best academic school among these...?

[Anonymous]

Hi - among the below, which have the best academic reputation? Please give us your views!

1. St Patricks
2. Green Acres
3. Norwood
4. Washington Episcopal
5. Sheridan

Thank you!!

[Anonymous]

By far, St. Patricks

[Anonymous]

If by academic reputation you mean where do the students end up going for HS, you should look at their outplacement records.

Of the schools you listed and what little I know St. Patricks, WES, and Norwood are the more traditional while Sheridan and Green Acres are considered more progressive. However, I don't think either of those terms mean much. All the schools you listed are very fine schools and they will teach your children to read, write, algebra, and to be good citizens. Each school may have different approaches and emphasis, more desk time, more worksheet time, mor experiential learning, etc. based on the school, but the end result is more or less indistinguishable.

Each school has a distinct culture and atmosphere that make each stand out in different ways for different families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If by academic reputation you mean where do the students end up going for HS, you should look at their outplacement records.

Unfortunately even this is a relatively poor measure given that outplacement is influenced by many variables other than academic preparation, including alumni/sibling status, location, the family's public options, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If by academic reputation you mean where do the students end up going for HS, you should look at their outplacement records.

Unfortunately even this is a relatively poor measure given that outplacement is influenced by many variables other than academic preparation, including alumni/sibling status, location, the family's public options, etc.

If outplacement is your measure, St Patrick's will win by a landslide. The outplacement at 6th and 8th is truly extraordinary and there are always a few who leave for single sex schools at 3rd and 4th, too.

Sheridan is probably 2nd and then perhaps, Norwood.

[Anonymous]

When we consulted with an EC, we were told that Norwood was academically much more rigorous than Sheridan. FWIW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If by academic reputation you mean where do the students end up going for HS, you should look at their outplacement records.

Unfortunately even this is a relatively poor measure given that outplacement is influenced by many variables other than academic preparation, including alumni/sibling status, location, the family's public options, etc.

If outplacement is your measure, St Patrick's will win by a landslide. The outplacement at 6th and 8th is truly extraordinary and there are always a few who leave for single sex schools at 3rd and 4th, too.

Sheridan is probably 2nd and then perhaps, Norwood.

Keep in mind, you mentioned two DC schools with "good" outplacement. Norwood/MD parents have to think hard about driving their child all the way into DC for what they can get at the local public schools. It just means that fewer will apply to Sidwell, NCS, STA, and Maret.

That said, I think that Norwood is probably the best academic elementary/middle school in the area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That said, I think that Norwood is probably the best academic elementary/middle school in the area.

I'd be interested in hearing your reasoning--not challenging, just interested.

[Anonymous]

Norwood gets little attention b/c of location. The reasoning on DCUM is that the harder it is to get into a school, the better it is seems silly. It is really hard to get into certain schools all over the world, that does not correlate with quality. The public schools in SW MC compare very well with many DC privates. That said, the MC parents aren't rushing to go to private school, hence smaller applicant pool to MC privates. Keep in mind that Norwood offers more than the public schools that are nearby. The classes are small, and there are no bad teachers. The music and art is superb. The physical plant is beautiful, and the place is VERY well run. When I compare Norwood to Sidwell, Sidwell gets some very bright kids, but what that school does with those students is troubling. Their kids go onto their high school less prepared than kids entering 9th grade from elsewhere.

There is no perfect school. I wish Norwood were more diverse, and had more science in the early grades; it gets better later, but I was impressed with how Green Acres got the kids into hands on science earlier. Montessori kids also seem to have a better grasp of math. That said, we are very happy at Norwood.

[Anonymous]

Green Acres can be great for some kids, but a disaster for others. Their reading program is odd, and the way they let kids move at their own pace is worrisome. It would be a fine school for a gifted child who is already reading, but I was reluctant to chance it.

[Anonymous]

I agree Norwood has all the positive attributes mentioned by the PP and more. Perhaps because it competes with such fine public schools, Norwood seems to have worked hard to develop some very distinctive qualities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Norwood gets little attention b/c of location. The reasoning on DCUM is that the harder it is to get into a school, the better it is seems silly. It is really hard to get into certain schools all over the world, that does not correlate with quality. The public schools in SW MC compare very well with many DC privates. That said, the MC parents aren't rushing to go to private school, hence smaller applicant pool to MC privates. Keep in mind that Norwood offers more than the public schools that are nearby. The classes are small, and there are no bad teachers. The music and art is superb. The physical plant is beautiful, and the place is VERY well run. When I compare Norwood to Sidwell, Sidwell gets some very bright kids, but what that school does with those students is troubling. Their kids go onto their high school less prepared than kids entering 9th grade from elsewhere.

There is no perfect school. I wish Norwood were more diverse, and had more science in the early grades; it gets better later, but I was impressed with how Green Acres got the kids into hands on science earlier. Montessori kids also seem to have a better grasp of math. That said, we are very happy at Norwood.

Based on feedback of which students actually are more prepared for advanced rigorous academics in high school NORWOOD is a clear leader. Seen not just at Sidwell. Then St Pats and the others are in a similar group.

[Anonymous]

you might want to take a look at their high school placement. also at the list of where the kids eventually go to college. however again, the maryland schools will place significant numbers into public high schools based on the quality of those schools so the results may look skewed.

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[Anonymous]

I know of one WES student who graduated in 8th grade, went on to St Albans, and was first in his class. His parents said that he was very well prepared academically for the rigors of STA.