Browne vs. Burgundy Farm - middle school

[Anonymous]

We looked at Browne, but it just seemed like a public middle school with a few additional features. Nothing wrong with that, but, meh. We also had friends whose child was bullied there and ended up leaving.

We did have our DC attend Burgundy for MS. The good: amazing, life-changing teachers (some), a great music program, real opportunities in the arts, and a very good vibe. Great effort on emissions and we ended up in a very good place. The bad: leadership issues, discipline issues and in some cases very poor teaching allowed to continue too long, which meant we ended up getting a tutor. That may have been addressed by the new head of MS.

Bottom line: they don't really compete. Burgundy is progressive with all the advantages and disadvantages that brings. Browne is traditional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GO. BURGUNDY.

The social climate there is unbelievable. Especially with older kids, if your 7th/8th grader is fine dumbing themselves down, not trying, and vaping, Browne is for you. My DC got bullied at Browne. It depends on the class, but honest to god our DC did not mix well at all. Kids will ridicule your child if they aren't a good fit, and the teachers don't do jack.

Please go Burgundy.

Wow! We’re at Browne now and have concerns, wish I could pick your brain. The social scene is very tough at Browne given the small size and our kids are definitely victims of bullies with little action from the teachers or administration. Also, the caliber of students they admit or allow to stay is astounding. One parent commented to me that this place is turning into a refuge for SSSAS rejects and PG county parents escaping their public school system. The most disruptive students with very clear behavioral issues are allowed to stay because the school has such low enrollment. Current 3rd grade class has only 7 kids.

I completely agree with you. Browne does send their kids to good high schools (mine got into a top DC private) and have sent one kid to TJ, although to his credit, he was extremely smart and could have gotten in w/out Browne. Another went to Maret; brother of the TJ kid. When my child was in the middle school, DC had an English teacher that called her class retarded and proceeded to compare kids using the "grammar gorilla" scale, with the lowest being a lemur. As a parent I was astounded. She got fired, then was replaced by a mediocre teacher.

Dodge a bullet with Browne by not sending your kids there. Kids who have big-donor parents are often the most successful, socially. As someone mentioned, small class sizes make bad class dynamics hard to escape from.

Glad my kid is now at high school. DC feels like Browne didn't prepare her well enough, but DC is doing well. To current parents of Browne who hate it for their kids, academically and socially: If it's not too late, LEAVE. If it is, then wait out the storm; it gets better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're looking at progressive schools for our son and are fortunate to be choosing between Browne Academy and Burgundy Farm.

If you're looking for a progressive school, I'm not sure why Browne is even in the equation.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanking everyone for their feedback.

We're interested in a small class size for the individual attention from the teachers, not out of hopes that it will help our kid overcome his shyness. He's interested because he's been in very small classes from the beginning, by accident rather than by design (we live in a small-school place), and he was gobsmacked when he heard how big some of the DC area schools are. I'm sure he'll be a DC metro pro in no time, but we're seeking to ease the transition for him as much as we can.

I'd read that Browne was somewhere in the middle between traditional ACDS and progressive Burgundy, so I started to think of Browne as on the progressive side. Guess not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanking everyone for their feedback.

We're interested in a small class size for the individual attention from the teachers, not out of hopes that it will help our kid overcome his shyness. He's interested because he's been in very small classes from the beginning, by accident rather than by design (we live in a small-school place), and he was gobsmacked when he heard how big some of the DC area schools are. I'm sure he'll be a DC metro pro in no time, but we're seeking to ease the transition for him as much as we can.

I'd read that Browne was somewhere in the middle between traditional ACDS and progressive Burgundy, so I started to think of Browne as on the progressive side. Guess not.

Did you tour these schools? Attend open houses? Observe classes? How did you not realize that Burgundy is a progressive education model and Browne is traditional? Did you notice the uniforms at Browne? Seriously, the vibe at these two schools could not be further apart.

[Anonymous]

ACDS isn't quite as traditional as you might have heard, either. Lots of hands on projects, social emotional learning program and inclusion.

[Anonymous]

I’m not sure how much longer Browne will stay open, the school is in bad shape financially due to the low enrollment.

[Anonymous]

If ACDS is in the mix recommend it over Burgundy or Browne

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If ACDS is in the mix recommend it over Burgundy or Browne

Completely disagree. Burgundy’s middle school is amazing with the new head.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not sure how much longer Browne will stay open, the school is in bad shape financially due to the low enrollment.

+100 and they barely give aid because they can’t afford it.

[Anonymous]

Isn’t ACDS focusing on students with learning differences?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t ACDS focusing on students with learning differences?

No. That’s not true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Did you tour these schools? Attend open houses? Observe classes? How did you not realize that Burgundy is a progressive education model and Browne is traditional? Did you notice the uniforms at Browne? Seriously, the vibe at these two schools could not be further apart.

OP here. We're applying from overseas and have done everything by phone, Skype, and e-mail. In our experience, uniforms don't always mean "not progressive." Certainly a big difference in vibe, but Browne's vibe was still MUCH more laid-back than some of the schools we looked at (and ruled out) -- and their website and other websites refer to its "creative and progressive learning environment."

Very glad to have found this forum for another perspective, however.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Did you tour these schools? Attend open houses? Observe classes? How did you not realize that Burgundy is a progressive education model and Browne is traditional? Did you notice the uniforms at Browne? Seriously, the vibe at these two schools could not be further apart.

OP here. We're applying from overseas and have done everything by phone, Skype, and e-mail. In our experience, uniforms don't always mean "not progressive." Certainly a big difference in vibe, but Browne's vibe was still MUCH more laid-back than some of the schools we looked at (and ruled out) -- and their website and other websites refer to its "creative and progressive learning environment."

Very glad to have found this forum for another perspective, however.

Much better schools for almost $30K per year. Just my 2 cents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Much better schools for almost $30K per year. Just my 2 cents.

Yeah, I think the choice is pretty clear after reading this thread.