What would you pick if this were your child? schools for creative and physical kids

[Anonymous]

We live in Cleveland Park (Eaton). It's about that time to make decisions on schools for kindergarten this fall. We've applied to several privates - but have also left open the possibilty of moving to another area of the city or close-in Arlington or Bethesda, if we can't swing private school financially (we will be struggling for a few years if we don't get aid from any of the privates).

Our daughter is very active, spirited, stubborn and physical. She's incredibly creative - great at drawing and making up/acting in plays and stories. She's reading and can write very well. She also needs a lot of exercise so that her "spirit" doesn't turn into "mania"... I'm a little concerned about the lack of recess and phy. ed kids get across the board. I'm also concerned that she will be required to just sit at a desk for the vast majority of the day and not use your creativity, which is really how she learns (including math and science - she makes up stories about these things).

We've applied to the more progressive schools in DC. If we do get in, we'll be living on spaghetti and ramen noodles for a few years. Is it worth that sacrifice?

For those with more right-brained kids at public schools - how do you handle it? Supplement with more physical after-school activities and weekend drama classes, etc?? Do you encounter resistance from teachers and Admin. on working with a more spirited child?

What public schools are best for more creative kids? We are not considering Eaton, but would consider:

Murch
Stoddert
Mann
Hyde

As far as moving to the suburbs (which we don't particularly want to do, but will if the schools are a good fit), we'd like as close to the city as possible in Arlington (Clarendon area) or Bethesda/Chevy Chase (Bannockburn, etc). Not N Bethesda or S Arlington please.

I really appreciate any advice! We want our daughter to be accepted for who she is and allow her creativity to grow. Our son seems to be more "traditional" in schooling and learning styles (as far as we can tell at age 3), so hopefully he'll be ok wherever she goes!

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Our kids went to Murch and they needed (and got) a LOT of physical activity. But curious why you're not considering Eaton? I know several families who sent their kids there and seemed to like it fine.

[Anonymous]

So glad to see your post because you're in the midst of making the same decision we'll have to make in a couple years - and your daughter sounds a lot like my son, we live just a bit north of you (near Hearst), and your finances sound a lot like ours as well ....
Which is to say, um, my post does not have anything to actually offer you, but I'm hoping that you can provide some additional information - if you get a chance - on what you've learned about both public and private schools so far -- would you consider Hearst? I thought it might be a good beginning choice since it seems smaller and there's a lot of room to play outside - I thought that perhaps would allow for more personal attention, and would be helpful for more active kids. Which private schools seem a best fit for this type of child? Etc.
Good luck with your decision!

[Anonymous]

I know you said you weren't looking at S Arlington, but I wanted to make sure you knew about the Drew Model School in Arlington. Arlington has a number of magnet schools, Drew being one of them. I don't know anything personally about it, but I've heard about it. Here's a description, from the website:

Academics, Appreciation, Accountability and Arts are the Four A's of the Drew Model School program. The first A, Academics, represents academic success for all of the school's diverse students. Academic success does not mean identical profiles for all children, but it does include strong measurable growth and achievement for all. The second A, Appreciation, acknowledges that the school environment has a significant effect on children's learning. Respect for all members of the school community and high expectations for all students provide strong communication and effective collaboration at the school. The third A, Accountability, refers to the responsibility that staff, families and students share for student learning. The fourth A, the Arts, recognizes the need for innovative and creative learning opportunities that excite and engage children by using literature, poetry, drama, dance, visual arts, music, art history and writing. The arts teach children to think critically and creatively.

Finally, the program is based on the belief that children must learn to take responsibility for their own education. They are provided opportunities to make choices. Cooperation is encouraged and competition is de-emphasized. The school's motto is, "At Drew Model School We Honor All Children." The program is offered in age-grouped kindergarten through grade five classrooms or in multi-age grouped Montessori classrooms, pre-kindergarten through grade five.

[Anonymous]

OP here. After touring the school and thinking it through, we just didn't think Eaton would be a good fit. I also know parents happy there, but it just wasn't for us. Also, the physical space is severely lacking. I love the grass of Murch and Stoddert.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So glad to see your post because you're in the midst of making the same decision we'll have to make in a couple years - and your daughter sounds a lot like my son, we live just a bit north of you (near Hearst), and your finances sound a lot like ours as well ....
Which is to say, um, my post does not have anything to actually offer you, but I'm hoping that you can provide some additional information - if you get a chance - on what you've learned about both public and private schools so far -- would you consider Hearst? I thought it might be a good beginning choice since it seems smaller and there's a lot of room to play outside - I thought that perhaps would allow for more personal attention, and would be helpful for more active kids. Which private schools seem a best fit for this type of child? Etc.
Good luck with your decision!

OP again! Hearst is a good school, I've heard, but the fact that it only goes to Grade 3 ruled it out for us.

As far as private schools - we applied to Lowell, GDS, Maret and Sheridan.

I spent so many hours touring and applying/thinking/researching. I suppose we'll just have to wait until March/April when school decisions come in!

[Anonymous]

Best of luck on your school choices. We also live in Cleveland Park and our kids go to Lowell. We chose it for our sprited first child who sounds a lot like yours. They do have a lot of outdoor time in Kindergarten and have P.E. and dance on a regular basis. They even go sledding outside when it snows. I would encourage you, whatever school you end up with, to apply for financial aid. There are lots of options for partial aid that are aimed at helping those who are just close to the edge in terms of finances.

[Anonymous]

What neighborhoods are near Drew Model?

[Anonymous]

I'm not familiar with the neighborhoods, but you don't have to live within the boundaries to attend it. The students come from all over Arlington.

[Anonymous]

I hope you get into Lowell and put together a financial situation that you're comfortable with. I too have toured all the schools you've seen, and my gut says Lowell.

[Anonymous]

What is "close to the edge in terms of finances?"

[Anonymous]

Hi PP. I am the poster who used the phrase "close to the edge on finances" and what I meant by that was that financial aid is not an all or nothing proposition at all. There is a lot of financial aid that goes to families that, for example, are willing and able to contribute $12000 a year toward private school tuition but cannot swing $20K. Or even cases of paying $17K but not full freight. So these might be families that could not necessarily afford the private school tuition, but are not low income and might consider the decision about whether they can afford private school to be a close one given their family finances.

[Anonymous]

OP here - we are definitely "on the edge" - we can afford about $14,000 for the school year (adding summer camps we can afford $17,000-18,000 for the entire year of school/childcare).

I'm assuming public school after programs run about $500/month?

Thanks for the tips.

I do love Lowell - but quick question. How does everyone deal with commute up there? It's so far from where we live now - I suppose we could move to Chevy Chase and cut across the park?

[Anonymous]

The commute to Lowell is no problem from Cleveland Park since it is all against traffic. If it helps, I head up 34th (stop to pick up other child in carpool) then take Nebraska across Connecticut and all the way to the park (oregon). Turn left and follow up the park to Wise Road and then go through the park. You come out on the other side of the park a few blocks from Lowell. It takes less than 15 minutes to get there. Our typical schedule on days when I drive carpool is leave the house at 7:45; pick up carpool mate at 7:50; get to Lowell between 8 and 8:05; drive downtown and get to office around 8:35.

[Anonymous]

Hi! OP - hope that your decisionmaking is going well and that you've found a school you think will be a great fit for your daughter. I'm one of the previous posters, who won't be in this situation for a few years yet, but am wondering if you (or another reader) might help me figure something out re: the public school possibilities. I live between Hearst and Murch and when we bought our place were told (by neighbors, I think?) that we could send our son to either. The dc schools website didn't list any school next to elementary for the house at the time, but now lists Hearst as the elementary school. Does this mean if we wanted our son to go to Murch, we'd have to apply for out of bounds admission for K-3? And if so, are they more likely to want those spots to go to kids who aren't just a few yards out of bounds but who are in different neighborhoods and whose neighborhood schools are likely significantly worse?