High schools for nice kids?

[Anonymous]

I think it depends greatly on the composition of each individual class/grade within a given school. Some grades have great kids, others not so much. DD has two good friends at one of the schools mentioned above who were miserable with the school's social life, to the point that one of them left the school while the other remains there, unhappy. I'm not going to say which school because that's not really the point, rather the point is that given grades within a school can vary a lot.

[Anonymous]

I agree with pp ... it is really hard to know because you might be at a great school but have your child in a particular class that is problematic. And it might be problematic just for your kid because of personality incompatibilities. But I totally understand what the OP is asking and I think most of us are hoping to find just such a place for our kid. I personally would give up a good bit of academics and prestige if I was certain my child had a better chance of having a positive social experience ... positive being a very value-based judgment of course!!

[Anonymous]

I agree with several of the previous posters. My child is in 8th grade at WIS and that particular class is populated by an especially intelligent, supportive and friendly groups of kids -- a wonderful mix of lifers and new students -- and I cannot wait to see them grow through the Upper School together.

[Anonymous]

We have our child at Washington Latin -- and 'niceness' is one of the biggest factors; currently considering staying on for HS for same. Our child is in a class of DECENT kids -- hope they stay too.

[Anonymous]

I know at least two kids who left Latin MS because of bullying. Very inexperienced teachers coupled with Middle School is an unpleasant combination. Unless of course your kid is the one doing the bullying.

[Anonymous]

My kid was at Latin and we also thought the kids were "decent" and nice. I guess like, at any school, it depends on the particular class.

[Anonymous]

You won't find that school anywhere in the DC area. Maybe out in Burke because of all the government and military kids. But DC kids are being raised by self-important, stressed out, overly competitive DC parents. It's not the kids' fault. They learn what they live.

When we moved away from the DC, my kids came home from school the first day and commented that they couldn't believe how friendly everyone in their new schools was.

[Anonymous]

That's funny pp. My kid said the people at Princeton were a lot nicer than the elite private high school here.

[Anonymous]

Lowell and Green Acres for early on
Sidwell, GDS and Maret for later

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You won't find that school anywhere in the DC area. Maybe out in Burke because of all the government and military kids. But DC kids are being raised by self-important, stressed out, overly competitive DC parents. It's not the kids' fault. They learn what they live.

When we moved away from the DC, my kids came home from school the first day and commented that they couldn't believe how friendly everyone in their new schools was.

Ummm, that would be Edmund Burke, in DC, I'm guessing. Not in Burke.

[Anonymous]

If by "nice" you mean "nerds", your best bet is GDS, Sidwell or WIS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know at least two kids who left Latin MS because of bullying. Very inexperienced teachers coupled with Middle School is an unpleasant combination. Unless of course your kid is the one doing the bullying.

I'm sharing my experience as someone who currently has a child there. I feel really badly when any child leaves for bullying and it saddens me that that has happened with ANY family since Latin's founding. Latin has implemented an anti-bullying curriculum this year. We've seen some boorish, bad behavior over the years. However, it has usually been more on the surface than chronic bullying -- as in the time my child was shoved by another. On the plus side, the peer pressure we've seen involves the majority of kids censuring such behavior. I would be completely open to intervening if my child bullied someone; not victimizing others is part and parcel of being a 'nice kid'.
Regarding Latin teacher inexperience- it depends what you mean. Our child's teachers range in age from 20's to 60's. Some have taught in other settings, or been at Latin from the start. You are right that while most have impressive academic credentials, not all come from teacher education programs (http://www.edline.net/pages/Washington_Latin_PCS/About_Us/Faculty_and_Staff.) Interesting problem to have. This is akin to area independent schools with the pluses and the minuses. The admin can target the needs they have through relevant PD. We are very happy with the improvement we've seen each year in school-wide, and individual classroom management.
Latin teachers in general give greatly of themselves. Our child comes home chagrined over a (deserved) demerit or telling stories of teachers sharing their moves from the seventies at one of the slacks/dress shirt dances. But always connected to adult guidance, care and moments of shared fun.