I have searched this site, but wanting more info on Grace Episcopal.

[Anonymous]

I visited and REALLY liked it (still need to see the upper school).

For parents who have kids attending, you find it to be challenging enough, right?

I have a DC who is bright and lovely, I want to challenge the kid but not kill him.

How "traditional" is it?

Thanks for any info!

[Anonymous]

We loved the school, and seriously considered it before getting too caught up in all the competitiveness of school applications. If you think it's a good fit for your child, you should definitely send him there. I think it strikes the right balance for the early years.

[Anonymous]

Which Grace Episcopal? There is one in Virginia, one in Maryland. Did not at all like one in Maryland.

[Anonymous]

My bright child ended up more than a year ahead of her classmates in some subjects when she went to middle school. There are lots of opportunities in the upper school for National History Day, Model UN, advanced math, etc. What we liked was that in addition to being given lots of individual attention and being academically challenged, our child also came out very kind and thoughtful. Of course I hope we had something to do with that! But the school does consistently model kindness and respect for all.

[Anonymous]

We have three kids there, and absolutely love it. Our kids have each tested as being gifted, but are all very different from one another. The school has been able to meet each child where they are, and challenge them appropriately. It is a wonderful community, very warm and inclusive. My kids love school, and come home excited and enthusiastic. If you got a good vibe during your visit, then I advise you to go for it.

[Anonymous]

Maryland? big fan. We're staying, avoiding the uber-competitive DC school scene because our child is so happy there.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Sorry, I AM talking about the MD Grace! Thanks for the input. I got a GREAT vibe from visiting there...felt very....comfortable and NORMAL which is important to me. I do NOT want a school that is high charged and crazy and Grace felt that way.

[Anonymous]

Maryland Grace is wonderful. Especially if you're looking for a private school that has a strong sense of community without all the drama. I feel really lucky that we found it.

[Anonymous]

OP, search again for Grace Episcopal. I know there were some posts a few months back maybe--with lots of parents who left Grace after the early grades because of teachers who left. We are not applying to Grace because of the posts, and by luck had a chance to speak with a former teacher and former family who did not at all bad mouth school, but admitted that it lacks in the academics.

[Anonymous]

We're in the same situation. Concerns expressed to us by former families and former teachers caused us not to apply to Grace Episcopal.

[Anonymous]

We send our kid there. It is OK but we will likely switch him out in the next year or two...just not sure it is worth paying for. It should be easy to get in though because their applicant pool is really low.

[Anonymous]

I thin the value depends on where you live. For us, it's really worth paying for, because we live in SS. Many parents come from SS and PG, where the schools are not Somerset elementary, if you know what I mean!

[Anonymous]

Not to be one of those obnoxious parents, but our DC had a 99th percentile WPPSI, and is quite sharp and curious. I think they keep up with her well at Grace.

[Anonymous]

00:27 again- just wanted to add that the population coming from SS and PG means the school is very diverse, and comfortable with that diversity, which is a big plus for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, search again for Grace Episcopal. I know there were some posts a few months back maybe--with lots of parents who left Grace after the early grades because of teachers who left. We are not applying to Grace because of the posts, and by luck had a chance to speak with a former teacher and former family who did not at all bad mouth school, but admitted that it lacks in the academics.

I'm not sure the posts from a few months back were really from "lots" of parents who left. I think it was one or two parents with some repeat posters in there. Such is life on an anonymous forum, I suppose.

OP, if you like nice and unpretentious parents and kids, along with genuine diversity and a lot of black parents who are doctors and professors, and you don't like the sense of entitlement that pervades many other schools, you will probably like Grace. And as another parent here said, if you want a warm community without a lot of drama, you'll probably like Grace. Many other schools in this area are not necessarily any better academically or socially than Grace, but they are much more expensive and have fancier facilities. I realize cost equates to value for some people, or a grand campus is impressive, but I'm not interested in that. My very bright child loves the place. And the school is helping my child develop into a nicer, more compassionate person, which is really important to me.