Washington Episcopal School - feedback needed

[Anonymous]

Bump - wondering how public 5th graders transition to 6th. Are they far behind? Also, how is the current 5th grade cohort at WES?

[Anonymous]

Can’t speak to the 5th grade cohort but our kids came to WES from public in upper ES and had no issues. Both placed into the top math sections and were otherwise fine academically. They both loved playing sports for WES (one is an athlete, the other is not). I do not agree that the strongest students in their classes were lifers (some were, some weren’t). Embassy kids came and went during our time there. A couple kids left for k-12s before 6th (they’d been there all through ES).

[Anonymous]

Pp here again—meant to mention that most years there are three tiers of math: compacted which finishes with geometry (and a smidge of Algebra 2) in 8th, on grade which finishes with Algebra 1 in 8th (this class is essentially an honors class), and an on grade which goes a bit slower, but still finishes with Algebra 1 in 8th.

[Anonymous]

The current fifth grade is a strong cohort, no significant social issues in the grade. Lots of public school kids come to WES in 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th and do very well.

WES has a lot of movement with public school kids and a lot of movement with foreign service families, which means that there are some new kids in the grade most years, which I think helps keep social dynamics from becoming too stagnant, or cliques from becoming too strong. The parent social dynamic also feels more fluid and open than the other private we are at, which I think is due to those same factors.

[Anonymous]

Current 5th grade parent here. I’be been really impressed with WES generally and especially watching how they layer responsibility year over year. Fifth grade has been a game changer. It’s been interesting to watch the development philosophy unfold over many years and witnessing my child take on significant responsibility, improved executive functioning, more complex work, ownership etc., in prep for middle school. I am personally excited for what WES middle school will bring.

My only concern is what the high school admissions process will look like but based on other parents I know who have gone through it, I plan to trust the system (and hope I’m right!). In my view, the uncertainty of high school admissions is outweighed by the positive experience I hope WES middle school will bring via the K-8 model, study trips, and more.

Happy to answer specific questions if useful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m the parent of two kids who graduated from WES, one having started in 6th and the other in 4th. I agree the middle school is incredible. Both my children started out in public school before switching to WES. I actually really wish my kids could have been WES “lifers.” I think the curriculum really builds in a unified unravelling. Both my kids missed out on tremendous grammar and writing instruction in third grade and likely earlier. When we were at WES, it seemed the strongest students were all “Lifers.” And the kids and parents - who scattered to many different schools - are still in touch even though our eldest are out of college now.

How was the transition from public to WES? That's a concern at any public to private but especially to a small school like WES.
Is it a pretty stressful academic environment?

Happy Thanksgiving. I’m the pp you replied to. I would say that academically, the biggest thing to adjust to at WES was the amount of feedback and oversight the teachers provide as compared to public. For example, in public, the teachers would barely review homework, and I noticed that even graded assignments and reports were missing critical feedback. My kids just were not pushed to do their best work in public.

Otherwise, it was actually far less stressful than public because the teachers seemed much happier and more in control of the classes than we observed in public. Since many teachers created their own curriculum, they knew the subject matter inside and out and could handle very advanced questions, which really drew my boys in to their studies.

The grade level teachers coordinate closely so it is rare that kids would have too many tests on one day, for example. Speaking of tests - there were far fewer standardized assessments and very few all multiple choice assignments and quizzes, which was the norm in public school.

Hope this helps!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m the parent of two kids who graduated from WES, one having started in 6th and the other in 4th. I agree the middle school is incredible. Both my children started out in public school before switching to WES. I actually really wish my kids could have been WES “lifers.” I think the curriculum really builds in a unified unravelling. Both my kids missed out on tremendous grammar and writing instruction in third grade and likely earlier. When we were at WES, it seemed the strongest students were all “Lifers.” And the kids and parents - who scattered to many different schools - are still in touch even though our eldest are out of college now.

How was the transition from public to WES? That's a concern at any public to private but especially to a small school like WES.
Is it a pretty stressful academic environment?

Happy Thanksgiving. I’m the pp you replied to. I would say that academically, the biggest thing to adjust to at WES was the amount of feedback and oversight the teachers provide as compared to public. For example, in public, the teachers would barely review homework, and I noticed that even graded assignments and reports were missing critical feedback. My kids just were not pushed to do their best work in public.

Otherwise, it was actually far less stressful than public because the teachers seemed much happier and more in control of the classes than we observed in public. Since many teachers created their own curriculum, they knew the subject matter inside and out and could handle very advanced questions, which really drew my boys in to their studies.

The grade level teachers coordinate closely so it is rare that kids would have too many tests on one day, for example. Speaking of tests - there were far fewer standardized assessments and very few all multiple choice assignments and quizzes, which was the norm in public school.

Hope this helps!

+1.

One thing WES is the best at is recruiting and retaining good teachers. I agree that the work is intentional, and the teachers have significant freedom with curriculum development. I have a daughter at WES and a WES graduate at a Catholic HS. In her freshman year and sometimes in her sophomore year, she would comment that the work was exactly what she did in middle school. As a parent, I don't have anything I could complain about -- HOS, HS placement, the kids, they're all the best.

[Anonymous]

What would you say the typical WES kid, if there's one, is like? Down to earth, interested in learning, sporty, not sporty, quirky, artistic, social, etc?

[Anonymous]

Some classes are more sporty or more arty/musical than others, but as a generalization I’d say the typical WES student is down to earth and well rounded. A decent number of diplomat families help with a more down to earth perspective (vs schools with all families from Bethesda, Potomac, or NW DC). There are some very bright kids in DS’s class as well as kids who need a fair amount of support for grade level work. Not a lot of flashy cars in the carpool line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What would you say the typical WES kid, if there's one, is like? Down to earth, interested in learning, sporty, not sporty, quirky, artistic, social, etc?

Considering the location and compared to other similar schools, WES is as down-to-earth as it can be. Nothing (athletics, the arts) is prioritized over another, and you can expect balanced kids.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for these informative comments, very helpful!

[Anonymous]

How does WES give feedback to parents? Are there parent conferences scheduled yearly? Written grades/report cards? And more importantly, can students and parents make an action plan to address challenge areas together with teachers? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How does WES give feedback to parents? Are there parent conferences scheduled yearly? Written grades/report cards? And more importantly, can students and parents make an action plan to address challenge areas together with teachers? Thanks!

- 4 report cards a year (5 if new student)
Parent-teacher conferences with report cards in Q1
Personal comments with report cards in Q2
Ordinary report cards in Q3 and Q4

- Written progress reports for struggling students

My son had a B- in Girgis' MS math and she emailed us immediately. He then went to the weekly after-school math lab study hall every week, and worked with her. He's in high school now.

[Anonymous]

WES does not have an online grade book like the school older DC attended so you do not see scores for all assignments and tests, but teachers are very good at communicating issues and working with students. The student needs to follow through with the extra help, but teachers are always willing to help a kid who is willing to work. Parent-teacher conferences twice a year with whichever teachers you need to meet with are informative and reminders of how much these teachers care and know our kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WES does not have an online grade book like the school older DC attended so you do not see scores for all assignments and tests, but teachers are very good at communicating issues and working with students. The student needs to follow through with the extra help, but teachers are always willing to help a kid who is willing to work. Parent-teacher conferences twice a year with whichever teachers you need to meet with are informative and reminders of how much these teachers care and know our kid.

You're probably an alum family.

All of the classes use Google Classroom. BUT, teachers are not required to use it as a grade book, and there are 2-3 teachers in the MS who don't post grades on there.