Where to look at privates for this kid?

[Anonymous]

Hello- can anyone suggest good schools to consider for my son? He is rising 5th at a Fairfax school, and we’d like to begin the process late summer of applying to private to begin in his 6th grade year:

- bright kid (tests high to high average in all subject areas)
- very quiet, shy, but makes and keeps friends well once he warms up
- likes sports and is mildly athletic but not stand out (he’s small and not aggressive)
- takes a slow pace to life, doesn’t like rushing or being rushed (not slow processing speed… he’s been tested for that and actually has fast processing speed). But he just likes to move slowly (takes a long time to finish a book despite being a storing reader, takes a long time to finish homework, one of the last kids taking a test, takes a very very long relaxes shower and eats a very leisurely meal
- needs parental and teacher help keeping organized
- has mild anxiety and sees a great therapist so has generally good coping strategies to keep on an even keel. But we don’t want to put him in pressure cooker type environments
- very physically active and thrives on a lot of exercise and fresh air. Outdoorsy- likes to garden and camp
- seems to have natural musical talent/ learns easily (plays piano and a string instrument)
- bonus- high quality school lunch program
- open to religious options (were Catholic) but not required
- small class sizes are essential and the number one factor
- looking for kind down to earth kids and families
- music programs and low key athletics would be great
- he’s not into a lot of the big, loud assemblies, spirit days, and all that hype. The publics do that and he hates it. Just want the learning in a joyful environment and lower key fun (field trips, weekend family events, etc)

The goal is to get him out of very large overcrowded classes and schools with lots of disruptive behavior where he is totally lost in the shuffle, feels anxious, and is not known or understood well by his teachers.
- we can probably afford any tuition
- preference to closer to home (city of falls church)

[Anonymous]

OP here. One add— while closer to falls church would be ideal we are willing to drive . We have jobs on dc and Md so could adjust commutes to assist with taking him to school

[Anonymous]

Stay away from the huge Catholics. As is seemingly the answer to many, look at Field, Burke, SAES might be a bit far but could be good, New School of Northern Virginia might be a bit extreme on the quirky scale but worth a look.

[Anonymous]

St. Anselm’s

[Anonymous]

Green Hedges, but it only goes to 8th

[Anonymous]

I will never not think the way you people use “privates” in headlines is funny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. One add— while closer to falls church would be ideal we are willing to drive . We have jobs on dc and Md so could adjust commutes to assist with taking him to school

Do you have other kids? If he’s an only and he gets into a dc private I’d recommend you move to dc or closer in

[Anonymous]

It sounds like Field, Burke would be perfect and perhaps Bullis.

[Anonymous]

Commonwealth Academy. It was a game-changer for my kid.

[Anonymous]

Maybe St. Andrews

[Anonymous]

Burke, Field, Sheridan (only up to 8th though)

[Anonymous]

Green Hedges through 8th.

[Anonymous]

Since you said you are in Falls Church, I would apply to Langley and then you get three more years to decide on a good high school fit (and three more years of a reasonable commute.) It’s a great school with a strong music program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. One add— while closer to falls church would be ideal we are willing to drive . We have jobs on dc and Md so could adjust commutes to assist with taking him to school

Do you have other kids? If he’s an only and he gets into a dc private I’d recommend you move to dc or closer in

We do have an older kid, at McLean high, and the publics have been good for her so we’re not going to move. But yes that would make it easier!

[Anonymous]

Congressional