Taking Latin/classics in HS - best schools for this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe it took 2 pages of comments before someone mentioned Washington Latin. It's an amazing school--both of my kids have thrived there. And it's FREE!!!

But they accept so few people after 5th grade that it's almost not worth considering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The best school? Washington Latin. It's in the name.

It's not the focus of the school. They stopped having a certamen team and hosting the events - that's pretty lame for a place with Latin in the name.

[Anonymous]

For those kids who are so inclined and have self-study discipline, there’s the National Latin Exam, based in Virginia. It administers Latin exams nation-wide. It could be an option for curious or dedicated kids whose school does not offer Latin.

https://www.nle.org/

[Anonymous]

Potomac. The kids often win national contests, and some do a semester abroad in Italy junior year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Potomac. The kids often win national contests, and some do a semester abroad in Italy junior year

You know that people don't speak Latin in Italy, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best school? Washington Latin. It's in the name.

It's not the focus of the school. They stopped having a certamen team and hosting the events - that's pretty lame for a place with Latin in the name.

The new Washington Latin Cooper campus has 3 really committed Latin teachers and is building a very strong Certamen program. The oldest students aren’t to Advanced yet, but their teams are routinely in and often winning the finals in Novice and Intermediate in both the Open and Competitive divisions. The 2nd Street Campus is also sending teams again, and they are also doing well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Potomac. The kids often win national contests, and some do a semester abroad in Italy junior year

You know that people don't speak Latin in Italy, right?

They go to Italy because they are exposed to the Roman Civilization there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do students opt for Latin over languages that are widely spoken like Spanish or French?

It's not always an either/or. Some schools let you and others require you to double up. For example, at St. Anselm's they must take Latin to minimum level III (some go beyond and they can also take Greek), and they also must take at least to Level IV of a modern language (French, Spanish or Arabic).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St Jerome institute. Latin is part of the curriculum and the students frequently win national latin prizes .

+1 - and they are opening a second campus in NOVA. Very likely The Heights is also strong and most of the independent Catholic HSs. Maybe a few diocesan HSs also.

Do your research and see who are winning regional and national Latin competitions. And look for a school that also offers Greek, the Trivium and Quadrivium.

Careful - The Heights is for extreme RWNJs.

Type it out, coward.

[Anonymous]

Stone Ridge has a surprisingly strong Latin program, mostly based on a very popular and engaging teacher. Many girls take Latin plus French or Spanish, but Latin is a favorite.

[Anonymous]

I’m surprised Georgetown Prep hasn’t been mentioned ( in case the OP has a son). 2 years of Latin is mandatory at Prep and the Latin department teachers are excellent. They also offer AP Latin & AP Latin Literature

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best school? Washington Latin. It's in the name.

It's not the focus of the school. They stopped having a certamen team and hosting the events - that's pretty lame for a place with Latin in the name.

I did see them -- or at least one of their campuses -- at the Virginia Junior Classics League convention, so maybe they are starting up again.

I did talk to a parent, and it's better than a regular public, but they have some problems bc the student body is very much composed of one group of high fliers and another that really isn't, and the administration is trying to force both of them onto the same track, which doesn't work well for either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best school? Washington Latin. It's in the name.

It's not the focus of the school. They stopped having a certamen team and hosting the events - that's pretty lame for a place with Latin in the name.

I did see them -- or at least one of their campuses -- at the Virginia Junior Classics League convention, so maybe they are starting up again.

I did talk to a parent, and it's better than a regular public, but they have some problems bc the student body is very much composed of one group of high fliers and another that really isn't, and the administration is trying to force both of them onto the same track, which doesn't work well for either.

Glad to hear that Washington Latin has gotten its Latin program back into better health. It was surprising when they withdrew from VJCL events.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
i also saw dominion christian mentioned. their latin teacher is a former njcl president. she’s new but i think they’re going to be good in the future. that being said, i believe the school is definitely on the conservative side.

She is an amazing teacher; primary text is Lingua Latina Per Se Illustrata as of this past year, so they have switched to a "living latin" approach. The problem is that the language track at Dominion is not super flexible -- junior high splits incoming kids between what amounts to a high school Latin I and Latin II class for kids who have had significant Latin in elementary and are good at it, and Latin A/B for kids who aren't. At the Hs level, there is only the track starting with Latin III available, for the kids in the first group. Though I guess because it is a small school, if your kids preparation did not line up just right, they may be able to work with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Potomac. The kids often win national contests, and some do a semester abroad in Italy junior year

You know that people don't speak Latin in Italy, right?

Thanks I do know that. It’s a well respected national study brought program that allows the kids to spend a semester delving into classics and focus on art history. The kids I know who have participated in the program come back raving about it, and a few have gone on to major in classics at excellent school. It’s just a nice option bc the other top privates we looked at did not offer any trip or study abroad options for Latin.
Potomac does very well in the VA and national exams. You can also do a second language at the same time. One plus for us was that they have several Latin teachers, so you don’t run the risk of an entire program riding on the back of one teacher. Their IS (7th/8th grade) Latin program is excellent, so kids enter hs at a nice level, opening up many electives beginning in 10th & 11th.