Most down-to-Earth school community

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look for a religious school with a uniform requirement - Catholic, Episcopalian, or Presbyterian tho NPS only goes to grade 5. Or go left - Waldorf or Oneness Family or Montessori. Good luck.

Thanks! That's what my instinct was. Either religious or granola.

NP here -- Well, you're more realistic than I was -- my dream school was religious/spiritual and granola. So, you clearly get that within the parameters of DC independent schools and the crazy materialistic, status-conscious culture of this area generally, finding a place that has a more down-to-earth community is tough and a matter of relative judgment. That said, I'd urge you to take a look at St. Andrew's. Our DC is in the upper school there, and we really like the community and sense of values. We've had 2 older kids at "fancier" independent schools in the area that talk the talk of humility and empathy, but are really about status, power and money. St. Andrew's walks the walk.

In our experience w SAES, the head of school falls over in an obvious display of high level donor worshipping to such an extreme that it was sickening. Blatant arse kissing. Wealthy donor kids picked for all performances, brochures etc. Seats reserved in the front for them at performances. Regular tuition payers ignored. This was intolerable to us. Nothing down to earth about this.

Hmm . . . I've never seen seats reserved for big donors at any performance or game, and if you take a look at the website, you'll see plenty of kids whose families don't give a lot of money -- as well as some whose parents do . . . but you'll see that same mix on every school website. Similarly, the HOS at any school will greet donors at school events, but I see Robert greeting all parents with equal welcome, not just big donors. As far as "arse-kissing", I guess that's in the eye of the beholder . . . do you spend a lot of time checking out other people's arses?

I'm sharing my families experience there. I'm so glad you've seen otherwise. Somethings are obvious to some and not to others. Be well.

\

Sometimes envy causes us to see things that aren't really there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Jeff: I have an idea. You should create a contest for biggest douche bag of the year. My nominee for this year's contest is the person crowing about his/her Harvard MD/PhD.

No fair suggesting a contest you know you're going to win!

[Anonymous]

This forum isn't being very realistic. There are two types of people in the DMV. 1. People who work low paying guvment yobs. Some of these people may be down to earth but can't afford private schools. 2. People who used to work guvment yobs, but silt their souls for some $300K a year job. These people could afford public schools but also know what Jack Abramoff's or other lobbyist's shoes taste like after past licks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I realize this is a strange question, but I'm looking for a down-to-earth school that is also very academically rich and treats students like individuals. I'd prefer not to spend $40k/year -- but it's just barely possible for us to do that (with significant sacrifice). I've toured some schools and felt that the environment of wealth was so unusual that I worried what it would mean for my kids socially as they got into the pre-teen and teen years (e.g. social status being based on clothes, cars, fancy trips to Europe, newest Iphones, etc.) We are very fortunate in the grand scheme of things, but we do not travel in those circles and we don't want to. We come from public school backgrounds in middle class environments, and both enjoyed great academic success, so we have some fear of spoiling our kids.
But, we have a child who is very bright and unhappy in her large public elementary school. We need some more attention for her -- she probably could use some serious acceleration in many areas, but not others. She's never going to be the first kid with her hand up. She's smart, and a deep-thinker, but cautious and tentative. She would be happiest as a big fish in a small pond, we think. And we have another child who seems to be as academically inclined as kids get -- she could probably benefit from as challenging an environment as possible. She would probably also do well long-term in public, but we think we'd like them to go to school together if possible.
I'm open to suggestions. We're in Upper NW, but have some geographic flexibility.

Brookewood in Kensington, but only until 7th of 8th because after that academics and extras pale in comparison to any other school
Good academics, modest, good families. Very small. You have to not mind conservative Catholics though.
12k/year.

Who said GDS and Green Acres? Yes, liberal and good education but 40k. She said not 40k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I recommend Sandy Spring Friends School.

Friends say academics there aren't necessarily high level. Yes, laid back - it's all about the laid back. It's also wickedly expensive

[Anonymous]

While I wouldn't necessarily use "down to earth", GDS is very informal and the community is amazing, very committed to diversity and social justice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:While I wouldn't necessarily use "down to earth", GDS is very informal and the community is amazing, very committed to diversity and social justice.

+ The students call the teachers by their first names.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jeff: I have an idea. You should create a contest for biggest douche bag of the year. My nominee for this year's contest is the person crowing about his/her Harvard MD/PhD.

No fair suggesting a contest you know you're going to win!

Ha! I was setting things up nicely for myself. Thanks for fixing my original post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I recommend Sandy Spring Friends School.

Friends say academics there aren't necessarily high level. Yes, laid back - it's all about the laid back. It's also wickedly expensive

Friends saying academics aren't at a high level isn't really reliable information. I've had three kids graduate from SSFS and it's like any school - the opportunities are presented to the kids and they can take advantage of them if they want to. My coworkers, friends, and family all put down different area private schools and I find it interesting the people who are putting the schools down can't afford them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I recommend Sandy Spring Friends School.

Friends say academics there aren't necessarily high level. Yes, laid back - it's all about the laid back. It's also wickedly expensive

Friends saying academics aren't at a high level isn't really reliable information. I've had three kids graduate from SSFS and it's like any school - the opportunities are presented to the kids and they can take advantage of them if they want to. My coworkers, friends, and family all put down different area private schools and I find it interesting the people who are putting the schools down can't afford them.

Friends relative works at the school and friend loves the school. But for a child with some advanced skills she isn't getting the instruction or flexibility at that school. It's an issue for her.
For her other kids and in other subjects it's fine.

Many people have happily graduated from the school but that doesn't mean it's right for everyone

[Anonymous]

Find the school with parents that smoke the most weed and you will have your answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jeff: I have an idea. You should create a contest for biggest douche bag of the year. My nominee for this year's contest is the person crowing about his/her Harvard MD/PhD.

No fair suggesting a contest you know you're going to win!

Hey, I vote for the guy who condescendingly calls people "sweetheart" and "stupid" and accuses them of being uneducated. So yeah, I have a Harvard MD/PhD. I don't raise it unless people want to call me stupid and uneducated (oh, and sweetheart). But I guess that's behavior you like, so cool. Way to take the high ground.

[Anonymous]

NP here. May I suggest we return to the original topic?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I recommend Sandy Spring Friends School.

Friends say academics there aren't necessarily high level. Yes, laid back - it's all about the laid back. It's also wickedly expensive

Friends saying academics aren't at a high level isn't really reliable information. I've had three kids graduate from SSFS and it's like any school - the opportunities are presented to the kids and they can take advantage of them if they want to. My coworkers, friends, and family all put down different area private schools and I find it interesting the people who are putting the schools down can't afford them.

Friends relative works at the school and friend loves the school. But for a child with some advanced skills she isn't getting the instruction or flexibility at that school. It's an issue for her.
For her other kids and in other subjects it's fine.

Many people have happily graduated from the school but that doesn't mean it's right for everyone

SSFS wasn't initially on our radar because of some of the negative comments I had read in the archives----what a mistake that was! I'm the earlier poster who said that I wish we had considered it sooner---and I want to help set the record straight in case others rely too heavily on outdated DCUM information or hearsay. No school is the right fit for everyone----a hard lesson that we learned at our child's previous school(s), where other children may have excelled but our child suffered. We have a pretty bright (98th percentile WISC-IV) but somewhat unmotivated learner. SSFS is the first school to really hold our child accountable (and to have a learning specialist on staff to address both the giftedness AND the learning challenges). Our solidly middle class family really has to scrimp and save to pay the school tuition----but it's no higher than many of the other DC metro independents---in fact, it's on the lower end of the schools we considered (SSFS is $27.5K for middle school and $30.5K for high school). My child was slipping through the cracks (academically and emotionally) in the previous public and independent school environments. Now I'm much more optimistic that our child is back on track toward eventual college acceptance---and that SSFS will help our child find the best fit in terms of colleges---even if that's not HYP (though they certainly send students to these schools). More importantly, we have watched our child's self-esteem flourish, surrounded by very devoted/accepting teachers and a kind student/parent community---which wasn't our experience in other schools. It's a very special but pretty unassuming place---in keeping with the Quaker tradition. To us, it feels like they're more devoted to their mission than to establishing a "prestigious" reputation---and that's what makes it one of this area's best kept secrets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jeff: I have an idea. You should create a contest for biggest douche bag of the year. My nominee for this year's contest is the person crowing about his/her Harvard MD/PhD.

No fair suggesting a contest you know you're going to win!

+1

So DB2015 badgered Dr. Crimson repeatedly about her degrees and then it becomes crowing? Nice job, DB of 2015!