Does Beauvoir Adequately Prepare Students Academically for St. Albans / NCS?

[Anonymous]

I’m interested in hearing from parents whose children attended Beauvoir and then went on to St. Albans or NCS to hear whether they’ve felt as though their children were adequately prepared for those schools academically, particularly in math and science. There are all sorts of rumors out there about St. Albans teachers sending their children to St. Patrick’s over Beauvoir in order to be better prepared for St. Albans, and in general that Beauvoir is not as academically rigorous as Sidwell, St. Patricks, or other schools. Putting aside whether grades Pre-K through 3 should be “academically rigorous,” what has been your experience?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m interested in hearing from parents whose children attended Beauvoir and then went on to St. Albans or NCS to hear whether they’ve felt as though their children were adequately prepared for those schools academically, particularly in math and science. There are all sorts of rumors out there about St. Albans teachers sending their children to St. Patrick’s over Beauvoir in order to be better prepared for St. Albans, and in general that Beauvoir is not as academically rigorous as Sidwell, St. Patricks, or other schools. Putting aside whether grades Pre-K through 3 should be “academically rigorous,” what has been your experience?

I'd be interested in this too as I've also heard these "rumors" from St. Albans teachers that the Beauvoir kids aren't as prepared as they used to.

[Anonymous]

STA has their own way -- far different than Beauvoir. They are known for "getting the Beauvor out of the boys."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:STA has their own way -- far different than Beauvoir. They are known for "getting the Beauvor out of the boys."

That sounds so 19th century British Public school -- in a scary way. Could you please explain what that means and how or if it pertains to academic preparedness?

[Anonymous]

My DD has done very well at NCS after leaving Beauvoir.

[Anonymous]

I've heard the math at B is sub-par but, no doubt because I myself hate and fear math and don't even like thinking about it, I don't know the details of what is supposedly not up to snuff.

[Anonymous]

It seems to me that STA would not have taken 90% of the Beauvoir third grade boys if Beauvoir did not prepare them well in every subject.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It seems to me that STA would not have taken 90% of the Beauvoir third grade boys if Beauvoir did not prepare them well in every subject.

OP here. I’m not quite sure it’s as simple as that. There is no question that Beauvoir is a feeder for STA and that it is a very well-regarded, highly selective, early elementary school. What I’m trying to understand is why some STA teachers send their kids to schools other than Beauvoir to prepare them for STA (schools with similar price tags), and why there are persistent rumors that Beauvoir is academically weaker in math and science than peer schools. For example, once Beauvoir grads go off to STA or NCS, do they need more tutoring in math and science than their cohorts? Is there a catch-up period for Beauvoir students to come up to speed? If there are parents of recent Beauvoir grads willing to address this from their own experience, that would be great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems to me that STA would not have taken 90% of the Beauvoir third grade boys if Beauvoir did not prepare them well in every subject.

OP here. I’m not quite sure it’s as simple as that. There is no question that Beauvoir is a feeder for STA and that it is a very well-regarded, highly selective, early elementary school. What I’m trying to understand is why some STA teachers send their kids to schools other than Beauvoir to prepare them for STA (schools with similar price tags), and why there are persistent rumors that Beauvoir is academically weaker in math and science than peer schools. For example, once Beauvoir grads go off to STA or NCS, do they need more tutoring in math and science than their cohorts? Is there a catch-up period for Beauvoir students to come up to speed? If there are parents of recent Beauvoir grads willing to address this from their own experience, that would be great.

OP, why did you post posing the question : "Does Beauvoir Adequately Prepare Students for STA/NCS ?" When, based on your above post in which you self-identify as the OP, you seem to already have a clearly formed opinion/answer to your own question? Sorry to debunk the theory that you seem so invested in, but my DC goes to Beauvoir and did quite well on the STA admissions test. He hasn't had a day of Kumon or test prep in his life and we didn't even do the math review books the math coordinator suggested for the summer between 2nd and 3rd grade. So, how do you explain that away ????? Also, I don't know that a teacher sending their kid elsewhere is PROOF that , horrors, "Beauvoir is failing to prepare kids for STA and NCS", but rather any of the following:

1)the child's father teaches at another school, that provides better FA
2) the other school is cheaper
3) the other school is less competetive and the teacher's DC didn't get into Beauvoir
4) the teacher/parent might love working at Beauvoir( a co-ed school) , but took an offer for GDS or Sidwell or Maret as they did not want single sex for MS/HS and knew that offers from those schools might not come later in smaller admit years


Or, of course, your suggestion: " because B isn't pre-paring them" I find that ridiculous, after all the teachers would , in effect, be saying that they and their colleagues are not doing their jobs.

[Anonymous]

Beauvoir is an outstanding school.

The reason that some STA faculty have sent their sons to St. Pats is that they receive no break on tuition at Beauvoir and St. Pats has a tradition of working with STA faculty families to make it (almost!!) do-able. (In reality, both schools are completely unaffordable for a family supported by a teacher salary, but St Pats is a little better). The Head at St. Pats, is a former STA faculty member and the relationship between the two schools is very strong.

Because of the extreme cost, we are only talking about a few faculty children, even at St Pats.

And except for one son that I can think of, all the STA faculty sons end up at STA in either 4th or 7th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Beauvoir is an outstanding school.

The reason that some STA faculty have sent their sons to St. Pats is that they receive no break on tuition at Beauvoir and St. Pats has a tradition of working with STA faculty families to make it (almost!!) do-able. (In reality, both schools are completely unaffordable for a family supported by a teacher salary, but St Pats is a little better). The Head at St. Pats, is a former STA faculty member and the relationship between the two schools is very strong.

Because of the extreme cost, we are only talking about a few faculty children, even at St Pats.

And except for one son that I can think of, all the STA faculty sons end up at STA in either 4th or 7th grade.

This is interesting. I have a friend who teaches at St. Patrick's and from what I understand their teachers do not receive tuition remission.

[Anonymous]

Oh what little part stirrer we are, PP. Honestly, applicant family gets a break on tuition, based on an academic salary, does not translate to St. Pat's giving a financial leg up to another school's teachers, but not "their own" . " You heard"...." I heard" " I know of someone" " my neighbor said" gosh....If you want to know which schools offer remission to teachers and which do not, ask ( presuming it is at the job offer level of a job interview process) or when it is put in writing . Then come on this forum and share. Otherwise you are speculating.

Here is a news flash: schools give FA based on need. Unless you are a Head of School or have been teaching for 30 years and have a paid off house( which you bought for 70k back in 1975), you'll qualify for FA. It really doesn't matter where you teach, a 40K or 50K or 60K salary qualifies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Beauvoir is an outstanding school.

The reason that some STA faculty have sent their sons to St. Pats is that they receive no break on tuition at Beauvoir and St. Pats has a tradition of working with STA faculty families to make it (almost!!) do-able. (In reality, both schools are completely unaffordable for a family supported by a teacher salary, but St Pats is a little better). The Head at St. Pats, is a former STA faculty member and the relationship between the two schools is very strong.

Because of the extreme cost, we are only talking about a few faculty children, even at St Pats.

And except for one son that I can think of, all the STA faculty sons end up at STA in either 4th or 7th grade.

Wow. What a mix of accurate and not.

[Anonymous]

B is a great school. Our DD went there. It, however, is not a great school for every kid. It works best for those super smart kids who have their act together at a relatively young age. Given its feeder reputation, B can be highly selective, meaning that it gets a large share of super smart kids. For these kids, B is great fun, love of learning, etc. And a good portion of them will end up at STA or NCS (where our daughter went). But B is not the best for kids with delayed learning issues, with a need for more discipline, etc. Many kids blossom later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:B is a great school. Our DD went there. It, however, is not a great school for every kid. It works best for those super smart kids who have their act together at a relatively young age. Given its feeder reputation, B can be highly selective, meaning that it gets a large share of super smart kids. For these kids, B is great fun, love of learning, etc. And a good portion of them will end up at STA or NCS (where our daughter went). But B is not the best for kids with delayed learning issues, with a need for more discipline, etc. Many kids blossom later.

That can be said of every mainstream private school in the area.