What’s Something About Your School You Would Have LOVED To Know Before Enrolling

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That some of the really cool electives in the course catalogue aren't actually offered every year, or ever.

There's a secret menu of course options that you have to know to ask about because it isn't advertised anywhere (e.g. extra AP classes as independent study).

Just because the student handbook says there's always transportation provided for something, like having a bus for away games for a sports team or for practices that are off-campus, doesn't mean it actually is.

Which school is this?

Ireton

Can you talk more about the types of electives/courses that are actually not offered? And how do figure out the “secret APs.” We are looking at BI for next year!

Electives depend on student interest so if they don't have enough people sign up for something, it won't be offered. Guitar Ensemble comes to mind; there's actually one Guitar class with Guitar 1, 2, and Ensemble combined together. There was a Shakespeare Seminar listed in the catalogue for years that never happened and they finally took it out this year. The STEM and Art electives are usually popular enough, English and Social Studies not as much. The school won't be able to say for sure if something will be offered next year but you could ask what the roster size is for this year and what their minimum is; if there are 15 kids enrolled right now, there's a good chance it'll be offered again. If it's only 7, that could be one that's borderline.

By secret menu, I mean that the school is very accommodating to kids who want to challenge themselves. It sounds like a positive thing and it can be, absolutely! But for competitive kids who are trying to take the most rigorous course load offered by the school, it can feel like there's no ceiling on whether they're doing "enough". If a student goes in thinking they're bound by what the handbook says for AP pre-reqs or assumes they need to choose classes within the confines of an 8 course schedule, they come to learn that there are kids who have asked and received permission to take another AP as a 9th class via independent study, or to take Theology over the summer even if it's not for credit recovery so they can fit in another AP during the school year, or to take Honors Physics over the summer so they can move right into AP Physics. And pro tip, grades for summer classes don't count towards the GPA so it's a good way to get non-weighted classes like PE off the transcript so they don't weigh the GPA down. These are just some examples I've heard about from my child and other parents, I have no idea what else is possible because it feels sometimes like the sky is the limit. Which again, is a great thing and it's not AT ALL a dig against BI, we really love the school and it's fantastic they're willing to work with students that way to maximize their education. It's just hard to help my child manage the stress when it feels like we're constantly saying "Oh we didn't know they would allow someone to do that, that's good to know".

Also, I didn’t even realize that there were some summer classes offered

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That some of the really cool electives in the course catalogue aren't actually offered every year, or ever.

There's a secret menu of course options that you have to know to ask about because it isn't advertised anywhere (e.g. extra AP classes as independent study).

Just because the student handbook says there's always transportation provided for something, like having a bus for away games for a sports team or for practices that are off-campus, doesn't mean it actually is.

Which school is this?

Ireton

Can you talk more about the types of electives/courses that are actually not offered? And how do figure out the “secret APs.” We are looking at BI for next year!

Electives depend on student interest so if they don't have enough people sign up for something, it won't be offered. Guitar Ensemble comes to mind; there's actually one Guitar class with Guitar 1, 2, and Ensemble combined together. There was a Shakespeare Seminar listed in the catalogue for years that never happened and they finally took it out this year. The STEM and Art electives are usually popular enough, English and Social Studies not as much. The school won't be able to say for sure if something will be offered next year but you could ask what the roster size is for this year and what their minimum is; if there are 15 kids enrolled right now, there's a good chance it'll be offered again. If it's only 7, that could be one that's borderline.

By secret menu, I mean that the school is very accommodating to kids who want to challenge themselves. It sounds like a positive thing and it can be, absolutely! But for competitive kids who are trying to take the most rigorous course load offered by the school, it can feel like there's no ceiling on whether they're doing "enough". If a student goes in thinking they're bound by what the handbook says for AP pre-reqs or assumes they need to choose classes within the confines of an 8 course schedule, they come to learn that there are kids who have asked and received permission to take another AP as a 9th class via independent study, or to take Theology over the summer even if it's not for credit recovery so they can fit in another AP during the school year, or to take Honors Physics over the summer so they can move right into AP Physics. And pro tip, grades for summer classes don't count towards the GPA so it's a good way to get non-weighted classes like PE off the transcript so they don't weigh the GPA down. These are just some examples I've heard about from my child and other parents, I have no idea what else is possible because it feels sometimes like the sky is the limit. Which again, is a great thing and it's not AT ALL a dig against BI, we really love the school and it's fantastic they're willing to work with students that way to maximize their education. It's just hard to help my child manage the stress when it feels like we're constantly saying "Oh we didn't know they would allow someone to do that, that's good to know".

Also, I didn’t even realize that there were some summer classes offered

They're not on campus, the summer classes are all online via outside providers (officially it's Educere for Geometry and Web Design, Carone for PE, and Catholic Virtual for Theology) or you can request approval to take something at another school either virtually or in person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That some of the really cool electives in the course catalogue aren't actually offered every year, or ever.

There's a secret menu of course options that you have to know to ask about because it isn't advertised anywhere (e.g. extra AP classes as independent study).

Just because the student handbook says there's always transportation provided for something, like having a bus for away games for a sports team or for practices that are off-campus, doesn't mean it actually is.

Which school is this?

Ireton

Can you talk more about the types of electives/courses that are actually not offered? And how do figure out the “secret APs.” We are looking at BI for next year!

Electives depend on student interest so if they don't have enough people sign up for something, it won't be offered. Guitar Ensemble comes to mind; there's actually one Guitar class with Guitar 1, 2, and Ensemble combined together. There was a Shakespeare Seminar listed in the catalogue for years that never happened and they finally took it out this year. The STEM and Art electives are usually popular enough, English and Social Studies not as much. The school won't be able to say for sure if something will be offered next year but you could ask what the roster size is for this year and what their minimum is; if there are 15 kids enrolled right now, there's a good chance it'll be offered again. If it's only 7, that could be one that's borderline.

By secret menu, I mean that the school is very accommodating to kids who want to challenge themselves. It sounds like a positive thing and it can be, absolutely! But for competitive kids who are trying to take the most rigorous course load offered by the school, it can feel like there's no ceiling on whether they're doing "enough". If a student goes in thinking they're bound by what the handbook says for AP pre-reqs or assumes they need to choose classes within the confines of an 8 course schedule, they come to learn that there are kids who have asked and received permission to take another AP as a 9th class via independent study, or to take Theology over the summer even if it's not for credit recovery so they can fit in another AP during the school year, or to take Honors Physics over the summer so they can move right into AP Physics. And pro tip, grades for summer classes don't count towards the GPA so it's a good way to get non-weighted classes like PE off the transcript so they don't weigh the GPA down. These are just some examples I've heard about from my child and other parents, I have no idea what else is possible because it feels sometimes like the sky is the limit. Which again, is a great thing and it's not AT ALL a dig against BI, we really love the school and it's fantastic they're willing to work with students that way to maximize their education. It's just hard to help my child manage the stress when it feels like we're constantly saying "Oh we didn't know they would allow someone to do that, that's good to know".

Also, I didn’t even realize that there were some summer classes offered

They're not on campus, the summer classes are all online via outside providers (officially it's Educere for Geometry and Web Design, Carone for PE, and Catholic Virtual for Theology) or you can request approval to take something at another school either virtually or in person.

If your student meets with their guidance counselor regularly none of this information is surprising. Having a solid relationship with your counselor also is a huge plus for college applications. So my advice? Have your student meet with their guidance counselor regularly about their goals and interests. It goes a long way!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wish I’d had psychic insight into our grade cohort. I learned the hard way that a school experience is highly dependent on who your child is in a grade with, and older grade cultures and overall school culture don’t do much to affect the wrong mix of kids in a grade.

This is 100% true especially at a small school. The vibes of the different grades at our school are very very different and can really impact your experience. Anyone applying past the initial entry year to a school should really consider this.

[Anonymous]

10000% No one will say it’s a bad class before you get there and there is no way to know beforehand either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“Your school”. You mean the ones I attended? Or do you mean my kid’s school?

The way dcum invest so much of their own identity into their kid’s school is pathological.

Then get off the message boards, PP! Parents are paying plenty. They get to be invested

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Your school”. You mean the ones I attended? Or do you mean my kid’s school?

The way dcum invest so much of their own identity into their kid’s school is pathological.

If you spend 50+ a year on tuition, it's normal to be invested

Exactly!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For our HS - that the college counseling office will limit the number of colleges that you can apply to. That certain classes are restricted in class size because of "equipment" issues and your child won't get the electives they want because of that.

Students at public high schools don't always get into the electives of their choice, either.

How is that relevant?

Because this sub forum works best when it bashes public schools, public school students and their “poor” parents. How does a rich person feel good about themselves otherwise?

[Anonymous]

Independently verify everything said during a tour to be sure it's accurate and up to date. if your questions are important/vital to your decision to enroll your child, send an email to be sure the answer you got is accurate (just wanted to be sure I heard this correctly, right?). Do not assume that confidence in stating something implies accuracy. Verify everything with more than one source even if your gut tells you you don't need to. There may even be different realities operating at a school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Independently verify everything said during a tour to be sure it's accurate and up to date. if your questions are important/vital to your decision to enroll your child, send an email to be sure the answer you got is accurate (just wanted to be sure I heard this correctly, right?). Do not assume that confidence in stating something implies accuracy. Verify everything with more than one source even if your gut tells you you don't need to. There may even be different realities operating at a school.

Yup, get every bit of curricular and extracurricular stuff you care about in writing. I was an admissions tour guide for years and it was shocking how badly they prepared us. There were definitely years when I shared incorrect information about programs that had changed or been discontinued because no one bothered to inform parents outside of the grades that were affected by the changes.

Also ask during admissions, “are there any schedule or curricular changes going into effect for next year that you are planning or considering?”. Our school has a lot of uncertainty around several subjects and a new sequence for arts electives, but they’re not set in stone so they’re not proactively sharing it with parents. We also have a schedule change coming- you do not want to end up at a school that’s switching to block scheduling, letting out 30 minutes later, removing a zero period, etc. without knowing in advance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That they lie about the percentage of students who go on to 4-year colleges (it's not 100% like they claim - hasn't been the whole time we've been here).

That’s actually reassuring to me, because the financial benefits of having DC go to CC then transfer to a 4-year are really appealing, but it’s felt really weird to think about being the family that dropped that percentage to 99.

Schools often state this as 100% of students are accepted to 4-years colleges and universities. Which is different from 100% attending or graduating from 4-year colleges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Independently verify everything said during a tour to be sure it's accurate and up to date. if your questions are important/vital to your decision to enroll your child, send an email to be sure the answer you got is accurate (just wanted to be sure I heard this correctly, right?). Do not assume that confidence in stating something implies accuracy. Verify everything with more than one source even if your gut tells you you don't need to. There may even be different realities operating at a school.

Yup, get every bit of curricular and extracurricular stuff you care about in writing. I was an admissions tour guide for years and it was shocking how badly they prepared us. There were definitely years when I shared incorrect information about programs that had changed or been discontinued because no one bothered to inform parents outside of the grades that were affected by the changes.

Also ask during admissions, “are there any schedule or curricular changes going into effect for next year that you are planning or considering?”. Our school has a lot of uncertainty around several subjects and a new sequence for arts electives, but they’re not set in stone so they’re not proactively sharing it with parents. We also have a schedule change coming- you do not want to end up at a school that’s switching to block scheduling, letting out 30 minutes later, removing a zero period, etc. without knowing in advance.

+1

When we were looking at high schools a couple years ago, Flint Hill was in transition with its schedule coming out of covid. DC has a learning difference and some schedules work better than others, and at least FH admin were upfront when asked, but they couldn’t actually give an answer - decisions were going to be made over the summer. That was definitely a point in the “con” column for us.

[Anonymous]

That the admins are not interested in improving the school culture and like the power of the status quo.

The students are mean.

Homophobia is rampant and uncheck as long as you say, “just kidding”

That the teachers are just as stressed as the students and afraid of the parents.

That the school will always believe the bully over the victim because it’s easier than solving the problem

That the rules don’t apply to everyone

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That the admins are not interested in improving the school culture and like the power of the status quo.

The students are mean.

Homophobia is rampant and uncheck as long as you say, “just kidding”

That the teachers are just as stressed as the students and afraid of the parents.

That the school will always believe the bully over the victim because it’s easier than solving the problem

That the rules don’t apply to everyone

This is anonymous please just share the school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That besides spelling, they wouldn’t learn anything more in elementary school than if I sent them to public.

Well, elementary is school is pretty basic. Were you not expecting the 3Rs?