Lowell? Do smart kids go there?

[Anonymous]

Lowell is known for its rich social curriculum and our kids are great problem solvers and independent thinkers. I think someone is trying to stir the pot. Lowell is also a first choice for families where kids could have gone to "big 3.". I assume that is also true for at least some Sheridan, Green Acres, St Patricks, etc. Families.

[Anonymous]

Lowell was the only private school to which we applied our child when we left the public school system in close in Maryland. We looked at other Big X schools and decided not to apply. We liked Lowell better for those early primary school years and did not think it was worth it to buy an "insurance policy" to get into a Big X high school later. While we had our share issues with the school over the many years we were there, we would certainly make the same decision again. Contrary to DCUM folklore, kids get into great colleges every year from both public and non-Big X private high schools, and this has much more to do with the individual than the school. I agree with PPs that I never heard a Lowell family worry about what college their child wold attend coming from Lowell -- most would have viewed the question as absurd.

[Anonymous]

Holton had a set of twins from Lowell a few years ago. They were the smartest girls to step foot on campus in recent years.

[Anonymous]

They might have been that smart from any school.

[Anonymous]

The only point is that by going to Lowell, one is not dooming your kids to a future of academic underperformance! If you like the school and it is a good fit for your child, then go for it, and really no need to worry about the future more than at any other school.

[Anonymous]

Amen to 11:18 for a breath of fresh air and common sense. The same can probably be said for just about any other independent school in the area.

[Anonymous]

Amen to 11:18 for a breath of fresh air and common sense. The same can probably be said for just about any other independent school in the area.

[Anonymous]

How many kids in sixth and then how many stay for 7 and 8. I like a k-8 model but I don't want the class to shrink by 50% like st. Pats does. If you stay you might feel like all of your friends are leaving on you and it might make for a bad middle school social experience.

[Anonymous]

OP,

You can still have a learning disability and still be smart. I'm also not sure where you got the idea that St. Andrew's is a school for kids with LDs. They have some students with LDs, but that's not the focus of the school and the vast majority of kids do not.

You really sound like you have your head up your ass. Stop asking dumb questions and making stupid assumptions.

[Anonymous]

Everyone knows st Andrews is for kids with learning issues! Are you kidding?!? Really, everyone.

What I have heard about Lowell is it is a loving and caring environment but not academically challenging.

[Anonymous]

Another poster here addressing 22:17: While St. Andrew's does a great job pushing kids with minor learning disabilities, the vast majority of students there do not have any. While I have never seen any statistics, I have heard that maybe 20% of the kids or so may have learning differences that may be characterized as a disability -- ADD, dyslexia etc.) -- I am sure it must vary by year/class. In MoCo, St. Andrew's is generally considered a very strong academic independent school. The DC community -- with its large number of privates and fewer attractive publics -- tends to be less informed about the school. When my DC -- who has no LD -- graduated from Lowell and moved to St. Andrews, some of the children in the class who arguably had noticeable learning differences attended Burke, Field, and some other places, but I understand there are some very strong students at some of these schools and I would not make broad assumptions about the student body based on who went there from my own experience. Even some of the children who attended GDS and Maret arguably had a noticeable weakness in a one or another academic area. I don't doubt your perceptions based on whomever you in particular know who may have attended, but let's avoid the hyperbole about what "Everyone Knows" which implies a broader statement of fact which is simply false. As has been posted elsewhere, I suspect the top universities and LACs that quite a number of St. Andrew's children attend may be surprised to learn their successful students have any learning difficulties. And, as noted by another poster, it is also true that some children who have LDs can also succeed at the very highest levels of academic achievement as well. Of course, not everyone at St. Andrew's fits that high achievement model -- the school was founded on and remains true to offering a well balanced education students with somewhat wider range of abilities than some of the downtown schools -- but I hear that even in the big name downtown schools not eveyrone is an academic superstar. But if you don't fall into that strong student category at St. Andrew's, you can still be successful in the right classes and build confidence. That may be more difficult at some other schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've always thought of Lowell as a school for kids who want an independent school education but can't get into the big players. Recently though I've met some really great families and kids who are from Lowell. Before we look at making a change I'd like to know how the school is perceived. Is it rigorous? Do smart kids to there? Or is it like St. Andrews, for the kids who need a bit of help due to disabilities? Where do graduates attend college?

OP, I certainly hope you got in your applications for the big 3 in on time, because it sounds like nothing else will be acceptable for you (your snowflake's needs be damned).

Surprisingly, there are people who pick schools like Lowell, Sheridan to go because it is the right school for their child - even those families with BRIGHT children. As you know, only dullards go to non big 3 schools.

LD's are funny things. They don't always show up on the first day of school. Some don't show up until later. Remember, karma's a bitch and your kid could be one of those who later on "need a bit of help."

As for college placements, Lowell students and all non big 3 grads generally go Montgomery College, NOVA. Lately, there has been a spike in children applying to Cosmetology school right out of Lowell.

Seriously, read the literature, read the websites, talk to families there and don't let the neon lights of the big 3 school blind you to other wonderful schools out there.

[Anonymous]

I think the reality is that many (most?) families end up at Lowell as a second choice school.

But I must say, some of the smartest people I know had kids at Lowell.

[Anonymous]

I know a wicked smart child at Lowell. He is there because his parents wanted a progressive education and were turned off by some of the competitive social aspects of other independent schools.

[Anonymous]

We did not consider the Big Three over Lowell for the earliest years. That may evolve as they get older as we have seen with other families.