Deciding between 4 very different schools

[Anonymous]

There are so many positives to K-8 education and being somewhere where you are the top of the heap. I would choose Norwood hands down. It is not hard at all to get into Landon for 9th and then your son will really be able to make an educated choice. Norwood would nurture him more and prepare him well with a values based education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:20:23 - Do you mean STA has turned out to be less work/time than you anticipated?! That would make me a happy mother.

My DS1 joined STA US from another private that ended at MS in the area x years ago. And the pressure and workload at STA was, and still is, difficult for him to adjust. Looking back, we were so thrilled of him going to STA, but he probably would have been better off elsewhere. Students coming in in 9th were all very strong academically and talented. It became obvious right away that it was hard for my DS1 to keep up. Obviously STA accepted him because they believe he would succeed. But you are only as good as the company you keep! We throught of pulling him out but then that would create a whole different set of difficulties.

Teachers at STA were all very helpful and DS1 got extra help any time he needed. He's working his behind off too! But still, the workload, the pressure of "keeping" up with rest of the class is tremendous (why do you think I'm up at this hour?)

We all think our kids are smart and hard working and they are! But be honest with yourself: is your DC someone that is willing to put in three times the study than some of his friends CONSISTENTLY, just to get a grade lower than they do, all of the time?

You know your kid so choose wisely. Just because your DC got accepted into the well regarded school does not mean it"s good for him.

Situation like this probably happens more often than what families and parents want to admit to. Most of the kids coming in US were all stars from their respective MS, but not everyone can occupy the top seat! In a hyper competitive school, that can really take a toll on a young person's confidence.

I would say it's not too late to switch your DC out. I doubt the harm of transferring would be worse than working hard but still struggling (and have to pay for it!)

Let this be a lesson to all those entering a new school - when the AO tells you it's competitive, take that seriously and be realistic of your child's ability/interest!

[Anonymous]

For what it is worth, the current Landon 5th grade class is great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For what it is worth, the current Landon 5th grade class is great.

Oh that is music to my ears, as my DS is joining 6th next year!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For what it is worth, the current Landon 5th grade class is great.

Agree!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are so many positives to K-8 education and being somewhere where you are the top of the heap. I would choose Norwood hands down. It is not hard at all to get into Landon for 9th and then your son will really be able to make an educated choice. Norwood would nurture him more and prepare him well with a values based education.

Norwood is terrific. Landon is not easy for 9th , 25 spots and 150 applicants this year.

[Anonymous]

The new Landon head of school, Jim Neill, is an amazing guy- I would send my kid there just because of him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP: sorry, I forgot to say....of course if your DS is one of the naturally talented one, please ignore my post above! It's just that in the MS, my DS was also a top student in his class without needing to work at it!

STA Mom of DS 1 : are you saying that DS1 tested well, and got good grades at his MS ( enough to get into STA) but he accomplished this in his MS environment without needing to work . ( "company he kept" in ES, MS ?? ) But , then once at STA , he was not as well prepared as the STA boys who came up from 4th grade at STA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:20:23 - Do you mean STA has turned out to be less work/time than you anticipated?! That would make me a happy mother.

My DS1 joined STA US from another private that ended at MS in the area x years ago. And the pressure and workload at STA was, and still is, difficult for him to adjust. Looking back, we were so thrilled of him going to STA, but he probably would have been better off elsewhere. Students coming in in 9th were all very strong academically and talented. It became obvious right away that it was hard for my DS1 to keep up. Obviously STA accepted him because they believe he would succeed. But you are only as good as the company you keep! We throught of pulling him out but then that would create a whole different set of difficulties.

Teachers at STA were all very helpful and DS1 got extra help any time he needed. He's working his behind off too! But still, the workload, the pressure of "keeping" up with rest of the class is tremendous (why do you think I'm up at this hour?)

We all think our kids are smart and hard working and they are! But be honest with yourself: is your DC someone that is willing to put in three times the study than some of his friends CONSISTENTLY, just to get a grade lower than they do, all of the time?

You know your kid so choose wisely. Just because your DC got accepted into the well regarded school does not mean it"s good for him.

Situation like this probably happens more often than what families and parents want to admit to. Most of the kids coming in US were all stars from their respective MS, but not everyone can occupy the top seat! In a hyper competitive school, that can really take a toll on a young person's confidence.

I would say it's not too late to switch your DC out. I doubt the harm of transferring would be worse than working hard but still struggling (and have to pay for it!)

Let this be a lesson to all those entering a new school - when the AO tells you it's competitive, take that seriously and be realistic of your child's ability/interest!

Likely your son is well prepared for college , no ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP: sorry, I forgot to say....of course if your DS is one of the naturally talented one, please ignore my post above! It's just that in the MS, my DS was also a top student in his class without needing to work at it!

STA Mom of DS 1 : are you saying that DS1 tested well, and got good grades at his MS ( enough to get into STA) but he accomplished this in his MS environment without needing to work . ( "company he kept" in ES, MS ?? ) But , then once at STA , he was not as well prepared as the STA boys who came up from 4th grade at STA?

No, she said "Students coming in in 9th were all very strong academically and talented."

[Anonymous]

STA Mom of DS1 here: DS1 got good grades throughout ES and MS. But that's nothing special because grades are subjective, I think we can all agree to that. He took one SSAT and his overall % was 98% (he scored 99/97/98 % for vocab/math/reading). These were the SSAT % and not the Nationwide %. We really thought he would do okay. Not necessarily the top of his class, but able to keep up. None of us were prepared for such a struggle.

Don't get me wrong, he is not failing! But even getting 1 B is a shocker for him (and us!). And now he's wondering how will the college admission perceive his GPA, even thought he's coming from a highly competitive HS.

We are looking elsewhere for DS2 for US. I don't think STA is for everyone, even if you get in (I know that's half the battle from all the other thread on DCUM).

And yes, I've considered it could be just my DS1. Somehow he'd changed, which I know it's possible especially going through the teenage years. But I see him work and I see him trying really hard, and it's the same kid I see for years.

So seriously, choose wisely!

[Anonymous]

I Feel bad for your DS! That must be crushing to his self confidence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:STA Mom of DS1 here: DS1 got good grades throughout ES and MS. But that's nothing special because grades are subjective, I think we can all agree to that. He took one SSAT and his overall % was 98% (he scored 99/97/98 % for vocab/math/reading). These were the SSAT % and not the Nationwide %. We really thought he would do okay. Not necessarily the top of his class, but able to keep up. None of us were prepared for such a struggle.

Don't get me wrong, he is not failing! But even getting 1 B is a shocker for him (and us!). And now he's wondering how will the college admission perceive his GPA, even thought he's coming from a highly competitive HS.

We are looking elsewhere for DS2 for US. I don't think STA is for everyone, even if you get in (I know that's half the battle from all the other thread on DCUM).

And yes, I've considered it could be just my DS1. Somehow he'd changed, which I know it's possible especially going through the teenage years. But I see him work and I see him trying really hard, and it's the same kid I see for years.

So seriously, choose wisely!

We have had a similar experience and we are choosing to send our other son to Landon. I want my son to be well prepared and well educated, but not at the cost of what I've seen our other DS experience at STA. It's not healthy imo.

[Anonymous]

I've found this very interesting

[Anonymous]

Getting Bs isn't healthy? Really? I think colleges understand the rigor of various schools and a B at STA likely better than an A at many other schools.