Researching Bethesda area independent schools

[creditguy]

Hi, my wife and I are are looking at independent schools in the Bethesda area (or easily commutable from Bethesda) for our 5 year old daughter next year.

Racial and religious diversity, a progressive and/or play based approach, and high academic standards are the criteria that are most important to us.

Schools we're considering are (not in rank order):

Beauvoir Elementary School
Concord Hill School
Lowell School
Sidwell Friends
Norwood
Georgetown Day School
Washington Episcopal School

I would appreciate any feedback from insiders who know these schools which ones are going to be the best fit for what we're looking for.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Primary Day should be on the list too. A little more academically rigorous than a lot of those schools

[Anonymous]

We’ve found most lower schools academics to be lacking, especially in schools where there is no applying out.

[Anonymous]

creditguy wrote:Hi, my wife and I are are looking at independent schools in the Bethesda area (or easily commutable from Bethesda) for our 5 year old daughter next year.

Racial and religious diversity, a progressive and/or play based approach, and high academic standards are the criteria that are most important to us.

Schools we're considering are (not in rank order):

Beauvoir Elementary School
Concord Hill School
Lowell School
Sidwell Friends
Norwood
Georgetown Day School
Washington Episcopal School

I would appreciate any feedback from insiders who know these schools which ones are going to be the best fit for what we're looking for.

Thank you!

For what you want, I'd have Sheridan on the list for sure.

I'd want to know what you mean by high academic standards, before I offered more thoughts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Primary Day should be on the list too. A little more academically rigorous than a lot of those schools

Would you describe Primary Day as following progressive and/or play based philosophy? That wan't my impression.

[Anonymous]

One thing to consider: if the school stops at a certain grade (Primary Day goes only until 2nd) then you'll need to start the process again at that point, and there may be more competition then too. Some schools on your list go all the way until 12th.

[Anonymous]

Maret

[Anonymous]

creditguy wrote:play based approach, and high academic standards

These two things are somewhat contradictory. Most places are usually one or the other. Primary Day has a decent balance of both.

[Anonymous]

Public school

[Anonymous]

Sheridan

[Anonymous]

St. Andrews is more progressive and diverse than WES

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:St. Andrews is more progressive and diverse than WES

But they also want high academic standards.

[Anonymous]

Go to the bookstore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

creditguy wrote:play based approach, and high academic standards

These two things are somewhat contradictory. Most places are usually one or the other. Primary Day has a decent balance of both.

We concur. Minimal behavioral problems in class, if any. Vs other kids schools.

[creditguy]

The fact that Norwood tracks these two statistics on it's website (racial not religiious diversity) is impresive and the stats themselves too.

Total Faculty/Staff of Color 29%
Students of Color and of Latinx/Hispanic/Spanish Origin: 39.9%

I plan to ask each of the schools if they track this figure.

Comments from the crowd on how each of the schools on my list fare in terms of racial and religious diversity and strides they are making with their DEI efforts?

If there are bigots out please remain silent; I don't care what you think.