Feynman School Closing

[Anonymous]

We have a quirky and brilliant child that loved middle school at Feynman, this is heartbreaking for both alumni, students and teachers.
We felt our daughter received a spectacular education here. Susan Gold is a gifted educator, and we have seen the call for donations for Giving Tuesday way, way too late. The DC area really struggles to serve 2e kids and we felt that Feynman did a good job serving this population.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of these kids went to public school and had a miserable experience. Many Feynman kids aren’t just gifted but are also super quirky, nerdy, anxious, sensitive, etc. These are kids who don’t fit in well, and it’s easy to blame parents for overlooking red flags or being elitist until you meet some of these kids and understand how lonely and different and sad they were in public school. If your kid was bullied and depressed at your home school, you’ll risk school closure over suicide. If you’ve never had this worry, then perhaps you should stop being so judgmental.

I think a lot of these kids are best served by small, quirky private schools (though some will do fine at the more established, cookie cutter schools in the area). The best small school for your kid can be hard to find. The lesson from this is to look for a school that will provide financial information you ask for and can detail their plan is for maintaining or growing enrollment moving forward.

IF MS age, try Field or Burke. Both take kids mid year.

Burke isn't. Can only apply for Fall 2025.

Maybe that's what the app says, but its worth a call to admissions. We know kids that have gone mid year under special circumstances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a quirky and brilliant child that loved middle school at Feynman, this is heartbreaking for both alumni, students and teachers.
We felt our daughter received a spectacular education here. Susan Gold is a gifted educator, and we have seen the call for donations for Giving Tuesday way, way too late. The DC area really struggles to serve 2e kids and we felt that Feynman did a good job serving this population.

She’s a horrible educator and passes her class off to substitutes or other teachers then disappearing for hours at a time. Refuses to meet with teachers for any concerns and tells teachers to not contact parents about concerns.

[Anonymous]

Taught at Feynman & at a public school. I would enroll my kid at that public school and pay for it before I ever enroll them at Feynman for FREE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a quirky and brilliant child that loved middle school at Feynman, this is heartbreaking for both alumni, students and teachers.
We felt our daughter received a spectacular education here. Susan Gold is a gifted educator, and we have seen the call for donations for Giving Tuesday way, way too late. The DC area really struggles to serve 2e kids and we felt that Feynman did a good job serving this population.

She’s a horrible educator and passes her class off to substitutes or other teachers then disappearing for hours at a time. Refuses to meet with teachers for any concerns and tells teachers to not contact parents about concerns.

Sounds like she might have been a good educator but she is a terrible administrator.

[Anonymous]

Aren’t there only like 60 kids in the whole school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Aren’t there only like 60 kids in the whole school?

And therefore is doesn’t matter if the school shuts down midyear? Or what’s your point?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren’t there only like 60 kids in the whole school?

And therefore is doesn’t matter if the school shuts down midyear? Or what’s your point?

Of course it matters but when you take a gamble like that, you have to think about what the consequences can be and have a back up plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Aren’t there only like 60 kids in the whole school?

More like 30 from pre-K-8th grade, why would anyone send their kid to Feynman? You could see the train wreck coming.

[Anonymous]

Fusion?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fusion?

They definitely take mid-year. It's not a bad stop-gap, at least, for a kid who wouldn't be able to handle public school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren’t there only like 60 kids in the whole school?

And therefore is doesn’t matter if the school shuts down midyear? Or what’s your point?

Of course it matters but when you take a gamble like that, you have to think about what the consequences can be and have a back up plan.

Even at a questionable school I don’t think it’s reasonable to imagine it would shut down midyear. Most school closures, even sudden and unexpected ones, are at least at the end of the year or just before school starts. It still leaves families scrambling, but not to the same extent.

[Anonymous]

Harbor School in Potomac goes through 3rd grade and definitely fits the quirky kids profile. It seems a very sweet, very small little school (neighborhood friends go there) and I think there are some spaces in some grades. Definitely in 3rd and maybe 1st and Kindergarten. I think their preschool is pretty full. Good luck to everyone involved in this

[Anonymous]

Nysmith School has rolling admissions. They offer advanced academics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No idea if they have spots and if so in what grades but places to call in Montgomery County with K-8th grades to ask about spots:

Bullis
St Andrews
Green Acres
Washington Episcopal
Barrie
Friends Community
Christ Episcopal
Sandy Spring Friends (although they are having their own challenges after a sudden HOS departure)
St Elizabeth’s and any other catholic parish school you can find
Charles E Smith Jewish Day
Woods Academy
Stone Ridge (all girls)
Grace Episcopal Day School

Best wishes to all. That’s an awful situation to be dealing with and I hope you are able to find a new school quickly.

Good list. As for SSFS, where our child is, I’d seriously look at it. There was a toxic head of school for 3 yrs, under whose leadership there were multiple departures. On top of that, the school overenrolled during COVID, taking public school kids whose parents were fed up with remote school, and those families went back to public school resulting in less enrollment this year by a few dozen students. We were prepared to apply out but it’s actually been a great year so far with the old head gone. The teachers are gems and the place feels happy again. The board just emailed that there are 3 finalists coming for the head position in January and they anticipate naming a permanent head in the next couple of months. We are feeling good about staying, and it could be a great place to land.