Tell me about SSFS

[Anonymous]

Tell me everything. The good and the bad …

[Anonymous]

We applied to SSFS for K and ended up turning down an admissions offer, mostly because it’s too far from our house.

However, we were impressed by the K curriculum and the Quaker model of learning—both academic and socio-emotional—were very appealing.

Not sure what grade you’re looking at?

[Anonymous]

6th grade, kid has learning difficulties

[Anonymous]

We have had kids in all 3 divisions (and are still there). I think Middle School is currently the strongest of the 3 divisions, and our DC has had a great experience. I don't have experience with learning difficulties but recommend you have a conversation with the learning specialist to see if the school can meet your child's needs.

[Anonymous]

it's a welcoming, warm place. The progressive education approach is great. Our child is happy there. They're very upbeat about going to school. However, they are not strong with LD kids.

[Anonymous]

How are the high school athletics? They play in a different division than many other MoCo/DC area privates. Is it any good?

[Anonymous]

Applied and loved it but couldn't accept. They are not on par with peers for financial aid but they do work hard to keep tuition more reasonable and their wrap around services are excellent (after care, day off care, summer camp, lunch, bus).

If a family can afford it, you at least aren't required to have a nanny as well (like some local private schools seem to expect).

[Anonymous]

We looked into it, but couldn’t afford it even with FA because it maxes out at 50%. It’s CD also not very diverse, DD is AA and we didn’t want her to be the only one or one of two in the classroom. We picked a different private school that doesn’t have the beautiful grounds or lunch included but is much less expensive. We needed to prioritize the education not the scenery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We looked into it, but couldn’t afford it even with FA because it maxes out at 50%. It’s CD also not very diverse, DD is AA and we didn’t want her to be the only one or one of two in the classroom. We picked a different private school that doesn’t have the beautiful grounds or lunch included but is much less expensive. We needed to prioritize the education not the scenery.

I've never posted a DCUM entry bashing a PP but PP, your statement could not be further from the truth, and you are just bashing SSFS because you think if you post it, people will believe it. Here is pointer to photos of the first day of school.

https://www.ssfs.org/news-media/online-photo-gallery/~resource-collection/5397

As far as "scenery". Clearly you have not been on campus. I used to wonder why they didn't landscape and then told myself it was the Quaker, simple, life.
PP, stay off of DCUM if you are going to post lies.

[Anonymous]

My kid is in the upper school and has been at SSFS since lower school.

My kid also has LD, so I’ll start there. The middle school program is fabulous, and the learning specialist is known regionally as being one of the best of the best. Call and ask to talk to her.

The sports conference is the PVAC, which is small schools like Burke and JDS. SSFS does well in the conference in most sports - last year won boys basketball and cross country and maybe some others. There is a new athletic director this year who we think will be great. That said, if your kid is looking to get a D1 scholarship in lacrosse, you wont find everything you need at SSFS.

I’m baffled by the post saying SSFS isn’t diverse. My kid’s class is at least 1/3 AA, the HOS is AA and there are more AA staff and administrators than I have ever seen in a school before. I’m sorry that was PP’s experience of SSFS - I don’t think it is typical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We looked into it, but couldn’t afford it even with FA because it maxes out at 50%. It’s CD also not very diverse, DD is AA and we didn’t want her to be the only one or one of two in the classroom. We picked a different private school that doesn’t have the beautiful grounds or lunch included but is much less expensive. We needed to prioritize the education not the scenery.

I've never posted a DCUM entry bashing a PP but PP, your statement could not be further from the truth, and you are just bashing SSFS because you think if you post it, people will believe it. Here is pointer to photos of the first day of school.

https://www.ssfs.org/news-media/online-photo-gallery/~resource-collection/5397

As far as "scenery". Clearly you have not been on campus. I used to wonder why they didn't landscape and then told myself it was the Quaker, simple, life.
PP, stay off of DCUM if you are going to post lies.

I stand by what I posted. Picking the photos with the non shore kids in to post doesn’t mean anything. Tuition for 2nd grade is 27k if I remember correctly. Even 50% of that us unattainable for most. HS is 40k. Look into how much of their budget goes towards lawn care and outside maintenance.

[Anonymous]

Non white kids.. above

[Anonymous]

I’m confused by this complaint. Ssfs has issues (all schools do) but lack of diversity isn’t one of them.

[Anonymous]

When you are a white wealthy parent and your kids class of 10 had one or two blank kids in it you think that’s diversity. But from the parent of a blank child it’s not.

[Anonymous]

I’m not sure how anyone can call SSFS not welcoming to an AA family. Their head of school is AA and when we went to an admissions event, at least half the families there were AA.