Norwood v. Sidwell's Lower School

[Anonymous]

I didn't realize that Sidwell had to invite students back each year. I though that once you were admitted, they kept you all the way through--unless you had severe behavioral problems or were literally flunking out. 02:39 and 09:20, is that why the kids were asked to leave? Does anyone else have any feedback regarding Sidwell's policy on this issue? And is school suggesting that you leave the same as being "forced" to leave? In other words, can you refuse to go?

And 02:39 and 09:20, would you please share why the children were asked to leave? Was it

[Anonymous]

02:15 poster here--rambling, incomplete post shows that I'm sleepy and it's time for me to go to bed!

Please note first paragraph and ignore the incomplete second paragraph...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't realize that Sidwell had to invite students back each year. I though that once you were admitted, they kept you all the way through--unless you had severe behavioral problems or were literally flunking out. 02:39 and 09:20, is that why the kids were asked to leave? Does anyone else have any feedback regarding Sidwell's policy on this issue? And is school suggesting that you leave the same as being "forced" to leave? In other words, can you refuse to go?

And 02:39 and 09:20, would you please share why the children were asked to leave? Was it

Any private school could ask a child to leave. But are you implying Sidwell is more aggressive about this?

[Anonymous]

I think it is all about probability of success. If the school feels over time, that a child is not being well served - perhaps a different learning environment etc, would better serve that student, then I would think it is in everyone's best interest to find that environment.

[Anonymous]

All private schools have an annual renew-your-contract period, and they all have it written somewhere that they have the right to decline to renew a contract (and it happens at all schools). What is typical is that, if they feel that a student is not doing well (academically, behaviorally) they will start a conversation, trying to nudge the family towards making a change. This most commonly takes place during the middle school years, at least in K-12 schools, but I know of kids in early elementary school too. If the family is oblivious or resistant, and if the student is really struggling, the school may then refuse to renew. Occasionally this happens more suddenly, but there is usually a major precipitating factor - the student is failing multiple classes, was caught drinking, plagiarized repeatedly - something of that sort. From talking with families whose kids have been asked to leave/have not been renewed, my impression is that in the first case (the conversation over time) the schools do help with finding an alternative school; in the latter cases, not so much.

[Anonymous]

Norwood has also asked some students to leave, every school does it. It is sad that after all the cherry picking, these schools still can not work with the students. I sometimes ask if public schools are better at teaching all kids? Then the bigger question is if a school can teach all kids, then are they better at teaching overall?

The word on the street is that the teachers at Sidwell are happy that they have little work on their hands since the kids are supposedly bright. What they forget is that even with a high score on the WPPSI, the child might not be that bright. Also, bright kids have weaknesses too, and if you are not aggressive with every child, even the bright ones can fall into a rut.

[Anonymous]

I would pick Norwood over Sidwell lower school any day for multiple reasons. First, Norwood's focus is on the lower grades, which means they receive the attention from top to bottom. Second, Norwood has what I consider to be best means to teach kids with different levels. Each grade of, say, 3 homerooms is broken into 4-5 groups for reading, and a different 4-5 groups for math. It is done in a low key way. Kids do move between groups, if appropriate. Now, I know all readers of this no doubt will convince themselves that their child is in the top 99% percentile and will always be there!! Simply, bs!! Kids develop at different times and different speeds at different times. Third, Sidwell high school is not the best school for all kids, even all very bright ones. Some kids need structure, some do not. Some schools are strong in math, some are not. Choosing Sidwell for lower grades creates strong incentives to stay with Sidwell when you should not. Fourth, Norwood is structured such that kids can leave any multiple different times, whether 3, 4, 7 or 9. Fifth, and not irrelevant, Sidwell tends to get caught up too muuch in the DC political scene?? I am pleased the President's daughters are there, but frankly that kind of attention on a school is simply silly and creates a completely false sense of reality. Finally, attending one school from K through 12 is simply not healthy. Too small of world. You might end up with a very bright but very isolated kid and a narrow range of friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would pick Norwood over Sidwell lower school any day for multiple reasons. First, Norwood's focus is on the lower grades, which means they receive the attention from top to bottom. Second, Norwood has what I consider to be best means to teach kids with different levels. Each grade of, say, 3 homerooms is broken into 4-5 groups for reading, and a different 4-5 groups for math. It is done in a low key way. Kids do move between groups, if appropriate. Now, I know all readers of this no doubt will convince themselves that their child is in the top 99% percentile and will always be there!! Simply, bs!! Kids develop at different times and different speeds at different times. Third, Sidwell high school is not the best school for all kids, even all very bright ones. Some kids need structure, some do not. Some schools are strong in math, some are not. Choosing Sidwell for lower grades creates strong incentives to stay with Sidwell when you should not. Fourth, Norwood is structured such that kids can leave any multiple different times, whether 3, 4, 7 or 9. Fifth, and not irrelevant, Sidwell tends to get caught up too muuch in the DC political scene?? I am pleased the President's daughters are there, but frankly that kind of attention on a school is simply silly and creates a completely false sense of reality. Finally, attending one school from K through 12 is simply not healthy. Too small of world. You might end up with a very bright but very isolated kid and a narrow range of friends.

I think your second point is best. These 99%ile kids have areas that need work too. If the school is going to gloss over topics because everyone is so smart, there is a real potential for failure. These early years are to critical. It has to be done right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would pick Norwood over Sidwell lower school any day for multiple reasons. First, Norwood's focus is on the lower grades, which means they receive the attention from top to bottom. Second, Norwood has what I consider to be best means to teach kids with different levels. Each grade of, say, 3 homerooms is broken into 4-5 groups for reading, and a different 4-5 groups for math. It is done in a low key way. Kids do move between groups, if appropriate. Now, I know all readers of this no doubt will convince themselves that their child is in the top 99% percentile and will always be there!! Simply, bs!! Kids develop at different times and different speeds at different times. Third, Sidwell high school is not the best school for all kids, even all very bright ones. Some kids need structure, some do not. Some schools are strong in math, some are not. Choosing Sidwell for lower grades creates strong incentives to stay with Sidwell when you should not. Fourth, Norwood is structured such that kids can leave any multiple different times, whether 3, 4, 7 or 9. Fifth, and not irrelevant, Sidwell tends to get caught up too muuch in the DC political scene?? I am pleased the President's daughters are there, but frankly that kind of attention on a school is simply silly and creates a completely false sense of reality. Finally, attending one school from K through 12 is simply not healthy. Too small of world. You might end up with a very bright but very isolated kid and a narrow range of friends.

Thank you for your insightful post. I've wondered about that too--whether it's healthy for a child to attend one school for 12 or 13 years (if you include Pre-K). But I imagine that Sidwell would help children transfer out in later grades, if it wasn't a good fit.