What’s Something About Your School You Would Have LOVED To Know Before Enrolling

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were new to private school and picked a k-8 for our child - were told by k-8 admissions office when we were applying, "we have great placement for HS, look at all the great schools our 8th graders get admitted to" - wish we had known that the HS chances were heavily influenced by whether or not you were a recruited athlete, had a sibling at the HS already, were a big donor at the k-8 school - guess it's a good lesson for college.

it will be worse for college

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That some of the really cool electives in the course catalogue aren't actually offered every year, or ever.

There's a secret menu of course options that you have to know to ask about because it isn't advertised anywhere (e.g. extra AP classes as independent study).

Just because the student handbook says there's always transportation provided for something, like having a bus for away games for a sports team or for practices that are off-campus, doesn't mean it actually is.

Our kids are at different schools - but experienced this at both school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For our HS - that the college counseling office will limit the number of colleges that you can apply to. That certain classes are restricted in class size because of "equipment" issues and your child won't get the electives they want because of that.

Aren't all classes restricted in size? No one would want a 40 person class. Kids aren't guaranteed their first choice electives anywhere.

You can EASILY go through these high schools having never received your top 3 choices for any English or History class. Then you're paying $56K for super specialized stuff that your particular kid doesn't care about: a year of Asian history or a year of Shakespeare. My history loving kid is having to take African American Culture as a history class (which I'm sure will be great but this kid would have killed for a spot in an actual history class).

African-American history is American history, so your kid is taking an actual history class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Will go first. Would have loved to know that:

1) School does not allow students to take home their graded quizzes and exams. Student may only review them in class.

2) School does not allow students to view their grades at anytime. Grades are open and viewable for a couple of days per month and even viewable for less time for parents.

3). You get ONE grade for each class at the end of the year.

We would have still enrolled but these were interesting aspects that we were not aware of prior to enrollment. And, my DD loved it.

Wish I had known that there were so many vocal Trump supporting families and country club members.

Is this at Visi?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That some of the really cool electives in the course catalogue aren't actually offered every year, or ever.

There's a secret menu of course options that you have to know to ask about because it isn't advertised anywhere (e.g. extra AP classes as independent study).

Just because the student handbook says there's always transportation provided for something, like having a bus for away games for a sports team or for practices that are off-campus, doesn't mean it actually is.

Which school is this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That some of the really cool electives in the course catalogue aren't actually offered every year, or ever.

There's a secret menu of course options that you have to know to ask about because it isn't advertised anywhere (e.g. extra AP classes as independent study).

Just because the student handbook says there's always transportation provided for something, like having a bus for away games for a sports team or for practices that are off-campus, doesn't mean it actually is.

Which school is this?

Ireton

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Will go first. Would have loved to know that:

1) School does not allow students to take home their graded quizzes and exams. Student may only review them in class.

2) School does not allow students to view their grades at anytime. Grades are open and viewable for a couple of days per month and even viewable for less time for parents.

3). You get ONE grade for each class at the end of the year.

We would have still enrolled but these were interesting aspects that we were not aware of prior to enrollment. And, my DD loved it.

Wish I had known that there were so many vocal Trump supporting families and country club members.

Is this at Visi?

+1 - Which school is this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were new to private school and picked a k-8 for our child - were told by k-8 admissions office when we were applying, "we have great placement for HS, look at all the great schools our 8th graders get admitted to" - wish we had known that the HS chances were heavily influenced by whether or not you were a recruited athlete, had a sibling at the HS already, were a big donor at the k-8 school - guess it's a good lesson for college.

Ours is similar- on paper it seems to send a lot of kids to a desirable HS. But from the inside it’s well-known that they’re all legacies and disproportionately boys, with even girls who are legacies with better stats getting shut out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Wish I had known that there were so many vocal Trump supporting families and country club members.

Is this at Visi?

Also Georgetown Prep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For our HS - that the college counseling office will limit the number of colleges that you can apply to. That certain classes are restricted in class size because of "equipment" issues and your child won't get the electives they want because of that.

Aren't all classes restricted in size? No one would want a 40 person class. Kids aren't guaranteed their first choice electives anywhere.

You can EASILY go through these high schools having never received your top 3 choices for any English or History class. Then you're paying $56K for super specialized stuff that your particular kid doesn't care about: a year of Asian history or a year of Shakespeare. My history loving kid is having to take African American Culture as a history class (which I'm sure will be great but this kid would have killed for a spot in an actual history class).

African-American history is American history, so your kid is taking an actual history class.

They did say African-American CULTURE, not African-American HISTORY. I'm sure it could include some historical components, but not guaranteed as the course is called a CULTURE course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Will go first. Would have loved to know that:

1) School does not allow students to take home their graded quizzes and exams. Student may only review them in class.

2) School does not allow students to view their grades at anytime. Grades are open and viewable for a couple of days per month and even viewable for less time for parents.

3). You get ONE grade for each class at the end of the year.

We would have still enrolled but these were interesting aspects that we were not aware of prior to enrollment. And, my DD loved it.

As a parent who tutors her child in one subject, the first one really makes me mad. What is the reason? Teachers don't want to come up with new tests each year?

[Anonymous]

How incredible the SEL program—and the way the teachers embody it—would be for our kids. And for us as parents.

[Anonymous]

How the parents conveniently forget Catholic values when it comes to the car pool line and pick-up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For our HS - that the college counseling office will limit the number of colleges that you can apply to. That certain classes are restricted in class size because of "equipment" issues and your child won't get the electives they want because of that.

Aren't all classes restricted in size? No one would want a 40 person class. Kids aren't guaranteed their first choice electives anywhere.

You can EASILY go through these high schools having never received your top 3 choices for any English or History class. Then you're paying $56K for super specialized stuff that your particular kid doesn't care about: a year of Asian history or a year of Shakespeare. My history loving kid is having to take African American Culture as a history class (which I'm sure will be great but this kid would have killed for a spot in an actual history class).

Does your child go to Sidwell?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Will go first. Would have loved to know that:

1) School does not allow students to take home their graded quizzes and exams. Student may only review them in class.

2) School does not allow students to view their grades at anytime. Grades are open and viewable for a couple of days per month and even viewable for less time for parents.

3). You get ONE grade for each class at the end of the year.

We would have still enrolled but these were interesting aspects that we were not aware of prior to enrollment. And, my DD loved it.

Wish I had known that there were so many vocal Trump supporting families and country club members.

Is this Visi? Please tell me no.