Up county (MoCo) school - Seneca academy vs Butler Montessori

[Anonymous]

Hi all: we’re starting to look for schools for our kids and we live in north Potomac area.

We truly love both schools but wanted to see if anyone had any experiences in both. Any guidance would be appreciated for our 2 little ones (2 and 7).

FWIW, our oldest is a 2e.

[Anonymous]

Only have experience with SA as a couple neighbors have their kids there. They like it very much. Don’t know anyone personally at butler but I also hear good things. I don’t think you can go wrong with either, to be honest. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

I don't know much about either, but from what I have heard, it seems like SA is boy-heavy especially in the upper elementary grades. My friend's daughter left after 4th b/c she was going to be the only girl in her class. That was a few years ago, so maybe things have changed. But still something to consider.

[Anonymous]

OP here - Thank you ^^.

Bumping for more visibility

[Anonymous]

Both schools will have lots of outdoor time, no tech/low tech, and an emphasis on whole child development. But they are quite different in other aspects.

Butler is a Montessori school so it has mixed age classrooms (a three year age range) and class sizes in the mid-20s. At Butler kids are in the same classroom, with the same teacher, for three years. The teaching approach, structure of the day, and classroom materials must all align with Montessori standards as part of its accreditation. Children do small group lessons and are supposed to do follow up work, or practice, based on the lessons. Some kids really thrive in this kind of environment and learn a ton, but others spend a lot of time wandering aimlessly around the classroom and chit-chatting during the work period and don't end up learning much. Butler does not give tests, grades, or homework. Kids have to take standardized tests, but the school will not share your child's scores with you. It is very hard to know what your child is learning at Butler.

Seneca is one grade per class, and each class is about half the size of Butler's. Teachers give lessons to the whole class, with some breakouts for reading and math. It is an IB school, which gives it an approach to learning but does not dictate the curriculum. For your preschooler, Seneca classrooms are going to have some "toys" in them, whereas Butler will only have Montessori materials. Seneca is also inquiry-based, which really develops the kids' ability to ask questions. Seneca uses specific curricula for math and reading based on what they think are the strongest curricula available.

I would ask both schools about if/how they could accommodate your 2e child. I would consider your children's interests and temperaments (is your kid intrinsically driven to learn? -->Montessori; does your kid love imaginative play? need some structure? --> Seneca, etc.) and your family's approach to education in general and decide based on those. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Seneca Academy is lovely. They do the preschool and younger years very, very well. Just a warm and nuturing environment. My only caveat would be that once you get into the upper grades (especially 4th and 5th) classes are very small. PP is correct that the 4th grade this year is particularly boy heavy. 5th grade has only 6 or 7 kids.
Seneca almost shut down a few years ago but seems to be in a good place. The Head of School is retiring at the end of this year, but I don't know anything about the incoming Head.
I'm not sure what you mean by 2e as I've heard it to describe gifted but also neuro typical. Seneca has small class sizes so that is helpful for supporting differences and a fair chunk of them have ADHD. If your child is brilliant, it may work as they meet the kids at the level they are at and the material they are interested in, but I don't think it's a super challenging curriculum or intense peers.

[Anonymous]

OP, I had a child at Butler in lower elementary and I was not super happy with it but that's my kiddo. I know other families whose kids excelled there. Montessori, I don't believe, is for every kid.

[Anonymous]

If you're in it for the long road, the Butler is the better option as Seneca stops at 5th grade and gets uncomfortably small beginning around 3rd. Both seem strong on SEL but may not have the curriculum needed to transition to other schools down the line if desired.

[Anonymous]

Both great schools but very different. Seneca is IB and Butler is Montessori. I suggest touring both schools. I've known parents at both. Butler runs from infant through high school and is very well established. They tend to fill up fast, especially in younger grades so I suggest you tour and apply early.