Seneca Academy has gone out of business and will be closing its school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Finances or no finances, these are terrible schools.

I will agree about Barnesville.

It has lost a ton of teachers. Administration is incompetent and honestly no experience.

We used to go there and the administration is incredibly incompetent.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter attended a parochial and now attends the same school as a prior Barnesville family. It's interesting to me that they seem to have had similar experience, bad teachers high turnover rate and lots of bullying. Snobbery was unfortunately high according to both of them.

Snobbery is endemic in virtually all private schools and many public schools, too. That's far from something specific to any one school.

Yes snobbery happens at all schools. Nothing is perfect.

Barnesville is super small. Max it had 30 students per grade in MS. It hasn't had that many students per grade for years. I'm not sure they can field an 8th grade anymore? Smaller the class size those queen bees can be even more of an issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter attended a parochial and now attends the same school as a prior Barnesville family. It's interesting to me that they seem to have had similar experience, bad teachers high turnover rate and lots of bullying. Snobbery was unfortunately high according to both of them.

Snobbery is endemic in virtually all private schools and many public schools, too. That's far from something specific to any one school.

Yes snobbery happens at all schools. Nothing is perfect.

Barnesville is super small. Max it had 30 students per grade in MS. It hasn't had that many students per grade for years. I'm not sure they can field an 8th grade anymore? Smaller the class size those queen bees can be even more of an issue.

If leadership were smart they'd close the middle school and restructure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So John, with Seneca probably closing and Barnesville having administration problems, what would be your choice for a down to earth, relatively affordable (say, $30K or under per year) Montgomery County private school?

I fear I can't help you here...clearly I have a positive bias toward Barnesville and wouldn't characterize it as you have, and also, I've been away long enough that I haven't the foggiest idea of what going tuition rates are. For example, I've deeply respected the program and leadership at Green Acres, but a quick glance of their website revealed to me that their tuition isn't in the range you're seeking. I wish you well in the search!

John

Thank you! We will look at Barnesville to make a decision for ourselves, but are worried about how low the enrollment is, and whether that's an indication that folks are uneasy with it.

As for Green Acres, we love the philosophy of the school, but it's hard to justify such a high price tag.

I am a current Green Acres parent. Please take a look at the school. It is so worth the money, especially now with the remote learning going on. I have been incredibly impressed by the learning that is happening at all the grade levels.

We will look at it. I think what we struggle with is just that it's higher than most of the other schools in the area, especially for the lower grades. At $39K for 2-8th grade, that's more in line with high school tuition, as opposed to elementary school. I'd want to see really where we're getting the extra value above, say, Norwood, which charges $33-38K for those grade levels.

Look at Christ Episcopal in Rockville if you don't mind a parochial school.

+1 CES. Great little school that welcomes families of all faiths.

[Anonymous]

I've never heard of any of the schools mentioned on this thread.

[Anonymous]

Then be grateful and stay out of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've never heard of any of the schools mentioned on this thread.

[broadcasting her ignorance.]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never heard of any of the schools mentioned on this thread.

[broadcasting her ignorance.]

+100

[Anonymous]

FWIW, Barnesville is having an open house (online) on the 17th AND they are doing private tours virtually. We've been a Barnesville family for almost 5 years. The small class sizes are what attracted us to the school and we've stayed because of the individual focus and the community. Nowhere is perfect, but this school has really given us a lot over the years. I've met the most wonderful people (parents & staff) and my child has made some wonderful friends. Because the school is small, it really feels like a family. It's also good that the classes are small, especially now with the COVID pandemic.



Here is a link to the open house for anyone that is interested:
https://www.barnesvilleschool.org/spring-virtual-open-house

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've never heard of any of the schools mentioned on this thread.

Nobody who is anybody has, either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope they make it... am tempted to donate. * COVID!

Don’t throw your money away. EVEN if Seneca survives another year- HUGE doubtful if- they won’t make it a second. Elementary enrollment is for poor schmucks in BAD school clusters, preschool was keeping the whole thing alive, not enough for viability. It’s sad but just rip the bandaid off already, NO KID benefits from a class size of seven. I saw this coming last year and thankful we left.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope they make it... am tempted to donate. * COVID!

Don’t throw your money away. EVEN if Seneca survives another year- HUGE doubtful if- they won’t make it a second. Elementary enrollment is for poor schmucks in BAD school clusters, preschool was keeping the whole thing alive, not enough for viability. It’s sad but just rip the bandaid off already, NO KID benefits from a class size of seven. I saw this coming last year and thankful we left.

Uggghhh, I hate to say it, but this is actually one of the more (mean) but accurate posts about Seneca. It is known for the preschool. The families I know who sent their kids there mostly did public school after preschool or transitional K. I think the school would have a shot if it focused on younger kids (2-4 years old) for a bit, and maybe closed grades K-5, or maybe even consolidated their grades so the class sizes were bigger. They need financial operational assistance/guidance very badly. I truly hope it turns around and wish the school the best of luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never heard of any of the schools mentioned on this thread.

Nobody who is anybody has, either.

I don’t say this lightly, but you are a massive asshole.

[Anonymous]

We are a precious Seneca family and truly wish the school the best. However, when I look at enrollment in our daughters’ yearbook for the upper, non preschool grades, the classes just seem to small to be viable. I have a dear friend who desperately needs a private elementary for her son and really wanted Seneca to be that place but the small classes were a turnoff. It’s just not beneficial
To many kids to be in a class of four. That said, I hope the parents can “save” the school but it will
Need a massive overhaul to be viable in the long term. The area is in need of a good quality, well priced secular private school and Seneca should have been able to capitalize on that years ago. I find it doubtful they will be able to survive past next year IF they are able to eke our a last minute hail
Mary but I just don’t see how. It’s a shame, their staff is just absolutely LOVELY and 95
percent of the teachers are not just good but SPECTACULAR. Wish you luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never heard of any of the schools mentioned on this thread.

Nobody who is anybody has, either.

I don’t say this lightly, but you are a massive asshole.

Plus they are not 'anybody"