How to spot a world class education . . .

[Anonymous]

The Sheridan admission office sent this around to all that signed up to tour this year. I really liked it and just thought I'd share

http://www.greatschools.org/school-choice/7624-amanda-ripley-how-to-spot-world-class-education.gs

[Anonymous]

Thanks?

[Anonymous]

I have been wanting to read the book that the excerpt article was taken from. It is hard to directly engage with students and ask them questions as a perspective parent. Good info though.

[Anonymous]

"Watch the students"

That's 99% of it. Every school I'm aware of produces students that share common traits (distributed around an average). Not to say they are all alike, but they share traits.

In my experience students in a more formal environment become more socially adept. Students in a less structured environment trend toward socially awkward, but more out of the box thinking.

Watch the students because that is your DC's future.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for sharing this. Excellent insights. Couldn't agree more with this: "Don’t assume that just because a school has natural light and beautiful buildings, it is a good school."

Applicants to DC elementary schools should take note.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Watch the students"

That's 99% of it. Every school I'm aware of produces students that share common traits (distributed around an average). Not to say they are all alike, but they share traits.

In my experience students in a more formal environment become more socially adept. Students in a less structured environment trend toward socially awkward, but more out of the box thinking.

Watch the students because that is your DC's future.

You've got a chicken-egg problem here. The "less structured" schools tend to be the most supportive of out-of-the-box kids.

[Anonymous]

"Supportive" to one person is "enabling" to others.

The awkward kid inserted into the structured program will become more socially adept, but you may not want your child to conform.

[Anonymous]

Go visit schools where the tours allow you to enter the classrooms and see the students in action. At those schools you should be able to get a real feel of the happiness of the students and the student/teacher relationships which are the true gift of a private school experience.

[Anonymous]

The video is quite interesting as well - focuses on math achievement.