Burgundy Farms Middle—please share your experience

[Anonymous]

Lots of posts on this thread about Burgundy Farms in the lower grades, but what has the middle school experience been like for your child?

[Anonymous]

We’ve had a positive experience with two kids going through middle school at Burgundy Farm. It’s definitely a small environment but the teachers are supportive, there’s individualized attention, and we like the progressive education model. My kids liked that they could be themselves and didn’t feel a lot of pressure since it’s still a nurturing environment.

[Anonymous]

Not OP but also wondering as we are looking at options. How would you compare Burgundy Farms to SSSAS (which seems appealing because then they could stay through high school)? Are there other comparable schools to look at?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not OP but also wondering as we are looking at options. How would you compare Burgundy Farms to SSSAS (which seems appealing because then they could stay through high school)? Are there other comparable schools to look at?

I’m curious about this as well along with ACDS

[Anonymous]

I’d say Burgundy is more liberal and progressive compared to SSSAS and ACDS, which trend more traditional. For example, at Burgundy teachers are called by their first names, students don’t wear uniforms, and there’s a good amount of emphasize on outdoor education (including camping trips to the school’s property out in WV, affectionately known as The Cove). It’s a bit more “crunchy” if you will.

[Anonymous]

We're loving Burgundy Farm for 6th through 8th grades. I appreciate how well they balance social-emotional development with academics. I chose the school for its crunchiness (the day my son shadowed there, back in April 2019, the kids were discussing the history of LGBTQIA activism) but also asked if my kid would be able to write a decent essay by the time he graduated. Now he's in 8th grade doing well in high-school level algebra and, yes, writing good essays. We'll be sorry to move on, but he'll be ready for high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're loving Burgundy Farm for 6th through 8th grades. I appreciate how well they balance social-emotional development with academics. I chose the school for its crunchiness (the day my son shadowed there, back in April 2019, the kids were discussing the history of LGBTQIA activism) but also asked if my kid would be able to write a decent essay by the time he graduated. Now he's in 8th grade doing well in high-school level algebra and, yes, writing good essays. We'll be sorry to move on, but he'll be ready for high school.

Where is he going for HS? Is there an equivalent kind of "crunchy" school in NOVA for after Burgundy? Where do most go?

[Anonymous]

2021 Grads went to GDA, Sidwell, SSSAS, Flint Hill, BI, O’Connell, Burke, SSFS, Saint James, German Int’l, West Potomac, Alexandria City, Wakefield, La Plata, Washington & Lee

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2021 Grads went to GDA, Sidwell, SSSAS, Flint Hill, BI, O’Connell, Burke, SSFS, Saint James, German Int’l, West Potomac, Alexandria City, Wakefield, La Plata, Washington & Lee

Woops, GDS not GDA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2021 Grads went to GDA, Sidwell, SSSAS, Flint Hill, BI, O’Connell, Burke, SSFS, Saint James, German Int’l, West Potomac, Alexandria City, Wakefield, La Plata, Washington & Lee

But which one would be most like Burgundy?

It must be such a shock going from Burgundy to Alexandria City!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2021 Grads went to GDA, Sidwell, SSSAS, Flint Hill, BI, O’Connell, Burke, SSFS, Saint James, German Int’l, West Potomac, Alexandria City, Wakefield, La Plata, Washington & Lee

But which one would be most like Burgundy?

It must be such a shock going from Burgundy to Alexandria City!

My DCs thought GDS felt the most similar to Burgundy when they toured for high school. Some say Field and Burke are similar as well. My DCs went to more traditional schools after Burgundy. Many kids decide they want something completely different for high school after 9 years at Burgundy- big public, religious, or more traditional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2021 Grads went to GDA, Sidwell, SSSAS, Flint Hill, BI, O’Connell, Burke, SSFS, Saint James, German Int’l, West Potomac, Alexandria City, Wakefield, La Plata, Washington & Lee

But which one would be most like Burgundy?

It must be such a shock going from Burgundy to Alexandria City!

I’ve heard Edmund Burke referred to as the “city mouse” and Burgundy Farm the “country mouse” in that they have similar progressive education philosophies but distinct physical campus experiences.

[Anonymous]

I’ve got a 6th grader at Burgundy who is thriving academically and socially and emotionally. He is very happy. So thumbs up here.

[Anonymous]

I’ve had kids at both SSSAS and Burgundy for MS. SSSAS was the far better experience both socially and academically. There is absolutely no comparison.

SSSAS has a block schedule, PE or athletics (7/8) 4x a week, an hour for lunch and recess and a daily STAT period to meet with teachers. I actually found it to be more progressive in how they teach and the projects they have the kids do. The faculty and administrators at SSSAS are much stronger than those at BFCDS and they actually teach the kids executive function skills. There are also close to 100 kids in a grade versus 25-30 at BFCDS which makes it a much better environment socially. You will find your people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve had kids at both SSSAS and Burgundy for MS. SSSAS was the far better experience both socially and academically. There is absolutely no comparison.

SSSAS has a block schedule, PE or athletics (7/8) 4x a week, an hour for lunch and recess and a daily STAT period to meet with teachers. I actually found it to be more progressive in how they teach and the projects they have the kids do. The faculty and administrators at SSSAS are much stronger than those at BFCDS and they actually teach the kids executive function skills. There are also close to 100 kids in a grade versus 25-30 at BFCDS which makes it a much better environment socially. You will find your people.

If your kid is even slightly outside whatever current middle schoolers consider “normal” or “popular”, Burgundy Farm is absolutely the better choice. SSSAS is filled with cliques and desire for popularity is a real thing. This just isn’t a thing at Burgundy and the kids remain younger in their interests (not much into name brand clothes, “dating”, etc.) as a result.