WES as a neighborhood school?

[Anonymous]

We live close to Washington Episcopal School, are impressed by what we've learned about its curriculum, and will be applying.

One thing we wonder about it whether the school attracts primarily Chevy Chase and Bethesda kids? That would be a plus for us. One factor influencing our decision is whether the fact that privates draw from all over makes it harder to create and maintain close friendships outside of school.

Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

Our experience is that there is a large percentage from Bethesda/Chevy Chase/Upper Northwest DC so that would meet your needs. But I don't that detracts from others applying either. Some very active members of the community (board, parent associations, etc) are also from Virginia. For others outside of those the main areas, its probably akin to other privates (like our other child in different school) where there is a little more work involved and/or they have business in the area or know the fast routes. (VA being easier bc of WES west location)

[Anonymous]

Every school is a local school in that people who live near the campus will be more likely to apply than people who live further away. Our only comment about WES is that they take their religion pretty seriously, so be sure that's what you want.

[Anonymous]

OP to both PPs: thanks for the feedback. The religious part doesn't scare me because we're Episcopalians. It's a tolerant and inclusive faith, so I'd be reassured that they take that seriously.

[Anonymous]

If you are looking for a Beauvoir experience minus the hassles of commuting into DC and navigating through the DC power/social scene, WES is a very good school to look at. It is nurturing, yet traditional in approach. It is, I agree, Episcopal not only in name, but in practice. But families of all faiths seem welcome and comfortable. It feeds to great schools, including STA and NCS. The only drawback is their location. It isn't quite as grand as you would like for your 25K. But that drawback is also one of their great draws - it's not in DC, and somehow, even being just a few miles from the DC city line, it feels much more suburban in the best possible sense of the word.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are looking for a Beauvoir experience minus the hassles of commuting into DC and navigating through the DC power/social scene, WES is a very good school to look at. It is nurturing, yet traditional in approach. It is, I agree, Episcopal not only in name, but in practice. But families of all faiths seem welcome and comfortable. It feeds to great schools, including STA and NCS. The only drawback is their location. It isn't quite as grand as you would like for your 25K. But that drawback is also one of their great draws - it's not in DC, and somehow, even being just a few miles from the DC city line, it feels much more suburban in the best possible sense of the word.

I agree that their campus is, perhaps, one of the worst - plunked down in the middle of an industrial park. It's like re-creating the urban experience in a suburban setting.

[Anonymous]

The exterior is pretty awful, but the interior space seems competitive with most schools, doesn't it? And isn't there a plan to sell part of the land so that they can afford to tear down some old structures and develop the rest of the campus?

[Anonymous]

My child attended WES, and we lived in Mo. Co. (and still do, simply because we can't afford living closer in if we go the private route). Geographically, we were definitely in minority. However, I did not realize that us living further away than other kids is a negative for the "locals". While it is true that it is harder to schedule playdates, it was really a burden for us not for the other family as we would bring the child back so they do not have to fight the traffic.

[Anonymous]

PP here, by Mo. Co. - I mean we live outside the beltway