non-religious private school near Kensington/Silver Spring?

[Anonymous]

My family lives between Kensington and Silver Spring. We are excited about elementary school (Oakland Terrace), but I'm not sure about middle and high school (Newport Mill & Einstein). We're 10 years away from middle school, so plenty of time to see how things develop. We'd like to look into private school options, but all of the private schools around here seems to be religious. Are there other options? We attend church, but don't subscribe to a particular denomination. Catholic school, in particular, seems like a bad fit, since we are not Catholic, but that seems to be the predominant option (e.g., Holy Cross, Redeemer). Is it realistic to expect a private school option to be conveniently located near our home? FWIW, we're also not really interested in alternate, Montessori-style education. We want an academic environment where expectations are high (but not too much of a pressure cooker), where our children will be challenged, nurtured, and exposed to new things. Any recommendations?

[Anonymous]

Sandy Spring Friends School

[Anonymous]

I am probably your neighbor. We have loved Oakland Terrace and are closer to middle school than you. The simple answer is no -- all the big non-Catholic private schools are in Bethesda or Potomac or DC. I have seen many parents stay in this area and send their kids to Newport, a few parents move to Bethesda or Town of Kensington, but I don't think I can remember anyone who has sent their kids to Bullis, Sidwell, Holton, Landon, etc., the big private middle and high schools in the area. I know one who went to Sandy Spring Friends. I have thought a lot about why, and I think this is just a solidly middle class area that almost without exception can't afford paying $30k a year per child to those schools. That said, I absolutely love this area and the plan for now is to try Newport. There is literally no telling how things will change in 10 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sandy Spring Friends School

Note - this is Quaker - but people I know are OK w Quaker as opposed to "Catholic"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am probably your neighbor. We have loved Oakland Terrace and are closer to middle school than you. The simple answer is no -- all the big non-Catholic private schools are in Bethesda or Potomac or DC. I have seen many parents stay in this area and send their kids to Newport, a few parents move to Bethesda or Town of Kensington, but I don't think I can remember anyone who has sent their kids to Bullis, Sidwell, Holton, Landon, etc., the big private middle and high schools in the area. I know one who went to Sandy Spring Friends. I have thought a lot about why, and I think this is just a solidly middle class area that almost without exception can't afford paying $30k a year per child to those schools. That said, I absolutely love this area and the plan for now is to try Newport. There is literally no telling how things will change in 10 years.

Thanks. We're excited about OTES and cautiously optimistic about NM and E. I'd just like to keep my options open just in case. My coworker has middle school-aged children and suggested that, right now, NM is not very challenging at an academic level. I know, I'm probably thinking about this way too much, but education is important to me and I do not foresee us moving, so I want to see what our other options are.

[Anonymous]

Lots of none-Catholics and even non-Christians in Catholic schools. Esp. at the secondary school level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lots of none-Catholics and even non-Christians in Catholic schools. Esp. at the secondary school level.

We are more concerned about the focus on religious instruction, rather than the composition of the student body. Are there religious schools in the area that have a minimal religious component and a diverse student body (in terms of religion and other factors)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am probably your neighbor. We have loved Oakland Terrace and are closer to middle school than you. The simple answer is no -- all the big non-Catholic private schools are in Bethesda or Potomac or DC. I have seen many parents stay in this area and send their kids to Newport, a few parents move to Bethesda or Town of Kensington, but I don't think I can remember anyone who has sent their kids to Bullis, Sidwell, Holton, Landon, etc., the big private middle and high schools in the area. I know one who went to Sandy Spring Friends. I have thought a lot about why, and I think this is just a solidly middle class area that almost without exception can't afford paying $30k a year per child to those schools. That said, I absolutely love this area and the plan for now is to try Newport. There is literally no telling how things will change in 10 years.

Thanks. We're excited about OTES and cautiously optimistic about NM and E. I'd just like to keep my options open just in case. My coworker has middle school-aged children and suggested that, right now, NM is not very challenging at an academic level. I know, I'm probably thinking about this way too much, but education is important to me and I do not foresee us moving, so I want to see what our other options are.

It's such a great place to live. Let me just add that most parents who are concerned that their children be much more challenged focus on magnet middle and high schools instead of private. They are very difficult to get into though. I remember thinking my 4 year old would probably go to Blair because he seemed to like science so much. Fast forward just a few years and I see there is no way he's getting in to Blair!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am probably your neighbor. We have loved Oakland Terrace and are closer to middle school than you. The simple answer is no -- all the big non-Catholic private schools are in Bethesda or Potomac or DC. I have seen many parents stay in this area and send their kids to Newport, a few parents move to Bethesda or Town of Kensington, but I don't think I can remember anyone who has sent their kids to Bullis, Sidwell, Holton, Landon, etc., the big private middle and high schools in the area. I know one who went to Sandy Spring Friends. I have thought a lot about why, and I think this is just a solidly middle class area that almost without exception can't afford paying $30k a year per child to those schools. That said, I absolutely love this area and the plan for now is to try Newport. There is literally no telling how things will change in 10 years.

Most of the families we know make $150-250,000 in this area. You could afford one kid in an expensive private. Many people we know are leaving for middle school but mainly to religious schools due to cost. There are very few good options. I would not call that income solid middle class.

[Anonymous]

I am also probably one of your neighbors. We are in private school as are a number of families on our block for some of the reasons that you mention - staying out of the cluster. But very much a mix of privates chosen.

My email is cmezoughem @ gmail.com if you are interested in an off-forum discussion. What I think about our public option or what others think (and the resulting decisions they have made) isn't something that I would blast online for public consumption.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of none-Catholics and even non-Christians in Catholic schools. Esp. at the secondary school level.

We are more concerned about the focus on religious instruction, rather than the composition of the student body. Are there religious schools in the area that have a minimal religious component and a diverse student body (in terms of religion and other factors)?

Grace Episcopal might fit the bill through 5th grade. In general, the Episcopal schools have a little religion (morning chapel, and I'm pretty sure at Grace it is not every day), but no religion in the classroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of none-Catholics and even non-Christians in Catholic schools. Esp. at the secondary school level.

We are more concerned about the focus on religious instruction, rather than the composition of the student body. Are there religious schools in the area that have a minimal religious component and a diverse student body (in terms of religion and other factors)?

Grace Episcopal might fit the bill through 5th grade. In general, the Episcopal schools have a little religion (morning chapel, and I'm pretty sure at Grace it is not every day), but no religion in the classroom.

The religious aspects of Grace are very minimal. Chapel is once a week and while there may be prayers and some occasional scripture reference it is very light on religion overall. More about moral education, respect for others and the earth, things like that. There is no religious education/instruction in the classroom. The student body is very diverse both racially and socio-economically. Academics are strong, but definitely not a pressure cooker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of none-Catholics and even non-Christians in Catholic schools. Esp. at the secondary school level.

We are more concerned about the focus on religious instruction, rather than the composition of the student body. Are there religious schools in the area that have a minimal religious component and a diverse student body (in terms of religion and other factors)?

Grace Episcopal might fit the bill through 5th grade. In general, the Episcopal schools have a little religion (morning chapel, and I'm pretty sure at Grace it is not every day), but no religion in the classroom.

The religious aspects of Grace are very minimal. Chapel is once a week and while there may be prayers and some occasional scripture reference it is very light on religion overall. More about moral education, respect for others and the earth, things like that. There is no religious education/instruction in the classroom. The student body is very diverse both racially and socio-economically. Academics are strong, but definitely not a pressure cooker.

When I called, they said you could not opt out and there is religion in the classroom. They are also not very cheap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of none-Catholics and even non-Christians in Catholic schools. Esp. at the secondary school level.

We are more concerned about the focus on religious instruction, rather than the composition of the student body. Are there religious schools in the area that have a minimal religious component and a diverse student body (in terms of religion and other factors)?

Grace Episcopal might fit the bill through 5th grade. In general, the Episcopal schools have a little religion (morning chapel, and I'm pretty sure at Grace it is not every day), but no religion in the classroom.

The religious aspects of Grace are very minimal. Chapel is once a week and while there may be prayers and some occasional scripture reference it is very light on religion overall. More about moral education, respect for others and the earth, things like that. There is no religious education/instruction in the classroom. The student body is very diverse both racially and socio-economically. Academics are strong, but definitely not a pressure cooker.

When I called, they said you could not opt out and there is religion in the classroom. They are also not very cheap.

Outside of Catholic schools, Grace is one of the best values in DC area independent schools...roughly $20k. Surprised that someone told you there's religious instruction in the classroom. My DC has been at Grace for multiple years and there's never been in-class religious instruction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of none-Catholics and even non-Christians in Catholic schools. Esp. at the secondary school level.

We are more concerned about the focus on religious instruction, rather than the composition of the student body. Are there religious schools in the area that have a minimal religious component and a diverse student body (in terms of religion and other factors)?

Grace Episcopal might fit the bill through 5th grade. In general, the Episcopal schools have a little religion (morning chapel, and I'm pretty sure at Grace it is not every day), but no religion in the classroom.

The religious aspects of Grace are very minimal. Chapel is once a week and while there may be prayers and some occasional scripture reference it is very light on religion overall. More about moral education, respect for others and the earth, things like that. There is no religious education/instruction in the classroom. The student body is very diverse both racially and socio-economically. Academics are strong, but definitely not a pressure cooker.

When I called, they said you could not opt out and there is religion in the classroom. They are also not very cheap.

Outside of Catholic schools, Grace is one of the best values in DC area independent schools...roughly $20k. Surprised that someone told you there's religious instruction in the classroom. My DC has been at Grace for multiple years and there's never been in-class religious instruction.

They also told me they would not take mild special needs and were not very friendly. Others on here have said they do so it makes no sense. $20K is a lot for a religious school.