NoVa private high school that's strong academically but not a pressure cooker?

[Anonymous]

I think you might have a chance at aid starting in 11th. They’d know it was for only 2 years, for one thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you might have a chance at aid starting in 11th. They’d know it was for only 2 years, for one thing.

OP here. That was the impression I had from doing some research. I was also going to look into scholarship options, which I only just learned exist for K-12 as well as for college.

Also, thanks to everyone who gave suggestions of schools to check out, secular and religious. We'll take a look at all the options, and I realize public school wouldn't be the end of the world either, if it comes down to that. (I'm actually really surprised to hear one poster say that class sizes may not be smaller at privates, as that's contrary to our experience up to now.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of the "pressure cooker" schools are in DC or Montgomery County, Maryland (The Potomac School in McLean is the exception). Flint Hill is one of the few secular schools in NoVa (and most would agree that it is not more intense than most publics).

+1 for Flint Hill

Flint Hill is not better than most public schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you might have a chance at aid starting in 11th. They’d know it was for only 2 years, for one thing.

OP here. That was the impression I had from doing some research. I was also going to look into scholarship options, which I only just learned exist for K-12 as well as for college.

Also, thanks to everyone who gave suggestions of schools to check out, secular and religious. We'll take a look at all the options, and I realize public school wouldn't be the end of the world either, if it comes down to that. (I'm actually really surprised to hear one poster say that class sizes may not be smaller at privates, as that's contrary to our experience up to now.)

The smaller class size is pretty much guaranteed at the privates.

[Anonymous]

Bishop O’Connell

[Anonymous]

Flint Hill, SSSAS, and O’Connell are the best suggestions.

Do a search of this board for info about Paul VI, there have been recent issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're moving to the area next year for work in the tech sector and are considering private school for DD for 11th and 12th grades. She's very academically minded and highly motivated, but we want to avoid a pressure cooker atmosphere, because she's already putting more than enough pressure on herself. She's interested in humanities rather than STEM.

Any recommendations in Fairfax, Loudoun or Prince William Counties for a private high school that's not obsessed with academic achievement or social status, yet has a strong academic program and might admit someone in those grades? She's sociable and well rounded, so a healthy social scene would be a plus, but the sports programs won't matter because she's not interested in playing sports.

You are seeking a unicorn. All rigorous local schools - public (e.g., TJ) or private - are pressure cookers.

I disagree. I think the Catholic schools here offer opportunities for rigorous classes without being real pressure cookers.

The heavy load of homework and weekend deadlines mean pressure cooking. Kids have sleep deprivation, some teachers are unqualified, MAGAs are all around, and adm deny the existing array of problems. That’s what happens in a well known Catholic HS in Loudoun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're moving to the area next year for work in the tech sector and are considering private school for DD for 11th and 12th grades. She's very academically minded and highly motivated, but we want to avoid a pressure cooker atmosphere, because she's already putting more than enough pressure on herself. She's interested in humanities rather than STEM.

Any recommendations in Fairfax, Loudoun or Prince William Counties for a private high school that's not obsessed with academic achievement or social status, yet has a strong academic program and might admit someone in those grades? She's sociable and well rounded, so a healthy social scene would be a plus, but the sports programs won't matter because she's not interested in playing sports.

You are seeking a unicorn. All rigorous local schools - public (e.g., TJ) or private - are pressure cookers.

I disagree. I think the Catholic schools here offer opportunities for rigorous classes without being real pressure cookers.

The heavy load of homework and weekend deadlines mean pressure cooking. Kids have sleep deprivation, some teachers are unqualified, MAGAs are all around, and adm deny the existing array of problems. That’s what happens in a well known Catholic HS in Loudoun.

At PVI, I would expect that. And the same probably at 90% of the local Catholic schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Flint Hill, SSSAS, and O’Connell are the best suggestions.

Do a search of this board for info about Paul VI, there have been recent issues.

Agree. Potomac and Basis McLean are pressure cookers. The biggest pressure cooker is likely TJ, which is public.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think there are any true pressure cookers in the counties you name. The pressure cookers here are all in DC proper. Struggling to think of 1 outside the beltway.

TJ

TJ is inside the Beltway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s your housing budget and where will you be commuting to? Are you concerned that the public’s will be too much of a pressure cooker, or too big, or is there some other specific reason for looking at private? Can you swing one of the $50k privates?

We will need to live within a reasonable commuting time to the Dulles corridor, and can afford housing in that general area. The concern about publics is their size, and the environment (discipline issues, etc.). I've also gotten the impression that it's a pressure cooker atmosphere among those kids who tend to take AP classes at NoVa publics, but maybe I'm wrong about that. We've done a mix of public and private in the past, and prefer the private route. We would need financial aid to be able to afford a $50k private though, which I realize may not be forthcoming, but we figure it's at least worth a try, if we can find one that seems like a good fit. If it doesn't work out, we'll go with a public school.

To be brutally honest, I think the probability of a high school offering financial aid to incoming 11th grader is between slim and none. They all have more demand than supply in terms of aid, and priority is always going to go to incumbent students that are continuing the aid that they’ve been receiving for years.

Everyone is providing the same info. Flint Hill is the only non-religious private that seems to meet your needs. I think aid is unlikely and some question whether FH is really different than area publics. SSSAS is in Alexandria and may also work but it sounds like the commute is a bit far. The rest of the secular list are in DC or Maryland: Field, Burke, SAES, SSFS. If you want to stay close to home and want a lower cost, the Catholic schools may be your best bet. Again, class size may not be much different than your publics.

While housing is more expensive, living in Arlington, Montgomery County, MD or McLean might give you more options. The commute to the Dulles corridor isn’t horrible and you are close enough to DC to open up many more options.

As a former admission staff member, I concur. Schhols are not looking to give FA to a family that is entering in 11th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s your housing budget and where will you be commuting to? Are you concerned that the public’s will be too much of a pressure cooker, or too big, or is there some other specific reason for looking at private? Can you swing one of the $50k privates?

We will need to live within a reasonable commuting time to the Dulles corridor, and can afford housing in that general area. The concern about publics is their size, and the environment (discipline issues, etc.). I've also gotten the impression that it's a pressure cooker atmosphere among those kids who tend to take AP classes at NoVa publics, but maybe I'm wrong about that. We've done a mix of public and private in the past, and prefer the private route. We would need financial aid to be able to afford a $50k private though, which I realize may not be forthcoming, but we figure it's at least worth a try, if we can find one that seems like a good fit. If it doesn't work out, we'll go with a public school.

A lot of the pressure cooker atmosphere is generated by students and you can't avoid it in this area.-When your parents work for the NYT and appear on media frequently, of course you are going to be competitive and want to excel! My kid did really well at a public school, has lots of friends at very well-regarded colleges and is excelling at college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s your housing budget and where will you be commuting to? Are you concerned that the public’s will be too much of a pressure cooker, or too big, or is there some other specific reason for looking at private? Can you swing one of the $50k privates?

We will need to live within a reasonable commuting time to the Dulles corridor, and can afford housing in that general area. The concern about publics is their size, and the environment (discipline issues, etc.). I've also gotten the impression that it's a pressure cooker atmosphere among those kids who tend to take AP classes at NoVa publics, but maybe I'm wrong about that. We've done a mix of public and private in the past, and prefer the private route. We would need financial aid to be able to afford a $50k private though, which I realize may not be forthcoming, but we figure it's at least worth a try, if we can find one that seems like a good fit. If it doesn't work out, we'll go with a public school.

A lot of the pressure cooker atmosphere is generated by students and you can't avoid it in this area.-When your parents work for the NYT and appear on media frequently, of course you are going to be competitive and want to excel! My kid did really well at a public school, has lots of friends at very well-regarded colleges and is excelling at college.

I don’t think there are all that many DC-area students even of private schools whose parents work for the NY Times and appear on media frequently. That’s oddly specific?

[Anonymous]

Immanuel Bible School is another option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Immanuel Bible School is another option.

With all due respect this doesn't come off as rigorous or a strong education
https://www.icsva.org/academics/high-school/