Switching from a parish school to a bigger private school

[Anonymous]

Also, is it a bit concerning that no one from Stone Ridge or Holton has popped in to say how great the school is?

Honestly -- and I am NOT snarking -- they are all at the beach right now. That's why they're not commenting. Maybe re-ask this same question in mid-September.

[Anonymous]

I had actually been talking to my husband about applying (me, not him, his field doesn't translate at all) for jobs at the private high schools at some point for that reason - especially since we have 2 girls. I hadn't really thought of that as an option for the earlier grades, but it looks like a lot of people are saying on these boards that there aren't tuition breaks for teachers. Now I know Visi does remission because we know someone doing that, but again, that's HS. Maybe I will look into that - it would make a lot more sense that way and I think I could really enjoy the work. Great idea! Thank you so much.

Also, PP good point about vacations. That wouldn't have occurred to me, but I'm sure you're right.

[Anonymous]

If your DD is truly gifted, then I would move to MoCo and try to get into the gifted program. The schools mentioned so far are good, but I highly doubt they are going to address your issue. And I think the commute and costs are crazy. Just my opinion.

The commute to/from Stone Ridge just got a lot worse with the closing of Walter Reed and relocation to the Bethesda Naval Hospital, which is right next door to Stone Ridge.

[Anonymous]

9:02 here. The kids from UP transition to a very wide variety of private middle schools and all seem to do fine. There are ones at Sidwell, Holton, etc but also almost every other private school that covers those grades you can think of (including schools in Baltimore). Unfortunately, there are no nearby good schools (well, maybe St. A is not too far, but I don't know how congested the drive would be at rush hour and anyway wouldn't work for a daughter), so the kids end up going all over the place (a reasonable fraction go to Hyattsville, the rest go to almost every private school within an hour drive). There is a non-negligible group that go to Sidwell and car pool. There are also buses to Sandy Spring and other middle schools. (actually, SS has buses for elementary school kids, but it is an hour each way)

[Anonymous]

Based on what you have shared so far about your daughter and your experience teaching students lacking in critical thinking skills, I would recommend taking a look at Stone R

[Anonymous]

What about Friends Community School? My understanding is that they differentiate quite a bit for the brighter kids. Also, I think you may find that some of the Montessori schools that go through junior high (2 excellent ones in Bowie) will consider taking back a bright kid who trhived in Montessori earlier.

[Anonymous]

PP - which Montessori programs in Bowie? I was looking around at some of the other Montessori schools in the area and many had mentioned something along the lines of once you're out you can't come back in as far as elementary grades go. I did see that there is a Catholic Montessori in DC but I have never heard anything about it- Christian Family I think it is called. Our daughter loved Montessori. She's very task oriented and loved being able to really master something before moving on. She also really enjoyed the focus on respecting others via the work we do and the sensorial aspects of the curriculum. She does fine in a "normal" school structure, so I wouldn't be too concerned with a rough transition back to a traditional school for middle or high school for her. I just wasn't having luck with the Montessori schools people were talking about on the forums. If you can send me names of the Bowie schools that would be fantastic!

Friends Community wasn't really on our radar because we know a family that left the school because they didn't feel their child was being challenged. It's too bad because it is a stone's throw from us

23:58 - we are definitely going to visit Stone Ridge. It would be a long commute, but maybe we could find someone to carpool with if the school is a good fit.

[Anonymous]

There is Bowie Montessori and Patuxent Montessori. They both have thriving upper elementaries and I think Patuxent have junior high as well. In my book, any Montessoir that has a viable jr high program must be doing something right.
I have also heard that once a kid leaves Montessori, that's it. And it may be, but it's worth a call. The economy has wreaked havoc on enrollment in most places and so they might be open to a former Montessori kid. It's certainly worth a phone call.

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much, PP. That is great information. I will call both of them!

[Anonymous]

I would research private school transportation options to PG or start a thread on it. I live in Howard County and initially I thought I was limited to HC privates but I found out that I could get transportation to MoCo, AA, Baltimore County. This gave us a lot more school choices. Unfortunately our kids will be on the bus for anywhere from 35 - 50 minutes each way. For us the commute gives us time to pick up the kids without using aftercare or before care.

[Anonymous]

PP - private transportation companies or through the schools themselves? I will search about on the forums and see if anything is posted already. If not I will start a thread.

[Anonymous]

Through the schools directly or some schools partner with a private company to offer transportation for their students so technically you are contracting with the company and not the school.

[Anonymous]

For Anne Arundel schools with buses, try Key (excellent co-ed k-12) and Indian Creek (not as strong academically, though still Lower School has nice small classes and differntiation).

[Anonymous]

I believe the key school offers transportation to Bowie

[Anonymous]

SSFS