Did anyone find primary day too "academic" or structured?

[Anonymous]

Yeah, the school is good about creating the right conditions for its students to thrive. And I'd add that when folks call the school "academic" or "structured," to me it's all relative to some of the much more play-based private schools in early elementary. The curriculum still has lots of play-based activities given what I've seen and heard, even if not as much as other places. It's probably closer to 50/50 play vs. academics at PDS compared to 80/20 elsewhere. That may not be ideal for everyone, but it's been totally fine for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Omg this school is absurd. Wannabe fancy parents... yikes

What does that even mean? You either didn't get in, or have never even been remotely near the school. Seek counseling.

Everyone gets in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Omg this school is absurd. Wannabe fancy parents... yikes

What does that even mean? You either didn't get in, or have never even been remotely near the school. Seek counseling.

Everyone gets in.

100% untrue.

[Anonymous]

How do you know this, random school basher likely with a hidden agenda? If PDS accepted everyone, the class sizes would reflect that. And they don't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Omg this school is absurd. Wannabe fancy parents... yikes

What does that even mean? You either didn't get in, or have never even been remotely near the school. Seek counseling.

Everyone gets in.

100% untrue.

+100- I know there has been in the past and still is a waitlist and rejections from personal close friends.

[Anonymous]

The obnoxious parents and the automatic admits. Sort of the Bullis of the younger crowd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The obnoxious parents and the automatic admits. Sort of the Bullis of the younger crowd.

Could not be further from the truth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The obnoxious parents and the automatic admits. Sort of the Bullis of the younger crowd.

Could not be further from the truth.

Explain?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The obnoxious parents and the automatic admits. Sort of the Bullis of the younger crowd.

Primary day is a school that kids go to when their parents think they are too good for public but not in the league of the fancy DC preschools. I get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The obnoxious parents and the automatic admits. Sort of the Bullis of the younger crowd.

Primary day is a school that kids go to when their parents think they are too good for public but not in the league of the fancy DC preschools. I get it.

100% this

[Anonymous]

That is a bizarre and laughable statement when outplacement from this school is to many of the areas top private’s -Sidwell, GDS, Holton, Landon, Norwood, NPS, Woods Academy, WES, etc. Many families also have siblings at these schools while the younger child attends PDS.
It is ridiculous when people say that the kids/families are not in the league of “fancy schools” but the same families already have older siblings at said “fancy schools” and then send their PDS graduate to said “fancy schools.”

Try using factual data to support your conclusions. Most people bad mouthing the school have no direct experience with the school.

PDS is a school that is attractive to families in a certain geographic area and that want small classes, 2 teachers, phonics based reading instruction, foreign language exposure, and their kids to develop a love of learning at a critical point in their development. It is not for everyone. Many parents apply to other schools because they don’t want to deal with the admission process again until high school. PDS parents are quite confident their kid will get accepted to a school that is the right fit for them at 3rd grade. I don’t want my kid in a school with 500-1000 kids. I chose to put my kid in a school of only 120 families. It is a fantastic experience that would not be found in many other places.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That is a bizarre and laughable statement when outplacement from this school is to many of the areas top private’s -Sidwell, GDS, Holton, Landon, Norwood, NPS, Woods Academy, WES, etc. Many families also have siblings at these schools while the younger child attends PDS.
It is ridiculous when people say that the kids/families are not in the league of “fancy schools” but the same families already have older siblings at said “fancy schools” and then send their PDS graduate to said “fancy schools.”

Try using factual data to support your conclusions. Most people bad mouthing the school have no direct experience with the school.

PDS is a school that is attractive to families in a certain geographic area and that want small classes, 2 teachers, phonics based reading instruction, foreign language exposure, and their kids to develop a love of learning at a critical point in their development. It is not for everyone. Many parents apply to other schools because they don’t want to deal with the admission process again until high school. PDS parents are quite confident their kid will get accepted to a school that is the right fit for them at 3rd grade. I don’t want my kid in a school with 500-1000 kids. I chose to put my kid in a school of only 120 families. It is a fantastic experience that would not be found in many other places.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That is a bizarre and laughable statement when outplacement from this school is to many of the areas top private’s -Sidwell, GDS, Holton, Landon, Norwood, NPS, Woods Academy, WES, etc. Many families also have siblings at these schools while the younger child attends PDS.
It is ridiculous when people say that the kids/families are not in the league of “fancy schools” but the same families already have older siblings at said “fancy schools” and then send their PDS graduate to said “fancy schools.”

Try using factual data to support your conclusions. Most people bad mouthing the school have no direct experience with the school.

PDS is a school that is attractive to families in a certain geographic area and that want small classes, 2 teachers, phonics based reading instruction, foreign language exposure, and their kids to develop a love of learning at a critical point in their development. It is not for everyone. Many parents apply to other schools because they don’t want to deal with the admission process again until high school. PDS parents are quite confident their kid will get accepted to a school that is the right fit for them at 3rd grade. I don’t want my kid in a school with 500-1000 kids. I chose to put my kid in a school of only 120 families. It is a fantastic experience that would not be found in many other places.

New money and think you’re better than others. Got it. Don’t you recognize that you are perpetuating that stereotype?

[Anonymous]

LOL see you at Bethesda country club and Bullis!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is a bizarre and laughable statement when outplacement from this school is to many of the areas top private’s -Sidwell, GDS, Holton, Landon, Norwood, NPS, Woods Academy, WES, etc. Many families also have siblings at these schools while the younger child attends PDS.
It is ridiculous when people say that the kids/families are not in the league of “fancy schools” but the same families already have older siblings at said “fancy schools” and then send their PDS graduate to said “fancy schools.”

Try using factual data to support your conclusions. Most people bad mouthing the school have no direct experience with the school.

PDS is a school that is attractive to families in a certain geographic area and that want small classes, 2 teachers, phonics based reading instruction, foreign language exposure, and their kids to develop a love of learning at a critical point in their development. It is not for everyone. Many parents apply to other schools because they don’t want to deal with the admission process again until high school. PDS parents are quite confident their kid will get accepted to a school that is the right fit for them at 3rd grade. I don’t want my kid in a school with 500-1000 kids. I chose to put my kid in a school of only 120 families. It is a fantastic experience that would not be found in many other places.

New money and think you’re better than others. Got it. Don’t you recognize that you are perpetuating that stereotype?

Actually, those that would criticize the families and kids at a school focused on children ages 4-8, and call them wannabes, fits a stereotype of someone who thinks they are better than others. It’s bizarre that people have to criticize a school they don’t have experience with to feel better about themselves.