Which is considered generally the best school between St. Andrew's, Bullis, and Field?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think you should go to any of these schools. You're still fixated on GDS, Maret and Sidwell, which aren't options for you at this time. In light of that, you're likely to be unhappy at any school and your child will know that.

This is spot-on IMO, not that OP would ever admit it.

[Anonymous]

If you live in DC, I would do field. Commute is everything!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think you should go to any of these schools. You're still fixated on GDS, Maret and Sidwell, which aren't options for you at this time. In light of that, you're likely to be unhappy at any school and your child will know that.

This is spot-on IMO, not that OP would ever admit it.

Wrong SAES attracts quite a number of students who are u happy at the Big 3 for different reasons. I am not familiar with B or F but would not be surprised if that is the case as well.

I have met many parents who regretted sending their kids to Big 3 schools for different reasons … believe it or not, many parents care about their DC’s mental health and happiness more than prestige rankings.

It is about best fit for each student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:believe it or not, many parents care about their DC’s mental health and happiness more than prestige rankings.

The comments up-thread are directed to PP specifically, not "many parents."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:St Andrews ES in terms of academics …. They offer highly differentiated classes for different abilities and styles of learning as teaching to a broad swathe of learners is part of their founding mission. Their center for transformational learning and teaching trains teachers to engage students in thoughtful, meaningful and creative ways.

Bullis has amazing facilities and athletics.

Field is a niche school with attracts many bright quirky students.

This is one of the nicest posts I have seen on the private school forum. You highlighted aspects of each school without putting anyone down. Brava.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think you should go to any of these schools. You're still fixated on GDS, Maret and Sidwell, which aren't options for you at this time. In light of that, you're likely to be unhappy at any school and your child will know that.

This is spot-on IMO, not that OP would ever admit it.

[b]Wrong SAES attracts quite a number of students who are u happy at the Big 3 for different reasons. I am not familiar with B or F but would not be surprised if that is the case as well.

I have met many parents who regretted sending their kids to Big 3 schools for different reasons … believe it or not, many parents care about their DC’s mental health and happiness more than prestige rankings.

It is about best fit for each student[b].

I'm the PP being quoted above and I agree with the bolded text. But that's not where OP is coming from -- she's not a disappointed Big 3 parent; she's a wanna-be Big 3 parents who looks down on the schools where her child has been admitted. That's not a good starting point for her kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think you should go to any of these schools. You're still fixated on GDS, Maret and Sidwell, which aren't options for you at this time. In light of that, you're likely to be unhappy at any school and your child will know that.

This is spot-on IMO, not that OP would ever admit it.

[b]Wrong SAES attracts quite a number of students who are u happy at the Big 3 for different reasons. I am not familiar with B or F but would not be surprised if that is the case as well.

I have met many parents who regretted sending their kids to Big 3 schools for different reasons … believe it or not, many parents care about their DC’s mental health and happiness more than prestige rankings.

It is about best fit for each student[b].

I'm the PP being quoted above and I agree with the bolded text. But that's not where OP is coming from -- she's not a disappointed Big 3 parent; she's a wanna-be Big 3 parents who looks down on the schools where her child has been admitted. That's not a good starting point for her kid.

Could always try to get into the big 3 off the waitlist

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not Field. the high teacher turnover is a big red flag. Also less diversity

I agree. That place is still a mess.

I'd do St. Andrew's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St Andrews ES in terms of academics …. They offer highly differentiated classes for different abilities and styles of learning as teaching to a broad swathe of learners is part of their founding mission. Their center for transformational learning and teaching trains teachers to engage students in thoughtful, meaningful and creative ways.

Bullis has amazing facilities and athletics.

Field is a niche school with attracts many bright quirky students.

This is one of the nicest posts I have seen on the private school forum. You highlighted aspects of each school without putting anyone down. Brava.

Lol. Really? I don’t think most parents seek out schools only because of “amazing facilities and athletics.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St Andrews ES in terms of academics …. They offer highly differentiated classes for different abilities and styles of learning as teaching to a broad swathe of learners is part of their founding mission. Their center for transformational learning and teaching trains teachers to engage students in thoughtful, meaningful and creative ways.

Bullis has amazing facilities and athletics.

Field is a niche school with attracts many bright quirky students.

This is one of the nicest posts I have seen on the private school forum. You highlighted aspects of each school without putting anyone down. Brava.

Agree with above.
My Child considered and liked all three. Ended up choosing Bullis, started in middle. Middle school at Bullis is great. Found the teachers to be excellent and supportive. Classes small.
You don’t need to be a amazing athlete to have a good experience at Bullis, just willing to try things and do some sports.
We have been very impressed with Bullis. My child is now in upper school.

[Anonymous]

Another vote for St. Andrew's. Warm community, challenging curriculum, caring teachers, beautiful campus, great college placement, and solid sports program. Very happy there.

[Anonymous]

Unless your kid really fits the “Field profile” - better to choose one of the other two. Field is super small and it could be a rough 4 years academically if your child does not click with their peers.

Upthread Field was referred to as a good place for quirky kids. I’d add to that - those with learning disabilities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have three kids, two now in college and one finishing HS. We live in UNWDC and each attended different schools, including one each at two of the three you reference. Our youngest is at a big three. We were public school attendees ourselves and met at a competitive private university and 15+ years ago thought private would be a better environment for our children. With 20/20 hindsight, if we had to do it all over again we would do DCPS over anything but a big three. We don’t regret our choices as money was not a concern and each school did fine by each child. That said, the academics for those in the honors track at DCPS is strong and the more diverse social environment would have been beneficial for our kids. Honestly, only the big three offered exceptional curriculum and programs. My only hesitation to DCPS would be how much time parents have to devote to overseeing the child’s educational path, being a consistent advocate to ensure the child is accessing resources. That is something we found we did not need to do at any of our privates. It’s just that the experience our children at the alternate privates received was not exceptional. We get that choosing an educational environment is an individual thing. For us and with genuine hindsight, there is too much benefit to pass up DCPS for a less than top private school.

Which of the three did they attend? I'm not sure if the three are more or less equal in quality or if one stands out.

This is a limited profile - no one on DCUM is going to answer that question and risk outing themselves.

[Anonymous]

I hate questions like this. This whole site feeds into the notion that there is some sort of real hierarchy of schools in the city, country, world. Such a dumb concept. Focus inward on what works for you, not outward on what you think other random people perceive without experience of all the schools or knowledge of your child.

[Anonymous]

Lots of votes for SAES. Any reasons against SAES at any level lower/middle/upper?