Lowell vs Washington Episcopal School (WES)

[Anonymous]

Any feedback on Lowell vs WES? Have heard WES is more traditional vs Lowell is more progressive - not sure what that exactly means.....Are considering both for middle school (6th) for DD. Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

WES can have a very small grade level in middle school, as low as 30 kids. That was not appealing to us, however many families seem very happy there. I don’t know much about Lowell or their grade level class sizes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WES can have a very small grade level in middle school, as low as 30 kids. That was not appealing to us, however many families seem very happy there. I don’t know much about Lowell or their grade level class sizes.

This year is WES' largest middle school in years. I think every grade has at least 36 kids in it, and it seems like the upper elementary grades all do as well.

[Anonymous]

Progressive education wasn’t something we were looking for, but once we learned about it, we really loved it. It’s been wonderful for our kids, who attend Lowell.

Here’s a good summary of what Progressive Ed is and what it isn’t. https://school.bankstreet.edu/about/our-approach/progressive-education-rooted-in-tradition/progressive-education-why-its-hard-to-beat-but-also-hard-to-find/

We’ve been pleased and impressed by how Lowell connects multiple subjects, and they are working to incorporate more project based learning.

Definitely worth a tour and connecting with their admissions office.

[Anonymous]

Also— I just saw you are looking for 6th. Some folks are going to tell you to just apply to a 6-12 place, which does make it easy. But the middle school at Lowell is really super! Many parents whose kids have graduated have told me how happy they were with middle school

[Anonymous]

They are very different schools. Most people wouldn’t apply to both.

[Anonymous]

Location, location, location.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are very different schools. Most people wouldn’t apply to both.

Anyone with suggestions on schools similar to WES as a point of comparison? Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are very different schools. Most people wouldn’t apply to both.

Anyone with suggestions on schools similar to WES as a point of comparison? Thanks in advance!

Maybe St. Patrick’s?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are very different schools. Most people wouldn’t apply to both.

Anyone with suggestions on schools similar to WES as a point of comparison? Thanks in advance!

Maybe St. Patrick’s?

Schools that are similar to WES would be Norwood (most similar), St. Patrick’s, and for the K-6 portion NPS.

[Anonymous]

Loads of people apply to both WES and Lowell. There are families that have switched from one to the other in both directions.

Lowell might be considered more progressive and WES more traditional, but although surely left-leaning, WES probably would not put a picture of a kid in a political t-shirt on the homepage of their website, like Lowell has done. I think Lowell really leans into that identity. I think WES is indeed probably ideologically and parent-community-wise more similar to Norwood than to Lowell, with NPS and St. Pats skewing equal distance to the other side of the spectrum.

As far as academic profiles, I am less certain. When we were looking, we felt that St. Patrick’s offered a traditional curriculum, and WES as well. Beauvoir and NPS both seemed more coddling in their approach to teaching (and I don’t mean that in a bad way).

They’re all great schools. Pick one you like that’s close to your home. I LOVE being five minutes away and it is by far more impactful to our lives than so many of the other minute details often discussed here.

[Anonymous]

I agree on location being way more important than you expect for elementary and middle. Not only for getting them to school and getting to school events and performances. But many of your kids friends will likely to be clustered within 10-15 minutes of the school so that’s where you will be driving for their friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Loads of people apply to both WES and Lowell. There are families that have switched from one to the other in both directions.

Lowell might be considered more progressive and WES more traditional, but although surely left-leaning, WES probably would not put a picture of a kid in a political t-shirt on the homepage of their website, like Lowell has done. I think Lowell really leans into that identity. I think WES is indeed probably ideologically and parent-community-wise more similar to Norwood than to Lowell, with NPS and St. Pats skewing equal distance to the other side of the spectrum.

As far as academic profiles, I am less certain. When we were looking, we felt that St. Patrick’s offered a traditional curriculum, and WES as well. Beauvoir and NPS both seemed more coddling in their approach to teaching (and I don’t mean that in a bad way).

They’re all great schools. Pick one you like that’s close to your home. I LOVE being five minutes away and it is by far more impactful to our lives than so many of the other minute details often discussed here.

So true on location/commute - I wish any of these schools were 5 min away from us! Sadly, they are not and neither is our public middle school - so it's all a wash. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Lowell is struggling financially (drastically raising tuition last year) and the HoS’ narcissistic tendencies have driven many wonderful teachers away year after year (well above the average for other area privates).

[Anonymous]

Lowell is bleeding faculty and appears to be imploding.
My sister works there and calls me weekly to complain about it..

I have two WES graduates. Both are doing fantastic and still speak with all of their WES friends. The Head has a great vision and the families are nice, down to earth people. We loved it!