Any academically rigorous privates in MD still accepting students?

[Anonymous]

Give Norwood a call - it may not be too late.

[Anonymous]

What is HGC? I am inferring it must be a public enrichment program or magnet for elementary, but having left MCPS many, many years ago I don't know.

[Anonymous]

I don't think there will be an opening for Lowell in that grade but you never know so I would also call them if you are willing to go a bit into DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

FYI - we are also on the WL for HGC but currently at a private. Our child is happy and likes to go to school but wants more academically and would be happy to move to get that. Just beware of that - you are not likely to find the academic level your son may desire at the privates. But on the plus side, at least there is no disengagement or disinterest in school for our child.

We had a similar although not identical experience. Both DCs left public for private starting in 3rd and 4th grades, but returned to public for middle and high school magnets. The academics weren't higher in private for the late ES grades our kids attended. Also, we had good and pretty bad teachers in both public and private. The real benefit of private school was that the small classes and the "extras," like full-year science, languages, art and music, helped our kids stay engaged and interested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

FYI - we are also on the WL for HGC but currently at a private. Our child is happy and likes to go to school but wants more academically and would be happy to move to get that. Just beware of that - you are not likely to find the academic level your son may desire at the privates. But on the plus side, at least there is no disengagement or disinterest in school for our child.

We had a similar although not identical experience. Both DCs left public for private starting in 3rd and 4th grades, but returned to public for middle and high school magnets. The academics weren't higher in private for the late ES grades our kids attended. Also, we had good and pretty bad teachers in both public and private. The real benefit of private school was that the small classes and the "extras," like full-year science, languages, art and music, helped our kids stay engaged and interested.

A bit off topic but what do people mean by "rigorous". Does it mean more homework? That certainly means more time but not necessarily better education. Does it mean more competition? Does it mean accelerated curriculum so you cover more subjects in a year? Just trying to get a sense because depending on how you look at it, private schools can be just as if not more rigorous than public schools. For example, the public schools may push through a curriculum and leave little time to explore certain topics in depth because that's what the county mandates. Whereas in a private school there's some flexibility to delve deeper into a topic or lesson while still working to meet the curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

FYI - we are also on the WL for HGC but currently at a private. Our child is happy and likes to go to school but wants more academically and would be happy to move to get that. Just beware of that - you are not likely to find the academic level your son may desire at the privates. But on the plus side, at least there is no disengagement or disinterest in school for our child.

We had a similar although not identical experience. Both DCs left public for private starting in 3rd and 4th grades, but returned to public for middle and high school magnets. The academics weren't higher in private for the late ES grades our kids attended. Also, we had good and pretty bad teachers in both public and private. The real benefit of private school was that the small classes and the "extras," like full-year science, languages, art and music, helped our kids stay engaged and interested.

A bit off topic but what do people mean by "rigorous". Does it mean more homework? That certainly means more time but not necessarily better education. Does it mean more competition? Does it mean accelerated curriculum so you cover more subjects in a year? Just trying to get a sense because depending on how you look at it, private schools can be just as if not more rigorous than public schools. For example, the public schools may push through a curriculum and leave little time to explore certain topics in depth because that's what the county mandates. Whereas in a private school there's some flexibility to delve deeper into a topic or lesson while still working to meet the curriculum.

I'm the PP with the kids who went private for 3-5 grades. I'm not sure who referred to things being more or less "rigorous" at various schools. When I talked about academic experiences being comparable between public and private, I didn't mean more homework, because in fact the homework level was pretty comparable between the public and private schools. I also don't mean that there was more competition in the private schools, at least for my kids who had been attending well-regarded publics before the switch, where plenty of kids came from academically competitive families. I also didn't mean that either school had a more accelerated curriculum: while the private school made a big deal about letting DC into the most advanced math class, he easily got 98 averages through each marking period while doing very little homework.

To repeat, the big difference I saw with private school was the earlier language, music and art instruction. These were all very good things.

[Anonymous]

Green Acres may have openings in a few classes.

They do a really good job of project based learning and helping kids who can fly higher do so.

[Anonymous]

Avalon

[Anonymous]

Grace Episcopal in Kensington is a nice school. Lots of indiv attention and a very caring, community.

[Anonymous]

New poster here - but for me - more rigorous would mean a curriculum where my child was engaged and felt challenged. We have the engaged part at our private for the reasons mentioned above - covering more subjects in the day with science, language, arts, music - but not really the challenged part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Grace Episcopal in Kensington is a nice school. Lots of indiv attention and a very caring, community.

Second Grace. My DD loved it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grace Episcopal in Kensington is a nice school. Lots of indiv attention and a very caring, community.

Second Grace. My DD loved it

Third recommendation for Grace. My smart DC is challenged enough, and very happy in the community. Another advantage of Grace is having the school's support in outplacement for 6th grade. Students are across a range of abilities, classes are small. Many non-religious families seem to be happy, but you'd have to make that assessment of your own comfort level. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Try St Andrew's. Not sure if there are openings at this level, but worth the call

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Avalon

Another poster. Visited there last week and had a horrible experience observing a priest shouting at a young boy to get out of the classroom. The boy ran out into the hall crying and fell to the floor in a heap. I was appalled. When I questioned the head of admissions, I was told it can get loud there sometimes. This was done in front of the entire class. I later heard same priest talking the boy loudly telling him to calm down and breathe. The kid was calm, but upset. Would NEVER consider this school for my child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grace Episcopal in Kensington is a nice school. Lots of indiv attention and a very caring, community.

Second Grace. My DD loved it

. Where is DD now?