Key School in Annapolis

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know anything about the Key School in Annapolis? I have read about it on the school's website and will be taking a tour soon. I have a son going into K next year and am not thrilled w/ the narrow curriculum and obsession w/ testing present in our local public school. Any info about this school would be helpful.

[Anonymous]

I have two children who have/had attended Key. My oldest child graduated in 2006 and is now a Junior in college. Prior to entering college she had to take placement exams and tested out of freshman english, math and french. She started Key in 4th grade after we moved to the area from DC. She is a world traveler and actually thanked me after her first year of college for sending her to Key because she was so well prepared for the rigorous college program. Her major is Economics, which is very tough, I know college freinds who dropped those courses due to the level of difficulty. My youngest is currently in 8th grade at Key and started in the Pre-School. She has developed into a mature, studious young lady and absolutely loves school! If I told her we had to take her out of Key I would probably have to put her in counseling!!! No exaggeration. The teachers are very accommodating - they come in early and stay late in order to help students. They are very committed to turning out academically and socially successful students. The high school students know they are going to college - it is just a matter of where they are going. I highly recommend scheduling a tour - that is how I first fell in love with the school.

[Anonymous]

OP. Thanks for your comments. I have been looking for a school that's only focus is not academics. I have a young child and would like a school that also helps foster a love for learning and cares about how a student develops socially and emotionally. Would you say that Key has age appropriate practices in the K and lower school? Their website also says they have experential learning. Is that just in middle and high school? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Experiential learning begins in the Pre-School at Key. The children are active participants in the learning process and are encouraged to discover the interrelationships among different fields of study. All of the children have music and art classes as part of the curriculum rather than in addition to the curriculum. This is their mission statement:

The Key School is founded upon the conviction that children are innately curious about themselves and the world; they want to learn, they want to discover, and they want to create. The School's role is to nourish and guide this natural exuberance, energy, and delight in the search for meaning, so that each student my develop into an informed, thoughtful and constructive member of society, with a lifelong commitment to learning.

What I love most is the last statement ...lifelong commitment to learning. My junior in college is already talking about which graduate school she is going to attend...

[Anonymous]

Another Key Mom here ...

This is my 1st grader's 3rd year at Key and DD LOVES school! The curriculum incorporates a lot of experential learning, which makes for fun and engaging lessons. Everyday, DD is excited about the lessons she's learned in language arts, math, french, science, library, etc. ... she can't contain herself, when picked up from school, from talking about how great her day was. Part of a language arts lesson (in addition to daily writing, reading and spelling) may incorporate a game of bingo, or doing an assignment on the smartboard. A science class may mean walking to the beach to go seining for baylife, bringing the "catch" back to the classroom aquarium and identifying the various bay animals (minnows, crabs, etc.) caught. Might I add that my 6 year old is very articulate, curious and bright. We opted for this gem of a school in a quiet Annapolis neighborhood, vs. applying to the hustle/bustle of the D.C. independent schools. Key is truly a gem.

[Anonymous]

I am the OP. This school sounds like what I am looking for for my son. To the posters who have/had kids at Key, how hard was it to get into? I looked at their website and it says they begin in preschool for 3 yr olds. Do they admit students to K or only as 3 yr olds? I am looking for my son to enter at K so just wondering if they add another class at K to accommodate more students? Also, it looks like they use a developmental readiness test for admittance to their preschool and K programs. What does that consist of? I would also need financial aid and it appears that they have a commitment to giving FA to lower and middle class families. Any other info would be appreciated.

[Anonymous]

I'd be interested in knowing the same answers as the OP has. And for all you Key parents, do they have before care or is it just after care? Does that suggest that most students have SAHMs or if not how do you manage before care? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Hello: I am curious to know if the Key School offers bus service to DC or close by? If so how long is the commute and how early is pick in the AM

[Anonymous]

There is a bus service from PG County but none to DC. If you look around on the website you can get info. They share a bus with another Annapolis school. And from I understand the price is based on who uses it and they split the cost.