St. Patrick’s vs NPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Upper grades are great at NPS for boys and girls. There are wonderful leadership opportunities, field trips, overnight camping, athletics. We are very glad we kept our son through 6th. NPS provided him with great opportunities where he grew to become a kind, confident young man who has adjusted great and is succeeding at his new school academically, socially, and athletically. Also, his best friends are still those friends that stayed with him through 6th.

Wish we could say the same about experience at NPS. The quality of the school rapidly declines after lower division in our family’s view. Incredibly high turnover in teachers and admin, poor replacements coming in, and there are some real disciplinary problems going on they can't seem to figure out.

Could you specify the nature of the disciplinary problems you are referring to? We are about to enter the school and would ideally stay through 6th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Upper grades are great at NPS for boys and girls. There are wonderful leadership opportunities, field trips, overnight camping, athletics. We are very glad we kept our son through 6th. NPS provided him with great opportunities where he grew to become a kind, confident young man who has adjusted great and is succeeding at his new school academically, socially, and athletically. Also, his best friends are still those friends that stayed with him through 6th.

Wish we could say the same about experience at NPS. The quality of the school rapidly declines after lower division in our family’s view. Incredibly high turnover in teachers and admin, poor replacements coming in, and there are some real disciplinary problems going on they can't seem to figure out.

Completely agree on the rapid decline at Nps. We were considering our son there but were advised against by our neighbors who have children who are leaving after some seriously concerning revelations about the quality of the school after school wide standardized testing. There has been an exodus of good teachers and there’s was asked to leave mid year after years of drama. For the amount of money we just couldn’t justify a slightly better than public school experience.

[Anonymous]

What grades are you seeing this decline of academic performance in? Nps places graduates in top middle schools…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Upper grades are great at NPS for boys and girls. There are wonderful leadership opportunities, field trips, overnight camping, athletics. We are very glad we kept our son through 6th. NPS provided him with great opportunities where he grew to become a kind, confident young man who has adjusted great and is succeeding at his new school academically, socially, and athletically. Also, his best friends are still those friends that stayed with him through 6th.

Wish we could say the same about experience at NPS. The quality of the school rapidly declines after lower division in our family’s view. Incredibly high turnover in teachers and admin, poor replacements coming in, and there are some real disciplinary problems going on they can't seem to figure out.

Completely agree on the rapid decline at Nps. We were considering our son there but were advised against by our neighbors who have children who are leaving after some seriously concerning revelations about the quality of the school after school wide standardized testing. There has been an exodus of good teachers and there’s was asked to leave mid year after years of drama. For the amount of money we just couldn’t justify a slightly better than public school experience.

“Good” public school education is rapidly declining as well. I don’t know if I’d say any private school provides “ slightly better” education.

[Anonymous]

NPS continues to be a great school for our family. They are growing up to be kind young people who are more than prepared for the academics of top middle schools in the area. The school does an amazing job in making each child feel valued and seen for their specific gifts - this is very evident as they guide students and families through outplacement - which again was stellar this year.

I do not know about the exodus they are talking about as most of the Upper School teachers are the same. And they just promoted the 6th grade teacher to be head of US. He will be terrific.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Accepted at both for PreK. I know the schools are quite similar, but what factors would you consider when making this decision?

Both have sent over kids to my Children’s school over the years and hands down NPS families are much nicer and more inclusive. St. Pats families tend to only interact with people from Chevy or Congo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NPS continues to be a great school for our family. They are growing up to be kind young people who are more than prepared for the academics of top middle schools in the area. The school does an amazing job in making each child feel valued and seen for their specific gifts - this is very evident as they guide students and families through outplacement - which again was stellar this year.

I do not know about the exodus they are talking about as most of the Upper School teachers are the same. And they just promoted the 6th grade teacher to be head of US. He will be terrific.

Outplacement this year seemed good as always but slightly fewer schools than in last years. Unusual not to have any girls going to NCS and no one to Maret or Potomac

[Anonymous]

I think it's concerning that NPS sends girls, especially, to so few schools. Last year not a single girl continued to a coed school? And this year three quarters of the girls to Holton? Is that really the best fit for all of those girls? I think it speaks to the homogeneity of the NPS community, which is pretty self- fulfilling, I suppose. The school is full of a certain type of family, which attracts more of that same type of family, which are all happy with the same outcome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NPS continues to be a great school for our family. They are growing up to be kind young people who are more than prepared for the academics of top middle schools in the area. The school does an amazing job in making each child feel valued and seen for their specific gifts - this is very evident as they guide students and families through outplacement - which again was stellar this year.

I do not know about the exodus they are talking about as most of the Upper School teachers are the same. And they just promoted the 6th grade teacher to be head of US. He will be terrific.

Outplacement this year seemed good as always but slightly fewer schools than in last years. Unusual not to have any girls going to NCS and no one to Maret or Potomac

NPS Placements, 2024

Holton-Arms School 9
Landon School 3
St. Albans School 5
National Cathedral School 0
Maret School 0
Connelly School of the Holy Child 1
Sidwell Friends School 1
Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart 2
Potomac School 0
St. Andrew's Episcopal School 2
Bullis School 2
Field School 1
St. Anselm's Abbey School 0
McLean School 1
Georgetown Day School 1
Edmund Burke School 1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's concerning that NPS sends girls, especially, to so few schools. Last year not a single girl continued to a coed school? And this year three quarters of the girls to Holton? Is that really the best fit for all of those girls? I think it speaks to the homogeneity of the NPS community, which is pretty self- fulfilling, I suppose. The school is full of a certain type of family, which attracts more of that same type of family, which are all happy with the same outcome.

Could those girls want to continue studying with their friends from NPS? Is that bad? Maybe, just maybe, the school has done a good job at fostering a strong culture of friendship between these kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another big exodus this year from STP lower school?

Yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's concerning that NPS sends girls, especially, to so few schools. Last year not a single girl continued to a coed school? And this year three quarters of the girls to Holton? Is that really the best fit for all of those girls? I think it speaks to the homogeneity of the NPS community, which is pretty self- fulfilling, I suppose. The school is full of a certain type of family, which attracts more of that same type of family, which are all happy with the same outcome.

Could those girls want to continue studying with their friends from NPS? Is that bad? Maybe, just maybe, the school has done a good job at fostering a strong culture of friendship between these kids?

It’s not “bad,” necessarily but it certainly isn’t a big growth step either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's concerning that NPS sends girls, especially, to so few schools. Last year not a single girl continued to a coed school? And this year three quarters of the girls to Holton? Is that really the best fit for all of those girls? I think it speaks to the homogeneity of the NPS community, which is pretty self- fulfilling, I suppose. The school is full of a certain type of family, which attracts more of that same type of family, which are all happy with the same outcome.

Could those girls want to continue studying with their friends from NPS? Is that bad? Maybe, just maybe, the school has done a good job at fostering a strong culture of friendship between these kids?

It’s not “bad,” necessarily but it certainly isn’t a big growth step either.

A final list doesn't say where these students are accepted. Just like college lists, don't judge these lists. Families make decisions for all sorts of reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's concerning that NPS sends girls, especially, to so few schools. Last year not a single girl continued to a coed school? And this year three quarters of the girls to Holton? Is that really the best fit for all of those girls? I think it speaks to the homogeneity of the NPS community, which is pretty self- fulfilling, I suppose. The school is full of a certain type of family, which attracts more of that same type of family, which are all happy with the same outcome.

Could those girls want to continue studying with their friends from NPS? Is that bad? Maybe, just maybe, the school has done a good job at fostering a strong culture of friendship between these kids?

It’s not “bad,” necessarily but it certainly isn’t a big growth step either.

A final list doesn't say where these students are accepted. Just like college lists, don't judge these lists. Families make decisions for all sorts of reasons.

Holton is making strides. They have an informative, personal admissions process (said from firsthand experience). Our child did not choose Holton, but it was a strong option. An excellent school with a well-run, warm admissions process goes a long way with NPS families I guess!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's concerning that NPS sends girls, especially, to so few schools. Last year not a single girl continued to a coed school? And this year three quarters of the girls to Holton? Is that really the best fit for all of those girls? I think it speaks to the homogeneity of the NPS community, which is pretty self- fulfilling, I suppose. The school is full of a certain type of family, which attracts more of that same type of family, which are all happy with the same outcome.

Could those girls want to continue studying with their friends from NPS? Is that bad? Maybe, just maybe, the school has done a good job at fostering a strong culture of friendship between these kids?

Well, I didn't think it was so terrible when I assumed that each kid and their family chose the school they thought was the best fit. It it is indeed "bad" (your word, not mine) if they are choosing a school because that is where their friends are going. Holton is a great school, but that's besides the point, which is that it's curious that so many girls are heading to the same school, and that in recent years NPS has sent girls to a limited number of places.

I am less familiar with St. Patrick's outplacement, but there are more schools available to ninth graders than to seventh graders, so I imagine that factors into differences, too.