What is going on at Holton?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So.. most of this argument is about whether kids are allowed to take Geometry in 8th grade or not?

Yes, and only 9 girls were in geometry in 8th grade this year. Nowhere close to the 25% claimed by some on this thread.

What's the big deal? NCS had zero in geometry in 8th. These schools do not accelerate kids in math like the public's do. If you want acceleration, public is the way to go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So.. most of this argument is about whether kids are allowed to take Geometry in 8th grade or not?

Yes, and only 9 girls were in geometry in 8th grade this year. Nowhere close to the 25% claimed by some on this thread.

That’s still 9 girls that would be held back under Holton’s new system.

[Anonymous]

When the motto is "I will find a way or make one" doesn't seem to apply to the students. Just the administration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So.. most of this argument is about whether kids are allowed to take Geometry in 8th grade or not?

Yes, and only 9 girls were in geometry in 8th grade this year. Nowhere close to the 25% claimed by some on this thread.

What's the big deal? NCS had zero in geometry in 8th. These schools do not accelerate kids in math like the public's do. If you want acceleration, public is the way to go.

That is a false statement. Many of the independent schools, as well as the religious schools do this. Landon does as well. They may have 5-8 kids in a classroom. Why do you suggest public school when parents are looking to get a better education by paying $50k for private school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So.. most of this argument is about whether kids are allowed to take Geometry in 8th grade or not?

Yes, and only 9 girls were in geometry in 8th grade this year. Nowhere close to the 25% claimed by some on this thread.

What's the big deal? NCS had zero in geometry in 8th. These schools do not accelerate kids in math like the public's do. If you want acceleration, public is the way to go.

Where do the NCS girls take geometry over the summer? Holton doesn’t offer summer classes, just tells families who want it to find it and pay for it on their own. In addition to the $50k being paid to Holton each school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So.. most of this argument is about whether kids are allowed to take Geometry in 8th grade or not?

Yes, and only 9 girls were in geometry in 8th grade this year. Nowhere close to the 25% claimed by some on this thread.

What's the big deal? NCS had zero in geometry in 8th. These schools do not accelerate kids in math like the public's do. If you want acceleration, public is the way to go.

Where do the NCS girls take geometry over the summer? Holton doesn’t offer summer classes, just tells families who want it to find it and pay for it on their own. In addition to the $50k being paid to Holton each school year.

I believe Landon offers it. But I would get it approved by the head of the math dept first. My DD knows a girl who wanted to take geometry over the summer to get into Algebra 2 and they said they would not approve it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone told me the Trustees are on the cusp of doing something major. Not sure if it's a personnel change or what that means...

Sounds like a rumor that gets spread every few years. Please elaborate if you have info though!

Lots of Board dissension. People quitting before term over. Website keeps their names up. Even when their girls have transferred out of the school. Annual fund is so sad. No one wants to donate and parents get super annoyed. Poor financial decisions have to authorize dipping into endowment. Need major overhaul of reputation on all things non-academic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So.. most of this argument is about whether kids are allowed to take Geometry in 8th grade or not?

Yes, and only 9 girls were in geometry in 8th grade this year. Nowhere close to the 25% claimed by some on this thread.

What's the big deal? NCS had zero in geometry in 8th. These schools do not accelerate kids in math like the public's do. If you want acceleration, public is the way to go.

That is a false statement. Many of the independent schools, as well as the religious schools do this. Landon does as well. They may have 5-8 kids in a classroom. Why do you suggest public school when parents are looking to get a better education by paying $50k for private school?

This is not false. I have an NCS girl in this grade.

[Anonymous]

PP didn’t understand the post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP didn’t understand the post.

no, previous poster was saying that there was a group of 5-8 kids taking geometry in 8th at NCS, just like at other private schools. There was not. The entire grade was in Algebra 1.
There are a few girls (rising 9th) allowed to take geometry this summer. there will be a few more who join the grade having taking geometry in 8th at another school
(and passing the placement exam).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone told me the Trustees are on the cusp of doing something major. Not sure if it's a personnel change or what that means...

Sounds like a rumor that gets spread every few years. Please elaborate if you have info though!

Lots of Board dissension. People quitting before term over. Website keeps their names up. Even when their girls have transferred out of the school. Annual fund is so sad. No one wants to donate and parents get super annoyed. Poor financial decisions have to authorize dipping into endowment. Need major overhaul of reputation on all things non-academic.

Ok, so this person is fake. Holton fund participation was up significantly as compared to last year. Parents have generally been very pleased with how hard the school worked to get kids back on campus, and provided transparency around it. Have heard nothing about “poor financial decisions” or dipping into endowment, but costs have been hirer than normal because of all of the gear and effort to get kids back on campus. Ignore people like this who say vague things without any backup. Also - major haul on reputation? What does that even mean? We are very happy. We have had concerns from time-to-time as with any school and have always been met with grace and willingness to discuss and hear our concerns and address them. It may not be the right place for everyone and that’s ok but the random trashing of a school by people who clearly don’t have kids there is suspect at best. See for yourself and otherwise be sure that everyone has an angle/motive (heck, even I do as a parent there).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP didn’t understand the post.

no, previous poster was saying that there was a group of 5-8 kids taking geometry in 8th at NCS, just like at other private schools. There was not. The entire grade was in Algebra 1.
There are a few girls (rising 9th) allowed to take geometry this summer. there will be a few more who join the grade having taking geometry in 8th at another school
(and passing the placement exam).

You still don't get it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP didn’t understand the post.

no, previous poster was saying that there was a group of 5-8 kids taking geometry in 8th at NCS, just like at other private schools. There was not. The entire grade was in Algebra 1.
There are a few girls (rising 9th) allowed to take geometry this summer. there will be a few more who join the grade having taking geometry in 8th at another school
(and passing the placement exam).

You still don't get it

please explain

[Anonymous]

Why won't they let the girls take geometry in 8th?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone told me the Trustees are on the cusp of doing something major. Not sure if it's a personnel change or what that means...

Sounds like a rumor that gets spread every few years. Please elaborate if you have info though!

Lots of Board dissension. People quitting before term over. Website keeps their names up. Even when their girls have transferred out of the school. Annual fund is so sad. No one wants to donate and parents get super annoyed. Poor financial decisions have to authorize dipping into endowment. Need major overhaul of reputation on all things non-academic.

Ok, so this person is fake. Holton fund participation was up significantly as compared to last year. Parents have generally been very pleased with how hard the school worked to get kids back on campus, and provided transparency around it. Have heard nothing about “poor financial decisions” or dipping into endowment, but costs have been hirer than normal because of all of the gear and effort to get kids back on campus. Ignore people like this who say vague things without any backup. Also - major haul on reputation? What does that even mean? We are very happy. We have had concerns from time-to-time as with any school and have always been met with grace and willingness to discuss and hear our concerns and address them. It may not be the right place for everyone and that’s ok but the random trashing of a school by people who clearly don’t have kids there is suspect at best. See for yourself and otherwise be sure that everyone has an angle/motive (heck, even I do as a parent there).

In all my years at Holton, I've never heard of board dissension. Can't even imagine it. Board mostly acts through officers and committee and there are several members who basically do nothing at all. They just lend their name and stature. Pretty typical of any non-profit board. The rest of the complaints are not vague or random but pretty specific and accurate. The school is not very transparent and does not publicize any ofits problems. What school would do that?