WES v Norwood

[Anonymous]

Aren't they basically the same? Thoughts? Albeit Norwod has a nicer facility/grounds.

[Anonymous]

No, not the same. There is a considerably different feel to them, according to my DH. He did the open houses/tours for both. We applied to Norwood and didn't even consider WES.

[Anonymous]

Would love to hear more.

[Anonymous]

We loved the Norwood campus. But felt that WES was rising faster, in part due to its leadership, in part due to its closer in status, in part because it fashions itself more of a future direct competitor or at least alternative to Beauvoir/St. Pats. We got accepted to Norwood last year, but said no after getting off the WES waitlist by the end of March.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We loved the Norwood campus. But felt that WES was rising faster, in part due to its leadership, in part due to its closer in status, in part because it fashions itself more of a future direct competitor or at least alternative to Beauvoir/St. Pats. We got accepted to Norwood last year, but said no after getting off the WES waitlist by the end of March.

I agree. I would choose WES (or any other school) over Norwood. Pretty campus does not = the right place for your child. BE VERY CAREFUL before you choose this school. Make sure you have plenty of $$$$ to give at annual giving. If not, your child will not be the 'chosen' ones.

[Anonymous]

I have no direct knowledge of WES, but I have heard it is an excellent school. From what I have read here, it is has more of an international focus than Norwood and owing at least in part to the location, a higher proportion of DC families. It is also (obviously) an Episocopal school. Norwood was founded as an Episcopal school but is officially non-denominational (with admittedly an Episcopal flavor).

I have a child in K at Norwood, and while the facilities are indeed beautiful, the things I like most about the school are the teachers, the richness of the non-academic offerings, and the sensible approach to differentiated instruction. DD loves her teachers. They are warm, funny, and creative, and they have created a very cozy, friendly feeling in the classroom and helped facilitate good relationships among the kids. I've been impressed by how well they know DD and by their understanding of her strengths and weaknesses. I'm also impressed by the school's dedication to arts education. DD has music four times a week day, art once a week (and on the non-arts side, PE four times a week and Spanish twice a week). Reading is taught daily in a group of eight, and while the groups are differentiated, and children do move between the groups, only the teachers know which groups are more or less advanced.

There is not a tremendous amount of diversity, so far as I can tell. Most of the parents seem like fairly nice, normal, upper middle class people, but I don't feel that wealth plays an enormous role at the school.

We are very happy at the school so far, and DD loves it.

I don't get the thing about "rising faster." Are you saying WES is rising faster in prestige? I don't have a strong sense that that is the case, but even if it were, I don't think it would have influenced us.

Good luck to anyone making this choice.

[Anonymous]

WES=prestige/parent oriented, lower academic achievement. Norwood has higher standards for academics and behavior. If you can send send the child to a decent public school why spend money on WES? Norwood seems to be more for the student who would really benefit from GT, music, academic acceleration, good peers focused on positives.

[Anonymous]

OP, we are at Norwood, and I can say that I think that the school is probably one of the best in the area WRT academics. The only one that comes above it in my mind is Holton. I even think that Norwood is superior to Sidwell in the K-8 range, on an academic level.
However, the school seems to be far behind the times WRT diversity, feels like the '70s. I am not just talking white/black issues. We see few Asians or Hispanics. There are few diplomatic families too. I think that Norwood could clear this all up by getting a bus to help bring in families from all over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We loved the Norwood campus. But felt that WES was rising faster, in part due to its leadership, in part due to its closer in status, in part because it fashions itself more of a future direct competitor or at least alternative to Beauvoir/St. Pats. We got accepted to Norwood last year, but said no after getting off the WES waitlist by the end of March.

I agree. I would choose WES (or any other school) over Norwood. Pretty campus does not = the right place for your child. BE VERY CAREFUL before you choose this school. Make sure you have plenty of $$$$ to give at annual giving. If not, your child will not be the 'chosen' ones.

We are only in K, so maybe I am a bit naive, but I was actually struck by how effusive Norwood was in praise for what were essentially minor donations (less than $1K each). The gifts we gave at annual giving and auction time were very modest, especially compared to some of the gifts at our preschool (including ones we gave to our preschool), yet we got thanked for them more at Norwood.

[Anonymous]

Lower academics at WES? Our DC tests in the 99.7% on IQ tests, and is very challenged and stimulated at WES. There is no grade inflation -- the students have to earn their scores. The facilities, while definintely not as beautiful as Norwood, are incredible. Multiple science labs, art studios, computer labs, 3 gyms w/rock climbing wall, soccer field and playground. Great outplacement and located much closer in. DC loves it and so do we.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lower academics at WES? Our DC tests in the 99.7% on IQ tests, and is very challenged and stimulated at WES. There is no grade inflation -- the students have to earn their scores. The facilities, while definintely not as beautiful as Norwood, are incredible. Multiple science labs, art studios, computer labs, 3 gyms w/rock climbing wall, soccer field and playground. Great outplacement and located much closer in. DC loves it and so do we.

I am not surprised that you are happy at WES, both schools are very good. I know that there are some very bright kids at both schools.

[Anonymous]

I hear a lot of nice things about Norwood's art program. Our DC loves art, but I couldn't handle the commute to Potomac. So we chose WES, which also has an incredible award-winning program. I've been astounded at the work my child has been bringing home from school. DC has come so far so fast, and it's wonderful that her interest in this area is nurtured. And, in the meantime, we feel confident that there is no stronger school for academics.

[Anonymous]

this is fairly helpful as we look at both. If you had to capture the reputation of each school in a few words, what would it be? we like the international focus at WES but we are closer to Norwood in location, have friends there already and we do love what we know of the school. I guess we likely can't go wrong with either, but trying to tease out the real differences.

WES: Traditional, grounds not as nice, more diverse student/parent pop; international focus; more of a DC crowd; strong academics; philosophy in terms of behavior? ; still Episcopal

Norwood: Traditional, yet progressive too (tablet culture, etc.); strong arts, more homog. student/parent pop; beautiful facility; conern that they don't "tolerate" any behavioral issues?; not really Episcop. any more; what else?? Exmissions seem to be the same as WES.

What about differentiated learning/teaching? We have a bright child 99% (aren't they all!)

[Anonymous]

21:47, if you are comfortable saying, where did your DC attend preschool? That might help me respond to your question (current Norwood parent here). If you are coming from the same preschool as our DC did, it makes it much easier for me to give you a good and bad list. I should caveat that by saying our DC is very, very happy at Norwood.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, would rather not say what preschool. Why would that help?