Petty incident or detail that turned you off a school?

[Anonymous]

What’s something small that made you abandon the admissions process at a school, or if your kid is old enough for visits, convinced them not to apply?

Mine:
1) we walked toward the cafeteria and hot lunch smelled odd. Once we were in the cafeteria, it smelled so badly that I became faint and swayed on my feet. I never was able to match the smell to any specific meal- it was spicy and burned and metallic all at once.

2) was touring for K and they took us to the common area during upper school break. One girl was sitting all by herself looking down at her phone in tears right in front of us while another group was huddled around theirs laughing and whispering and looking up at her. The tour guide was oblivious. I was so upset I snuck out while we were walking to another building.

[Anonymous]

We’ve lived in 2 cities and looked at many schools over the years. Highlights from 3 schools we withdrew applications from:

(1) HOS tried joking with teachers and students, and was met with nothing but disdain; it was painfully obvious he was not liked by anyone. I’d already felt uncomfortable so this just magnified the feeling. There were other minor issues, but the poor staff interactions really clinched it.

(2) Shadow day went poorly.

(3) DH & I saw an aide speak sharply to and manhandle a student by grabbing them roughly by the shoulders and pushing them into place. We were alone in a hallway waiting for our meeting with the HOS when we witnessed this. And, yes, we reported all that we saw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’ve lived in 2 cities and looked at many schools over the years. Highlights from 3 schools we withdrew applications from:

(1) HOS tried joking with teachers and students, and was met with nothing but disdain; it was painfully obvious he was not liked by anyone. I’d already felt uncomfortable so this just magnified the feeling. There were other minor issues, but the poor staff interactions really clinched it.

(2) Shadow day went poorly.

(3) DH & I saw an aide speak sharply to and manhandle a student by grabbing them roughly by the shoulders and pushing them into place. We were alone in a hallway waiting for our meeting with the HOS when we witnessed this. And, yes, we reported all that we saw.

What school did your child end up at?

[Anonymous]

I couldn’t stand the outright bragging about how this school’s first graders wrote a full grade level above where they should be. It was like they rehearsed this line since I heard it from the head of the school and the teachers. I was tempted to say “Of course they are a grade level above. They went to pre-first!”

[Anonymous]

Local girls school in MoCo

Student tour guide was, frankly, sort of a B and talked to us with outright disdain

Head of admissions kept getting my kids’ names wrong (they are pretty typical names)

Obviously ended up at another school

[Anonymous]

In a parent tour, students in the class were making fun of each other and name-calling without any intervention from the teachers. Happened across several classrooms although not all. This raised concerns about the regular classroom environment, causing us to stop the application process immediately.

[Anonymous]

During our GDS tour students kept interrupting the tour to do something silly, like yell fart jokes. It happened three times. It was very much just young kids being kids but I already felt like there was kind of a chaos vibe to the place that might not be right for us. I really don’t mean this to be a criticism of the school, it was just a fit thing.

[Anonymous]

Interviewer essentially told us our kid had no shot (in front of our kid).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:During our GDS tour students kept interrupting the tour to do something silly, like yell fart jokes. It happened three times. It was very much just young kids being kids but I already felt like there was kind of a chaos vibe to the place that might not be right for us. I really don’t mean this to be a criticism of the school, it was just a fit thing.

My kid struggled with the chaos at GDS during her shadow visit. Absolutely hated the experience and came home upset. But - we found a great fit elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’ve lived in 2 cities and looked at many schools over the years. Highlights from 3 schools we withdrew applications from:

(1) HOS tried joking with teachers and students, and was met with nothing but disdain; it was painfully obvious he was not liked by anyone. I’d already felt uncomfortable so this just magnified the feeling. There were other minor issues, but the poor staff interactions really clinched it.

(2) Shadow day went poorly.

(3) DH & I saw an aide speak sharply to and manhandle a student by grabbing them roughly by the shoulders and pushing them into place. We were alone in a hallway waiting for our meeting with the HOS when we witnessed this. And, yes, we reported all that we saw.

What is HOS

[Anonymous]

Admissions director told us they have adhd in response to us asking about fit for our adhd kid. Just bc our DC has adhd doesn’t mean we want the folks who run the school to have it. Friend who is a parent at the school then told me their DC’s advisor also has adhd and told parents that in a meeting. Same advisor that didn’t return emails. As we started to note how many alums are teaching at the school and also may have adhd we got concerned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Admissions director told us they have adhd in response to us asking about fit for our adhd kid. Just bc our DC has adhd doesn’t mean we want the folks who run the school to have it. Friend who is a parent at the school then told me their DC’s advisor also has adhd and told parents that in a meeting. Same advisor that didn’t return emails. As we started to note how many alums are teaching at the school and also may have adhd we got concerned.

I hope your ADHD kid isn't met with the same bias as you are showing when he/she is an adult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Admissions director told us they have adhd in response to us asking about fit for our adhd kid. Just bc our DC has adhd doesn’t mean we want the folks who run the school to have it. Friend who is a parent at the school then told me their DC’s advisor also has adhd and told parents that in a meeting. Same advisor that didn’t return emails. As we started to note how many alums are teaching at the school and also may have adhd we got concerned.

That's really not mature or knowledgeable of you at all. You should think a little about what your views entail for your child's future. Many people in this world have ADHD, anxiety, and/or high-functioning autism. Some of humanity's most brilliant and successful minds are or were neurodivergent.

- ADHD/ASD family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Admissions director told us they have adhd in response to us asking about fit for our adhd kid. Just bc our DC has adhd doesn’t mean we want the folks who run the school to have it. Friend who is a parent at the school then told me their DC’s advisor also has adhd and told parents that in a meeting. Same advisor that didn’t return emails. As we started to note how many alums are teaching at the school and also may have adhd we got concerned.

I hope your ADHD kid isn't met with the same bias as you are showing when he/she is an adult.

+1

I have ADHD and am a fully functioning, professional adult with a non-ADHD kid in private. Curious what the pp thinks ADHD means for her kid’s future…

[Anonymous]

The food issue wouldn’t sway me either way. I’d be more concerned about why you are in the US commons on a tour for K? We’re at a k-12 w/ multiple divisions. The divisions each have their own admin structure and separate buildings all on one campus. I think the only time my kids went to US when in K was for the kindergarten Halloween parade? I’d you’re touring the US just to see the facilities for down the road that’s one thing, but if your kindergartener will spend time there, including eating in the same dining hall, I’d pass