Blessed Sacrament vs Stone Ridge for K

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have any insight as to what school is better at the K level?

Optimistically thinking that we have the luxury of having a choice. I really like both schools and think my daughter would do great at either. Blessed Sacrament is significantly less money than Stone Ridge; are there any true trade-offs?

[Anonymous]

I am applying there also. I wish I could tell you about Blessed Sacrament but I don't know a lot other than a work friend's child is in their K and they love it..but..they are only going to go there for a few years until some privates that open I think in third grade i.e. not until 8th. My opinion from what I have heard and observed about Stoneridge is that it is a wonderful, supportive place for a girl. My husband's friend went there and loved it and I found the entire administrative staff and teachers (that I met) to be so open, kind and proud of the school. Even the head of the school was very open to spending time with parents..I didn't see that at most of the places we applied. We looked into numerous privates and found Stoneridge to be really one of the best--not snobby but at the same time purposeful about the opportunities there. So obviously I am a fan but I am not going to knock Blessed Sacrament because I am sure it is a fine school.

[Anonymous]

My kids are at Blessed sacrament and I don't have a real comparison other than to note that BSS is a neighborhood school built around the parish and so if you have other kids its nice to have them all there with friends nearby. (assuming you live near the school) Stoneridge is girls only (essentially) and draws from all over DC area so your playdates are going to be all over the over the area.

That said during my superficial visits to stoneridge I found their campus amazing and I've only heard good things from parents who have sent their daughters there. We are considering it for our daughter for high school.

[Anonymous]

We're making the same decision right now, and it's difficult for the best of reasons: they're both great schools, so either way it should end well.

Some of the less obvious things that, for what it's worth, we have since learned that might factor in:

-The kindergarten and pre-K students at Stone Ridge aren't as involved with the school. They don't participate in many of the traditions, they don't wear uniforms, they aren't in the school concerts, etc. The school says that they're just too young, and this may be true. They do have their own concerts, but if you like SR because of all of the traditions, know that they won't start to really participate until at least 1st grade.
-Stone Ridge has had attrition issues in the lower school for the past couple of years, at least. This may be true across the board with privates in the area, with the exception of the "big 3", but this has meant for SR that students have been admitted into classes literally after the school year starts, that some of the students likely wouldn't get in to other area privates - students that seem to have behavior issues that were unresolved at their public or other private schools (though the girls on campus are very well behaved, and the school must be doing something great to help bring everyone in line), the school for this year combined a classroom resulting in a much higher student to teacher ratio for that class (they're fixing this for the coming up year, but it still set a bad precedent), and the class make-ups aren't as static - there are students coming in and out.
-The annual fund pressure at SR seems to be more stepped up that you'd get at Blessed Sacrament. You'll be asked to give at both, but we've heard that at Stone Ridge some parents were told by other parents that had been there for some time that they were expected to give around $1000 at a minimum (now this is obviously just one parent working the annual fund, and who knows if this is true across the board) - at Blessed Sacrament it looks like to be at the high end of the giving for their annual auction parents gave $500. Isn't a huge difference, just something to know going in - that whatever the tuition is, etc. at SR vs. BS, figure in additional giving.
-The commute from Chevy Chase DC or CC Maryland to Stone Ridge is, give or take, about 20 minutes each way. If you're going to work downtown afterwards, as the traffic starts to get heavier for the morning commute, that means about an extra hour commute time every morning. The commute to Blessed Sacrament, obviously, is much shorter, given that it's a neighborhood school, etc.
-At Stone Ridge, birthday parties and playdates are literally all over the greater Washington DC area, from Fairfax to Gaithersburg.
-The curriculum is stepped up at Stone Ridge so that the K kids are working on 1st grade materials, 1st working on 2nd, etc. The school will help bring kids up and will work on their level, but if you have a child that isn't already reading well or is a mid-year to summer birthday, know that they're in for more of a challenge. This is obviously both a good and challenging thing, depending on how you feel about it. At Blessed Sacrament, they take more of a "developmental" approach - they aren't pushing academics. The kids are learning, but they work on social skills just as much as reading, etc. The two approaches both have their merits - one of the concerns I've heard about Stone Ridge girls is that being that sheltered isn't always a good thing, that they have more trouble going into high school, etc. adjusting b/c they haven't had to work as much on their interpersonal skills when they were younger. I don't know if I believe this - those girls all seem confident, well adjusted and capable - but it's something to think about.
-Blessed Sacrament turns away families every year, and it seems as though more and more families are applying. Stone Ridge, on the other hand, has had problems keeping their lower school classes full. What this means is that if you don't go to Blessed Sacrament for kindergarten, you're essentially closing that door until the older grades - there are virtually no slots for 1st grade - so if you change your mind, you're stuck for awhile. On the other hand, it's still a gamble, but you might have a much better shot getting to go to Stone Ridge for 1st grade or 2nd if you try BS first and then decide that it isn't cutting it.
-Blessed Sacrament has 60 kindergarten slots. 3 classes of 20 each. The two classes at Stone Ridge come to about 20-25 students. That's a big difference. The environment at Stone Ridge is peaceful and is centered on the girls. Blessed Sacrament is chaotic and boisterous. Depending on your child's personality, smaller might be better or not. Also, at Stone Ridge, the teacher to student ratio stays about the same - about 10-15 students per teacher. At Blessed Sacrament in 1st grade the ratio goes from 10:1 in kindergarten (a teacher and an aide for each class) to 20:1. Some kids will get lost in the shuffle, others won't and will enjoy more students to interact with.
-If you have a younger son, it's difficult to know what to do for that child. obviously, they can't go to Stone Ridge past K. Many go on to Mater Dei, but Mater Dei isn't Stone Ridge, and there are many parents at the school that love Mater Dei and many that are uncomfortable with that environment (again, just what your family's views are on things - child more sports oriented or not, etc.?)

Interested to hear other thoughts on this - it's a tough choice, but luckily both are great places!

[Anonymous]

Both schools are good schools, like pp said would knock either. Its a fit decision including the financial piece. Just to clarify some of the responses,, the pk at stone ridge does less, but K goes every morning to the assembly and participates in most of the lower school traditions and activities. The girls do public speaking early without even knowing its a big deal - they love it. There is a very special christmas concert that the pk - k - 1st grade does together, with pk doing less because of age.

It is true on playdates that they are over a much broader geographic area from DC up singificantly north. Plus side is diversity is relativley good. On annual giving, having families at muliple private schools have found SR fairly low pressure - and auction every other year rather than each year. On commute, would suggest trying it at the times and different routes adn 5 minutes leaving time can make a difference. depending where you are in chevy chase, its short 10 minutes, or it can be challenging.

Per specific questions - At K level, The SR phono-graphix reading program works really well at getting the kids to read naturally. there is No homework. In classroom, there doesn't seem like endless worksheets. Religious instruction really embedded in program, traditions are very strong and sacred heart traditions are beautiful. Above that K level it gets rigorous and maybe curriculum has some questions.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

The head of the school said student ratio is 10-1. I got the feeling that it's pretty small. I am curious why they would have trouble filling the K--could it be the economy that is affecting a lot of schools? I can't imagine that there is some kind of teacher problem. I was beyond impressed with the teachers and I have toured many of the top schools around. These are classy classy women..they kind of women you would want teaching your girls. I have thought about the chaos of playdates..it does worry me but I also remember that when I was in school (and I went to a local public), I played with the kids in my neighborhood until I was about in fifth grade. My friends from class (for some reason none of the kids in my neighborhood were in my class) were just friends from class..yes I went to some parties but I wasn't jonesin for a playdate. Thing about Stoneridge is that I think in the end scheme it would be just a great place to graduate from--I worry if I don't accept if we get in, that I can't reapply in 5 or 6.

[Anonymous]

The teachers are great - it's certainly not the teachers - they're amazing. There are classes with more than 10 girls per class, so maybe the overall ratio gets to 10 to 1, but there are definitely classes with more than 10. The 3rd grade class this year was combined, so it has around 20 girls for that one teacher. They're changing this back for next year, but not every class is 10:1.

[Anonymous]

I'm 15:51 and 10:55 pretty much nailed it. I would comment that in first grade at BSS they have a part time aide (and in second grade as well) usually during the morning. Class size may go up to 21 kids or 22 kids in 2, 3, 4th grade. In the middle they go to advisories + indiv classes and they are typically small - around 15 per advisory.

[Anonymous]

Heard that the lower school head might be moving on?

[Anonymous]

She is moving into another administrative position at Stone Ridge, which is a plus for Stone Ridge and a plus for her professionally.

[Anonymous]

I met a lot of the administrative people at the playdate..really really classy group. This was one of the warmest playdates I went to. Not everyday that the head of school spends so much time with the parents. It's a great school.

[Anonymous]

I am a graduate of BS from back when Sister Rose was Principal and Mrs. Nash taught Kindergarten and Mrs Body was the PE teacher that chain smoked in the gym. I don't know what it is like to today but damn, those were good times!

[Anonymous]

I think it's tough to compare a parish school to a private religious school It's so much harder to get into BS if you are outside the parish, esp for K.

[Anonymous]

Can anyone comment on what it's like at Blessed Sacrament for mothers with professional careers? Does having a mother who works outside the home make you an anomaly at Blessed Sacrament? Does it have any effect on that student's experience there? At Stone Ridge?

[Anonymous]

Stone Ridge has many working Moms and very welcoming. An easy extended day program the kids call "extra recess". Easy to call if you are running late for pick up - and fun, even stay at home mom's use. when they may have appts/other kids stuff. Found parents welcoming too and sensitive on after school activities to help, playdates etc. Head of Stone Ridge is a great visible professional role model. She is really improving school.