
| I've heard good things. |
Anonymous
| I've heard it's great for musically gifted children. |
Anonymous
| Is it changing though? Getting tougher academically? |
maynie
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| My friend went to this school after Burgundy. I don't know if it was because of the school but she turned out great. Sher graduated in '99, continued on to get her masters and is now teaching. Definitely a good school. |
Anonymous
It has long been considered a school for those NW families that could not get into GDS or Maret, or could not find placement after graduating from schools like Sheridan or Capitol Hill Day School. It was also known as a haven for kids with special issues, be it different learning styles or behavioral issues. In this day and age of hyper-competititive admissions, this is changing quite a bit, and with the quality of the families/students now attending, and the beautiful surroundings, it is gaining traction within the private school obsessed. |
Anonymous
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14:17 Wow, not my impression of Field at all. As I understand it, Field is a very progressive academic atmosphere and a school that fosters great student involvement in their educational experience (think along the lines of Oberlin or Hampshire College).
It is certainly not for everyone; kids must be independent and self-motivated thinkers. Is isn't a school "for special needs students," although again as I understand it they certainly wouldn't (nor should they) turn away a child that thrive in that type of atmosphere because of an issue as long as the school has the resources to deal with the particular challenge. The progressive environment does allow for a lot of differentiation in the classroom, and perhaps that is why the PP said it is great for kids with different learning styles. But all kids, not just special needs kids, are inclined toward certain learning styles (e.g., some kids are better auditory learners; some visual). That's why a school with abilities to differentiate within the classroom are great. In terms of why you don't hear about it much, I would guess it is because people aren't as obsessed about it as much as Sidwell, GDS, Maret. You also don't hear much about Burke, another progressive school. A lot of people just aren't into that type of education here in the DC area. Yes, GDS is considered "progressive" by many, but progressive and traditional are on a continuum. Field and Edmund Burke would fall at a different point than GDS. And I doubt many parents hooked on Sidwell and other more traditional schools would give even a second thought to Field. I only know what I hear from a cousin of mine who has a daughter and son there, and she gushes about it. Sure, it has its issues like every other school, but I know from discussions that it's not just a place where people go because they can't get in anywhere else. (She would have told me. I know all about the difficulty her son had getting into the college and how he ended up at his third choice. He graduated from a high school in Chicago). |
Anonymous
Anonymous
| I know one girl who went to Field after things did not work out socially at GDS. She was very happy there. |
Anonymous
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I think their students just found a dead body near the Anacostia yesterday. Yikes. They were doing a park clean up.
Anyway, Field is like GDS lite, which means it is probably NORMAL in its expectations of kids! I know a couple of kids that went there, and they were normal, pretty bright, lovely children. |
Anonymous
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An undiscovered treasure. Which this post would just die.
Seriously, it's a beautiful school. More grounded parents. Kids with much less of an inflated sense of self than you find at other NW privates. |
Anonymous
I LOVE that! My kids still way too young, but after reading this post, it makes me want to learn more about the school. |