Private schools with nice kids

[Anonymous]

I have an 8yo DD and trying to decide what is best for her. She has two older siblings both thriving in FCPS. My DD is more shy and less confident. She in the AAP program and getting what she needs academically. We are at an AAP center with strong science, math, engineering, band and orchestra. This area (McLean) is very competitive and I don’t think this is the necessarily the best environment for her.

The kids we know who are at certain private schools are not the nicest kids so not sure if those schools would even be better for our daughter. DD plays sports but not at a competitive level. She swims, plays tennis, soccer, golf and soccer at a very beginner level.

What schools are known for having really nice kids?

DD has had some issues with friends this year and think this would be a good excuse to try private. DH thinks the private school mean girls will be worse.

[Anonymous]

We chose St. Andrew's because it was supposed to have nice kids, and we have been incredibly disappointed on that front. I think it all might depend on the class.

[Anonymous]

In smaller private schools, the number of nice kids definitely varies by class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We chose St. Andrew's because it was supposed to have nice kids, and we have been incredibly disappointed on that front. I think it all might depend on the class.

Every school depends on the class

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We chose St. Andrew's because it was supposed to have nice kids, and we have been incredibly disappointed on that front. I think it all might depend on the class.

+1 Does not live up to the advertising.

[Anonymous]

The problem with privates is that the toxic kids have a lot more power, and tend to have a ripple effect so that a few bad kids can control the culture of the entire grade. So even if 90% of the kids are nice, the overall experience is bad.
Stay in public! if you are worried about academic rigor, just do AAP and load on honors and AP classes in HS!
We have three kids who have been in both and public always is a way more pleasant experience.

[Anonymous]

Agree that you should stick with public, you will find shitty kids in all the privates. The one exception is Connolly School of the Holy Child in Potomac. The girls are unbelievably nice. It is not particularly rigorous academically, which might be a part of the reason. But if you are Catholic and Holy Child is geographically workable, that is worth considering.

[Anonymous]

You should definitely avoid Congressional School if you want to be in class with nice students. The students are not even nice to kids who visit the school. The kids of faculty and staff get away with everything and students even talk about it. The middle school director involved in a lawsuit several years ago is still there and things just keep getting worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem with privates is that the toxic kids have a lot more power, and tend to have a ripple effect so that a few bad kids can control the culture of the entire grade. So even if 90% of the kids are nice, the overall experience is bad.
Stay in public! if you are worried about academic rigor, just do AAP and load on honors and AP classes in HS!
We have three kids who have been in both and public always is a way more pleasant experience.

This is 100% accurate. Our education consultant said that the trend in DC independent schools is little to no discipline and that perception aligns with our experience and the experience of our friends in multiple different independents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with privates is that the toxic kids have a lot more power, and tend to have a ripple effect so that a few bad kids can control the culture of the entire grade. So even if 90% of the kids are nice, the overall experience is bad.
Stay in public! if you are worried about academic rigor, just do AAP and load on honors and AP classes in HS!
We have three kids who have been in both and public always is a way more pleasant experience.

This is 100% accurate. Our education consultant said that the trend in DC independent schools is little to no discipline and that perception aligns with our experience and the experience of our friends in multiple different independents.

And yet there you all are.

[Anonymous]

We switched privates for a few bad kids in the class. Because of them, the rest of the children picked up many bad behaviors. There really should be a better filter in the application process to filter oit these kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We switched privates for a few bad kids in the class. Because of them, the rest of the children picked up many bad behaviors. There really should be a better filter in the application process to filter oit these kids.

Same. A lot of families are moving to public too.

[Anonymous]

Why don’t you post also high-paying job with a nice boss?

Sometimes it’s just pure luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with privates is that the toxic kids have a lot more power, and tend to have a ripple effect so that a few bad kids can control the culture of the entire grade. So even if 90% of the kids are nice, the overall experience is bad.
Stay in public! if you are worried about academic rigor, just do AAP and load on honors and AP classes in HS!
We have three kids who have been in both and public always is a way more pleasant experience.

This is 100% accurate. Our education consultant said that the trend in DC independent schools is little to no discipline and that perception aligns with our experience and the experience of our friends in multiple different independents.

And yet there you all are.

We are all trying to figure out what is right. Different poster, but we too were really disappointed by the impact terrible children have on a class in private school.

We ultimately switched to public. W schools. No regrets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We chose St. Andrew's because it was supposed to have nice kids, and we have been incredibly disappointed on that front. I think it all might depend on the class.

Every school depends on the class

This. One year might have lots of nice kids. Another year might not have as many.