Beauvoir - what do you like? What don't you like?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maret' lunch is also included in tuition

We heard really good things about Maret, but we decided to apply for Pre-K instead of K so we never toured or explored Maret further.

I think most (many) independent schools include lunch. GDS, I think, is an outlier in that there's no lunch.

I got the opposite impression, but it may be the schools we selected. We applied to 6 schools and only 2 provide lunch (Sidwell and Maret). I suppose it could be the other four we applied to aren't necessarily considered top tier schools or because they only got to 8th grade.

We toured several K-8th schools that include lunch. "Free" lunch certainly isn't a Beauvoir exclusive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maret' lunch is also included in tuition

We heard really good things about Maret, but we decided to apply for Pre-K instead of K so we never toured or explored Maret further.

I think most (many) independent schools include lunch. GDS, I think, is an outlier in that there's no lunch.

I got the opposite impression, but it may be the schools we selected. We applied to 6 schools and only 2 provide lunch (Sidwell and Maret). I suppose it could be the other four we applied to aren't necessarily considered top tier schools or because they only got to 8th grade.

We toured several K-8th schools that include lunch. "Free" lunch certainly isn't a Beauvoir exclusive.

Which ones? We are applying to four preK-8 schools and none provide free lunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks everyone! If you all are a good representation of the parents at Beauvoir that speaks volumes. This board is notorious for negative Nancy's and someone who always has something negative to say...the fact that has not happened in this entire thread I think say a lot about the schools values truly being reflected in the families it admits.

OP, I hope I will not get slammed as a "negative Nancy," but as a parent of two former Beauvoir students, I will offer a slightly different opinion than those previously expressed: Beauvoir is a fine school, and certainly among the top in this area, but it is lacking in a few areas. For example, it's simply not as strong as some other schools in such areas as art and music, if that's important to you. While Beauvoir has a beautiful campus with light-filled classrooms, a nice cafeteria (and good food), and of course that magical playground, I always found it strange that the school lacks a proper theater. Performances take place in a small multipurpose room or in the Cathedral (where everyone not lucky enough to snag a pew in one of the first rows cranes their necks for a view). The art classes (at least when my kids were there) were run with a heavy hand - every student produced the same artwork, with slight variations. My kids (who didn't choose to go to NCS/STA, but instead to other competitive area schools) were not as well prepared for fourth grade as some of their new classmates, particularly in math and Spanish.

Both my kids were generally very happy at Beauvoir. Most of the teachers were good, although one of my kids had a truly subpar teacher one year- not at all at the level she she should have been for a school of Beauvoir's reputation (and price tag). However, you will find this uneven level of teaching talent at all the schools in this area.

I hope this is helpful. Best of luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your response does not address the pp's question. For example, there could have been 30 who applied to Sidwell and wanted to go to Sidwell but only 5 were accepted.

Well, as a Beauvoir parent who applied to Sidwell for my DC, I can attest to the fact that there were 11 of us who applied, not 30. Of that 11, very few really tried.

Very few really tried? What do you mean? Of the 11 that applied
How many got in?

The year my kid left Beauvoir, lots -much more than 11 applied to Sidwell- and many very interested.

Loved Beauvoir but the outplaced process left a bitter taste.... It really sucked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your response does not address the pp's question. For example, there could have been 30 who applied to Sidwell and wanted to go to Sidwell but only 5 were accepted.

Well, as a Beauvoir parent who applied to Sidwell for my DC, I can attest to the fact that there were 11 of us who applied, not 30. Of that 11, very few really tried.

Very few really tried? What do you mean? Of the 11 that applied
How many got in?

The year my kid left Beauvoir, lots -much more than 11 applied to Sidwell- and many very interested.

Loved Beauvoir but the outplaced process left a bitter taste.... It really sucked.

PP, above: I have to say that you are the first Beauvoir parent I have heard characterize the outplacement process that way. OP, the outplacement director's name is, James Carroll, if you want actual outplacement stats from Beauvoir , call him up and ask. When he presented to us as 2nd grade parents about to apply out beginning in 3rd grade year ( they start working with families in spring of 2nd grade) he shared exact figures going back the previous 3 years.

From what I remember, a large portion of families got their 1st choice school ( far more than in the " open market" of Pre-K admissions ) and something like 88% of families got their 1st or 2nd choice when you combined the two. Now, ask yourself, do 88% of DC parents applying to private school get have their child accepted at their 2nd choice and perhaps WL at their 1st choice.

I think the multiple threads on this forum attest to that NOT being the case. How then does an 88% placement rate in 1st or 2nd choice school " really suck " exactly ?

As to the 12 % remaining, they were not cast to the winds of DCPS by any stretch of the imagination: GDS , Potomac, Landon are hardly "sucky options" .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks everyone! If you all are a good representation of the parents at Beauvoir that speaks volumes. This board is notorious for negative Nancy's and someone who always has something negative to say...the fact that has not happened in this entire thread I think say a lot about the schools values truly being reflected in the families it admits.

OP, I hope I will not get slammed as a "negative Nancy," but as a parent of two former Beauvoir students, I will offer a slightly different opinion than those previously expressed: Beauvoir is a fine school, and certainly among the top in this area, but it is lacking in a few areas. For example, it's simply not as strong as some other schools in such areas as art and music, if that's important to you. While Beauvoir has a beautiful campus with light-filled classrooms, a nice cafeteria (and good food), and of course that magical playground, I always found it strange that the school lacks a proper theater. Performances take place in a small multipurpose room or in the Cathedral (where everyone not lucky enough to snag a pew in one of the first rows cranes their necks for a view). The art classes (at least when my kids were there) were run with a heavy hand - every student produced the same artwork, with slight variations. My kids (who didn't choose to go to NCS/STA, but instead to other competitive area schools) were not as well prepared for fourth grade as some of their new classmates, particularly in math and Spanish.

Both my kids were generally very happy at Beauvoir. Most of the teachers were good, although one of my kids had a truly subpar teacher one year- not at all at the level she she should have been for a school of Beauvoir's reputation (and price tag). However, you will find this uneven level of teaching talent at all the schools in this area.

I hope this is helpful. Best of luck.

Thanks for your insight, and no you don't sound like a Negative Nancy just someone who didn't have as good as of experience as some others. I noticed that there was no theater. I chalked it up to the grade level they focus on. I imagine Pk-3 don't really need to perform on a big stage. I don't particularly have an interest in the arts but I definitely want my children to be exposed to it because they could very well have one that I am currently unaware of.

As for the language I find that interesting. When talking to other parents about the language programs most say you don't get any real intensity till the 4th grade and only an introduction (unless you go the immersion route). At least one school - GDS - doesn't offer language until the 3rd of 4th grade I think. Nonetheless, this is something I will follow up with the school on because foreign language instruction is important to me, as well as a good foundation in math. If you don't mind sharing which schools did your kids go to? How hard was it for them to catch up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your response does not address the pp's question. For example, there could have been 30 who applied to Sidwell and wanted to go to Sidwell but only 5 were accepted.

Well, as a Beauvoir parent who applied to Sidwell for my DC, I can attest to the fact that there were 11 of us who applied, not 30. Of that 11, very few really tried.

Very few really tried? What do you mean? Of the 11 that applied
How many got in?

The year my kid left Beauvoir, lots -much more than 11 applied to Sidwell- and many very interested.

Loved Beauvoir but the outplaced process left a bitter taste.... It really sucked.

PP, above: I have to say that you are the first Beauvoir parent I have heard characterize the outplacement process that way. OP, the outplacement director's name is, James Carroll, if you want actual outplacement stats from Beauvoir , call him up and ask. When he presented to us as 2nd grade parents about to apply out beginning in 3rd grade year ( they start working with families in spring of 2nd grade) he shared exact figures going back the previous 3 years.

From what I remember, a large portion of families got their 1st choice school ( far more than in the " open market" of Pre-K admissions ) and something like 88% of families got their 1st or 2nd choice when you combined the two. Now, ask yourself, do 88% of DC parents applying to private school get have their child accepted at their 2nd choice and perhaps WL at their 1st choice.

I think the multiple threads on this forum attest to that NOT being the case. How then does an 88% placement rate in 1st or 2nd choice school " really suck " exactly ?

As to the 12 % remaining, they were not cast to the winds of DCPS by any stretch of the imagination: GDS , Potomac, Landon are hardly "sucky options" .

OP here: I was going to ask in what way did it suck? I recall from the material and website the statics on outplacement where pretty high. Someone mentioned to me years ago there was an issue with the outplacement office because they where unhappy when parents opted to not pursue NCS or on the other spectrum parents felt they where being steered away from NCS and they weren't getting a direct answer about why.

I tend to agree that 88% getting into their 1st choice is pretty good, and sounds like much better chances than if we were applying to 4th grade from public school. If more than 11 students apply to Sidwell I can't imagine even a majority can expect to get in. It's but only so many spots Sidwell would have right (even with it being an entry year)? If they are looking to diversify the class, accepting everyone who applies for Beauvoir would seem to counterproductive. Again, I'm an outsider looking in just trying to think of it objectively.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks everyone! If you all are a good representation of the parents at Beauvoir that speaks volumes. This board is notorious for negative Nancy's and someone who always has something negative to say...the fact that has not happened in this entire thread I think say a lot about the schools values truly being reflected in the families it admits.

OP, I hope I will not get slammed as a "negative Nancy," but as a parent of two former Beauvoir students, I will offer a slightly different opinion than those previously expressed: Beauvoir is a fine school, and certainly among the top in this area, but it is lacking in a few areas. For example, it's simply not as strong as some other schools in such areas as art and music, if that's important to you. While Beauvoir has a beautiful campus with light-filled classrooms, a nice cafeteria (and good food), and of course that magical playground, I always found it strange that the school lacks a proper theater. Performances take place in a small multipurpose room or in the Cathedral (where everyone not lucky enough to snag a pew in one of the first rows cranes their necks for a view). The art classes (at least when my kids were there) were run with a heavy hand - every student produced the same artwork, with slight variations. My kids (who didn't choose to go to NCS/STA, but instead to other competitive area schools) were not as well prepared for fourth grade as some of their new classmates, particularly in math and Spanish.

Both my kids were generally very happy at Beauvoir. Most of the teachers were good, although one of my kids had a truly subpar teacher one year- not at all at the level she she should have been for a school of Beauvoir's reputation (and price tag). However, you will find this uneven level of teaching talent at all the schools in this area.

I hope this is helpful. Best of luck.

Huh, as a parent of a less artistically creative child, I disagree that " all the kids artwork was the same". And, I object to that characterization because of what it suggests about the ownership of the work and the integrity of the creative process. I also know something about this as I was an " art aide" , meaning I signed up to help mount the kids artwork prior to it being put up on display and , at times, this meant trying to determine the creator of unsigned work prior to mounting it for display. Having had that close look at what goes on, here is what I would say:

Not only was the art work obviously VERY individualized, with all abilities and talents on display as well as , those who lack same ( like my child, sadly), but when we were stumped for a name on an unsigned work , we would hold it up to the Art teacher and she would be able to say " that looks like so and so , he always makes the snow on his trees look like that " or " that looks like so and so, he always draws very small at bottom of page, and we have been working with him on that ." The ability of an art teacher to be able to identify the style of 68 individual children speaks to a great amount of attention to them as individuals and respect for their own abilities and growth.

Far from "all the same" the art medium was varied everything from fired clay pieces, to african masks using cardboard, to leaf rubbing collages, to sketching in Bishop's garden to a life size self portrait in 3rd and painted with tempra paint.

As a mother, seeing the work on display, it was not too hard to come to the one that was my child's once I knew the look of his monochromatic, heaving on the line drawing details.

Beauvoir has a real art program and if you aren't convinced, ask to tour the school the day before " Museum night"

[Anonymous]

Huh, as a parent of a less artistically creative child, I disagree that " all the kids artwork was the same". And, I object to that characterization because of what it suggests about the ownership of the work and the integrity of the creative process. I also know something about this as I was an " art aide" , meaning I signed up to help mount the kids artwork prior to it being put up on display and , at times, this meant trying to determine the creator of unsigned work prior to mounting it for display. Having had that close look at what goes on, here is what I would say:

Not only was the art work obviously VERY individualized, with all abilities and talents on display as well as , those who lack same ( like my child, sadly), but when we were stumped for a name on an unsigned work , we would hold it up to the Art teacher and she would be able to say " that looks like so and so , he always makes the snow on his trees look like that " or " that looks like so and so, he always draws very small at bottom of page, and we have been working with him on that ." The ability of an art teacher to be able to identify the style of 68 individual children speaks to a great amount of attention to them as individuals and respect for their own abilities and growth.

Far from "all the same" the art medium was varied everything from fired clay pieces, to african masks using cardboard, to leaf rubbing collages, to sketching in Bishop's garden to a life size self portrait in 3rd and painted with tempra paint.

As a mother, seeing the work on display, it was not too hard to come to the one that was my child's once I knew the look of his monochromatic, heaving on the line drawing details.

Beauvoir has a real art program and if you aren't convinced, ask to tour the school the day before " Museum night"

[Anonymous]

OP here: I don't consider myself to be artistic so I may not be a good judge on this issue. When I toured I was impressed with the artwork I saw. Some of it may also be perspective. In choosing schools our baseline for comparison at this point is our local public school (I'm not in a great county), so it probably doesn't take a lot to impress me. As for a theater I understand why a school that only goes to the 3rd grade wouldn't invest in one. I can also understand if the arts is very important to you how that would be an issue of concern.

[Anonymous]

re: Sidwell placement. I our year, about 11 Beauvoir families applied and, I think Sidwell had 11 spots open for 4th grade +/- there own counsel out , un-signed new contracts, etc..

Of the 11 spots Sidwell had, 5 were offered to Beauvoir 3rd graders. Only one of those 5 admits was a sibling.

Your question about steering parents to or from a given school, there is no " bad vibe" if you do not want a Cathedral school and has not been true for about 15 years.

That being said, thre is an outplacement director for a reason and that reason is to 1) deliver and 2) to manage parental expectations ( can we agree at times Washington parents need this)

Frankly, I think the man is not paid enough and he should one day write a book , but suffice it to say that he has to be very gentle and carefully guide a few people such as those who want Sidwell or STA, but DC is all 6's on his ERB with WISC of 110 and the beginnings of some signs of self esteem issues due to tutoring and to get performance up to parental expectations.

98% of parents would not subject their child to a school that is too hard and too demanding of them, but yes a few do need to be given a lovely option B and guided until they realize this was good advice 3-4 years later.

[Anonymous]

The question is: are you paying the hefty price tag for the "magical playground"? Parents (who pursue status) are so easily impressed. They see beautiful cathedral grounds and playground and they think it is a wonderful school. They pay scant attention to the quality of instruction, arts and academic program.

[Anonymous]

I don't know if that criticism is apt. For example, that play ground didn't just happen. It was designed after a consultation into the neuroscience of kinestethic play. A school uninterested in how kids learn would not put millions into studying it and building it. Secondly that play ground could not have been built without a well funded capital campaign.

That focus on how children learn, what resources they might best benefit from AND lets not forget the money to build it, is what you get with Beauvoir.

If there is another DC private that chose to spend millions on a play ground for its young children , please name that school. These are 4 year olds and 5 year olds, they need to play . Beauvoir gets it imho.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The question is: are you paying the hefty price tag for the "magical playground"? Parents (who pursue status) are so easily impressed. They see beautiful cathedral grounds and playground and they think it is a wonderful school. They pay scant attention to the quality of instruction, arts and academic program.

I'm definitely not pursuing status, in fact, I would prefer to avoid those parents at all costs (if that's even possible). The playground is definitely magical and certainly doesn't hurt, and the facilities are pretty amazing. However, what has impressed me thus far is the focus and dedication to the early years. If their students are being placed in the other top schools then I have to believe that means the academic rigor is there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know if that criticism is apt. For example, that play ground didn't just happen. It was designed after a consultation into the neuroscience of kinestethic play. A school uninterested in how kids learn would not put millions into studying it and building it. Secondly that play ground could not have been built without a well funded capital campaign.

That focus on how children learn, what resources they might best benefit from AND lets not forget the money to build it, is what you get with Beauvoir.

If there is another DC private that chose to spend millions on a play ground for its young children , please name that school. These are 4 year olds and 5 year olds, they need to play . Beauvoir gets it imho.

The only playground that I have seen that is comprabable on a much smaller scale is in Alexadria at Burgundy Farm Country Day School. They recently finished construction of it and it's pretty amazing too.