NCS Parents - "I wish I had known x" type advice.

[Anonymous]

How strong is the lacrosse program?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How strong is the lacrosse program?

It is solid. This is not a school that goes out and recruits for sports, so they get who comes in the door and who develops from 4th grade on. In recent years -- let's say the last 6-8 -- most of the lacrosse kids who have played in college have gone the NESCAC route (e.g., Bowdoin, Amherst, Middlebury). Coaching is good.

If you are looking for the schools who compete at the top end of the ISL AA division (the top of the two divisions -- there are 15 teams total), there are only two schools: St. Stephens St. Agnes and Georgetown Visitation. But overall the level of competition is quite good, and a standout player might even get more attention at an NCS or Holton than at the powerhouse programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the attrition rate for Beauvoir girls who go to NCS?

My DD is in 8th grade. The rumor mill has many applying out for next year.

I don't understand why parents send their daughters when they know they won't be able to handle the academic rigor. If your daughter is not an outlier type and very motivated she may struggle keeping up at a school like this. I think some parents selfishly send their daughters because of the social aspect and not what is in the best interest of their daughters. Don't get me wrong NCS is a great school but I think it is not for every student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the attrition rate for Beauvoir girls who go to NCS?

My DD is in 8th grade. The rumor mill has many applying out for next year.

I don't understand why parents send their daughters when they know they won't be able to handle the academic rigor. If your daughter is not an outlier type and very motivated she may struggle keeping up at a school like this. I think some parents selfishly send their daughters because of the social aspect and not what is in the best interest of their daughters. Don't get me wrong NCS is a great school but I think it is not for every student.

You assume that those applying out is 1) true; 2) due to academic issues.

[Anonymous]

If I could so my ncs years over again with twenty twenty hindsight, I think I could like it a lot more.

Here is what I would tell my younger self:

A) don't do so many extra curricular activities! Only do ones you truly, truly, enjoy.

B) academics are great so I would still spend hours on hw every night, but with less extra currics, I would still be able to get enough sleep.

C) focus on making at least three to four good friends, but otherwise don't worry about the social aspects. be polite and civil to the snotty lifer, Chevy chase club, shippins, crowd, but otherwise ignore them. So what if they give you a snotty look in the locker alcove and don't say hello? That's their problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I could so my ncs years over again with twenty twenty hindsight, I think I could like it a lot more.

Here is what I would tell my younger self:

A) don't do so many extra curricular activities! Only do ones you truly, truly, enjoy.

B) academics are great so I would still spend hours on hw every night, but with less extra currics, I would still be able to get enough sleep.

C) focus on making at least three to four good friends, but otherwise don't worry about the social aspects. be polite and civil to the snotty lifer, Chevy chase club, shippins, crowd, but otherwise ignore them. So what if they give you a snotty look in the locker alcove and don't say hello? That's their problem.

I can't speak to (C) but hear, hear, hear on (A) and (B)! Good advice for any school.

[Anonymous]

Is it true that the lower and middle school will be experiencing extremely high attrition for the coming year?

[Anonymous]

PP, I don't know about attrition for LS and MS. I've heard lots of unhappy parents talking about the situations in both LS and MS. Keep in mind, MS is difficult no matter which school your DC attends. And, the Head of School does not pay too much attention to what's going on at NCS other than fundraising. Sorry to say...

[Anonymous]

There was a lot of talk about girls applying out from MS. But only know of two girls leaving. Could be more but only know of two.

[Anonymous]

I know one middle schooler who is moving out.

[Anonymous]

Where are they headed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There was a lot of talk about girls applying out from MS. But only know of two girls leaving. Could be more but only know of two.

My grapevine says 12 girls leaving. But I think that is 7th and 8th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was a lot of talk about girls applying out from MS. But only know of two girls leaving. Could be more but only know of two.

My grapevine says 12 girls leaving. But I think that is 7th and 8th grade.

Thats a lot, about 10% of each class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where are they headed?

To another private. This is in 6th grade.

[Anonymous]

I have heard Bullis and public for more than one girl.