I'll try again - anyone know anything about Flint Hill?

[Anonymous]

This thread is rather strange! I too would be interested in learning more about Flint Hill ... from families who actually have a child there. On the current sub-topic of what a "Burgundy family" is like and might be looking for in a high school, I can only say that it is really not possible to so narrowly describe a typical family at any school, even Burgundy. I know it may be hard to believe, but there are families there who are conservative (gasp), who only modestly prefer progressive over traditional style education, and who even have mildly preppy/sporty kids! I suspect the short drive from the Alexandria and Mount Vernon areas account for some of this "diversity"! What is true about Burgundy is that all types of families are made to feel welcome and part of the community ... not just the progressive/liberal/alternative types. Now then ... anyone know anything about Flint Hill???

[Anonymous]

We have visited Flint Hill several times. It is very close to my house. It seems like a nice school and for location alone, I wanted it to be a fit for my child. But it is not. My child is a great student, but a very intense thinker, artsy and free spirited. Flint Hill is more preppy and conformist, but this does not make it a good school. In fact, I think this makes it a good fit for most of the kids in NOVA.

To be honest at the elementary level, I did not care for the academic style, but the high school seems like it has a lot to offer academically and the facility is lovely.

And as a side note, Flint Hill has hosted a few area Latin Competitions that my daughter has taken part in and they have been lovely and gracious hosts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have visited Flint Hill several times. It is very close to my house. It seems like a nice school and for location alone, I wanted it to be a fit for my child. But it is not. My child is a great student, but a very intense thinker, artsy and free spirited. Flint Hill is more preppy and conformist, but this does not make it a good school. In fact, I think this makes it a good fit for most of the kids in NOVA.

To be honest at the elementary level, I did not care for the academic style, but the high school seems like it has a lot to offer academically and the facility is lovely.

And as a side note, Flint Hill has hosted a few area Latin Competitions that my daughter has taken part in and they have been lovely and gracious hosts.

OOPS I meant to type "this does not make it NOT a good school." My awkward way of saying that it seems like a fine school. Just not a fit for us.

[Anonymous]

I know a few kids who graduate from Burgundy and actually trek in to Edmund Burke for high school. Burke can be a great fit for these kids.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I do feel a bit like Alice in Wonderland with this thread! But it's still good information.

My child is a creative/outside of the box/non sporty/deep thinker type of kid. He wouldn't do well in a school that insists on conformance. But Burgundy is too far for us. So I'm looking for alternatives and wondering if Flint Hill would be suitable.

Can someone please tell me what about Flint Hill is conformist? I know they require uniforms, but what is it about their academics or their behavior management or philosophy that is conformist? And what grade levels are conformist? Are they more lenient in lower school and then more conformist in the upper school?

[Anonymous]

OP here again. Also, why aren't Flint Hill students graduating and going onto better schools if they are on par with Potomac and other strong schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here again. Also, why aren't Flint Hill students graduating and going onto better schools if they are on par with Potomac and other strong schools?

No one said they were "on par". Truthfully, based on reputation alone I would classify them as a more 2nd tier school.... still a good school, but not in the same league reputationally as a Sidwell, Maret, Potomac, GDS, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here again. Also, why aren't Flint Hill students graduating and going onto better schools if they are on par with Potomac and other strong schools?

define better schools. and remember people get into the schools they apply to. perhaps your definition of "better" schools is not theirs. when choosing a college, IMO the most important thing is for a kid to find a school that they love and feel a connection with, not a name that will impress others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I do feel a bit like Alice in Wonderland with this thread! But it's still good information.

My child is a creative/outside of the box/non sporty/deep thinker type of kid. He wouldn't do well in a school that insists on conformance. But Burgundy is too far for us. So I'm looking for alternatives and wondering if Flint Hill would be suitable.

Can someone please tell me what about Flint Hill is conformist? I know they require uniforms, but what is it about their academics or their behavior management or philosophy that is conformist? And what grade levels are conformist? Are they more lenient in lower school and then more conformist in the upper school?

14:53 here - I was referring to the high school when I stated that I found it to be too conformist for my child and as a whole I found the school to be too sports oriented. At the elementary level the academics were okay, not all that above FCPS, but they do offer the gift of smaller classes.

The "conformist" vibe I got was more from the parents than the school itself. They gave off a very type A, very competitive and status driven vibe.

And I totally understand your concern about distance. As I stated I live very close to the school and wanted it to fit, but since it didn't I opted for a driving commute at the elementary level and a city commute for my child at the high school level. Not ideal, but you do what you gotta do. : )

I am not sure where you live, but have you considered Green Hedges or Edlin? I understand that they both have a gentle approach and I have heard good things about both schools (but only good for the K-6 portion of Edlin, the middle school doesn't get quite so nice reviews from those I know who have been there).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here again. Also, why aren't Flint Hill students graduating and going onto better schools if they are on par with Potomac and other strong schools?

define better schools. and remember people get into the schools they apply to. perhaps your definition of "better" schools is not theirs. when choosing a college, IMO the most important thing is for a kid to find a school that they love and feel a connection with, not a name that will impress others.

Certainly I would not place my child in a school he didn't like. But there has to be some reason why Potomac kids are getting accepted to very good colleges but Flint Hill kids are not. Can it be simply that the vast majority of FH grads are opting for the Univ of Virginia and George Mason only? What about FH kids make them avoid better schools then - hopefully it's something other than grades then if they are such a good school.

I don't mean to put FH down. I'm just trying to understand if it's worth it to spend $25K a year for getting my child into the Univ of Virginia or George Mason. I'm thinking FCPS will do that.

And to the poster who said FH is not that much above public school, on what do you base this on?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here again. Also, why aren't Flint Hill students graduating and going onto better schools if they are on par with Potomac and other strong schools?

define better schools. and remember people get into the schools they apply to. perhaps your definition of "better" schools is not theirs. when choosing a college, IMO the most important thing is for a kid to find a school that they love and feel a connection with, not a name that will impress others.

Certainly I would not place my child in a school he didn't like. But there has to be some reason why Potomac kids are getting accepted to very good colleges but Flint Hill kids are not. Can it be simply that the vast majority of FH grads are opting for the Univ of Virginia and George Mason only? What about FH kids make them avoid better schools then - hopefully it's something other than grades then if they are such a good school.

I don't mean to put FH down. I'm just trying to understand if it's worth it to spend $25K a year for getting my child into the Univ of Virginia or George Mason. I'm thinking FCPS will do that.

And to the poster who said FH is not that much above public school, on what do you base this on?

You need to do some research. UVA is a very good school and admission is quite competitive.

[Anonymous]

OP, see this earlier thread for more info:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/18450.page

[Anonymous]

Sorry, like I said I am new here. Yes I understand UVA is a good school, similar to Georgetown some say. Perhaps I was thinking of Virginia Tech? What is the other university here that is average?

Thanks for that earlier thread. There seems to be no comparison between Potomac grads and FH grads though. Yet the tuition is nearly the same for both schools. I'm trying to understand - why the disparity if FH is so good?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, like I said I am new here. Yes I understand UVA is a good school, similar to Georgetown some say. Perhaps I was thinking of Virginia Tech? What is the other university here that is average?

Thanks for that earlier thread. There seems to be no comparison between Potomac grads and FH grads though. Yet the tuition is nearly the same for both schools. I'm trying to understand - why the disparity if FH is so good?

I have already posted in this thread twice, most recently at 11:03 -- Another factor to consider, FH does welcome students of all academic levels to their school. They are not ashamed of their C students (C is average, people. Like it or not, most of us are average -- including to some of the pompous asses who post on this forum). Right now college entry is unbelievably competitive for even A+ students, consequently a lot of kids are probably entering schools that you do not approve of.

And quite frankly, I urge you to try to drop some of your college snobbery. I think it is far more important for an 18 year old student to find a campus that they feel comfortable in, and a workload that challenges and inspires them, than to choose a school on prestige alone.

[Anonymous]

OP here. But perhaps people understand there is something behind the prestige, and maybe the prestige is merited because the school actually does offer a better education for kids.
I would not put my child in a prestigious school which provided them with a mediocre education. And if my child had a "C" grade graduating average from any school, I would question how much they learned. In some countries, such as Finland, if a child gets anything less than a B, they are asked to repeat the class. This is why Finnish kids consistenly rank much higher than the US in international assessment tests.
Why do you assume that a well regarded school is mutually exclusive from a place a kid truly comfortable in and a challenging workload?