Beauvoir v. NPS—please compare the communities

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do many kids leave NPS in 4th vs going through 6th? If so, where do they typically go? How much does the NPS class size shrink from 3rd to 4th and beyond.. and why do people leave? Thanks!

I would say a handful do leave in 3rd for Holton and 4th for NCS/STA. However most stay until 6th. I never applied about early for my 3 kids. I have one at Holton, one at STA and one still at the school. The older kids all graduated from NPS.

Thank you! Was it hard for your kids to matriculate academically or socially to the new school in 7th? Worried in particular about social given 7th grade can be a tough year even in the best circumstances. I imagine going to a school where many kids have known each other for years could be tough.

Not at all. While not a big entry year, it’s still an entry year. DD is in 9th and son in 10th. I just felt my kids needed that nurturing environment a little while longer. In 3rd, my DD wasn’t as good as a reader for her grade. So I wanted to make sure, we understood her needs and getting her where she needed to be before transitioning. My son was still socially awkward and immature for a 9 year old. 7th was the perfect year for them both.

Thank you for sharing your experiences! One more question for you - I hear a lot of hype about NCS / STA and that if you think you want them you should absolutely go to Beauvoir. I do think I may like my kids (have both genders) to go to a cathedral schools but I also really love all ive learned about NPS (and prefer it to Beauvoir). Is NPS worth “gambling” on where they go next? Really appreciate your point of view!

[Anonymous]

85-90% of BVR 3rd grade students go on to the Cathedral Schools. You can’t get that anywhere else so I would choose BVR if that is the direction you are hoping for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do many kids leave NPS in 4th vs going through 6th? If so, where do they typically go? How much does the NPS class size shrink from 3rd to 4th and beyond.. and why do people leave? Thanks!

I would say a handful do leave in 3rd for Holton and 4th for NCS/STA. However most stay until 6th. I never applied about early for my 3 kids. I have one at Holton, one at STA and one still at the school. The older kids all graduated from NPS.

Thank you! Was it hard for your kids to matriculate academically or socially to the new school in 7th? Worried in particular about social given 7th grade can be a tough year even in the best circumstances. I imagine going to a school where many kids have known each other for years could be tough.

Not at all. While not a big entry year, it’s still an entry year. DD is in 9th and son in 10th. I just felt my kids needed that nurturing environment a little while longer. In 3rd, my DD wasn’t as good as a reader for her grade. So I wanted to make sure, we understood her needs and getting her where she needed to be before transitioning. My son was still socially awkward and immature for a 9 year old. 7th was the perfect year for them both.

Thank you for sharing your experiences! One more question for you - I hear a lot of hype about NCS / STA and that if you think you want them you should absolutely go to Beauvoir. I do think I may like my kids (have both genders) to go to a cathedral schools but I also really love all ive learned about NPS (and prefer it to Beauvoir). Is NPS worth “gambling” on where they go next? Really appreciate your point of view!

NP. Unless you have a connection to a Cathedral school, it’s a gamble, especially for STA. You are basically competing against all of the boys/ girls in the grade for a few NPS slots. Legacies and siblings will have the inside track.

[Anonymous]

Don’t the same people apply their kids to both schools? Is there really all that much difference in the communities if the families are basically interchangeable?

Certainly if you want NCS/STA, you should try for BVR. Almost all the kids who want to go from BVR to one of the cathedral schools are admitted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you plan to do a strong suburban public afterward, which school would offer an easier transition? Thank you!

Neither. You will be so behind in math. And not just the fact that you are behind, but if you don't go to public for certain years then you get left out of classes in middle school no matter how strong you are. That's one thing that really sucks in public school. Your 3rd grade test scores can literally have an effect on your high school classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do many kids leave NPS in 4th vs going through 6th? If so, where do they typically go? How much does the NPS class size shrink from 3rd to 4th and beyond.. and why do people leave? Thanks!

I would say a handful do leave in 3rd for Holton and 4th for NCS/STA. However most stay until 6th. I never applied about early for my 3 kids. I have one at Holton, one at STA and one still at the school. The older kids all graduated from NPS.

Thank you! Was it hard for your kids to matriculate academically or socially to the new school in 7th? Worried in particular about social given 7th grade can be a tough year even in the best circumstances. I imagine going to a school where many kids have known each other for years could be tough.

Not at all. While not a big entry year, it’s still an entry year. DD is in 9th and son in 10th. I just felt my kids needed that nurturing environment a little while longer. In 3rd, my DD wasn’t as good as a reader for her grade. So I wanted to make sure, we understood her needs and getting her where she needed to be before transitioning. My son was still socially awkward and immature for a 9 year old. 7th was the perfect year for them both.

Thank you for sharing your experiences! One more question for you - I hear a lot of hype about NCS / STA and that if you think you want them you should absolutely go to Beauvoir. I do think I may like my kids (have both genders) to go to a cathedral schools but I also really love all ive learned about NPS (and prefer it to Beauvoir). Is NPS worth “gambling” on where they go next? Really appreciate your point of view!

If you want STA/NCS, go BVR. The reason we didn’t go that route was because I wanted to chose what was best for my kids at the moment which I thought was NPS. I didn’t know if I wanted single sex or not or if academic rigor would be the top priority at that point. For example, my DD got in NCS, Holton, Maret and Sidwell. She chose Holton over NCS. So that’s what I mean. We as parents wants to choose. It ended up working out. My son got into Landon, STA and Maret. We only applied to school where our children toured and actually could see their selves there. Once decisions were out, I let them choose.

[Anonymous]

PP:

Doing it all over again, I would have chose NPS again. The whole elementary experience for our family was great. K-3 just seems like the gift of childhood is lost. That’s just my opinion. Again, we got in BVR and accepted NPS. There are several families who get in both and chose one or another. Both great schoolS. BVR is more competitive for K but NPS is not guaranteed either. Goodluck! One more week!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you plan to do a strong suburban public afterward, which school would offer an easier transition? Thank you!

Neither. You will be so behind in math. And not just the fact that you are behind, but if you don't go to public for certain years then you get left out of classes in middle school no matter how strong you are. That's one thing that really sucks in public school. Your 3rd grade test scores can literally have an effect on your high school classes.

It's true that some MoCo schools have bought into accelerated math. The jury is out on the merits of that. However, if it is of concern to PP they could supplement with some light tutoring or math enrichment throughout the elementary years-though I know it sucks to do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you plan to do a strong suburban public afterward, which school would offer an easier transition? Thank you!

Neither. You will be so behind in math. And not just the fact that you are behind, but if you don't go to public for certain years then you get left out of classes in middle school no matter how strong you are. That's one thing that really sucks in public school. Your 3rd grade test scores can literally have an effect on your high school classes.

It's true that some MoCo schools have bought into accelerated math. The jury is out on the merits of that. However, if it is of concern to PP they could supplement with some light tutoring or math enrichment throughout the elementary years-though I know it sucks to do that.

I wouldn’t worry about having a tutor. Half the class will have one anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you plan to do a strong suburban public afterward, which school would offer an easier transition? Thank you!

Neither. You will be so behind in math. And not just the fact that you are behind, but if you don't go to public for certain years then you get left out of classes in middle school no matter how strong you are. That's one thing that really sucks in public school. Your 3rd grade test scores can literally have an effect on your high school classes.

A genuine question: is it the case for almost all DC area private schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you plan to do a strong suburban public afterward, which school would offer an easier transition? Thank you!

Neither. You will be so behind in math. And not just the fact that you are behind, but if you don't go to public for certain years then you get left out of classes in middle school no matter how strong you are. That's one thing that really sucks in public school. Your 3rd grade test scores can literally have an effect on your high school classes.

A genuine question: is it the case for almost all DC area private schools?

Yes, Accalerated math is controversial and has no proved long term benefit. MoCo will likely move away from it before area privates adopt it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do many kids leave NPS in 4th vs going through 6th? If so, where do they typically go? How much does the NPS class size shrink from 3rd to 4th and beyond.. and why do people leave? Thanks!

I would say a handful do leave in 3rd for Holton and 4th for NCS/STA. However most stay until 6th. I never applied about early for my 3 kids. I have one at Holton, one at STA and one still at the school. The older kids all graduated from NPS.

Thank you! Was it hard for your kids to matriculate academically or socially to the new school in 7th? Worried in particular about social given 7th grade can be a tough year even in the best circumstances. I imagine going to a school where many kids have known each other for years could be tough.

Not at all. While not a big entry year, it’s still an entry year. DD is in 9th and son in 10th. I just felt my kids needed that nurturing environment a little while longer. In 3rd, my DD wasn’t as good as a reader for her grade. So I wanted to make sure, we understood her needs and getting her where she needed to be before transitioning. My son was still socially awkward and immature for a 9 year old. 7th was the perfect year for them both.

Thank you for sharing your experiences! One more question for you - I hear a lot of hype about NCS / STA and that if you think you want them you should absolutely go to Beauvoir. I do think I may like my kids (have both genders) to go to a cathedral schools but I also really love all ive learned about NPS (and prefer it to Beauvoir). Is NPS worth “gambling” on where they go next? Really appreciate your point of view!

If you want STA/NCS, go BVR. The reason we didn’t go that route was because I wanted to chose what was best for my kids at the moment which I thought was NPS. I didn’t know if I wanted single sex or not or if academic rigor would be the top priority at that point. For example, my DD got in NCS, Holton, Maret and Sidwell. She chose Holton over NCS. So that’s what I mean. We as parents wants to choose. It ended up working out. My son got into Landon, STA and Maret. We only applied to school where our children toured and actually could see their selves there. Once decisions were out, I let them choose.

I think your high school admits were unusually strong for any kid (even a very a strong confidante). I'm not sure they should be given as an example of what is typical for kids coming from NPS or any feeder school.

[Anonymous]

Placement was always strong when we were there. But I cannot see Maret admitting a sibling of a child that turned it down the first time, absent significant financial motivation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Placement was always strong when we were there. But I cannot see Maret admitting a sibling of a child that turned it down the first time, absent significant financial motivation

Of course they do; it happened to us. DC1 did not get into Maret from NPS and DC2 did. With Maret, it all has to do with the makeup of the class they are trying to fill. They are so small that they can be specific in the type of kids that they want.

[Anonymous]

Sorry; I responded to your question incorrectly. The above scenario happened to us; a good friends' family from DC1's class turned down Maret from NPS and their second child was later admitted. Explanation about still applies.