Field School: what questions should we be asking?
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Anonymous
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We're looking at Field for our kids, and wondered if any current/recent parents (or others familiar with the school) have suggestions about what questions we should be asking school administrators and teachers. Knowing what you know now about Field, what do you wish you had asked about earlier? And/Or: what questions do you think interested families don't think to ask, but should?
We have one very motivated and independent-minded child who is a very high-achiever in school, and another child with more middle of the road grades, less motivation and some mild academic anxiety/executive functioning issues. Both kids are bright. ideally we would like to find a school that would work well for both (one would be entering 6th and one would be entering 9th). I've spent time on Field's website and searched past threads, so I think I have a good general sense of what people like and don't like about it. We will be visiting the school for the first time this fall, though, and would love suggestions about how to ask useful questions that will move us beyond getting obvious/superficial answers. (I feel like in some of our other school visits we haven't really known what to ask, and want to figure out how to make these visits more useful.) Thanks! |
Anonymous
| I'd ask them why they are so damned expensive. |
Anonymous
It is expensive because there are a more teachers per student and not as many rich/influential alumni to make huge donations. Yet 
Seriously -- (these are more about your older child -- I know nothing about the middle school -- but some of the answers will apply to both) In general -- Facilities -- you will see bigger facilities than Field elsewhere, esp for athletics and arts. They do have the best view in town, though .
It is small for a high school. This may or may not be a good thing from your perspective. We came from a smaller school, so for us this was no big change, but if your current school is much bigger or smaller than Field, you should ask about that. They do seem to work hard (the students even more than the administration) to avoid getting too cliquish/inbred. I am not seeing as much party behavior there as at suburban public schools (now or when I was in high school) -- or they could just be better at hiding it. It does occur but does not seem to be celebrated. Questions: 1 -- ask why and how they screen/select the new teachers each year -- and how (since they don't hire education majors) they give them the basics of teaching in the classroom. 2 -- ask about transportation logistics if that's a potential issue. Foxhall Rd is not easy to get to in rush hour and so you will likely need to rely on the shuttles, which in turn generally rely on the ever-so-reliable (NOT!) Red Line 3 -- ask about the arts and athletic options (courses). 4 -- ask about the annual internship requirement. This was unique to Field among the schools where we applied. They treat the entire process like a job hunt. Which could prove very useful down the line. 5 -- ask about the senior college week and college admissions process. Yes it is too soon to ask if asking for a freshman. Nevertheless, there are folks on this board for whom 6th grade is not too soon to start worrying about college admissions, and if you are one of those, Field may not be for you. The college week is where all the seniors get the same week off (October) for campus visits, interviews, etc etc. Having seen how disruptive HS visits were to DC's 8th grade class last year, I really liked this idea, but again you may not resonate with it. 6 -- Lastly, be honest, pull the teacher or admissions person aside, and ask in private exactly how they will challenge your high achiever. See if you and your children are comfortable with the answer. We were, but some parents may not want to put that much trust in their kid... Good luck -- |
Anonymous
| Ask whether the Field experience ends up producing students who are only comfortable in small classes at the college level. Follow up question is how does that play out with college admissions and success in staying on at college first attended. |
Anonymous
Parent of current Field student and one graduate here. Field has a phenomenal college guidance office. I know this from speaking with parents of kids at other schools, they just seemed to do much more for my DC than other schools were doing for kids. At the same time, they dampen down the stress of it fairly successfully. Because Field has a range of learners, everyone doesn't apply to the same schools and there is absolutely no sense that they are competing with each other. In terms of colleges, they go to small schools, large universities, the whole range. Some kids come out of Field wanting to try something very different. My DC wanted something similar in feel and went to a small SLAC. I suspect this dynamic plays out at all schools (wanting similar versus wanting something very different.) |
Anonymous
| OP, thanks, these are very helpful suggestions! |
Anonymous
I'm a parent of kids who attend/ed another DC independent, and consistently hear enthusiastic reviews of the college counseling program at Field from parents and students alike. Every school in this area (public and private) will tell you they emphasize fit, blah, blah, blah, but it really sounds like Field is doing something different. Could you elaborate a bit on how the program is structured and how counselors work with students and parents throughout the admissions process? Thanks. |
Anonymous
OK. DC's college advisor gave him specific advice about course selection, working with him to navigate choices that were more difficult subjects for him. She read his application essay and was very direct about why it was not as good as it could be. He went through several more rounds with her and finally had an essay that was fantastic. She was available throughout the process and had some real insight about the schools he was looking at from previous Field students who had attended them. That last bit was more helpful than on-line reviews because it was specific for DC. |
Anonymous
| I went on a tour recently and was very impressed with the school. The tour guide was quite forthright about saying that approx 25% of student body has some sort of learning challenge (add/adhd/executive function, sensory integration, etc). that seems like a pretty high percentage. does that seem accurate to those parents with kids at field? also, how does that affect kids without any learning or developmental differences? does field differentiate and challenge the more typical kids as well? |
Anonymous
| We do have a neighbor who wasn't completely happy last year. She felt that most of the other girls in her class didn't care about school, blew off their homework and that many kids acted up in class. I am not sure if this year has been better or not. |
Anonymous
| I would ask -- as I would at any school -- what percentage of teachers have been teaching less than three years. Research indicates that is when teachers really master their craft. |
Anonymous
| Please ask when the heck they are going to change the completely messed up lunch program!!!! |
Anonymous
They already have. |
Anonymous
| Can someone help de-mystify the comments on the lunch program? from what i understand, you can bring your lunch or pay $3 for lunch daily. If you pay $3 for lunch you get your choice of a salad bar (with variety) or one of two parent sponsored lunches for the day. each family is asked to cater lunch one day of the year--usually that means the parents pay one of the nearby not-fancy restaurants to cater lunch. it sounds like it costs about $750 or so to sponsor a lunch. so lunch is an add-on to tuition, cost $750 or more for your sponsored lunch and then $3 per day for every day your child wants to buy lunch at school. does that sound about accurate Field parents? Field parents, do you like the program? |
Anonymous
Field parent here and a lot of people complain about the lunch program but I like it. There's always something DC actually wants to eat. On my day to contribute I go and help serve, which is fun. |