NPS

[Anonymous]

^^^^Agreed! It’s definitely a poster who does not attend the school.

[Anonymous]

We are a longtime NPS family, and when we started at NPS it was shockingly white. Like, nearly every student was blond-haired and blue-eyed. That has changed over the years.

I do think admissions itself was/is the problem, and the addition of URM associates in that office may have had something to do with the change. It’s still a very white administration despite the HOS.

[Anonymous]

Most privates have retained their teachers. There is something going on at NPS and I can't put my finger on it. I think it is incredibly small and stifling. Hardly any windows and they stumble over each other on the field. It looks like it has not been updated since the 70s. I don't want to think about the library. We are declining. The headmaster is wonderful but he has some work to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do people go to NPS because it’s not diverse, or in spite of it?

People go to NPS but because it is their back up school.

[Anonymous]

We are a NPS family and absolutely love the school. This thread seems like it's from another universe to be honest with you and I'm sorry that some families are having negative experiences. Our experiences have been very very positive.

The school has done wonders for our children - academically, socially and emotionally, and in fostering a strong sense of community. Our children love going to school and love learning.

We chose the school because during the tour we were so impressed by the 6th grader providing us with a tour, we felt that if our DC turned out to be anything like the tour guide, we'd be very lucky parents. So far, so good! It's been everything we hoped for and more.

I also think it's been doing a really impressive job in emphasizing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - from admissions and staff, to the counselors, to what's being taught in the classroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are a NPS family and absolutely love the school. This thread seems like it's from another universe to be honest with you and I'm sorry that some families are having negative experiences. Our experiences have been very very positive.

The school has done wonders for our children - academically, socially and emotionally, and in fostering a strong sense of community. Our children love going to school and love learning.

We chose the school because during the tour we were so impressed by the 6th grader providing us with a tour, we felt that if our DC turned out to be anything like the tour guide, we'd be very lucky parents. So far, so good! It's been everything we hoped for and more.

I also think it's been doing a really impressive job in emphasizing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - from admissions and staff, to the counselors, to what's being taught in the classroom.

Are you white?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most privates have retained their teachers. There is something going on at NPS and I can't put my finger on it. I think it is incredibly small and stifling. Hardly any windows and they stumble over each other on the field. It looks like it has not been updated since the 70s. I don't want to think about the library. We are declining. The headmaster is wonderful but he has some work to do.

This is a bizarre comment. It is a small school to be sure, since it is only designed for elementary, but to say that there are no windows? You must not have gotten the tour due to Covid. Lots of windows, very much updated (I actually always wonder how they keep it so pristine... 3 kids make a complete mess of my house!) and the library is delightful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do people go to NPS because it’s not diverse, or in spite of it?

People go to NPS but because it is their back up school.

False!! People choose NPS over other schools all the time including the beloved BVR. I have no dog in this fight but facts are facts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most privates have retained their teachers. There is something going on at NPS and I can't put my finger on it. I think it is incredibly small and stifling. Hardly any windows and they stumble over each other on the field. It looks like it has not been updated since the 70s. I don't want to think about the library. We are declining. The headmaster is wonderful but he has some work to do.

This is a bizarre comment. It is a small school to be sure, since it is only designed for elementary, but to say that there are no windows? You must not have gotten the tour due to Covid. Lots of windows, very much updated (I actually always wonder how they keep it so pristine... 3 kids make a complete mess of my house!) and the library is delightful.

No windows? You absolutely have not been to NPS. Troll!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most privates have retained their teachers. There is something going on at NPS and I can't put my finger on it. I think it is incredibly small and stifling. Hardly any windows and they stumble over each other on the field. It looks like it has not been updated since the 70s. I don't want to think about the library. We are declining. The headmaster is wonderful but he has some work to do.

This is a bizarre comment. It is a small school to be sure, since it is only designed for elementary, but to say that there are no windows? You must not have gotten the tour due to Covid. Lots of windows, very much updated (I actually always wonder how they keep it so pristine... 3 kids make a complete mess of my house!) and the library is delightful.

No windows? You absolutely have not been to NPS. Troll!

Agreed! Nearly every classroom has many big windows and lots of light-- only a few multipurpose rooms go without natural light, and even then there are large windows or glass walls to bring light in from the hallway light well.

The building was rennovated in 2014. I would love to see the playground get a makeover, but the school itself is lovely. The campus is historical and hardware updates are made to match, hence a certain old-timey feel to certain building exteriors. Not much you can do about that!

[Anonymous]

The bullying in the upper grades is a serious problem. We also like the HOS but think there is a lot of work to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The bullying in the upper grades is a serious problem. We also like the HOS but think there is a lot of work to do.

Could you please talk a bit more on this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The bullying in the upper grades is a serious problem. We also like the HOS but think there is a lot of work to do.

Could you please talk a bit more on this?

Kids are physically aggressive and have been suspended which I never thought would happen in elementary school.

[Anonymous]

I will say this -- I have never spoken ill of the school or even posted about it until now. I'm not writing to complain, but to offer a perspective that might be helpful and that's because your question. It's not my intent to criticize the school because we did thing it was a nice place with a lot of nice families and kids. At the time we were there, I would call it well meaning. The main challenge is that it's just too darn white and that creates a lot of blind spots for the school. It's a nice community overall. We were an affluent family of color. To be honest, I got the sense that many in the community assumed most of the families of color were on aid. I saw a lot of the problems stemming from lack of diversity overall and with implicit bias. For example, if there were three black kids in a grade, it seemed that the school would put one per class. That's diversity to benefit white kids, but for black kids, that makes them the "only" in their class. Does that make sense? I remember an incident in a younger grade where someone egged my child to do something, and only my child was reprimanded. Maybe bias, maybe not -- but I didn't like being in a place where I had to keep questioning it. My husband would stand in line at the pancake events and felt like people he had met on numerous occasions would look "through" him as though they didn't see him. He was the one who had to make the effort to remind. We moved to a different school and felt an immediate relief and a sense of belonging that we didn't experience at NPS. Again, it's not to criticize NPS. It was just that we didn't feel a sense of belonging and I was worried that my kid was going to be subject to implicit bias and that it would mess with self esteem. My biggest recommendations would to hire more diverse teachers and to really have the whole parent body (not just the diversity crowd) attend workshops on implicit bias/or equity and inclusion.

I too have experienced at NPS being looked through by parents I have previously met, but I now suspect it is a UMC thing, not meant to be rude or even off putting. Or maybe I am too generous. Anyhow, it took some getting used to.

[Anonymous]

I’m URM and I don’t at all feel that way. I’m always invited to places. Their houses. Me and my kids. I guess it’s different for everyone so I won’t down play anyone else’s experience.