Academics at Flint Hill?

[Anonymous]

Is there an issue with how the kids are taught? It seems frome the posters on this forum that average and above avg kids do better at this school but the above avg and gifted kids are not being taught to their potential. If someone has experience with this please share. TIA from very concerned parent.

[Anonymous]

I have a very bright child at FH. I don't know how they can cater to gifted children when there are 14-18 children per class with only one teacher and one assistant teacher AND several kids in each class that appear to be average or require more assistance.

FH isn't generally known to cater to gifted or very bright kids. I think they do a decent job of educating average - above average children though.

[Anonymous]

I have a friend with an older child (around ninth grade) there who is very bright, and I think they differentiate with this child by putting her in some classes with older kids.

[Anonymous]

I have a gifted child at FH. I cannot speak to the higher level grades, but I do agree that reaching gifted children at their highest potential is one of the school's (few) weaknesses. They do differentiate instruction with different reading and math groups, and probably to a much greater extent than most of the private schools around here. However, seriously gifted kids need serious acceleration, and my impression is that FH isn't very comfortable with that yet. I am very glad to hear the ninth-grader is getting more advanced coursework.

Keep in mind, I don't think any of the private schools do much acceleration around here. If anything, FH may be one of the better ones at that.

[Anonymous]

Could this be because most students at other privates are gifted or in the superior range anyway? I've seen quite a few posts about students at the other well known privates who score in the 95-99% range on WPPSI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Could this be because most students at other privates are gifted or in the superior range anyway? I've seen quite a few posts about students at the other well known privates who score in the 95-99% range on WPPSI.

What's the typical score range for FH?

[Anonymous]

I doubt that anyone one this forum has access to that information.

[Anonymous]

We will probably choose FH for our gifted son at least for first and second grade. This is largely because the location is very convenient for us, though I do feel that I may have to supplement his learning in some areas. According to what the Director told me, in addition to the reading and math groups, they are open to working out different options for gifted children (to do independent projects, work on something with an older child, etc.) and have some experience with this. I was also told that the focus at the school is on the "whole child" (including communication, social interaction, leadership) which hopefully will help my son in some areas, like shyness - though there may be drawbacks to this approach as well (if academics and the academic level of children are not as strong as elsewhere). If there are several parents interested in the subject, it might be possible to work together on solutions.

[Anonymous]

Well good luck getting FH to help your child with shyness. FH values extroverted, assertive and athletic children. As much as they say they like to help shy kids become more extroverted, I saw nothing in their program that would bring a shy child out of his shell. Honestly, the ideal FH kid is an athletic kid, great in sports, assertive, but average to above average in academics. There are enough shy kids there but my instinct tells me they don't particularly like shyness in their kids. You have to give FH a try to realize this. Worst thing is for you to have regrets. One or two years shouldn't set your child back especially if you plan to supplement his education and this will give you time to determine for yourself what is best for him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We will probably choose FH for our gifted son at least for first and second grade. This is largely because the location is very convenient for us, though I do feel that I may have to supplement his learning in some areas. According to what the Director told me, in addition to the reading and math groups, they are open to working out different options for gifted children (to do independent projects, work on something with an older child, etc.) and have some experience with this. I was also told that the focus at the school is on the "whole child" (including communication, social interaction, leadership) which hopefully will help my son in some areas, like shyness - though there may be drawbacks to this approach as well (if academics and the academic level of children are not as strong as elsewhere). If there are several parents interested in the subject, it might be possible to work together on solutions.

If location is a key factor in choosing Flint Hill, I am curious as to why you are not opting for Pinnacle Academy. I have read a lot of good things about this school. We researched and visited Flint Hill at both the elementary and at the high school level. I was very unimpressed with it at the elementary level, and while I thought it was fine for high school, despite the convenient location (for us) opted for other schools that had better academics and were socially a better fit for my DC. However, if my child was in the K-8 range, I would definitely give Pinnacle a serious look.

[Anonymous]

PP how do you come to the conclusion that Pinnacle was better in academics than FH. Did you look at FH's ERBs and compare them to Pinnacle, their kids' AP courses, how many sat and passed the AP exam, their exmissions list...what?

[Anonymous]

Anyone else get the idea that there's one person who keeps mentioning Pinnacle and no one else has ever heard of it? The school seems new, small and, IMO, strange. Not competitive in the slightest with quality schools such as Flint Hill. I think most people would rather send their kids to the very good public school around Vienna and Oakton than put their kids in this tiny little private school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP how do you come to the conclusion that Pinnacle was better in academics than FH. Did you look at FH's ERBs and compare them to Pinnacle, their kids' AP courses, how many sat and passed the AP exam, their exmissions list...what?

8:59 here. First of all, I don't believe Pinnacle has AP. My understanding is that it is a K-8 school. And as I stated, I have read good things about it. My DC is too old for the school to be considered. Having spent considerable time driving my child miles away to a good school, as well as now relying on public transportation for the same, I think it is wonderful to have another option in the area.