Smaller Upper schools with challenging curriculum but nurturing support

[Anonymous]

I have the following on my potential list for my MS DS.

Field
St Andrews
Bullis
Maret

Where else? We are hesitant to do a religious school but might consider. We are in Maryland. Do any Marylanders commute to Potomac? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Potomac is a great school, but I would not call it nurturing.

You might add Barnesville and Sandy Springs Friends to your list.

[Anonymous]

Burke?

[Anonymous]

St Andrews is religious school although not dogmatic.

[Anonymous]

I've heard great things about Field and Bullis in regard to the nurturing of kids who may need a little extra help. I'm not so sure about Maret, though. I thought it was considered a bit of a "pressure cooker" school by the time the kids get to the upper school (and maybe even sooner). I'm only saying that from what I've heard through the grapevine and not first hand knowledge so you should visit the school (all of them actually) and talk with current parents.

The addition of Burke is great also. I've heard it's a great place for some kids. A draw back is that they don't have a lot of space for large facilities.

[Anonymous]

Is she already doing a long commute?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have the following on my potential list for my MS DS.

Field
St Andrews
Bullis
Maret

Where else? We are hesitant to do a religious school but might consider. We are in Maryland. Do any Marylanders commute to Potomac? Thanks.

Potomac School runs buses from Chevy Chase, Bethesda and Potomac, Md.

[Anonymous]

I think Maret is a kind and nurturing place, but also quite intense. I would definitely add Burke to your list.

[Anonymous]

I definitely see Maret as a different school from the others you listed. It's academically rigorous and a competitive environment.

[Anonymous]

St Anslem's-very small, academically challenging, individual attention, but all boys, not sure if you are set only on coed.

[Anonymous]

OP, there are some differences among the other schools noted as well that you should explore. For example, St Andrew's is very nurturing but offers a range of classes to reflect the varying abilities/interests of its student body (for example, you can take regular US History or AP US History). Some, but not all, of the other schools do that while others only offer one level of a class to fit all students - it is a matter of philosophy -- I am not looking to start any debate over which approach is better. And some of the schools may offer choices for certain subjects but not others. I suggest you pull the curriculum guides off of the web sites and compare them.

[Anonymous]

This is OP. Thanks everyone and especially PP. We are likely interested in the opportunity for differentiated instruction in US which we have not had as much of to date at one of the K8 progressives (wonderful in every other way). Thanks and GL to everyone.

[Anonymous]

Then you would want to take Sandy Spring off list. While some teachers provide DI or similar if skilled, as an institution, they have delicately walked that line. Marketing might appear that they provide, as does philosophy, but school simply doesn't have bandwidth or resources. All the best to you and your search.12:18 makes vg point, look for curriculum guide or path if available.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Then you would want to take Sandy Spring off list. While some teachers provide DI or similar if skilled, as an institution, they have delicately walked that line. Marketing might appear that they provide, as does philosophy, but school simply doesn't have bandwidth or resources. All the best to you and your search.12:18 makes vg point, look for curriculum guide or path if available.

I've heard the same about Burke, that there's a gap between what they promise and what they provide. if you go that route, speak with current parents of kids who need some support.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Then you would want to take Sandy Spring off list. While some teachers provide DI or similar if skilled, as an institution, they have delicately walked that line. Marketing might appear that they provide, as does philosophy, but school simply doesn't have bandwidth or resources. All the best to you and your search.12:18 makes vg point, look for curriculum guide or path if available.

I've heard the same about Burke, that there's a gap between what they promise and what they provide. if you go that route, speak with current parents of kids who need some support.

Current Burke parent here whose kid needs support. We have found them to be very supportive, but you have to ask for the support. They've gone out of their way to provide the support we've asked for. Yes, you need to keep on top of things. They have a good system where teachers have to comment on students' performance, so you get some insight as to what is going on with your child.