St. Pats & Norwood - Pros and Cons? Please help!

[Anonymous]

Trying to compare two wonderful schools - any thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Start with commute obviously. Beyond that, do you have any particular priorities or concerns?

[Anonymous]

We are not deeply religious - looking for a place that will foster the yearn to learn - where children have fun during the learning process - we value music, art and athletics (well rounded). We are not particularly worried about placement at this point and are focused on the early years. Our take is that we could be in Idaho in 5 years - or one of us could lose our jobs - or our child may not enjoy a particular environment - so why try to foresee the future. We are not certain we could go wrong - as both are great places - just very different in personality.

[Anonymous]

Norwood has been a really wonderful experience for our children. And based on what you are looking for in a school, it looks like it could be a great fit for your family too.

I think when you have two good choices you can't go wrong, just go with your gut!

[Anonymous]

What you said in your post sounds similar to us and our priorities. We've got kids at St Pats and love it. Really warm community & school. Great at teaching kids how to be good people, responsible & kind. We are also very pleased with the academics. St Pats has started trying to offer greater differentiation in the early years (they already do for fourth grade and up), and Norwood does this as well. Both schools have outstanding outplacement. St Pats does especially well with St Albans, Maret, Sidwell. We are not religious, either, and have found the religious education to be practical and inclusive (in the end, educated people need to know the foundational stories of the world's major religions). Not preachy, very accommodating/understanding of other traditions.

[Anonymous]

OP, I can't speak to St. Pat's, but Norwood has phenomenal art and music programs in the lower school.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the feedback. We too found St. Pat's religion not to be too in your face - and liked that fact. Understanding religion is important as noted - even if one doesn't subscribe to any one belief. While teachers are clearly the most important variable - it's been had for us to avoid comparing the facilities. We feel blessed (excuse the religious pun) to face such a decision - but like aspects of both schools. We also want to make the decision sooner rather than later so that other families can be given ample time to make a decision if wait-listed.

[Anonymous]

It's a gut thing, honestly. Which feels better to you? I think both schools would be open to providing you with more resources to make your decision if you need them. We have kids at Norwood and think it is a rgeat fit for them, but I know several people with kids at St. Pat's who love St. Pat's, too. They are both great schools.

[Anonymous]

I think both schools are excellent and perhaps the two best K-8 in area. The assistant head of St Pats is married to the AD of Norwood and I think they believe both schools are excellent. I would choose based on where you live. If you are in DC, your child will have an easier time getting together with playmates from St Pats. If you are in Potomac, or the further reaches of Bethesda, your child will be closer to playmates from Norwood. This ends up making more of a difference than you might think and impacts after-school activties, sports, etc... As for strengths, I think Norwood has (obviously) much better outside spaces, their sports fields are gorgeous. St Pats is more established/connected due to the Head of School and longevity. I do not know which is better academically but, would guess St Pats has the edge there.

[Anonymous]

Wow, I just checked out the Norwood high school placement page. I've never seen such transparency from a school - they list both the number of applicants and the number of admits to each school. I think that's super, and says a lot of good things about Norwood's administration. (I am one of the St Pats parents who posted above and wish St Pats would consider doing the same thing!)

[Anonymous]

bump

[Anonymous]

FWIW, we thought St Pat's was a bit more religious than some other area episcopalian schools. Norwood is expressly not religious.

[Anonymous]

bump

[Anonymous]

Norwood is a great school and it is not religious

[Anonymous]

Great schools. One has a stronger in town family base. The other has more families from the suburbs. That said, both have families from both in town and the suburbs.