A mother asked me which would be the most rigorous school for her son.

[Anonymous]

And I did not know what to say. She recently located here from overseas and put her son at BCC in MoCo and he is in all AP classes and finds it a breeze compared to his more rigorous boarding school.
She is looking for a school for her younger sons that would offer that rigor, and to be honest, I was at a loss for an answer because I am not sure that exists in the DC area.
I know that people will talk about the whole child and teaching the child how to think rather than drill and kill and so on, but I did not get the impression that she wanted touchy feely. But it is sad when I had to say that it unlikely that she would find anything to compare to what she left.

[Anonymous]

I would say Sidwell and St. Albans, although very different in terms of surface culture and "feel," would both provide a fairly challenging academic environment for boys. There are a lot of very bright students currently attending those schools and the teachers know how to challenge bright students.

[Anonymous]

St. Anselm's Abbey School.

[Anonymous]

Home schooling.

[Anonymous]

Is her son in high school? If so, Georgetown Prep?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:St. Anselm's Abbey School.

OP, I mentioned this one, and only this one, but I cautioned that she should not get her hopes up.
If she lived in VA, TJ might have been the best fit.
BTW, she was very nice, and unpretentious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And I did not know what to say. She recently located here from overseas and put her son at BCC in MoCo and he is in all AP classes and finds it a breeze compared to his more rigorous boarding school.
She is looking for a school for her younger sons that would offer that rigor, and to be honest, I was at a loss for an answer because I am not sure that exists in the DC area.
I know that people will talk about the whole child and teaching the child how to think rather than drill and kill and so on, but I did not get the impression that she wanted touchy feely. But it is sad when I had to say that it unlikely that she would find anything to compare to what she left.

VBA. Gosh, how could someone with such an exception child not plan this out better. Languishing at BCC, tisk tisk

[Anonymous]

On behalf of our entire Metropolitan area and, indeed, our nation, I apologize that our school system, public or private, is not sufficient to challenge your friend's children.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps he should take the GED and head off to college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St. Anselm's Abbey School.

OP, I mentioned this one, and only this one, but I cautioned that she should not get her hopes up.
If she lived in VA, TJ might have been the best fit.
BTW, she was very nice, and unpretentious.

Why shouldn't she get her hopes up? Because even it might not be rigorous enough? Here I think she can get her hopes up, because it is very rigorous. Because it is too hard to get in? Actually, I don't think it is that hard. Because, being in SE DC, it is a pain to get it? It does have buses to VA and to the Bethesda area. Maybe she should get her hopes up?

[Anonymous]

OP here, I don't get the impression that she ever believed that her child was gifted since he was in the middle of the pack where he came from and he never got "As" under that system, he was pushed beyond his abilities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St. Anselm's Abbey School.

OP, I mentioned this one, and only this one, but I cautioned that she should not get her hopes up.
If she lived in VA, TJ might have been the best fit.
BTW, she was very nice, and unpretentious.

Why shouldn't she get her hopes up? Because even it might not be rigorous enough? Here I think she can get her hopes up, because it is very rigorous. Because it is too hard to get in? Actually, I don't think it is that hard. Because, being in SE DC, it is a pain to get it? It does have buses to VA and to the Bethesda area. Maybe she should get her hopes up?

BTW, St. Anselm's is in NE DC. Is that a problem? How do you if it's hard to gain admission? Do you know someone who attend/ed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, I don't get the impression that she ever believed that her child was gifted since he was in the middle of the pack where he came from and he never got "As" under that system, he was pushed beyond his abilities.

Troll

[Anonymous]

In MC the Science and Math Magnet Program at Blair HS and the IB Program at Richard Montgomery HS are very rigorous academic programs. Admission is extremely competitive. Having researched the different private school options in MC, we are convinced that the academic rigor in the public magnet programs are much stonger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St. Anselm's Abbey School.

OP, I mentioned this one, and only this one, but I cautioned that she should not get her hopes up.
If she lived in VA, TJ might have been the best fit.
BTW, she was very nice, and unpretentious.

Why shouldn't she get her hopes up? Because even it might not be rigorous enough? Here I think she can get her hopes up, because it is very rigorous. Because it is too hard to get in? Actually, I don't think it is that hard. Because, being in SE DC, it is a pain to get it? It does have buses to VA and to the Bethesda area. Maybe she should get her hopes up?

BTW, St. Anselm's is in NE DC. Is that a problem? How do you if it's hard to gain admission? Do you know someone who attend/ed?

The distance seems far to me, but I just mentioned it, and she can decide.