Feedback on Norwood School?

[Anonymous]

Just saw your Q now. Yes, we're happy with the decision -- both kids like it a lot and it's an impressive place (in terms of the attention kids get, overall dynamic, etc.). As far choosing one (private) school over the other, the reality is that *all* of these schools are tremendously hard to get into. Sounds weird saying it, but you're lucky if your child gets accepted at any of them (assuming it's even something you want.) People who say... "Hmmm... now, do we want this one?.. or this one?.. or this one?" are naive as to how bad their odds are. Classic supply and demand. This area is packed with smart, nice kids with parents who can pay big tuitions. It makes for a somewhat overheated atmosphere, when it comes to schools.

>>>to PP, are you happy about your decision? what do you like sidwell most? thanks.

[Anonymous]

Our daughter was recently admitted to Norwood (Kindergarten) and we loved the school. However, we are a lesbian couple and have some concerns about how reponsive Norwood will be to non-traditional family structures. Our daughter also got into GDS and Green Acres, both of which do large amounts of outreach to the gay community. I have no doubts that being same-sex parents at those schools will be a complete non-issue and our daughter will never be made to feel that she is somehow different. I am not so sure about Norwood. They have been honest to say that we would be the first gay parents at the school that they know of (kind of shocking) and clearly the school in general applauds diversity and accepted our daughter knowing we were a gay couple. But there is a difference between being non-discriminatory in policy and being somewhat clueless as an institution. For those Norwood parents, I am curious about your thoughts. Is the school so used to traditional family structures that there is an overarching assumption that everyone has a mom and a dad, so that she has to deal with father's days at the school or teachers that make assumptions? Should I be concerned that the parents are somehow more conservative and our daughter might not be invited to homes outside of school, etc.? Any thoughts in this area would be MUCH appreciated. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

PP, I think you should go with GDS. It will be hard to be the only same sex family, plus the school in general is mcuh more conservative. I grew up in the area and I think of Norwood as an "old money", blue blood sort of place. I am sure there is some diversity there, but from a friend whose daughter is in K and moved to Potomac from Dupont Circle, it is not diverse in the way that GDS is.

[Anonymous]

20:15 we were recently admitted to K at Norwood. I would love to have our kids in the same class. We are granola liberal, and feel that it will be a good school for us. One plus, it is big, so you will find a group of people you can agree with. If they admitted you, it is because they think it would be a good match. Please come.

[Anonymous]

The community around the school does not appear to be too conservative. Just because people are into old fashioned academics, does not mean that they will be intolerant.

[Anonymous]

Poster who thinks they should go GDS here, I didn't say people would be intolerant, but just that they may feel a bit out of the loop if they are the only same sex family.

[Anonymous]

I am the 20:38 post. I would not allow my kid to hang out with any family that excludes another child for the reason that you mentioned. So if that starts, you wont be the only one left out.

[Anonymous]

Don't flame me but I think Green Acres is the better school to support your child. Norwood no. GDS has so many gay families you may not feel special. Green Acres is the better of the three to prepare your child to accept and be proud of non maintstream family arrangements.

[Anonymous]

Lots of my friends have kids at Norwood and I know they would welcome you most enthusiastically in their class and into their homes. Go with your gut instinct on this one though - all three are great schools. Congrats on all your accepts.

[Anonymous]

I am the lesbian parent who started this particular sub-topic. First, thank you to everyone who responded. Especially thank you to the person who is sending a child to Norwood and wrote such welcoming comments. I'm curious about those others of you expressing opinions against Norwood or pro-GDS or pro-Green Acres, whether any of you are parents at any of the schools or whether you are just giving opinions based on general reputations of the schools. All opinions are welcome and so appreciated. I would especially still like to hear from any parents of students currently at Norwood. Again, thank you.

[Anonymous]

Pro-GDS poster. I haved friends at Norwood, but that is my only frame of reference. Go where you feel comfortable, someone has to be the pioneer

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:20:15 we were recently admitted to K at Norwood. I would love to have our kids in the same class. We are granola liberal, and feel that it will be a good school for us. One plus, it is big, so you will find a group of people you can agree with. If they admitted you, it is because they think it would be a good match. Please come.

So glad to see this! Our child has also been admitted for K, and our one concern is the feeling that the community is more conservative/traditionalist than our own circle of friends.

[Anonymous]

So that explains it! We are conservative and were rejected for K. Just kidding. Congrats to you all. We really liked the school and most definitely would have attended.

[Anonymous]

Does Norwood show any of the summer birthday bias exhibited by Primary Day and some other schools? (I'm not just parroting the Primary Day thread; we experienced this bias personally.)

[Anonymous]

They don't seem to show bias, as a matter of fact, they will not accept kids who have been red shirted with bdays before June 1.