Deciding between 4 very different schools

[Anonymous]

if you are willing to look at schools all over again during your 8th grade year, I would go the Norwood route.

Otherwise i would lean towards Landon or Bullis.

Landon is clearly single sex and Bullis is Co-ed. I think Landon probably has a more rigorous academic curriculum compared to the other schools but no where near the level of Saint Albans or Sidwell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mater Dei has terrible facilities and a very out dated academic curriculum.

agree

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:if you are willing to look at schools all over again during your 8th grade year, I would go the Norwood route.

Otherwise i would lean towards Landon or Bullis.

Landon is clearly single sex and Bullis is Co-ed. I think Landon probably has a more rigorous academic curriculum compared to the other schools but no where near the level of Saint Albans or Sidwell.

Actually I have a son at Landon and a son at STA. It has been interesting to compare the same grades at these schools over some years now. I don't think Landon has quite the work load of hw STA does, but in terms of quality of instruction they are very similar. In some ways we've even been happier with the course offerings at Landon than at STA.

[Anonymous]

Congrats on having good choices! If your son at the middle school age does have a strong preference (and it seems to be for a good reason!) then I would put some weight behind that when making the choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:if you are willing to look at schools all over again during your 8th grade year, I would go the Norwood route.

Otherwise i would lean towards Landon or Bullis.

Landon is clearly single sex and Bullis is Co-ed. I think Landon probably has a more rigorous academic curriculum compared to the other schools but no where near the level of Saint Albans or Sidwell.

Actually I have a son at Landon and a son at STA. It has been interesting to compare the same grades at these schools over some years now. I don't think Landon has quite the work load of hw STA does, but in terms of quality of instruction they are very similar. In some ways we've even been happier with the course offerings at Landon than at STA.

This is interesting and helpful. Glad to hear. My son would not handle the pressure cooker and crazy homework at STA, but is smart and I feel that Landon will provide excellent preparation for college and moreover a good education. Thanks for the insight.

[Anonymous]

We felt this way exactly and its turned out wonderfully. STA just rigs kids up for anxiety needlessly.

[Anonymous]

Landon. Great facilities, course offerings, balance, and Middle School head and facuity.

[Anonymous]

20:23 - Do you mean STA has turned out to be less work/time than you anticipated?! That would make me a happy mother.

[Anonymous]

I took it to mean they were happy with landon and sta would have been more anxiety inducing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:20:23 - Do you mean STA has turned out to be less work/time than you anticipated?! That would make me a happy mother.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:20:23 - Do you mean STA has turned out to be less work/time than you anticipated?! That would make me a happy mother.

My DS1 joined STA US from another private that ended at MS in the area x years ago. And the pressure and workload at STA was, and still is, difficult for him to adjust. Looking back, we were so thrilled of him going to STA, but he probably would have been better off elsewhere. Students coming in in 9th were all very strong academically and talented. It became obvious right away that it was hard for my DS1 to keep up. Obviously STA accepted him because they believe he would succeed. But you are only as good as the company you keep! We throught of pulling him out but then that would create a whole different set of difficulties.

Teachers at STA were all very helpful and DS1 got extra help any time he needed. He's working his behind off too! But still, the workload, the pressure of "keeping" up with rest of the class is tremendous (why do you think I'm up at this hour?)

We all think our kids are smart and hard working and they are! But be honest with yourself: is your DC someone that is willing to put in three times the study than some of his friends CONSISTENTLY, just to get a grade lower than they do, all of the time?

You know your kid so choose wisely. Just because your DC got accepted into the well regarded school does not mean it"s good for him.

[Anonymous]

PP: sorry, I forgot to say....of course if your DS is one of the naturally talented one, please ignore my post above! It's just that in the MS, my DS was also a top student in his class without needing to work at it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:20:23 - Do you mean STA has turned out to be less work/time than you anticipated?! That would make me a happy mother.

No- I mean the opposite. I feel the workload and stress of the upper school has a taken a toll on my son, and I don't think these kids are better for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:20:23 - Do you mean STA has turned out to be less work/time than you anticipated?! That would make me a happy mother.

My DS1 joined STA US from another private that ended at MS in the area x years ago. And the pressure and workload at STA was, and still is, difficult for him to adjust. Looking back, we were so thrilled of him going to STA, but he probably would have been better off elsewhere. Students coming in in 9th were all very strong academically and talented. It became obvious right away that it was hard for my DS1 to keep up. Obviously STA accepted him because they believe he would succeed. But you are only as good as the company you keep! We throught of pulling him out but then that would create a whole different set of difficulties.

Teachers at STA were all very helpful and DS1 got extra help any time he needed. He's working his behind off too! But still, the workload, the pressure of "keeping" up with rest of the class is tremendous (why do you think I'm up at this hour?)

We all think our kids are smart and hard working and they are! But be honest with yourself: is your DC someone that is willing to put in three times the study than some of his friends CONSISTENTLY, just to get a grade lower than they do, all of the time?

You know your kid so choose wisely. Just because your DC got accepted into the well regarded school does not mean it"s good for him.

What you say resonates with what I have heard about some of these so called top schools. The example I have is Sidwell, I know I digress, where the kid was just barely keeping up, had his confidence in math shattered, pulling B's instead of A's, but socially he was OK etc. His parents thought about pulling him out but did not want to face the difficulties of applying out etc. So, they stayed and they suffered. Did it affect college placement? Of course it did. Looking back, parents get all excited when they get accepted into a top K-12 school. They think the kid has made it and will not have to leave or go through an application process again for high school. That may be true for some but for many it is the worst decision that the parent can make.

[Anonymous]

Norwood's middle school is exceptional and they do a fantastic job working with families in the high school placement process. I wouldn't rule them out. That rising 6th grade class is a great group.

You are right, they are all very different. I would go to the accepted parents functions, ask questions, meet faculty, staff, parents, etc. See which one seems like the best fit for your son.

Good luck!