Saint Patrick’s Episcopal Day School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve taught several kids who transferred from St Patrick’s, and their math and writing skills were surprisingly weak, and many were below grade level expectations for dc privates and public schools (I’ve taught in both). However, they have been on or above grade level for reading.

This is very disturbing. It supports what we hear from parents whose kids are no longer at STP. Last year, the school held a meeting with parents to introduce the new math curriculum. Parents of two unrelated STP graduates openly commented to school admin that their children, who were top students in math at STP, were not well prepared for advanced math at their high schools.

my kid was well prepared and finished hs with calc BC

I don't think anyone is suggesting students won't eventually catch up and excel, but in my personal experience St. Patrick's math curriculum was far behind other schools. We left before middle school so I can't speak to that experience, but my neurotypical child needed intensive summer tutoring to get caught up to grade level at his new school.

Sounds like you kid was the problem. Much easier to blame the school vs the kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve taught several kids who transferred from St Patrick’s, and their math and writing skills were surprisingly weak, and many were below grade level expectations for dc privates and public schools (I’ve taught in both). However, they have been on or above grade level for reading.

This is very disturbing. It supports what we hear from parents whose kids are no longer at STP. Last year, the school held a meeting with parents to introduce the new math curriculum. Parents of two unrelated STP graduates openly commented to school admin that their children, who were top students in math at STP, were not well prepared for advanced math at their high schools.

my kid was well prepared and finished hs with calc BC

I don't think anyone is suggesting students won't eventually catch up and excel, but in my personal experience St. Patrick's math curriculum was far behind other schools. We left before middle school so I can't speak to that experience, but my neurotypical child needed intensive summer tutoring to get caught up to grade level at his new school.

Sounds like you kid was the problem. Much easier to blame the school vs the kid.

I blame the school because concerns were brought up many times (to teachers, learning specialists, admin) and I was told repeatedly that there were no problems and that all the kids were in the same boat. That’s not acceptable to me, and everything is going great now at the new school so I am hesitant to blame my own child. Thanks for the feedback, though!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve taught several kids who transferred from St Patrick’s, and their math and writing skills were surprisingly weak, and many were below grade level expectations for dc privates and public schools (I’ve taught in both). However, they have been on or above grade level for reading.

This is very disturbing. It supports what we hear from parents whose kids are no longer at STP. Last year, the school held a meeting with parents to introduce the new math curriculum. Parents of two unrelated STP graduates openly commented to school admin that their children, who were top students in math at STP, were not well prepared for advanced math at their high schools.

my kid was well prepared and finished hs with calc BC

I don't think anyone is suggesting students won't eventually catch up and excel, but in my personal experience St. Patrick's math curriculum was far behind other schools. We left before middle school so I can't speak to that experience, but my neurotypical child needed intensive summer tutoring to get caught up to grade level at his new school.

Sounds like you kid was the problem. Much easier to blame the school vs the kid.

You don’t understand! People are complaining that the curriculum is poor and doesn’t align with most schools in the area. I noticed this too, which is why I tutor my child using a classical curriculum that tends to be more advanced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve taught several kids who transferred from St Patrick’s, and their math and writing skills were surprisingly weak, and many were below grade level expectations for dc privates and public schools (I’ve taught in both). However, they have been on or above grade level for reading.

This is very disturbing. It supports what we hear from parents whose kids are no longer at STP. Last year, the school held a meeting with parents to introduce the new math curriculum. Parents of two unrelated STP graduates openly commented to school admin that their children, who were top students in math at STP, were not well prepared for advanced math at their high schools.

my kid was well prepared and finished hs with calc BC

I don't think anyone is suggesting students won't eventually catch up and excel, but in my personal experience St. Patrick's math curriculum was far behind other schools. We left before middle school so I can't speak to that experience, but my neurotypical child needed intensive summer tutoring to get caught up to grade level at his new school.

Sounds like you kid was the problem. Much easier to blame the school vs the kid.

agree

[Anonymous]

We moved from public to St Pats. Our child is being challenged in both math and writing. Public school was a joke in comparison.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We moved from public to St Pats. Our child is being challenged in both math and writing. Public school was a joke in comparison.

It would be concerning if it wasn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid graduated from St. Pats in 8th grade and now attends a big 3 school. They find their current school to be extremely easy in terms of math and English. Writes English papers 2 hours before class and always receives in the 94-97 range and takes the highest level math classes with no problems.

+1. I had 3 kids go all the way through St Pat’s. All went to big 3 schools and excelled academically. There might be outliers, but for the most part, St. Pat’s kids are very well prepared for HS.

[Anonymous]

St. Pat’s parent here. I currently have one in lower school, one in middle, and one recent graduate, who is at a top boarding school. It was a very easy transition to high school, and no problems at all with advanced math.

I actually think St. Pat’s middle school is exceptional. They really push the kids yet have a soft touch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve taught several kids who transferred from St Patrick’s, and their math and writing skills were surprisingly weak, and many were below grade level expectations for dc privates and public schools (I’ve taught in both). However, they have been on or above grade level for reading.

This is very disturbing. It supports what we hear from parents whose kids are no longer at STP. Last year, the school held a meeting with parents to introduce the new math curriculum. Parents of two unrelated STP graduates openly commented to school admin that their children, who were top students in math at STP, were not well prepared for advanced math at their high schools.

my kid was well prepared and finished hs with calc BC

I don't think anyone is suggesting students won't eventually catch up and excel, but in my personal experience St. Patrick's math curriculum was far behind other schools. We left before middle school so I can't speak to that experience, but my neurotypical child needed intensive summer tutoring to get caught up to grade level at his new school.

Sounds like you kid was the problem. Much easier to blame the school vs the kid.

You don’t understand! People are complaining that the curriculum is poor and doesn’t align with most schools in the area. I noticed this too, which is why I tutor my child using a classical curriculum that tends to be more advanced.

No you are saying it. Most people are saying their kid was very well prepared. Now if your kid is getting low marks C’s and D’s, no they will not do well at the next school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The academics at St. Pat’s start to go off the rails as early as second or third grade. They do not challenge, or provide any enrichment for advanced kids — parents have to do that entirely on their own.

The newish head of school does not appear to care about academics or the curriculum at all. Tons of parents are trying to get their kids out of there after the third grade. It is no longer a school that does a good job of preparing kids academically and that is across disciplines — math, reading, writing, grammar and Spanish. It has become embarrassing and definitely not worth the tuition.

Former parent here. This is 100% spot on and why we left, along with many others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve taught several kids who transferred from St Patrick’s, and their math and writing skills were surprisingly weak, and many were below grade level expectations for dc privates and public schools (I’ve taught in both). However, they have been on or above grade level for reading.

This is very disturbing. It supports what we hear from parents whose kids are no longer at STP. Last year, the school held a meeting with parents to introduce the new math curriculum. Parents of two unrelated STP graduates openly commented to school admin that their children, who were top students in math at STP, were not well prepared for advanced math at their high schools.

my kid was well prepared and finished hs with calc BC

I don't think anyone is suggesting students won't eventually catch up and excel, but in my personal experience St. Patrick's math curriculum was far behind other schools. We left before middle school so I can't speak to that experience, but my neurotypical child needed intensive summer tutoring to get caught up to grade level at his new school.

Sounds like you kid was the problem. Much easier to blame the school vs the kid.

You don’t understand! People are complaining that the curriculum is poor and doesn’t align with most schools in the area. I noticed this too, which is why I tutor my child using a classical curriculum that tends to be more advanced.

No you are saying it. Most people are saying their kid was very well prepared. Now if your kid is getting low marks C’s and D’s, no they will not do well at the next school.

Most of the kids who are leaving were getting good grades, consistent positive feedback from teachers, and zero issues flagged. Then when they go to the next school, they need to play catchup just to be AT grade level. For my child and others who left from the class, this was most notable with math. I don't know what it was like before under Peter Barrett, but this is the reality today.

[Anonymous]

“Most” kids?!? Yet another parent here noting that their last year grad is at a top 3 and doing great. In top classes for math and English. As are his friends. A lot of unjustified St Pats hate on this board.

[Anonymous]

It depends on what the ‘Big 3’ are for some of you. I’m sorry, but I personally do not consider Holton-Arms one of the best schools. I know people who send their daughters there, and they end up at okay universities with okay jobs. They’re married but don’t live in D.C. because they can’t afford it, even though both partners work. They also don’t have kids because they can’t afford private school. I’m sorry for those who might be hurt by what I’m saying, but this is what I’ve noticed. Paying $40k or more for that outcome leaves me perplexed.

[Anonymous]

For the millionth time on this forum, many (and I think most) families are NOT sending their kids to private schools because of pie-in-the-sky aspirations for Ivy League college or assured future wealth. Simply crazy and ignorant thinking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It depends on what the ‘Big 3’ are for some of you. I’m sorry, but I personally do not consider Holton-Arms one of the best schools. I know people who send their daughters there, and they end up at okay universities with okay jobs. They’re married but don’t live in D.C. because they can’t afford it, even though both partners work. They also don’t have kids because they can’t afford private school. I’m sorry for those who might be hurt by what I’m saying, but this is what I’ve noticed. Paying $40k or more for that outcome leaves me perplexed.

Hmmm… I have a lot of Hotlon grad friends at Chevy Chase Club and with kids at our private school who don’t have any problems affording to live in the city or in areas as expensive as the city, such as Chevy Chase.