Browne vs. Burgundy Farm - middle school

[Anonymous]

What high school is most like Burgundy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What high school is most like Burgundy?

More Burgundy students go to TC Williams than any other because they are Alexandria City residents and there is a bias among Burgundy parents to be part of the public school system. Every 3-4 years, the TC valedictorian or salutatorian is a Burgundy grad. For average Burgundy students, Field and Burke would be similar independent schools. For strong students, it would be GDS. GDS has been the most popular high school to apply at Burgundy, but enrollment (don't know how many acceptances) has been pretty much limited to 1 or 2 students while SFS and StA/NCS are typically 0-1 students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What high school is most like Burgundy?

More Burgundy students go to TC Williams than any other because they are Alexandria City residents and there is a bias among Burgundy parents to be part of the public school system. Every 3-4 years, the TC valedictorian or salutatorian is a Burgundy grad. For average Burgundy students, Field and Burke would be similar independent schools. For strong students, it would be GDS. GDS has been the most popular high school to apply at Burgundy, but enrollment (don't know how many acceptances) has been pretty much limited to 1 or 2 students while SFS and StA/NCS are typically 0-1 students.

Seems odd to choose Burgundy in the first place then, no?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What high school is most like Burgundy?

More Burgundy students go to TC Williams than any other because they are Alexandria City residents and there is a bias among Burgundy parents to be part of the public school system. Every 3-4 years, the TC valedictorian or salutatorian is a Burgundy grad. For average Burgundy students, Field and Burke would be similar independent schools. For strong students, it would be GDS. GDS has been the most popular high school to apply at Burgundy, but enrollment (don't know how many acceptances) has been pretty much limited to 1 or 2 students while SFS and StA/NCS are typically 0-1 students.

Historically lots of Burgundy girls have gone to Madeira. More recently, as Madeira has become more competitive, fewer have been successful in their applications, but there remain 1-3 a year who go there.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, as a former Burgundy parent, I had the option to go Browne and choose Burgundy. I regretted it after the fact. Just very different schools and while I though I wanted Burgundy, I didn't really like the combined grades, amongst other things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, as a former Burgundy parent, I had the option to go Browne and choose Burgundy. I regretted it after the fact. Just very different schools and while I though I wanted Burgundy, I didn't really like the combined grades, amongst other things.

The OP is looking at middle school, so the 2/3 and 4/5 combined classes in Burgundy’s lower school is irrelevant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, as a former Burgundy parent, I had the option to go Browne and choose Burgundy. I regretted it after the fact. Just very different schools and while I though I wanted Burgundy, I didn't really like the combined grades, amongst other things.

The OP is looking at middle school, so the 2/3 and 4/5 combined classes in Burgundy’s lower school is irrelevant.

I was giving my observation of the school as a whole. So I made it relevant

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanking everyone for their feedback.

We're interested in a small class size for the individual attention from the teachers, not out of hopes that it will help our kid overcome his shyness. He's interested because he's been in very small classes from the beginning, by accident rather than by design (we live in a small-school place), and he was gobsmacked when he heard how big some of the DC area schools are. I'm sure he'll be a DC metro pro in no time, but we're seeking to ease the transition for him as much as we can.

I'd read that Browne was somewhere in the middle between traditional ACDS and progressive Burgundy, so I started to think of Browne as on the progressive side. Guess not.

I would say that ACDs is alot more progressive than you think. It is smack at a crossroads of traditional and progressive. IMHO, the best of both worlds. It is NOT more traditional than Browne.

- signed, a current ACDS parent who looked at all 3 schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanking everyone for their feedback.

We're interested in a small class size for the individual attention from the teachers, not out of hopes that it will help our kid overcome his shyness. He's interested because he's been in very small classes from the beginning, by accident rather than by design (we live in a small-school place), and he was gobsmacked when he heard how big some of the DC area schools are. I'm sure he'll be a DC metro pro in no time, but we're seeking to ease the transition for him as much as we can.

I'd read that Browne was somewhere in the middle between traditional ACDS and progressive Burgundy, so I started to think of Browne as on the progressive side. Guess not.

I would say that ACDs is alot more progressive than you think. It is smack at a crossroads of traditional and progressive. IMHO, the best of both worlds. It is NOT more traditional than Browne.

- signed, a current ACDS parent who looked at all 3 schools.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, my kids were both students at Browne a few years ago, and from what I saw it is the the cohort of both parents and kids that will make or break you and your child's experience - not only at Browne, but at Burgundy, ACDS as well. If you can arrange for classroom visits with the rising MS students, that will be helpful for your DC. Middle school can be a tough and awkward time wherever you are and that's one of the nice things about doing it at a K8 and then having a fresh start in HS. Good Luck.

[Anonymous]

A few corrections regarding where Burgundy students attend high school, or at least will be attending in the fall --

- There are 4-5 Burgundy students attending GDS.

- Acceptances at Madeira have not been a problem for Burgundy girls.

- Very few attending public school in the fall.

- 5+ to Flint Hill

- Students also attending NCS, Maret, Potomac, SSSA and Episcopal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I would say that ACDs is alot more progressive than you think. It is smack at a crossroads of traditional and progressive. IMHO, the best of both worlds. It is NOT more traditional than Browne.

- signed, a current ACDS parent who looked at all 3 schools.

ACDS is also not exactly known for its racial diversity, which is important to OP... I'm surprised it was ever on their list, if that's one of the criteria.

[Anonymous]

This is Peggy Otey, Head of School at Browne Academy, and I wanted to reach out on this thread. I am proud of our school’s program, teachers, and our families’ commitment to the core values of Excellence, Diversity, Character, and Community. No school is the perfect fit for every single child, and the greater community is fortunate to have so many wonderful schools in this area from which to choose. At our school, we teach our students that sources must be current, credible, and correct and never to accept “anonymous” as a valid source. I encourage current families to talk directly with me when they have questions or concerns, and I invite any prospective family to visit our campus and gain first-hand knowledge of Browne so that they are able to make an informed decision about what is best for their child and family. I have tremendous respect for Burgundy Farm Country Day’s head of school, and I am certain he would also welcome you to his campus. I am delighted to answer any questions you may have. Please email me at [e-mail] or call 703-960-3000.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is Peggy Otey, Head of School at Browne Academy, and I wanted to reach out on this thread. I am proud of our school’s program, teachers, and our families’ commitment to the core values of Excellence, Diversity, Character, and Community. No school is the perfect fit for every single child, and the greater community is fortunate to have so many wonderful schools in this area from which to choose. At our school, we teach our students that sources must be current, credible, and correct and never to accept “anonymous” as a valid source. I encourage current families to talk directly with me when they have questions or concerns, and I invite any prospective family to visit our campus and gain first-hand knowledge of Browne so that they are able to make an informed decision about what is best for their child and family. I have tremendous respect for Burgundy Farm Country Day’s head of school, and I am certain he would also welcome you to his campus. I am delighted to answer any questions you may have. Please email me at [e-mail] or call 703-960-3000.

This is why I love Browne!

[Anonymous]

OP, both my kids recently graduated from Burgundy. It is far from perfect (we thought the lower school was stronger and more even than the middle school), but overall it was a very nurturing place and the kids have a lot of independence. We loved the fact that it gently pushes all kids to perform and speak in public. I was recently back for the alumni panel (where grads speak to current 8th graders about their high school experiences) and multiple alums spoke about how well they felt Burgundy had prepared them to speak publicly, self-advocate and communicate well with adults.

I have had various complaints about Burgundy middle school in the past but the new MS head is getting rave reviews from families I know who still have kids there.

Browne.... meh. Honestly if you have any interest in a progressive school, it is not the place for your child.

Also: Burgundy was the first integrated school in Virginia! Just saying.