middle school that takes a low/no homework approach?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter in MCPS had zero homework all through elementary. It was a big jump when we moved her to private.

Yeah, MCPS HW has been optional so far for my kid. We are moving to private next year and are already mentally preparing her for the workload, but I'm guessing September will be a rough adjustment period.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Burke slowly ramps up homework between 6th, 7th, and 8th. And then a jump at 9th.

Not our experience at all. 7th was manageable because there is a study hall built into the schedule. 6th and 8th were a lot heavier with HW because there wasn’t a study hall built into to the schedule. Lots of long term assignments in addition to study for tests, etc.

Other more “elite” schools have daily study halls built into their schedule every year in MS and HS. Those are the schools you should look at if if you want a light HW load

[Anonymous]

You should visit Field in the fall.

[Anonymous]

FCPS has some light homework in middle school (regular math, typically), but many kids can get it done during the day.

[Anonymous]

Sheridan slowly starts with “homework” in 5th, but generally there is time during the day to finish it, so my daughter in 5th rarely has to actually bring work home. I believe it slowly ramps up each year and in 8th there is a decent amount of manageable homework. We agree that more limited homework is key to keeping her engaged in school and not overwhelmed (she also plays a couple of sports outside of school), while still getting plenty of sleep each night.

Happy to answer any further questions you have about Sheridan. We love it there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sheridan slowly starts with “homework” in 5th, but generally there is time during the day to finish it, so my daughter in 5th rarely has to actually bring work home. I believe it slowly ramps up each year and in 8th there is a decent amount of manageable homework. We agree that more limited homework is key to keeping her engaged in school and not overwhelmed (she also plays a couple of sports outside of school), while still getting plenty of sleep each night.

Happy to answer any further questions you have about Sheridan. We love it there.

Is Sheridan or even Burke or SSFS still taking students for fall 2025? Do they take students mid year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, MCPS has math and reading.

Maybe if they take on a remedial workload.

Advanced math and advanced reading both do.

[Anonymous]

Does Sandy Spring Friends School have a lot of hw in middle school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sheridan slowly starts with “homework” in 5th, but generally there is time during the day to finish it, so my daughter in 5th rarely has to actually bring work home. I believe it slowly ramps up each year and in 8th there is a decent amount of manageable homework. We agree that more limited homework is key to keeping her engaged in school and not overwhelmed (she also plays a couple of sports outside of school), while still getting plenty of sleep each night.

Happy to answer any further questions you have about Sheridan. We love it there.

Is Sheridan or even Burke or SSFS still taking students for fall 2025? Do they take students mid year?

SSFS? Really?? They’ll give you the red carpet treatment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sheridan slowly starts with “homework” in 5th, but generally there is time during the day to finish it, so my daughter in 5th rarely has to actually bring work home. I believe it slowly ramps up each year and in 8th there is a decent amount of manageable homework. We agree that more limited homework is key to keeping her engaged in school and not overwhelmed (she also plays a couple of sports outside of school), while still getting plenty of sleep each night.

Happy to answer any further questions you have about Sheridan. We love it there.

Thanks so much for this. It’s very helpful. What else do you like about Sheridan? Does your kiddo like it as well as you do as the parent? What’s the culture like?

[Anonymous]

Sheridan is a fantastic school. The parent community is really nice and committed and involved. My kids are super engaged in the curriculum and learning a lot. We are so happy to be there!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sheridan slowly starts with “homework” in 5th, but generally there is time during the day to finish it, so my daughter in 5th rarely has to actually bring work home. I believe it slowly ramps up each year and in 8th there is a decent amount of manageable homework. We agree that more limited homework is key to keeping her engaged in school and not overwhelmed (she also plays a couple of sports outside of school), while still getting plenty of sleep each night.

Happy to answer any further questions you have about Sheridan. We love it there.

Is Sheridan or even Burke or SSFS still taking students for fall 2025? Do they take students mid year?

Call the schools.

[Anonymous]

I’m so perplexed why excessive amounts of homework are given or desired. I really struggle with seeing the value. I hope more “elite” schools reconsider their homework load (looking at you NCS) to reduce student stress and let them enjoy more rounded teen years. Chat GPT agrees (Stanford cited)

Yes, generally, two hours of homework a night for high school students is considered a reasonable amount, but can be too much depending on individual circumstances and the type of homework assigned. Some studies suggest that homework benefits plateau at around two hours, and that over two hours can be counterproductive and lead to increased stress.

Here's a more detailed look:

General Guidelines:
The National Education Association (NEA) recommends a "10-minute rule" where students should spend about 10 minutes of homework per grade level each night. This would translate to about 1-2 hours of homework for high school students (grades 9-12).

Potential Drawbacks:
Research suggests that more than two hours of homework can lead to increased stress, sleep deprivation, and less time for extracurricular activities, hobbies, and social life.

Individual Factors:
Some students may need more or less time depending on their learning style, individual needs, and the complexity of the assigned work.

Considerations:
If a student is consistently struggling to complete two hours of homework, or if it's negatively impacting their well-being, it may be an indication that the workload needs to be adjusted.

Balance:
It's crucial to find a balance between academic demands and other aspects of a student's life. Homework should be a tool for learning and skill development, not just busy work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sheridan is a fantastic school. The parent community is really nice and committed and involved. My kids are super engaged in the curriculum and learning a lot. We are so happy to be there!

Same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sheridan slowly starts with “homework” in 5th, but generally there is time during the day to finish it, so my daughter in 5th rarely has to actually bring work home. I believe it slowly ramps up each year and in 8th there is a decent amount of manageable homework. We agree that more limited homework is key to keeping her engaged in school and not overwhelmed (she also plays a couple of sports outside of school), while still getting plenty of sleep each night.

Happy to answer any further questions you have about Sheridan. We love it there.

Is Sheridan or even Burke or SSFS still taking students for fall 2025? Do they take students mid year?

Sheridan still has some flexibility to add students in some grades - if you call the school and ask for the Admissions person she can give you more info on the grade(s) you’re interested in. She is super nice.