Barrie and Grace, other Silver Spring preschools

[Anonymous]

We are looking at Barrie School and Grace Episcopal for our 3 year old son. The costs seem a bit extreme, though I'm learning that this is about par for the course in this area (we're new here). Does anyone have any experience with these schools or other schools accessilbe from the northern Silver Spring area to recommend? We would also consider a more traditional daycare-type option if we could find a good one (esp. one that takes infants, as we are waiting on a new arrival in the next month). Any advice is appreciated!

One other thing - Barrie and GDS want psych testing for the young ones. Is this normal? Where does one even go for those types of things?

[Anonymous]

We've had our kids at Grace for 5 years and love it. We started our oldest at pre-k, and our second in nursery. The lower school (nursery-K) is accredited by NAEYC. Their program for young children is fabulous. Very nurturing, developmentally appropriate, everything you would want in a pre-school environment. They didn't require testing for the N-pre-K when we applied, but maybe that has changed. They do require testing for kindergarten, which is typical of most independent schools in the area. We looked around at other Silver Spring area preschools and decided that Grace was the best fit for our family. We also looked at Owl (now defunct), Lowell, Acorn Hill, Oneness, and Barrie. The best thing you can do is visit the schools and talk to the admissions people. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

The schools that require testing sometimes have a sample list of testers in the area, usually available on their website. (I think I remember seeing these on Sidwell's site and GDS's site, perhaps.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We've had our kids at Grace for 5 years and love it. We started our oldest at pre-k, and our second in nursery. The lower school (nursery-K) is accredited by NAEYC. Their program for young children is fabulous. Very nurturing, developmentally appropriate, everything you would want in a pre-school environment. They didn't require testing for the N-pre-K when we applied, but maybe that has changed. They do require testing for kindergarten, which is typical of most independent schools in the area. We looked around at other Silver Spring area preschools and decided that Grace was the best fit for our family. We also looked at Owl (now defunct), Lowell, Acorn Hill, Oneness, and Barrie. The best thing you can do is visit the schools and talk to the admissions people. Good luck.

PP, would you be willing to share some of your reactions in regard to what helped you determine that Grace is the best fit for your family? We're looking at the same schools you did, except for Oneness, and I'd find it helpful to hear your thoughts. We're thinking of Friends Community and Sandy Spring Friends too. We're still trying to figure out if we will do public or private school but are leaning toward private, so your thinking on that might be helpful too -- and might help the OP as well. (Not trying to hijack, OP, and if PP wants to comment off-list that would be great too.) Many thanks!

[Anonymous]

Grace parent here: I would be more than happy to email you in person with my thoughts, if that would help you.
[e-mail]

[Anonymous]

Thank you, Grace parent! I'll drop you an email.

[Anonymous]

Another very happy Grace parent. I *LOVE* this school. We initially considered Grace just for the 3 yr old year, and planned on applying to the elite schools in DC for elementary. But after a few years at Grace, we could never consider leaving. Top knotch education, but with a down to earth community feel. Best of both worlds. Incredible diversity & very good administration & not a problem teacher in the bunch.