Friends, Grace or Browning for High School

[Anonymous]

Pros and cons?

[Anonymous]

'm not a fan of all boys for HS. Friends too woke. I'd pick Grace.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t pick any of them over a SHSAT school or a top GenEd school if you’ve got those as potential options.

[Anonymous]

Grace.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t pick any of them over a SHSAT school or a top GenEd school if you’ve got those as potential options.

Depends on your kid. They have a much smaller, more personal learning environment. Able to devote resources as necessary, few if any questions asked. It depends a lot on your finances. Would I over-extend myself financially for one of them - probably not. But if I had the resources and had a kid who would do better in a smaller place, I would definitely go with one of them. No questions asked.

I don't know Browning as well but Friends and Grace are very positive learning environments. A smart kid can still go Ivy from one of them with less drama and pressure than at one of the TT, big name schools that everyone obsesses over.

[Anonymous]

We have almost the exact same choice but with a different third choice than Friends. Grace makes so much sense for our family, we love their schedule and location, but we've had off experiences with them every step of the way, where areas Browning has been so personal and lovely. We know people at both schools who like them, both schools have adored heads of school...it's going to be a hard decision. I think it will come down to my DC deciding on co-ed and progressive vs single sex and fairly traditional when they do their re-visit. We did not apply to Friends, so I can't speak to it other than what I've heard from families who go there and friends who have worked there. It wasn't for us but is a great school. One deciding factor for my child was that it seemed to have more homework but again, that's child dependent.

[Anonymous]

What type of off experiences?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have almost the exact same choice but with a different third choice than Friends. Grace makes so much sense for our family, we love their schedule and location, but we've had off experiences with them every step of the way, where areas Browning has been so personal and lovely. We know people at both schools who like them, both schools have adored heads of school...it's going to be a hard decision. I think it will come down to my DC deciding on co-ed and progressive vs single sex and fairly traditional when they do their re-visit. We did not apply to Friends, so I can't speak to it other than what I've heard from families who go there and friends who have worked there. It wasn't for us but is a great school. One deciding factor for my child was that it seemed to have more homework but again, that's child dependent.

Interesting as we had a very opposite experience. We liked Browning but ran into too many meat head hockey player types there. They are the exception but not the rule but it was too much. Also realized that single sex was a horrible fit - if single sex is appropriate for your kid then it is a different equation.

Grace was the warmest school we visited (while also not going too far into the touchy feely, super progressive, kumbaya zone). The "Yes" video we got when accepted really exemplified that. It is not perfect, like every school, but the pros far outweighed the cons. Also curious as to what the "off experiences" were.

Friends is also a great school but agree that there is a bit too much work for the sake of work (I am all for academically intense). And the performative wokeness (constant showing off the center for peace studies or whatever it is called) was too much

[Anonymous]

We had a weird interview where the interviewer could not answer any of our questions about the school (although they were lovely to speak to) and they clearly hadn't even looked at our application. The tour was a whirlwind and we didn't see things like the theater, a classroom or a common space...it was all just walking down hallways and pointing vaguely in the direction of things. I just assumed we weren't getting in and they'd already decided that. Was surprised when we got the acceptance. We loved their Spring Open house, which is what hooked us, so we didn't withdraw our application, plus we know people who are happy there, so I convinced my child to go to the revisit day to give it another chance. It just feels like we've been there 3 times and still have no clue what the school actually looks like or how it functions, and I'm not sure we ever will unless my child actually goes there. I get that every school puts up boundaries and lets you see only what they want you to see, but we definitely know the least about Grace just from the school themselves. Browning felt like exactly the opposite. We're trying to figure out how much weight to put on these experiences when choosing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had a weird interview where the interviewer could not answer any of our questions about the school (although they were lovely to speak to) and they clearly hadn't even looked at our application. The tour was a whirlwind and we didn't see things like the theater, a classroom or a common space...it was all just walking down hallways and pointing vaguely in the direction of things. I just assumed we weren't getting in and they'd already decided that. Was surprised when we got the acceptance. We loved their Spring Open house, which is what hooked us, so we didn't withdraw our application, plus we know people who are happy there, so I convinced my child to go to the revisit day to give it another chance. It just feels like we've been there 3 times and still have no clue what the school actually looks like or how it functions, and I'm not sure we ever will unless my child actually goes there. I get that every school puts up boundaries and lets you see only what they want you to see, but we definitely know the least about Grace just from the school themselves. Browning felt like exactly the opposite. We're trying to figure out how much weight to put on these experiences when choosing.

Did you go to the parent re-visit at Grace? That would have given you another chance to look around and ask more questions.

Grace's facilities have pros and cons. It is a retrofitted office building. So some of the classroom spaces are a bit odd, but some facilities are great (such as science labs) as it is all fairly new. They don't really have a proper auditorium on site - they use the gym for big gatherings (and sometimes go to the church for meetings). But they have a fairly robust theater program - they have decent rehearsal rooms and then do the performances elsewhere (not sure where). There are good common spaces - the library is bright and good for gathering, there is a commons area below that, and various huddle spaces scattered throughout the building. The neighborhood is great and impacts the feel of the school, though there isn't "out lunch" until upper grades, which is a good thing - forcing kids to stick around builds community and the food apparently is good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had a weird interview where the interviewer could not answer any of our questions about the school (although they were lovely to speak to) and they clearly hadn't even looked at our application. The tour was a whirlwind and we didn't see things like the theater, a classroom or a common space...it was all just walking down hallways and pointing vaguely in the direction of things. I just assumed we weren't getting in and they'd already decided that. Was surprised when we got the acceptance. We loved their Spring Open house, which is what hooked us, so we didn't withdraw our application, plus we know people who are happy there, so I convinced my child to go to the revisit day to give it another chance. It just feels like we've been there 3 times and still have no clue what the school actually looks like or how it functions, and I'm not sure we ever will unless my child actually goes there. I get that every school puts up boundaries and lets you see only what they want you to see, but we definitely know the least about Grace just from the school themselves. Browning felt like exactly the opposite. We're trying to figure out how much weight to put on these experiences when choosing.

Did you go to the parent re-visit at Grace? That would have given you another chance to look around and ask more questions.

Grace's facilities have pros and cons. It is a retrofitted office building. So some of the classroom spaces are a bit odd, but some facilities are great (such as science labs) as it is all fairly new. They don't really have a proper auditorium on site - they use the gym for big gatherings (and sometimes go to the church for meetings). But they have a fairly robust theater program - they have decent rehearsal rooms and then do the performances elsewhere (not sure where). There are good common spaces - the library is bright and good for gathering, there is a commons area below that, and various huddle spaces scattered throughout the building. The neighborhood is great and impacts the feel of the school, though there isn't "out lunch" until upper grades, which is a good thing - forcing kids to stick around builds community and the food apparently is good.

This is super helpful thanks! No, neither my partner nor I received a parent revisit invitation. We definitely would have attended.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had a weird interview where the interviewer could not answer any of our questions about the school (although they were lovely to speak to) and they clearly hadn't even looked at our application. The tour was a whirlwind and we didn't see things like the theater, a classroom or a common space...it was all just walking down hallways and pointing vaguely in the direction of things. I just assumed we weren't getting in and they'd already decided that. Was surprised when we got the acceptance. We loved their Spring Open house, which is what hooked us, so we didn't withdraw our application, plus we know people who are happy there, so I convinced my child to go to the revisit day to give it another chance. It just feels like we've been there 3 times and still have no clue what the school actually looks like or how it functions, and I'm not sure we ever will unless my child actually goes there. I get that every school puts up boundaries and lets you see only what they want you to see, but we definitely know the least about Grace just from the school themselves. Browning felt like exactly the opposite. We're trying to figure out how much weight to put on these experiences when choosing.

Did you go to the parent re-visit at Grace? That would have given you another chance to look around and ask more questions.

Grace's facilities have pros and cons. It is a retrofitted office building. So some of the classroom spaces are a bit odd, but some facilities are great (such as science labs) as it is all fairly new. They don't really have a proper auditorium on site - they use the gym for big gatherings (and sometimes go to the church for meetings). But they have a fairly robust theater program - they have decent rehearsal rooms and then do the performances elsewhere (not sure where). There are good common spaces - the library is bright and good for gathering, there is a commons area below that, and various huddle spaces scattered throughout the building. The neighborhood is great and impacts the feel of the school, though there isn't "out lunch" until upper grades, which is a good thing - forcing kids to stick around builds community and the food apparently is good.

This is super helpful thanks! No, neither my partner nor I received a parent revisit invitation. We definitely would have attended.

I don't know if they got rid of it. It was incredibly helpful - when you are touring and interviewing you have to hold back questions, but once accepted, you can ask whatever you want as you are the buyer, not the seller (within reason). It really reflected well on the school - everyone was very open and honest and we had a few questions that required follow up and they got right back to us.

If you want another tour I would reach out and they might arrange it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have almost the exact same choice but with a different third choice than Friends. Grace makes so much sense for our family, we love their schedule and location, but we've had off experiences with them every step of the way, where areas Browning has been so personal and lovely. We know people at both schools who like them, both schools have adored heads of school...it's going to be a hard decision. I think it will come down to my DC deciding on co-ed and progressive vs single sex and fairly traditional when they do their re-visit. We did not apply to Friends, so I can't speak to it other than what I've heard from families who go there and friends who have worked there. It wasn't for us but is a great school. One deciding factor for my child was that it seemed to have more homework but again, that's child dependent.

I also love the schedule at Grace. I've found it hard to get concrete information about what the high school experience is actually like. Their website isn't very informative. Over the weekend I was trying to find info about their extracurricular activities and clubs and could find very little. We had a warm interviewer at Grace but wasn't overly impressed with the tour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have almost the exact same choice but with a different third choice than Friends. Grace makes so much sense for our family, we love their schedule and location, but we've had off experiences with them every step of the way, where areas Browning has been so personal and lovely. We know people at both schools who like them, both schools have adored heads of school...it's going to be a hard decision. I think it will come down to my DC deciding on co-ed and progressive vs single sex and fairly traditional when they do their re-visit. We did not apply to Friends, so I can't speak to it other than what I've heard from families who go there and friends who have worked there. It wasn't for us but is a great school. One deciding factor for my child was that it seemed to have more homework but again, that's child dependent.

I also love the schedule at Grace. I've found it hard to get concrete information about what the high school experience is actually like. Their website isn't very informative. Over the weekend I was trying to find info about their extracurricular activities and clubs and could find very little. We had a warm interviewer at Grace but wasn't overly impressed with the tour.

Recent Grace parent here - what do you want to know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have almost the exact same choice but with a different third choice than Friends. Grace makes so much sense for our family, we love their schedule and location, but we've had off experiences with them every step of the way, where areas Browning has been so personal and lovely. We know people at both schools who like them, both schools have adored heads of school...it's going to be a hard decision. I think it will come down to my DC deciding on co-ed and progressive vs single sex and fairly traditional when they do their re-visit. We did not apply to Friends, so I can't speak to it other than what I've heard from families who go there and friends who have worked there. It wasn't for us but is a great school. One deciding factor for my child was that it seemed to have more homework but again, that's child dependent.

I also love the schedule at Grace. I've found it hard to get concrete information about what the high school experience is actually like. Their website isn't very informative. Over the weekend I was trying to find info about their extracurricular activities and clubs and could find very little. We had a warm interviewer at Grace but wasn't overly impressed with the tour.

Yes, the most informative presentation I witnessed was the original Parent's League 20 minute virtual one they do every Fall. That's where I learned about their schedule and unique Wednesdays to begin with. Glad I'm not alone in being somewhat at sea about the nuts and bolts of the school. Hopefully we'll get a parent revisit invitation like all of the other schools have extended. They were two days behind extending the student revisit invitation to us as well. At some point it comes across as they are not actually interested in our child, which may be true, I just wish I could figure it out!