SSFS Will Stay Open

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think each division has different issues. For lower school, you don't want a class size too small, but for upper school, it doesn't matter if French 4 only has 5 kids as long as a variety of classes like AP classes or sports are offered. Hard to sign if you don't know a lot of these answers. I know it's a chicken and egg problem, but hard to trust an institution that 2 weeks ago decided to abruptly shut down. And even then, what are likely scenarios for following 2 years. It's hard to transfer in high school.

While it’s true a small class is ok in US as long as variety is there, the variety still depends on the overall size. French wont be offered if only 5 kids total want it for example. Same reason they got rid of Chinese a few years ago. So knowing what’s the best enrollment we can hope for (which should be the early April number) would give families some idea of what they can expect with program offerings.

And no one is that stupid. We know that not announcing already means it’s bad. If it were good 1. The school wouldn’t have closed in the first place and 2. Even now they would have announced it knowing it’s the number 1 question on family’s minds. But we just want this secrecy to stop and if we are trust “in this together as a community” be transparent with the worst we might be dealing with, so we can prepare.

[Anonymous]

I was thinking of applying for HS.
My kid is at a K-8 now in 7th so would need to start the process this fall.
We would need a lot of FA though, is it even worth applying? Are we likely to get FA because they want numbers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was thinking of applying for HS.
My kid is at a K-8 now in 7th so would need to start the process this fall.
We would need a lot of FA though, is it even worth applying? Are we likely to get FA because they want numbers?

I doubt there is anyone on this site who can answer your questions with inside knowledge but I’d imagine that the numbers they want are NOT applicants who need a lot of FA - clearly they don’t/won’t have it to give.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think each division has different issues. For lower school, you don't want a class size too small, but for upper school, it doesn't matter if French 4 only has 5 kids as long as a variety of classes like AP classes or sports are offered. Hard to sign if you don't know a lot of these answers. I know it's a chicken and egg problem, but hard to trust an institution that 2 weeks ago decided to abruptly shut down. And even then, what are likely scenarios for following 2 years. It's hard to transfer in high school.

I would say the opposite. Small class sizes in elementary school are a mixed blessing, but you can combine a couple grades for recess and PE to give more social opportunities.

Small high school classes, meaning students in grade not students in a section, are major problems. You can end up with too few kids to field a sports team, or to offer a fourth year of foreign language, or to put together a school newspaper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was thinking of applying for HS.
My kid is at a K-8 now in 7th so would need to start the process this fall.
We would need a lot of FA though, is it even worth applying? Are we likely to get FA because they want numbers?

I doubt there is anyone on this site who can answer your questions with inside knowledge but I’d imagine that the numbers they want are NOT applicants who need a lot of FA - clearly they don’t/won’t have it to give.

FA isn't something that you give. I mean, it feels that way on the end, but from the perspective of a school that is struggling with enrollment, it's a way to get bodies in seats. If you are Sidwell, and you're selecting a kid who needs FA over one who doesn't, then yes, the school is making a decision to give aid. But if you're SSFS, and you have a 3rd/4th grade combined class that can handle 16 kids (guessing, randomly made up number), and you have 10 paying full tuition, adding 4 kids who average 1/2 tuition, means that you're paying the same teachers with 12 tuitions instead of 10, and while it might cost a little more to have those 4 kids, it won't increase your costs by more than 2 tuitions. Plus having 14 means that maybe you look better for other potential parents.

[Anonymous]

It’s going to depend which the school needs more - tuition dollars or butts in seats. And no one here will be able to tell you that. Likely no one at the school or in the coalition will be able to predict now what that will be for two years from now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was thinking of applying for HS.
My kid is at a K-8 now in 7th so would need to start the process this fall.
We would need a lot of FA though, is it even worth applying? Are we likely to get FA because they want numbers?

Just curious what makes you think ssfs is a good option right now or that they will offer FA to new families when they’re so far in debt? Are you following anything with the school? No one on this forum can tell you for sure but any logic should be telling you this is NOT the time to START high school here.

[Anonymous]

Wow. The FAQ is so vague and non-committal. I don't think we can continue at SSFS. So sorry to the community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Q: What is the school's plan for navigating the local economic downturn?
The declining birthrate is an international reality. The economic downswing in the greater DC area is a real concern moving forward. Our budgeting process will likely result in a smaller footprint for building usage to compensate.

Are they really saying that in our area they’re concerned about birth rates being an issue? Schools are overcrowded around here, I hardly think we are living in an area where that’s a concern anytime soon.

What dues a smaller footprint mean? Buildings will be sold? Land will be sold? Does a smaller footprint not mean reduced tuition? Why would people pay the same for a smaller campus and fewer programs?

The enrollment cliff is a well known concern for all educational institutions. https://www.npr.org/2025/01/08/nx-s1-5246200/demographic-cliff-fewer-college-students-mean-fewer-graduates

100%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. The FAQ is so vague and non-committal. I don't think we can continue at SSFS. So sorry to the community.

We’re so torn. We’re trying really hard but everything the school posts just feels shallow. The FAQ is so vague and tells us nothing, just about things like birth rates and natural disasters. I realize that if we stay it’s going to be in spite of our fears not because the school is putting us at ease.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. The FAQ is so vague and non-committal. I don't think we can continue at SSFS. So sorry to the community.

We’re so torn. We’re trying really hard but everything the school posts just feels shallow. The FAQ is so vague and tells us nothing, just about things like birth rates and natural disasters. I realize that if we stay it’s going to be in spite of our fears not because the school is putting us at ease.

If we stay it will only be to buy us another year to go through a more thoughtful rather than rushed admission process. The school should absolutely be ashamed of how this was handled. They need to recognize how much hurt and mistrust they have caused. I appreciate what the coalition has done and have nothing but respect for their efforts but to encourage us to switch from shock and anger to gratitude and hope in just 2 weeks is completely unreasonable especially given the fact that not enough information has been forthcoming.

[Anonymous]

Anyone from SSFS considering the Nora School. We are. Please chime in if you are as well and what your thoughts are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. The FAQ is so vague and non-committal. I don't think we can continue at SSFS. So sorry to the community.

We’re so torn. We’re trying really hard but everything the school posts just feels shallow. The FAQ is so vague and tells us nothing, just about things like birth rates and natural disasters. I realize that if we stay it’s going to be in spite of our fears not because the school is putting us at ease.

If we stay it will only be to buy us another year to go through a more thoughtful rather than rushed admission process. The school should absolutely be ashamed of how this was handled. They need to recognize how much hurt and mistrust they have caused. I appreciate what the coalition has done and have nothing but respect for their efforts but to encourage us to switch from shock and anger to gratitude and hope in just 2 weeks is completely unreasonable especially given the fact that not enough information has been forthcoming.

Someone up thread made a good point: schools are actively trying to accommodate SSFS kids right now. You may not get an opportunity like that again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. The FAQ is so vague and non-committal. I don't think we can continue at SSFS. So sorry to the community.

We’re so torn. We’re trying really hard but everything the school posts just feels shallow. The FAQ is so vague and tells us nothing, just about things like birth rates and natural disasters. I realize that if we stay it’s going to be in spite of our fears not because the school is putting us at ease.

If we stay it will only be to buy us another year to go through a more thoughtful rather than rushed admission process. The school should absolutely be ashamed of how this was handled. They need to recognize how much hurt and mistrust they have caused. I appreciate what the coalition has done and have nothing but respect for their efforts but to encourage us to switch from shock and anger to gratitude and hope in just 2 weeks is completely unreasonable especially given the fact that not enough information has been forthcoming.

Someone up thread made a good point: schools are actively trying to accommodate SSFS kids right now. You may not get an opportunity like that again.

This 100%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. The FAQ is so vague and non-committal. I don't think we can continue at SSFS. So sorry to the community.

We’re so torn. We’re trying really hard but everything the school posts just feels shallow. The FAQ is so vague and tells us nothing, just about things like birth rates and natural disasters. I realize that if we stay it’s going to be in spite of our fears not because the school is putting us at ease.

If we stay it will only be to buy us another year to go through a more thoughtful rather than rushed admission process. The school should absolutely be ashamed of how this was handled. They need to recognize how much hurt and mistrust they have caused. I appreciate what the coalition has done and have nothing but respect for their efforts but to encourage us to switch from shock and anger to gratitude and hope in just 2 weeks is completely unreasonable especially given the fact that not enough information has been forthcoming.

Someone up thread made a good point: schools are actively trying to accommodate SSFS kids right now. You may not get an opportunity like that again.

This 100%

I'm not worried about my kid getting admitted to another school. I'm much more concerned with picking the right school. This process was too rushed and too emotional. And I'm full of anger at the position SSFS has put us in. What they did and how they handled it was unconscionable. And while I appreciate what the coalition has pulled off, anyone thinking about staying would be so foolish to let the euphoria and relief that SSFS is now staying open overshadow your anger and mistrust. The school MUST feel the full weight of their betrayal to the current teachers and families and to the alumni and the SSFS legacy. Any softening of emotions will contribute to the likelihood that the coalition's efforts become merely a ban-daid. Any softening of emotions will ensure that the BOT will continue and the should NOT be allowed to continue.