Most Rigorous Elementary School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A friend who lives in Frederick wants to put her daughter into a classical charter school. They provide the hardest curriculum in each subject. She told me they have over 900 people on their waiting list. I think the majority of parents are looking for a very rigorist school.

Agreed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DP here. A vast majority of our school system does NOT prepare our children if we are hoping for them to strive for the top jobs. Just look at all the top STEM and research positions, they are disproportionately people who grew up outside the U.S.

This is true, but it is not primarily because of educational systems.

The US makes it much easier for people with advanced STEM degrees (MS, PhD) to immigrate in to the US, so people outside the US target those degrees for improved odds of getting a US immigrant visa. Tech companies like this setup, because the external supply of new hires tends to depress US STEM salaries a bit. As more US-born students dive into STEM, which seems to be a clear current trend, this all might change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are paying $40K for school, it should be for criteria you want. Nothing wrong with wanting an advanced curriculum.

It’s kindergarten! Why the rush for advanced reading? Or to start advanced math. I’ve got friends who felt the same and ended up moving to another state so her DD could skip a grade and even then she’s youngest in class. Has had so many social issues in high school bc of age.

Advanced reading is at age 2. 5 is on-time reading.

Most 3yr olds could read by Spring, if colors, letters, and numbers are introduced at 2, and then Phonics is introduced starting in mid-September of 3yr old year. I know of a school which routinely does all of this in a different metro. At that age, it is impossible to push, but their minds are like sponges for any new information. So gently presenting the material - and repeating it - in short lessons - work very very well at those ages. The other trick is to maximize the 1:1, 1:2, 1:3 teaching at those ages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in a foreign country, and it is only in the US that people are like “oh no please no rigor for our child”! In many foreign countries, in K, kids learn cursive, how to read, how to write full sentences, addition and soustraction with numbers between 1 and 100, memorizing poems and someone even told me they memorize times tables in his country. If OP wants more rigor she should be able to find it in this free country.

That school was preparing you for life in a culture and society that works very differently than that of this country and society. I say that as a 1st generation mom in a mixed family. Families who continually try to translate the formulaic approach to education that they grow up with that focuses only on academics and scores are going to continue to struggle and be disappointed by how things actually work here when it comes to college, the job market, and professional careers.

As my mom says, there is a reason she worked hard so we could grow up here.

DP here. A vast majority of our school system does NOT prepare our children if we are hoping for them to strive for the top jobs. Just look at all the top STEM and research positions, they are disproportionately people who grew up outside the U.S. If the child is smart to begin with, saying the parents should not try to maximize their academic learning makes no sense. I don’t think anyone is saying any kid should ONLY focus on academics.

Hate to tell you this, but there is life beyond STEM and research. And whether I agree with it or not, there’s a lot more money and possibly more fulfillment beyond those fields, too!

-research scientist

The premise is obviously around fields that, in the U.S., are available to just about any high achieving students that are vis-a-vis in other countries. PP’s argument is that rigor and focus on academics may work in a foreign country but somehow in the U.S. that same academic rigor won’t lead to similar success.

Of course there are other professional careers out there other than STEM. There are also people who get rich from singing and painting which don’t require academics whatsoever. Doesn’t mean a kid who is excelling in academics should forego that gift.

How is the choice in your mind STEM or being a singer? Can you really not imagine any other fulfilling, high paying careers?

You’re just dense. As already mentioned, STEM was to illustrate how academic rigor that have led to success in a foreign country can lead to similar success here in the U.S. Being a singer/artist is to illustrate my point that just because there are careers out there that don’t require academic rigor, it doesn’t mean parents should discount academic rigor if the child shows talent for it. If your child is talented in singing, would you hold them back from singing so much so that they can “learn through playing” more? Why would academics be different if the child is advanced?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A friend who lives in Frederick wants to put her daughter into a classical charter school. They provide the hardest curriculum in each subject. She told me they have over 900 people on their waiting list. I think the majority of parents are looking for a very rigorist school.

Which curriculum is that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are paying $40K for school, it should be for criteria you want. Nothing wrong with wanting an advanced curriculum.

What does the school’s mission state? That is what you are paying for, nothing more and nothing less.

Then why bash OP for looking for a school whose mission matches their priorities?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A friend who lives in Frederick wants to put her daughter into a classical charter school. They provide the hardest curriculum in each subject. She told me they have over 900 people on their waiting list. I think the majority of parents are looking for a very rigorist school.

Which curriculum? And I think OP would like to know the name

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are paying $40K for school, it should be for criteria you want. Nothing wrong with wanting an advanced curriculum.

It’s kindergarten! Why the rush for advanced reading? Or to start advanced math. I’ve got friends who felt the same and ended up moving to another state so her DD could skip a grade and even then she’s youngest in class. Has had so many social issues in high school bc of age.

Advanced reading is at age 2. 5 is on-time reading.

Most 3yr olds could read by Spring, if colors, letters, and numbers are introduced at 2, and then Phonics is introduced starting in mid-September of 3yr old year. I know of a school which routinely does all of this in a different metro. At that age, it is impossible to push, but their minds are like sponges for any new information. So gently presenting the material - and repeating it - in short lessons - work very very well at those ages. The other trick is to maximize the 1:1, 1:2, 1:3 teaching at those ages.

Which school is this?

[Anonymous]

Rigor in Kindergarten lol TROLL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter attends one of the top private schools in DC. She is currently in Kindergarten, but I am not satisfied with their curriculum. The school presented itself as being very rigorous, which is why my husband and I chose it. However, it turns out they use the same curriculum as the public schools. No offense to public schools, but as a teacher myself, I know that they often adapt their curriculum to accommodate the lowest level in the class.

We were promised that our daughter would be challenged, but that hasn’t been the case. Given that we’re paying over $40,000 for a private school education that mirrors what public schools offer, we feel it’s not worth the investment. As a result, I’ve started homeschooling her in Reading and Math after school, and she’s been doing exceptionally well.

We are now looking for a more rigorous private school. If you have any recommendations, please share. Thank you.

Try Christ Episcopal School. In particular, they have an exceptional language arts program.

[Anonymous]

Nysmith or Basis

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are paying $40K for school, it should be for criteria you want. Nothing wrong with wanting an advanced curriculum.

It’s kindergarten! Why the rush for advanced reading? Or to start advanced math. I’ve got friends who felt the same and ended up moving to another state so her DD could skip a grade and even then she’s youngest in class. Has had so many social issues in high school bc of age.

Advanced reading is at age 2. 5 is on-time reading.

Most 3yr olds could read by Spring, if colors, letters, and numbers are introduced at 2, and then Phonics is introduced starting in mid-September of 3yr old year. I know of a school which routinely does all of this in a different metro. At that age, it is impossible to push, but their minds are like sponges for any new information. So gently presenting the material - and repeating it - in short lessons - work very very well at those ages. The other trick is to maximize the 1:1, 1:2, 1:3 teaching at those ages.

Honestly, I doubt this is typical, but I am curious as to the school; could you provide its name?

I did try working with a three year old whom I couldn't much beyond mmmm and nnnn sounds. Maybe a massive increase in the number of months in which I tried this would have done the trick, but there is a lot to the question of whether that time spent would worth it. Learning to read moved much, much quicker at five. I write this as a parent of advanced readers: 9 year old asked me who the Beast of Corsica was yesterday, because he picked up the full, unexpurgated "Count of Monte Cristo" after dinner, and by bedtime was on page 230 of 1250.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does rigor look like for you in kindergarten? Learning through play is still super important. Both private and public schools focus on teaching kindergarteners how to read and should be using a curriculum based on the science of reading (explicit instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, and decoding), so using the same curriculum as public school isn't necessarily bad.

This is ridiculous only stupid kids and kids with lazy parents don’t know how to read by the time they start kindergarten. Expectations for education have fallen through the floor. My parents taught me how to read when I was barely three years old.

[Anonymous]

OP, I'd recommend looking at some military boarding schools. None of this wimpy "play time" crap...just old fashioned discipline, high school level STEM classes and tons of daily PT and learning to shoot. You won't recognize your DC!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter attends one of the top private schools in DC. She is currently in Kindergarten, but I am not satisfied with their curriculum. The school presented itself as being very rigorous, which is why my husband and I chose it. However, it turns out they use the same curriculum as the public schools. No offense to public schools, but as a teacher myself, I know that they often adapt their curriculum to accommodate the lowest level in the class.

We were promised that our daughter would be challenged, but that hasn’t been the case. Given that we’re paying over $40,000 for a private school education that mirrors what public schools offer, we feel it’s not worth the investment. As a result, I’ve started homeschooling her in Reading and Math after school, and she’s been doing exceptionally well.

We are now looking for a more rigorous private school. If you have any recommendations, please share. Thank you.

Try Christ Episcopal School. In particular, they have an exceptional language arts program.

No, do not try Christ Episcopal School. Helicopter parents can look elsewhere.

- CES parent (former)