What private schools have the best cultures for parents becoming friends?

[Anonymous]

We're absolutely prioritizing the best fit for our kiddos. So please don't worry about that.

But many schools would seem to fit the bill. So now, we're looking for the best place for our family.

[Anonymous]

I’m not sure it matters so much by school, but more about finding your people at a school. When you visit, try to get a vibe among the parents (although that can be hard since most visits are with other prospective parents, not existing families).

And while people tend to be more open to / likely to form friendships with other parents when kids are young, if your kids aren’t young, you may want to look for a school where your kid will be entering with a decent cohort of other new kids. Parents who don’t know many people at the school may be more interested in making friends with other parents .

Also, it’s easier to be friends with people that live closer, and being closer to the school will likely mean that you’re closer to where more parents live.

Finally, IME, if the school skews wealthier, the parents are more likely to skew older and there will be more families where one parent doesn’t work (usually the mom).

[Anonymous]

It really depends on the class but overall, we’ve had a great experience at Langley.

[Anonymous]

Very grade dependent, so take it with a grain of salt, but I have kids at a well known private in DC and am good friends with families at several others. The ones where families have the strongest bond with the school community seem to be Sheridan, Maret and Langley.

[Anonymous]

In my experience, the K-3rd/8th parents seem a little more down to earth. There’s an element of the parents planning for their kids HS that is more high strung.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very grade dependent, so take it with a grain of salt, but I have kids at a well known private in DC and am good friends with families at several others. The ones where families have the strongest bond with the school community seem to be Sheridan, Maret and Langley.

Second Maret. Very tight-knit community (despite the one troll on here)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
We're absolutely prioritizing the best fit for our kiddos. So please don't worry about that.

But many schools would seem to fit the bill. So now, we're looking for the best place for our family.

Schools that tend to not have a high percentage of families that belong to Chevy or Metropolitan Club. We have been at a few different communities and some of the single sex schools tend to have the highest percentage of these types of parents and they stick together and are not open to friendships with others unless you can give them something ie: social or professional status.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very grade dependent, so take it with a grain of salt, but I have kids at a well known private in DC and am good friends with families at several others. The ones where families have the strongest bond with the school community seem to be Sheridan, Maret and Langley.

Second Langley. Our child's grade has been awesome. very tightly knit parent group. like the PP said though, it does depend on the grade. Also remember that with a very social grade, the downside is that some people feel hurt when they have not been invited to certain events.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
We're absolutely prioritizing the best fit for our kiddos. So please don't worry about that.

But many schools would seem to fit the bill. So now, we're looking for the best place for our family.

Have heard good things or have had personal experience making friends at the following: Maret, Gonzaga, NCS

[Anonymous]

Agree with pp who mentioned looking at an entry grade where there are a large number of new families joining.

You can also ask about what the school does to foster connection among parents (logical follow up question to how they help new students acclimate). I know Field has new parent dinners and Burke does a new parent event.

I also found the accepted student events were useful in feeling whether or not we as parents would fit in since you have most of the class represented by then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree with pp who mentioned looking at an entry grade where there are a large number of new families joining.

You can also ask about what the school does to foster connection among parents (logical follow up question to how they help new students acclimate). I know Field has new parent dinners and Burke does a new parent event.

I also found the accepted student events were useful in feeling whether or not we as parents would fit in since you have most of the class represented by then.

Parent community is key. The school's efforts will do nothing if there are parents that have no interest in meeting new people because they already have their people that they know at the school previously which alludes to the post above.

[Anonymous]

It really depends on the grade and the parents. In our DC's class, there are 2-3 moms who have been absolutely amazing. They are the ones who always take initiative to plan fun get togethers for the parents and have been very inclusive. I truly don't feel they have any ulterior motives except just being genuinely nice people who are very social. You need a couple of those in your child's grade to have a tight knit community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very grade dependent, so take it with a grain of salt, but I have kids at a well known private in DC and am good friends with families at several others. The ones where families have the strongest bond with the school community seem to be Sheridan, Maret and Langley.

Second Langley. Our child's grade has been awesome. very tightly knit parent group. like the PP said though, it does depend on the grade. Also remember that with a very social grade, the downside is that some people feel hurt when they have not been invited to certain events.

What certain events? Why wouldn’t everyone be invited?

[Anonymous]

Repeat that it depends on the grade.

Understand that schools that have a high percentage of parents who are lawyers, lobbyists, and real estate agents are populated by people who see others through the lens of money and status.

Avoid Sidwell, GDS, NCS, STA, Potomac, Maret, and Holton.

That said, these are some of the most rigorous and prestigious schools in the area. We have children at some of these schools and have accepted that while the schools are academically good for our kids, they are not where we’re going to find many of our peeps. There are some, just not many.

We keep our kids grounded through activities and friendship networks outside of school. As parents we also have strong friendships that aren’t school-based.

If you’re at one of the aforementioned schools and looking to make good new friends, you may be disappointed unless you have social clout and wealth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Repeat that it depends on the grade.

Understand that schools that have a high percentage of parents who are lawyers, lobbyists, and real estate agents are populated by people who see others through the lens of money and status.

Avoid Sidwell, GDS, NCS, STA, Potomac, Maret, and Holton.

That said, these are some of the most rigorous and prestigious schools in the area. We have children at some of these schools and have accepted that while the schools are academically good for our kids, they are not where we’re going to find many of our peeps. There are some, just not many.

We keep our kids grounded through activities and friendship networks outside of school. As parents we also have strong friendships that aren’t school-based.

If you’re at one of the aforementioned schools and looking to make good new friends, you may be disappointed unless you have social clout and wealth.

My child attends one of these schools. If you start at the school’s entry years—K for Sidwell/GDS/Maret/Potomac or 4th for NCS/STA/Holton—the friendships are organic and less about what you have to offer because you all are in the same boat of being new. Otherwise, start at a larger expansion year