academics at private vs. public in McLean (Chesterbrook)

[Anonymous]

I've seen some postings by parents who said their children had been in private school (think it was Langley) and they pulled them out b/c they weren't being challenged and then found the programs in public school to be quite challenging. I'm curious about this and wondering if anyone can add anything on this. We're trying to make a decision btwn private and public- in this case Chesterbrook and are really torn. We see pros and cons to both and are curious about the academic experiences families have had.

[Anonymous]

In my opinion, Chesterbrook is much like a private - incredibly involved parents, highly qualified and enthusiastic teachers, and a great facility. And the principle is fantastic.

We moved our kids from private to Chesterbrook in the fall of 2010. Our oldest is in the AAP program and our middle is in K.

Our oldest wasn't thrilled about moving to a new school, but he recently said that at his old private (not Langley, but another K-8) he "knew all the answers to all the questions." His words not mine. He is now placed within the most challenging group in each of the AAP classes and yes, he is challenged. He doesn't always like it, but he proudly shows us a great grade on a test as he really had to work for it. He doesn't get a perfect grade on everything 'cause he is not willing to work that hard, but I am ok with this.

The LLIV program has a high rate of participation as most LLIV kids choose to stay at Chesterbrook rather than move to the center at Haycock. Chesterbrook does not focus on the AAP program to the exclusion of the other kids. The LLIV program is inclusive, meaning that kids who test into the full time AAP program have all 4 LLIV classes (language arts, math, social studies, and science), but other kids can test into and take up to 3 LLIV classes based on ability. Class placement is reevaluated every quarter. So if you have a kid that is great in math, he/she will be challenged at Chesterbrook, regardless if he/she is in the AAP program.

The woman who runs Chesterbrook's AAP program used to run Churchill's AAP center, and is vocal about how she believes Chesterbrook's more inclusive LLIV program is better for the kids and the school. I agree. You still end up with a highly skilled peer group, but as a parent of 3 kids, I like Chesterbrook's more inclusive approach.

Our middle kid is doing great in K - although K is hard as it is half day but I think they cram a full days worth of material in the half day.

The one negative I have heard about Chesterbrook as compared to a private is class size. This has not negatively impacted us yet, but I still wanted to mention it. My son's K class has 24 kids, with 1 teacher, 1 full time assistant, and 2 part time assistants. My 3rd grader's classes range from 28 to 21 kids (math has the smallest class size). But a parent of a 5th grader mentioned that her daughter's class has 31 kids.

[Anonymous]

Not OP, but

Wow - excellent post, 7:42 ... Thanks.

[Anonymous]

to pp from chesterbrook (or others) - what did you think about the content of the curriculum? was the fairfax elementary curriculum challenging enough/reaching enough in k or in the aap? is there enough writing/composition to learn these well in the aap or are the class sizes too large to allow the teacher to assign any writing/english composition homework? (specials are probably less frequent in public compared to private, but I've always wondered about the close attention issue to each kid and the writing expectations as well)

[Anonymous]

OP, are you looking for this year? If so, and you are still torn on the day of the deadline, go with your gut about what is best for your child. Posters on an anonymous forum can't help you with what is right for your family and your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In my opinion, Chesterbrook is much like a private - incredibly involved parents, highly qualified and enthusiastic teachers, and a great facility. And the principle is fantastic.

We moved our kids from private to Chesterbrook in the fall of 2010. Our oldest is in the AAP program and our middle is in K.

Our oldest wasn't thrilled about moving to a new school, but he recently said that at his old private (not Langley, but another K-8) he "knew all the answers to all the questions." His words not mine. He is now placed within the most challenging group in each of the AAP classes and yes, he is challenged. He doesn't always like it, but he proudly shows us a great grade on a test as he really had to work for it. He doesn't get a perfect grade on everything 'cause he is not willing to work that hard, but I am ok with this.

The LLIV program has a high rate of participation as most LLIV kids choose to stay at Chesterbrook rather than move to the center at Haycock. Chesterbrook does not focus on the AAP program to the exclusion of the other kids. The LLIV program is inclusive, meaning that kids who test into the full time AAP program have all 4 LLIV classes (language arts, math, social studies, and science), but other kids can test into and take up to 3 LLIV classes based on ability. Class placement is reevaluated every quarter. So if you have a kid that is great in math, he/she will be challenged at Chesterbrook, regardless if he/she is in the AAP program.

The woman who runs Chesterbrook's AAP program used to run Churchill's AAP center, and is vocal about how she believes Chesterbrook's more inclusive LLIV program is better for the kids and the school. I agree. You still end up with a highly skilled peer group, but as a parent of 3 kids, I like Chesterbrook's more inclusive approach.

Our middle kid is doing great in K - although K is hard as it is half day but I think they cram a full days worth of material in the half day.

The one negative I have heard about Chesterbrook as compared to a private is class size. This has not negatively impacted us yet, but I still wanted to mention it. My son's K class has 24 kids, with 1 teacher, 1 full time assistant, and 2 part time assistants. My 3rd grader's classes range from 28 to 21 kids (math has the smallest class size). But a parent of a 5th grader mentioned that her daughter's class has 31 kids.

PP, I am not the OP, but I am trying to decide whether to move to the Chesterbrook neighborhood or the Haycock neighborhood (my kid just turn 5 and she is already doing multiplication in her montessori school). I visited both schools and I agree with you that Chesterbrook seems better, both for the facility and the people (staffs, teachers, students and the community). But Haycock is considered the best APP center with fantastic test scores. It is also close to metro even though I like that Chesterbrook has Chinese FLES. What is the deciding factor for you keep your kid in Chesterbrook rather than going to Haycock?

[Anonymous]

7:42- excellent and thoughtful post. Thank you for the infortmation. Curious- what year does LLIV start? is that grade 3?

[Anonymous]

7:42 again. The AAP language arts class encompasses Word Study and composition writing. It is my DS' least favorite class, and the one he has to work the hardest in. I can't imagine any kid not being challenged in the AAP program. The material in 3rd grade science and social studies encompasses concepts I learned in middle school.

All of my DS' teachers know him well (the kids have a different teacher for each subject). At parent-teacher conferences all of the teachers detailed my son's strength's and weaknesses.

The K teacher (Jorgensen - wow is she amazing) differentiates by grouping kids for reading and math. I do think 1/2 day K is really hard in that there are not as many specials (no time), and few breaks in the day (again, no time). This has been tough on my DS who was never one for great transitions to begin with. However, my K student, who started off the year worrying that he would never learn to read (he is a worrier), proudly reads us 1-2 books every night. Which is actually homework for the kids in K.

I believe quite a few Chesterbrook familes do private K and then move their kids in 1st grade. Last yr there were 3 K classes (same as this yr), but this yr there are 5 1st grade classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:7:42 again. The AAP language arts class encompasses Word Study and composition writing. It is my DS' least favorite class, and the one he has to work the hardest in. I can't imagine any kid not being challenged in the AAP program. The material in 3rd grade science and social studies encompasses concepts I learned in middle school.

All of my DS' teachers know him well (the kids have a different teacher for each subject). At parent-teacher conferences all of the teachers detailed my son's strength's and weaknesses.

The K teacher (Jorgensen - wow is she amazing) differentiates by grouping kids for reading and math. I do think 1/2 day K is really hard in that there are not as many specials (no time), and few breaks in the day (again, no time). This has been tough on my DS who was never one for great transitions to begin with. However, my K student, who started off the year worrying that he would never learn to read (he is a worrier), proudly reads us 1-2 books every night. Which is actually homework for the kids in K.

I believe quite a few Chesterbrook familes do private K and then move their kids in 1st grade. Last yr there were 3 K classes (same as this yr), but this yr there are 5 1st grade classes.

Thanks for the helpful and informative posts - really helps with decision making. What are the class sizes like for your two kids (k and 3rd) and your impression for the other grades? Are the AAP classes larger or about the same as the others in the same grade? Do they have teachers who split up for each subject (e.g science versus social studies or math - haycock does that in 4th and 6th, but not in 5th for some reason).

[Anonymous]

7:42. Please share your decision process picking Chesterbrook over Haycork for APP.

[Anonymous]

7:42 again. We chose Chesterbrook over Haycock b/c (1) Chesterbrook just seemed like a nicer, smaller school - Haycock seemed bigger and more impersonal; (2) we loved the principle at Chesterbrook, and when we attended the AAP orientation at Haycock last spring we learned that the principle for Haycock was changing. We had a bad experience with our former private's Head of School and wanted excellent leadership at the new school. The teachers at Chesterbrook all seem to love the principle - and in my mind that produces the best teachers - they all seem to love working at Chesterbrook. (3) if you are in Chesterbrook's LLIV classes you can opt to move to Haycock but not vice versa (unless you are in the Chesterbrook school district); (4) we have multiple kids and liked the idea of having them all at one school - at least for a few years (Haycock has a different start time than Chesterbrook); (5) I really really like Chesterbrook's version of LLIV (meaning that kids are with non-LLIV for specials and non-LLIV kids can test into a LLIV class based on ability). No. 5 in my opinion has not resulted in a less rigorous program.

The class sizes in AAP are about the same as non-AAP, but this can vary by subject (e.g., about 28 kids/class). For math this yr, Chesterbrook hired a formerly retired teacher so they could add an additional advanced math class for 3, 4, and 5. She's part time (works Tues-Friday), but it enabled the school to have an additional math class for grades 3/4/5. My DS' class size for math has varied from 17-21 b/c each quarter the teacher evaluates the kids to see if they should be moved to a different (more advanced/less advanced class).

For 3rd grade there are 3 main teachers plus the additional math teacher, so my DS has a different teacher for each of the 4 core subjects. So each of the 3 main 3rd grade teachers handles AAP for one subject, and then teaches non-AAP for other subjects.

For K there are 24 kids in the class; I think the afternoon K may have 21-22 kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:7:42 again. We chose Chesterbrook over Haycock b/c (1) Chesterbrook just seemed like a nicer, smaller school - Haycock seemed bigger and more impersonal; (2) we loved the principle at Chesterbrook, and when we attended the AAP orientation at Haycock last spring we learned that the principle for Haycock was changing. We had a bad experience with our former private's Head of School and wanted excellent leadership at the new school. The teachers at Chesterbrook all seem to love the principle - and in my mind that produces the best teachers - they all seem to love working at Chesterbrook. (3) if you are in Chesterbrook's LLIV classes you can opt to move to Haycock but not vice versa (unless you are in the Chesterbrook school district); (4) we have multiple kids and liked the idea of having them all at one school - at least for a few years (Haycock has a different start time than Chesterbrook); (5) I really really like Chesterbrook's version of LLIV (meaning that kids are with non-LLIV for specials and non-LLIV kids can test into a LLIV class based on ability). No. 5 in my opinion has not resulted in a less rigorous program.

The class sizes in AAP are about the same as non-AAP, but this can vary by subject (e.g., about 28 kids/class). For math this yr, Chesterbrook hired a formerly retired teacher so they could add an additional advanced math class for 3, 4, and 5. She's part time (works Tues-Friday), but it enabled the school to have an additional math class for grades 3/4/5. My DS' class size for math has varied from 17-21 b/c each quarter the teacher evaluates the kids to see if they should be moved to a different (more advanced/less advanced class).

For 3rd grade there are 3 main teachers plus the additional math teacher, so my DS has a different teacher for each of the 4 core subjects. So each of the 3 main 3rd grade teachers handles AAP for one subject, and then teaches non-AAP for other subjects.

For K there are 24 kids in the class; I think the afternoon K may have 21-22 kids.

very helpful - thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:7:42 again. We chose Chesterbrook over Haycock b/c (1) Chesterbrook just seemed like a nicer, smaller school - Haycock seemed bigger and more impersonal; (2) we loved the principle at Chesterbrook, and when we attended the AAP orientation at Haycock last spring we learned that the principle for Haycock was changing. We had a bad experience with our former private's Head of School and wanted excellent leadership at the new school. The teachers at Chesterbrook all seem to love the principle - and in my mind that produces the best teachers - they all seem to love working at Chesterbrook. (3) if you are in Chesterbrook's LLIV classes you can opt to move to Haycock but not vice versa (unless you are in the Chesterbrook school district); (4) we have multiple kids and liked the idea of having them all at one school - at least for a few years (Haycock has a different start time than Chesterbrook); (5) I really really like Chesterbrook's version of LLIV (meaning that kids are with non-LLIV for specials and non-LLIV kids can test into a LLIV class based on ability). No. 5 in my opinion has not resulted in a less rigorous program.

The class sizes in AAP are about the same as non-AAP, but this can vary by subject (e.g., about 28 kids/class). For math this yr, Chesterbrook hired a formerly retired teacher so they could add an additional advanced math class for 3, 4, and 5. She's part time (works Tues-Friday), but it enabled the school to have an additional math class for grades 3/4/5. My DS' class size for math has varied from 17-21 b/c each quarter the teacher evaluates the kids to see if they should be moved to a different (more advanced/less advanced class).

For 3rd grade there are 3 main teachers plus the additional math teacher, so my DS has a different teacher for each of the 4 core subjects. So each of the 3 main 3rd grade teachers handles AAP for one subject, and then teaches non-AAP for other subjects.

For K there are 24 kids in the class; I think the afternoon K may have 21-22 kids.

Thanks, 7:42. This is very helpful. I also found the principle for Chesterbrook more approachable than the principle for Haycock. Thanks for the information.

[Anonymous]

an involved dad here - 7:42 - as others have said, thank you very much for your thoughtful and insightful posts.

don't know if you or anyone else here has thought about, but was just wondering, if money were not an isue, ould you pick chesterbrook or the potomac school for k-6?

my thanks to you all

[Anonymous]

There are many families in the Chesterbrook area who send their kids to private and are quite happy with the decision. I wonder what their reasons are.