Which is considered generally the best school between St. Andrew's, Bullis, and Field?

[Anonymous]

My middle schooler was accepted at St. Andrew's, Bullis, and Field. We live in DC. (I'm also curious how selective these schools are.) Which would you choose and why?

We were waitlisted at all the "Top 5" schools.

[Anonymous]

best for what/who?

[Anonymous]

You honestly don’t know the answer to your questions despite having just invested a year into the application process?

[Anonymous]

These are very different schools. Bullis is a very large school with a big focus on sport. Field is a very small school with small classes and mediocre sports. They are all roughly the same in terms of selectivity.

That said, why would you base your school decision on selectivity? Your kid is into the schools that they're into, and not into the ones that they're not.

I'd spend the next two weeks shadowing, going to events, asking questions and trying to find the best fit for your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You honestly don’t know the answer to your questions despite having just invested a year into the application process?

I’m guessing OP didn’t spend much time looking into what they considered safeties.
Your DC needs to shadow, OP. That will help a lot.

[Anonymous]

Not Field. the high teacher turnover is a big red flag. Also less diversity

[Anonymous]

I'd start with whichever is most convenient especially if there is a major difference in travel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not Field. the high teacher turnover is a big red flag. Also less diversity

We are in 6th grade at Field and so happy. Commute is also everything!!

[Anonymous]

St Andrews ES in terms of academics …. They offer highly differentiated classes for different abilities and styles of learning as teaching to a broad swathe of learners is part of their founding mission. Their center for transformational learning and teaching trains teachers to engage students in thoughtful, meaningful and creative ways.

Bullis has amazing facilities and athletics.

Field is a niche school with attracts many bright quirky students.

[Anonymous]

My read is that OP is status/prestige-obsessed and will spend the next year or two positioning Larlo to apply out and “upgrade” to a so-called better school.

[Anonymous]

Current 7th grade family at Field. Really happy - advise to talk to current families we did when we applied and was overwhelmingly positive abd we are glad for our kid we made the move as it’s been a good fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You honestly don’t know the answer to your questions despite having just invested a year into the application process?

THIS.
Also maybe be more concerned about where your kid wants to go instead of what’s “considered generally the best.”

[Anonymous]

We have three kids, two now in college and one finishing HS. We live in UNWDC and each attended different schools, including one each at two of the three you reference. Our youngest is at a big three. We were public school attendees ourselves and met at a competitive private university and 15+ years ago thought private would be a better environment for our children. With 20/20 hindsight, if we had to do it all over again we would do DCPS over anything but a big three. We don’t regret our choices as money was not a concern and each school did fine by each child. That said, the academics for those in the honors track at DCPS is strong and the more diverse social environment would have been beneficial for our kids. Honestly, only the big three offered exceptional curriculum and programs. My only hesitation to DCPS would be how much time parents have to devote to overseeing the child’s educational path, being a consistent advocate to ensure the child is accessing resources. That is something we found we did not need to do at any of our privates. It’s just that the experience our children at the alternate privates received was not exceptional. We get that choosing an educational environment is an individual thing. For us and with genuine hindsight, there is too much benefit to pass up DCPS for a less than top private school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have three kids, two now in college and one finishing HS. We live in UNWDC and each attended different schools, including one each at two of the three you reference. Our youngest is at a big three. We were public school attendees ourselves and met at a competitive private university and 15+ years ago thought private would be a better environment for our children. With 20/20 hindsight, if we had to do it all over again we would do DCPS over anything but a big three. We don’t regret our choices as money was not a concern and each school did fine by each child. That said, the academics for those in the honors track at DCPS is strong and the more diverse social environment would have been beneficial for our kids. Honestly, only the big three offered exceptional curriculum and programs. My only hesitation to DCPS would be how much time parents have to devote to overseeing the child’s educational path, being a consistent advocate to ensure the child is accessing resources. That is something we found we did not need to do at any of our privates. It’s just that the experience our children at the alternate privates received was not exceptional. We get that choosing an educational environment is an individual thing. For us and with genuine hindsight, there is too much benefit to pass up DCPS for a less than top private school.

How do you know if they never attended public?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have three kids, two now in college and one finishing HS. We live in UNWDC and each attended different schools, including one each at two of the three you reference. Our youngest is at a big three. We were public school attendees ourselves and met at a competitive private university and 15+ years ago thought private would be a better environment for our children. With 20/20 hindsight, if we had to do it all over again we would do DCPS over anything but a big three. We don’t regret our choices as money was not a concern and each school did fine by each child. That said, the academics for those in the honors track at DCPS is strong and the more diverse social environment would have been beneficial for our kids. Honestly, only the big three offered exceptional curriculum and programs. My only hesitation to DCPS would be how much time parents have to devote to overseeing the child’s educational path, being a consistent advocate to ensure the child is accessing resources. That is something we found we did not need to do at any of our privates. It’s just that the experience our children at the alternate privates received was not exceptional. We get that choosing an educational environment is an individual thing. For us and with genuine hindsight, there is too much benefit to pass up DCPS for a less than top private school.

Which of the three did they attend? I'm not sure if the three are more or less equal in quality or if one stands out.