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Any thoughts about WIS?
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Anonymous
| I agree strongly with another post above- WIS was our number 1 choice and we got in otherwise we would have moved to the suburbs. WIS has a unique program and is worth every penny. All of the other so called top tier schools are no different to what you find in the suburbs for free and that shows in their examination results |
Anonymous
Hi, my child is still in the Primary School at WIS and we are enthusiastic about the academic program and the quality of teachers. As an educator myself, I also raised the issue of SAT scores, on the basis of some perplexities like yours that I perceived exchanging with a couple of parents last year. The answer was that 1) the school does not teach to the test, since its curriculum emphasizes critical thinking and follows other approaches to content-based learning with respect to the more standardized US schools. This has nothing to do with the quality of the program or of the students (the IB is extremely rigorous and demanding, and WIS students receive excellent scores in their exams. Plus US universities recognize the outstanding preparation of IB graduates, which is a crucial factor in their admissions); 2) students who decide to apply to non US universities sometimes put more energy into other admission tests and processes that are more meaningful to their projects; 3) therefore, average scores may reflect this variety of choices without suggesting weaknesses in the WIS curriculum at all. The proof is that those students whose main objective is a top US university have extremely high SAT scores. They work hard at SAT preparation and academically they are extremely well equipped to pass the test with excellent results. SAT scores are based not only upon good grasp of content and intellectual skills but also upon special techniques that students are taught to maximize time and exclude certain answers even without reasoning that much. This training may make a difference in SAT results but if a student is well prepared it does not take that much to learn these "tricks" and improve scores. Moral of the story. I would not worry about mere average SAT scores when you have such a solid and inspiring education like that at WIS. |
Anonymous
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We are STRONGLY interested in an IB Program for our DC, and "the big three" seem like a lot of money for schools that don't offer the superior curriculum we're interested in.
Honestly, if you're that worried about SAT scores, just enroll your child in a prep course. The point of school is the education and breadth/depth of knowledge. IBs are simply superior to HS diplomas. |
Anonymous
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We have a friend with a child in K at WIS and they love the school and the curriculum. We're in a public immersion program ourselves and think that immersion offers the most creative, in-depth education a child can get - another language gives you another way of looking at the world, definitely is great preparation for the verbal part of the SAT, and opens a lot of career opportunities in the years ahead.
I can see from the responses (as well as from experience in our immersion program) that if the parents don't speak a foreign language well, they find programs like WIS "not broad enough" and/or are a bit intimidated. I would guess that the IB program is another plus as well - from what I've heard/read about it, it really fosters creative thinking in children. |
Anonymous
Between us, my husband and I have learned four foreign languages, and we each speak one fluently. We nonetheless felt that WIS does not offer the type of educational experience we want for our child. Why do you find it necessary to put down other parents to make your point? |
Anonymous
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This is an interesting discussion. So far I've seen comments on WIS against the 'big 3' (whichever three come into each of our minds). But what about other schools such as Potomac, Washington Episcopla, Landon, St. Albans, etc? Has anyone done a broad spectrum comparison on such categories as academic depth, value/integrity, criticality of thinking, raising 'the whole child', etc etc. or any other category really that you consider important. Any thoughts.
respectfully submtted.... |
Anonymous
Around these parts, what counts most is the brand name and bragging rights. WIS is a name barely recognized by anyone outside of the World Bank/IMF community, and just gets blank stares if mentioned at Kenwood or Cosmos. |
Anonymous
I respectfully but fully disagree with this comment. WIS is one of the oldest and most respected international schools *worldwide*. Once you exit the narrow cocoon of DC bragging rights, the school that can boast of true visibility and solid reputation is not one of the big three brand names but WIS, precisely because it is part of a global scenario. But even within DC and vicinities, the appeal of WIS reaches out well beyond the IMF/WorldBank community. |
Anonymous
| Here is a blank stare--what is Kenwood and what is Cosmos? |
Anonymous
| Kenwood is a country club and the Cosmos Club is a private club of high achievers in the arts and sciences. The membership is a little gray these days though. |
Anonymous
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Honestly, it is bizarre to think that anyone would choose a child's school based on the opinions of members of a country club. What a strange approach to life.
At any rate, we have had a child at WIS for 4 years now, and couldn't be happier. We chose the school because it was the absolute perfect fit for our child's strengths and temperament. It was the only private school we applied to, and we were thrilled when our child was accepted for preK. I and many other WIS parents would be happy to discuss the school with interested parents. Specific questions are welcomed. Good luck to all in finding a school that fits the needs of your children. |
Anonymous
I know a complete idiot who belongs there. His father was a member - not sure how the son got in, but he's no high achiever, that's for sure! He sure loves to talk about it though.... |
Anonymous
| Does anyone know if WIS has a general practice of making kids with summer birthdays (particularly boys) wait an extra year before starting kindergarten? |
Anonymous
My guess is not. We have friends with a child at WIS in kindergarten. B-day is a June b-day |
Anonymous
If you have to ask . . . |