Socially awkward - George Washington Middle School

[Anonymous]

Will a child who is fairly bright but socially awkward do well at George Washington Middle school in Alexandria? Already
In the gifted and talented program at her elementary school. We are thinking that we might have to start looking at private schools. Advice please?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Will a child who is fairly bright but socially awkward do well at George Washington Middle school in Alexandria? Already
In the gifted and talented program at her elementary school. We are thinking that we might have to start looking at private schools. Advice please?

Well won't she have her friends from elementary school going with her - at least some - so she will have some friends. Does she play an instrument? band is a popular activity there.

[Anonymous]

How is private school better? I've heard it's worse.

[Anonymous]

You should have no issues at all. The school is incredibly diverse and there's likely to be some friend for almost anyone. You will definitely find private schools to be social pressure-cookers by comparison (and the academics are no better). And the principal is more socially awkward than any middle school kid, ever. Good luck --

[Anonymous]

My bright and awkward kid found many more kids she could relate to at GW than she had in her smaller elementary school class. The drama and music programs also provide great communities for the kids.

[Anonymous]

I have a different perspective. My child is only somewhat quiet and not really awkward (was also TAG identified) but has had a hard time making friends - my child is fine at school but it has not translated into much in the way of friendships outside of school. I think the school is very cliquey (some say it's just the girls but I think it is both) and divided into the popular and not popular crowd. I don't know how it compares to private though.

[Anonymous]

Our neighbor was applying to several expensive privates for their son, who sounds similar. They ended up doing GW after all for a host of reasons, and the son has adjusted well, found a great group of friends, and is doing well academically. They have been very pleased (and were surprised just how well it has turned out).

[Anonymous]

I taught at GW for two years and can think of only one instance where a student didn't really fit in. In his case, he was beyond gifted and way more mature than his peers and had a hard time relating. He preferred eating lunch with adults, not because of safety reasons, but because that is the level of conversation he craved. MS students all are awkward at one point or another, girls tend to be more cliquey than boys - very true, but outside of that one case, all of the other kids honors and non-honors had friends and participated in what the school had available in one way or another. I would not worry about your daughter. MS is a huge transition year and you may find she is more comfortable with that change than you expected.

[Anonymous]

I forgot to add, that kid that did not fit in, was not bullied in any way - he just preferred adult conversation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a different perspective. My child is only somewhat quiet and not really awkward (was also TAG identified) but has had a hard time making friends - my child is fine at school but it has not translated into much in the way of friendships outside of school. I think the school is very cliquey (some say it's just the girls but I think it is both) and divided into the popular and not popular crowd. I don't know how it compares to private though.

Ditto this - and it isn't just the girls. We have had the same issues.