Tell me about SSFS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can any current families at the school speak to any changes in the upper school with the new head to strengthen the teaching and academics. Our kids are considering SSFS for high school, and we definitely want an academically challenging environment for them (while of course supporting social/emotional well-being).

We have not noticed major academic changes either way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can any current families at the school speak to any changes in the upper school with the new head to strengthen the teaching and academics. Our kids are considering SSFS for high school, and we definitely want an academically challenging environment for them (while of course supporting social/emotional well-being).

We have not noticed major academic changes either way.

Nor have we - to me, the classes seem appropriately challenging, with APs being noticeably more difficult and with more/harder work. Teachers have really been willing to go the extra mile to help when needed (DC was out a lot last year for some health issues, and was meeting with teachers daily to help get caught back up).

Overall (4 years, 2 kids), most teachers have been good to excellent. One was bad to start, but improved over the year, and one was just flat out terrible (nice person, bad teacher).

[Anonymous]

Could anyone update, now that offers are out and we have to make decisions, how things are going at SSFS? We are an accepted middle school gpfamily trying to make a choice between SSFS and a DC private school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tell me everything. The good and the bad …

It is Sidwell’s cool cousin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is in the upper school and has been at SSFS since lower school.

My kid also has LD, so I’ll start there. The middle school program is fabulous, and the learning specialist is known regionally as being one of the best of the best. Call and ask to talk to her.

The sports conference is the PVAC, which is small schools like Burke and JDS. SSFS does well in the conference in most sports - last year won boys basketball and cross country and maybe some others. There is a new athletic director this year who we think will be great. That said, if your kid is looking to get a D1 scholarship in lacrosse, you wont find everything you need at SSFS.

I’m baffled by the post saying SSFS isn’t diverse. My kid’s class is at least 1/3 AA, the HOS is AA and there are more AA staff and administrators than I have ever seen in a school before. I’m sorry that was PP’s experience of SSFS - I don’t think it is typical.

The HOS is also one of the leaders in DEI-B work in the region

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell me everything. The good and the bad …

It is Sidwell’s cool cousin.

LOL

[Anonymous]

How does it compare to Sidwell? I'm familiar with Sidwell because older 2 kids are there, but younger DD is not as strong academically. But we like the Quaker values.

[Anonymous]

How do DC folks find the commute?

[Anonymous]

Does it have block scheduling in middle school or do kids have every class every day? How often do they meet with their advisors?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does it have block scheduling in middle school or do kids have every class every day? How often do they meet with their advisors?

Freshmen do not get block scheduling, which was a turnoff for my DC.

[Anonymous]

I have a current middle schooler and I have to say, middle school has been fabulous. We’ve been at the school since 2nd grade and I think the middle school is stronger than lower school.

[Anonymous]

What’s the upper school like?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does it have block scheduling in middle school or do kids have every class every day? How often do they meet with their advisors?

Freshmen do not get block scheduling, which was a turnoff for my DC.

I'm not sure what you mean by "freshmen" here, since all of the upper school (9-12) does in fact have block scheduling. There are 7 total blocks and they have 6 each day, and the order of the blocks rotates on a 5 day schedule.

[Anonymous]

We went to the accepted family event tonight and the school seemed wonderful. Warm, thoughtful, lots of electives but with good differentiation of core academic subjects especially math. We are looking at middle school. Any present families that could give thoughts would be great. We are picking between SSFS, SAES, and Field and live in MoCo. SAES is the closest but our kid is not athletic at all and a little quirky (though sweet) so we felt like SAES may not be the best fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We went to the accepted family event tonight and the school seemed wonderful. Warm, thoughtful, lots of electives but with good differentiation of core academic subjects especially math. We are looking at middle school. Any present families that could give thoughts would be great. We are picking between SSFS, SAES, and Field and live in MoCo. SAES is the closest but our kid is not athletic at all and a little quirky (though sweet) so we felt like SAES may not be the best fit.

We attended as well and could have written your post except we’re looking at the upper school and deciding between SAES and SSFS.