I have searched this site, but wanting more info on Grace Episcopal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We send our kid there. It is OK but we will likely switch him out in the next year or two...just not sure it is worth paying for. It should be easy to get in though because their applicant pool is really low.

And you know this how?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

OP, if you like nice and unpretentious parents and kids, along with genuine diversity and a lot of black parents who are doctors and professors, and you don't like the sense of entitlement that pervades many other schools, you will probably like Grace. And as another parent here said, if you want a warm community without a lot of drama, you'll probably like Grace. Many other schools in this area are not necessarily any better academically or socially than Grace, but they are much more expensive and have fancier facilities. I realize cost equates to value for some people, or a grand campus is impressive, but I'm not interested in that. My very bright child loves the place. And the school is helping my child develop into a nicer, more compassionate person, which is really important to me.

I just read this to my coworker who sent her kids to Grace and she thought it was 100% accurate. She loved the school for her 2 kids and actually turned down Sidwell and GDS for Grace. She still keeps in touch with many of the teachers and parents and has nothing but good things to say. By all accounts (and granted, I am getting a mother's perspective here) her kids are very smart. She loved the individual attention the received which included one on one instruction for her son who was 2 grades above his classmates in math. The (her kids) went on to a MoCo public school - she believes that private is more important in the younger grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We send our kid there. It is OK but we will likely switch him out in the next year or two...just not sure it is worth paying for. It should be easy to get in though because their applicant pool is really low.

And you know this how?

I have heard through the school grapevine, which I guess is not always reliable, but it is usually somewhat true.

[Anonymous]

We sent two kids to Grace, although not all the way through for either. The specialist teachers are generally terrific -- especially advanced math, science, music, art. The homeroom teachers can vary, but many are really good, especially in 5th and 6th grade (can't speak to the beginning grades, or to 7th grade which started this year, after we had graduated). One of the 6th grade history teachers gave my kid an education in history that was without compare in the area, I think (my personal bias for strong history courses, as a history BA who is working in a different area).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We send our kid there. It is OK but we will likely switch him out in the next year or two...just not sure it is worth paying for. It should be easy to get in though because their applicant pool is really low.

And you know this how?

I have heard through the school grapevine, which I guess is not always reliable, but it is usually somewhat true.

I suggest you call the Director of Admissions for accurate information, because what you are hearing through the grapevine is NOT correct. Since you are a current parent, I assume you know how to reach her. I am also a current parent, and I can tell you that our open houses have been well-attended, and that applications are on par with other schools, despite the current economic climate. We are a small school by design, and are selective in our admissions.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, have to disagree with parents posting about how competitive Grace Episcopal is. It's just not so. They do suffer to attract (or keep) students, because they do not have a strong reputation with academics and teacher quality. The lower campus is small and offers good early ed, but lacks greatly in facility. The upper campus has the facilities, but lacks in academics. And I HATE when parents/admins/affiliates of schools tell us to 'call Admissions'. I mean, duh, we already have, and OP has been there!

[Anonymous]

I cannot think of a facility that a kindergardener or pre-K student needs that the lower campus is lacking! Actually, I think that the facility is one of the best parts of the lower campus. It is intimate, and focused on young children. Way better than having a 4 year old navigate the halls with 11 year olds.

Re: the competitive comment-- I didn't realize we were trying to compete. If that's what you're after, have fun in the rat race for spaces at Sidwell or GDS. I'll keep my little gem any day.

[Anonymous]

11:15 PP here. 21:53, to clarify a previous post by someone else, I think "selective" in this case doesn't relate to top WPPSI or WISC scores but to school readiness and other soft criteria. (Those criteria are actually much more important to me, as someone who was proud of my child's WPPSI score but understands the limits of IQ testing.) No one would argue that Grace's admits-to-applications ratio rivals Sidwell's. If you use the data in Georgia Irvin's book calculate each school's ratio, Beauvoir, Sidwell, and GDS are very competitive. Grace's ratio was similar to several other schools we were considering.

I will admit that I don't believe a "competitive" elementary school necessarily benefits a young child. It does offer the parent bragging rights, which would have been more important to me in my competitive (and insecure) youth, college, and grad school years. What I really like about my child's class at Grace is that every single kid in there is sweet, bright, and someone I feel good about my child being around. The parents are people I personally enjoy being around. As for academics, it may not be as rigorous as a place like Beauvoir. (Though "rigor" is difficult to quantify at any grade.) However, for kids in the early grades, data don't connect rigor to academic outcomes. Developing healthy attitudes about school and learning are more important. There are also a lot of data about the importance of parental (particularly maternal) education and the home environment in determining outcomes. Given those things, I feel confident that my child will do fine in the larger world. For the parent who posted saying she isn't sure if Grace's academics are worth paying for, they certainly are good enough to get some of the kids into Holton, Sidwell, NCS, et al. when they graduate if that is important to you. Since our local elementary and middle school aren't that good, we felt private school is worth paying for. And since I can't know now what kind of high school environment will most benefit my child, we decided to go with fit rather than "competitive" at this age. My child's happiness with Grace suggests that it's a good fit so I feel I am getting my money's worth.

One thing I've noticed on DCUM is that every single school gets trashed sooner or later, often on the basis of hearsay. No school is perfect and no school is a good fit for every family that applies. I've also realized some DCUMs believe that attending a "competitive" elementary school means your child will be happier, smarter, or better adjusted. That's simply not true. Others believe that if your child gets into Beauvoir or Sidwell, that's the best fit. That's also untrue. Some of us had kids get into those elite schools and yet we chose Grace because it was a better fit. For our family, opting out of the highly competitive scene and choosing Grace has been a very good decision. Happy holidays, OP, and good luck with your choice!

[Anonymous]

We were turned off by Grace because it sits in a graveyard. Period.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were turned off by Grace because it sits in a graveyard. Period.

That's a great reason!

[Anonymous]

It should be called disgrace episcopal. Hated it.

[Anonymous]

OP here! Thanks, I have gotten some really thoughtful responses and I appreciate it. Not so much for the 16:03 poster, but that is okay.

We will visit again and feel it out again. Most of the negative posts seemed to indicate that it was not rigorous enough, so I will do more research on that. Although, I have to admit "rigor" is a loaded subject for me and something I really do not believe in in the early years. Challenged? Sure. But, we are not looking for craziness here, just the opposite.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

1603 here. I hated it because it was a ruin down, shabby place. They said they renovated, but you couldn't tell from the way it looked. It looked worse than the local public MC school.

[Anonymous]

I have no dog in this fight, I don't even know where this school is, but my DC(s) have attended a school that was very run down and shabby. BUT it was a fantastic, warm nurturing environment and they thrived there. I think facilities are the icing on the cake, but they do not make a school IMO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1603 here. I hated it because it was a ruin down, shabby place. They said they renovated, but you couldn't tell from the way it looked. It looked worse than the local public MC school.

Well if all that matters to you is flash facilities and a huge gym, then Grace is not the place for you. I doubt the other parents would miss you....


Something for the rest of you to think about: the lack of fancy facilities means lower costs. Grace is a great bargain compared to some of the other privates.