Which K-8 has the best high school placement?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those are all good schools. Placement will depend a lot more on you are your specific kid than which of these schools you choose. Schools differ in outplacement some, but that more reflects the specific families that attend specific schools. I’ve not seen evidence that once K8 has significantly more pull than another overall. Sometimes there are differences between specific schools. Like, many people, think St. Pats does well at St. Albans and Sheridan at Sidwell. But honestly that says more about the mix of families that something that will be an advantage for you just because you come from school x or y. So I’d go wherever you like for K8. Non of those schools or other schools in the same mix are going to matter much.

Another + 1 on this.

Also - I'd also say that we preferred how our K-8 handled MS and our kids were very prepared (and at top of Big 3 HS academically). But it is true that if it becomes clear over time that your primary goal is to get your child into a certain HS, you will have better chances if you start in earlier transition years - 9th is very competitive and 9th grade admissions vary year to year with graduating 8th grade classes based on how strong your child is compared to others in their cohort, how many in the cohort have older siblings at the Big 3, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How does the Lowell school in DC and the Barrie school on MD compare with Sheridan and Norwood? (In terms of being admitted to Sidwell, GDS, and Norwood)

We would prefer to send child to those High School over the Cathedral ones.

Sheridan. Not Barrie or Lowell. Ask how many non-siblings get into those HS.
Norwood is k-8

[Anonymous]

I love K-8s and think they are great, but there are absolutely no guarantees about where you'll land in HS. You have to know that. Ninth grade admissions can be unpredictable and challenging, no matter how great your school is.

If you are do or die about a particular high school, you should apply there at every possible opportunity and not leave it to ninth grade. If you are willing to be open minded and consider other schools, you'll be fine applying out in ninth.

[Anonymous]

Langley has very strong HS placement, especially at Cathedral schools, Sidwell and GDS. Sidwell, in particular, seems to be on the upswing for Langley grads over the last few years.

[Anonymous]

If you are aiming for HS at a Big-3, with all honestly, you should apply to them when your kids are in the LS. The competition to get into these schools in 9th is keen, and much more difficult than when your kids are in the LS. And for all the benefits of a focused k-8 education, there are also benefits for the k-12 model. Neither one is so much better than the other that it's a clear choice one way. Also, if you find that your kid or family isn't a good fit for the K-12, you can always apply out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are aiming for HS at a Big-3, with all honestly, you should apply to them when your kids are in the LS. The competition to get into these schools in 9th is keen, and much more difficult than when your kids are in the LS. And for all the benefits of a focused k-8 education, there are also benefits for the k-12 model. Neither one is so much better than the other that it's a clear choice one way. Also, if you find that your kid or family isn't a good fit for the K-12, you can always apply out.

Not true for all. We hoped our kids would end up at one of a couple of the "Big 3s" after Norwood, and they did. And we are very happy about that outcome. But the LS and MS at the Big 3 they are attending would have been terrible for at least one of them, and it is doubtful they would have stayed at that Big 3 for high school had they started there in lower school. Post-Norwood they have thrived at that Big 3 for high school.

[Anonymous]

Something to be thrown into the mix is the risk of a K-12 lifer being counseled out just before high school starts. It's really sad. Saw this happen to a Maret lifer.

Problem is that lots of four and five year olds do well with assessments at that age, but drift towards average over time. The kids getting in at 9th grade into top privates are uber impressive. It's hard if a lifer child gets counseled out or can't keep up. K-8 schools give better chance of better fit, and keep self esteem in tact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are aiming for HS at a Big-3, with all honestly, you should apply to them when your kids are in the LS. The competition to get into these schools in 9th is keen, and much more difficult than when your kids are in the LS. And for all the benefits of a focused k-8 education, there are also benefits for the k-12 model. Neither one is so much better than the other that it's a clear choice one way. Also, if you find that your kid or family isn't a good fit for the K-12, you can always apply out.

Not true for all. We hoped our kids would end up at one of a couple of the "Big 3s" after Norwood, and they did. And we are very happy about that outcome. But the LS and MS at the Big 3 they are attending would have been terrible for at least one of them, and it is doubtful they would have stayed at that Big 3 for high school had they started there in lower school. Post-Norwood they have thrived at that Big 3 for high school.

And you know this because???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are aiming for HS at a Big-3, with all honestly, you should apply to them when your kids are in the LS. The competition to get into these schools in 9th is keen, and much more difficult than when your kids are in the LS. And for all the benefits of a focused k-8 education, there are also benefits for the k-12 model. Neither one is so much better than the other that it's a clear choice one way. Also, if you find that your kid or family isn't a good fit for the K-12, you can always apply out.

Not true for all. We hoped our kids would end up at one of a couple of the "Big 3s" after Norwood, and they did. And we are very happy about that outcome. But the LS and MS at the Big 3 they are attending would have been terrible for at least one of them, and it is doubtful they would have stayed at that Big 3 for high school had they started there in lower school. Post-Norwood they have thrived at that Big 3 for high school.

It's a crapshoot any any school.

Norwood 63 grads last year and sent 12 to the Big3 for high school (if you consider the Big3 to be Sidwell, GDS, STA and NCS--so 4 schools total).

STA in particular picks about 1 kid per school. My kid just started there and they picked at max, 2 kids per school for 9th. As far as public goes, it was 2 kids max per entire district. Potomac also told us (at an admitted students 9th grade event) that they had something like 30 middle schools represented among the 30 admitted students (I'm not sure of the exact numbers for each of these so don't just all over me---but the clear implication was that they admitted 1-2 students max from a large number of schools).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are aiming for HS at a Big-3, with all honestly, you should apply to them when your kids are in the LS. The competition to get into these schools in 9th is keen, and much more difficult than when your kids are in the LS. And for all the benefits of a focused k-8 education, there are also benefits for the k-12 model. Neither one is so much better than the other that it's a clear choice one way. Also, if you find that your kid or family isn't a good fit for the K-12, you can always apply out.

Not true for all. We hoped our kids would end up at one of a couple of the "Big 3s" after Norwood, and they did. And we are very happy about that outcome. But the LS and MS at the Big 3 they are attending would have been terrible for at least one of them, and it is doubtful they would have stayed at that Big 3 for high school had they started there in lower school. Post-Norwood they have thrived at that Big 3 for high school.

And you know this because???

Ummm....because I know my kid??? What a rude question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are aiming for HS at a Big-3, with all honestly, you should apply to them when your kids are in the LS. The competition to get into these schools in 9th is keen, and much more difficult than when your kids are in the LS. And for all the benefits of a focused k-8 education, there are also benefits for the k-12 model. Neither one is so much better than the other that it's a clear choice one way. Also, if you find that your kid or family isn't a good fit for the K-12, you can always apply out.

Not true for all. We hoped our kids would end up at one of a couple of the "Big 3s" after Norwood, and they did. And we are very happy about that outcome. But the LS and MS at the Big 3 they are attending would have been terrible for at least one of them, and it is doubtful they would have stayed at that Big 3 for high school had they started there in lower school. Post-Norwood they have thrived at that Big 3 for high school.

It's a crapshoot any any school.

Norwood 63 grads last year and sent 12 to the Big3 for high school (if you consider the Big3 to be Sidwell, GDS, STA and NCS--so 4 schools total).

STA in particular picks about 1 kid per school. My kid just started there and they picked at max, 2 kids per school for 9th. As far as public goes, it was 2 kids max per entire district. Potomac also told us (at an admitted students 9th grade event) that they had something like 30 middle schools represented among the 30 admitted students (I'm not sure of the exact numbers for each of these so don't just all over me---but the clear implication was that they admitted 1-2 students max from a large number of schools).

Another plug for starting before high school and look at NPS. Seven boys got in from my daughter’s class going into 7th.

[Anonymous]

Spoiler alert: if you are dead set on your child going to a Big 3 for high school before your child is in kindergarten, then a K-8 is probably not the right fit for your family. Not because it’s arguably hard to get into a Big 3 for 9th, but because that’s not what a K-8 is about.

Spoiler alert #2: if you are dead set on your child going to a Big 3 for high school because you think it gives them a leg up for college admissions, think again.

[Anonymous]

OP stipulated that they like the K-8 model.

Many of the responses are people telling OP that they shouldn’t like the K-8 model. So it’s just a lot of irrelevant noise.

OP, we loved the K-8 model also. I can’t speak to the other schools, but Norwood was great for our kids from the standpoint of preparation as well as high school placement. It gave our kids the precise type of experience we were hoping for in the first place with a K-8. We really loved it, never regretted sending our kids there and never considered moving them early. Good luck to you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP stipulated that they like the K-8 model.

Many of the responses are people telling OP that they shouldn’t like the K-8 model. So it’s just a lot of irrelevant noise.

OP, we loved the K-8 model also. I can’t speak to the other schools, but Norwood was great for our kids from the standpoint of preparation as well as high school placement. It gave our kids the precise type of experience we were hoping for in the first place with a K-8. We really loved it, never regretted sending our kids there and never considered moving them early. Good luck to you!

It's not irrelevant bc the OP was asking about HS placement. If she didn't care where her child went to HS, then, yes, such responses would be irrelevant. But very clearly, OP is asking about which K-8 schools send their students to highly competitive private HSs. Hence, all the advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are aiming for HS at a Big-3, with all honestly, you should apply to them when your kids are in the LS. The competition to get into these schools in 9th is keen, and much more difficult than when your kids are in the LS. And for all the benefits of a focused k-8 education, there are also benefits for the k-12 model. Neither one is so much better than the other that it's a clear choice one way. Also, if you find that your kid or family isn't a good fit for the K-12, you can always apply out.

Not true for all. We hoped our kids would end up at one of a couple of the "Big 3s" after Norwood, and they did. And we are very happy about that outcome. But the LS and MS at the Big 3 they are attending would have been terrible for at least one of them, and it is doubtful they would have stayed at that Big 3 for high school had they started there in lower school. Post-Norwood they have thrived at that Big 3 for high school.

And you know this because???

Ummm....because I know my kid??? What a rude question.

Not rude. Just pointing out that you have no direct experience with the LS or MS of these schools, so you're just speculating.