Edmund Burke

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing I love about Burke is that it has encouraged and propelled my high school kid to try new things. Just this year, they picked up two new instruments in one of their music classes. They also tried two new sports for the first time. And my kid just participated in the school musical (Mean Girls), which was fabulous! I love that in addition to the focus on challenging them educationally, students are encouraged to expand their horizons in other ways. They really have the formula down for stretching teens in a manner that is unique to Burke. It’s one of the things I most appreciate about the school!

My kid is also at Burke, but in MS.
Mean Girls was SO GOOD! Congrats to your kid for being part of something so fun and fabulous. What a great show. Our family thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.

Are there lots of non-quirky kids there in your experience?

Yes there are. I’d say maybe 60-70% non quirky, but distinct group is “quirky.”

[Anonymous]

My DC is quirky (no learning issues but artsy and independent thinker) and is crushing it at Burke. I really like the community. And Mean Girls was awesome. Considering the size of the school, I was quite surprised at the high number of exceptional performances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing I love about Burke is that it has encouraged and propelled my high school kid to try new things. Just this year, they picked up two new instruments in one of their music classes. They also tried two new sports for the first time. And my kid just participated in the school musical (Mean Girls), which was fabulous! I love that in addition to the focus on challenging them educationally, students are encouraged to expand their horizons in other ways. They really have the formula down for stretching teens in a manner that is unique to Burke. It’s one of the things I most appreciate about the school!

My kid is also at Burke, but in MS.
Mean Girls was SO GOOD! Congrats to your kid for being part of something so fun and fabulous. What a great show. Our family thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.

Are there lots of non-quirky kids there in your experience?

Yes. Lots of non-quirky.

Note: I don’t equate “quirky” to stigmatize a kid with learning (or other) differences or ADHD; I mean the kids that - by outward appearances - are visibly enjoying marching to the beat of their own drum.

I’d say, percentage wise, the amount of non-quirky to quirky is not that much different than most schools. But at Burke kids don’t seem to be teased and/or pushed to attempt to conform by other kids, coaches, or teachers, which may make the “quirky” kids more noticeable — they don’t hide or feel like they must keep to the corners. And I love that — all of the kids are free to be themselves and all groups seem to mix well together. My kid is somewhere in the middle, fwiw, and is comfortable being there and having friends of all kinds and ages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing I love about Burke is that it has encouraged and propelled my high school kid to try new things. Just this year, they picked up two new instruments in one of their music classes. They also tried two new sports for the first time. And my kid just participated in the school musical (Mean Girls), which was fabulous! I love that in addition to the focus on challenging them educationally, students are encouraged to expand their horizons in other ways. They really have the formula down for stretching teens in a manner that is unique to Burke. It’s one of the things I most appreciate about the school!

My kid is also at Burke, but in MS.
Mean Girls was SO GOOD! Congrats to your kid for being part of something so fun and fabulous. What a great show. Our family thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.

Are there lots of non-quirky kids there in your experience?

Yes there are. I’d say maybe 60-70% non quirky, but distinct group is “quirky.”

Okay. What are the Burke feeder schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing I love about Burke is that it has encouraged and propelled my high school kid to try new things. Just this year, they picked up two new instruments in one of their music classes. They also tried two new sports for the first time. And my kid just participated in the school musical (Mean Girls), which was fabulous! I love that in addition to the focus on challenging them educationally, students are encouraged to expand their horizons in other ways. They really have the formula down for stretching teens in a manner that is unique to Burke. It’s one of the things I most appreciate about the school!

My kid is also at Burke, but in MS.
Mean Girls was SO GOOD! Congrats to your kid for being part of something so fun and fabulous. What a great show. Our family thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.

Are there lots of non-quirky kids there in your experience?

Yes there are. I’d say maybe 60-70% non quirky, but distinct group is “quirky.”

Okay. What are the Burke feeder schools?

The same upper NW elementaries and K-8's as everywhere else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you care about prestige, it's not the school for you.

This.

Well put.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing I love about Burke is that it has encouraged and propelled my high school kid to try new things. Just this year, they picked up two new instruments in one of their music classes. They also tried two new sports for the first time. And my kid just participated in the school musical (Mean Girls), which was fabulous! I love that in addition to the focus on challenging them educationally, students are encouraged to expand their horizons in other ways. They really have the formula down for stretching teens in a manner that is unique to Burke. It’s one of the things I most appreciate about the school!

My kid is also at Burke, but in MS.
Mean Girls was SO GOOD! Congrats to your kid for being part of something so fun and fabulous. What a great show. Our family thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.

Are there lots of non-quirky kids there in your experience?

Yes. Lots of non-quirky.

Note: I don’t equate “quirky” to stigmatize a kid with learning (or other) differences or ADHD; I mean the kids that - by outward appearances - are visibly enjoying marching to the beat of their own drum.

I’d say, percentage wise, the amount of non-quirky to quirky is not that much different than most schools. But at Burke kids don’t seem to be teased and/or pushed to attempt to conform by other kids, coaches, or teachers, which may make the “quirky” kids more noticeable — they don’t hide or feel like they must keep to the corners. And I love that — all of the kids are free to be themselves and all groups seem to mix well together. My kid is somewhere in the middle, fwiw, and is comfortable being there and having friends of all kinds and ages.

I’d say that’s largely true but let’s not pretend it’s a utopia without cliques or mean kids. My child’s grade has both for sure. (They have not been the subject of or involved in any bullying incidents, but I have heard of some incidents.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing I love about Burke is that it has encouraged and propelled my high school kid to try new things. Just this year, they picked up two new instruments in one of their music classes. They also tried two new sports for the first time. And my kid just participated in the school musical (Mean Girls), which was fabulous! I love that in addition to the focus on challenging them educationally, students are encouraged to expand their horizons in other ways. They really have the formula down for stretching teens in a manner that is unique to Burke. It’s one of the things I most appreciate about the school!

My kid is also at Burke, but in MS.
Mean Girls was SO GOOD! Congrats to your kid for being part of something so fun and fabulous. What a great show. Our family thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.

Are there lots of non-quirky kids there in your experience?

Yes. Lots of non-quirky.

Note: I don’t equate “quirky” to stigmatize a kid with learning (or other) differences or ADHD; I mean the kids that - by outward appearances - are visibly enjoying marching to the beat of their own drum.

I’d say, percentage wise, the amount of non-quirky to quirky is not that much different than most schools. But at Burke kids don’t seem to be teased and/or pushed to attempt to conform by other kids, coaches, or teachers, which may make the “quirky” kids more noticeable — they don’t hide or feel like they must keep to the corners. And I love that — all of the kids are free to be themselves and all groups seem to mix well together. My kid is somewhere in the middle, fwiw, and is comfortable being there and having friends of all kinds and ages.

I’d say that’s largely true but let’s not pretend it’s a utopia without cliques or mean kids. My child’s grade has both for sure. (They have not been the subject of or involved in any bullying incidents, but I have heard of some incidents.)

I'm really sorry to hear this.

My kid hasn't mentioned anything and I haven't head anything from the parents that I know (which, I'll admit, is not that many).

I hope the school is handling things well?

[Anonymous]

I don't know if it's prestigious but we chose it over Big 3 and we know other families that did the same. College admissions are also what you'd expect for strong students.

[Anonymous]

Does quirky = not a country club clone? Sure, that would describe Burke.

Also, Burke had kids changing their pronouns long before it was cool. Maybe that’s what people mean? I bet the feeling the term quirky is somehow classist, racist, homophobic, ableist, etc.

[Anonymous]

Prestige is not what our child is gaining through their Burke experience. It’s more about expanding their understanding of self and others, being brave and trying new things, being accepting and affirming of self/others.

As was previously mentioned, Burke is where our child has also tried multiple sports, felt heard and seen by teachers and had their artistic abilities nurtured. It’s been great to see them, and all of the children, grow. It’s been a really pleasant experience for us as a new family.

[Anonymous]

New to Burke this year and my child absolutely loves it. He LOVES middle school. How rare is this? He is free to try new things and to be himself. He like the kids in his class and the school does an incredible job at truly teaching social skills and sex Ed (he has learned so much about healthy relationships consent and boundaries). We turned down a big 3 school for Burke bc our child loved it during the tour and shadow day. Best choice we ever made. He is excited for school, challenged and makes great friends. There are some cliques and bullying/meanness but the faculty was incredibly thoughtful in handling these situations from what I have heard. My wife and I went to pressure cooker private schools and Burke is a gem. I wish I could trade my years at Sidwell for a Burke experience

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is everyone equating "quirky" with special needs? That's not how I define it. I'm quirky and was Phi Beta Kappa at HYPSM. To me, quirky is a little alternative and/or marches to the beat of a different drummer-kind of person. And "prestige" is very overrated. I know several incredibly successful adults who did not attend well-regarded universities for financial and/or other family-related reasons. Just because one attends a prestigious institution does not ipso facto equate to long-term professional and personal success or happiness. And, honestly, in my experience, many of my employees who graduated from T20 schools are entitled and pretentious.

Quirky has become a euphemism for neuro-divergent, and in particular, ASD. There's a stigma associated with ASD, so parents often describe their ASD kids as quirky. It's meant to distinguish ASD kids who are socially awkward (and perhaps non-conformist) from kids who can't make eye contact or function in a mainstream school. It's a reaction to the many posters on DCUM who assume all ASD kids need to go to ASD schools without having ever even met an ASD kid. The problem with the terminology is that if someone writes "X school" has quirky kids, some will assume that it's a "special needs" school (i.e., a school specifically designed to serve kids who need significant academic and social support) even though the school might be a "mainstream" school with a mix of NT and ND kids. Bottom line: If people weren't so quick to make assumptions about ND kids without ever meeting them, "quirky" could get its meaning back (which is your interpretation of the word).

Burke parents mean non-conformist, not autistic, when they say quirky. Jeez Louise

Burke parents don’t call the Burke kids quirky. And DCUMs who use that word are attempting to insult.

"Quirky" means that the kid's top concerns are something other than Stanley cups, lacrosse, which island they are going to over break, and who they saw at Chevy over the weekend.

So-called "quirky" kids can actually be pretty mainstream. But they baffle the conformist, striver crowd by not viscerally caring about being "in" all the time.

Pretty great that Burke put on a successful "Mean Girls."

[Anonymous]

Parent here. I had one kid go to Burke and another to “big 3”. Burke kid had a much better HS experience. The arts are phenomenal and academics prepared my DC very well for college. As someone mentioned college acceptances are very good, but because the class sizes are small you will not get multiple students going to tippy top. Burke offers a challenging curriculum to those who seek it, but classes can be tailored to strengths and interest. There is not one type of Burke student and kids are for the most part very down to earth as are parents. It is a very special place and we were grateful for this type of option in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One thing I love about Burke is that it has encouraged and propelled my high school kid to try new things. Just this year, they picked up two new instruments in one of their music classes. They also tried two new sports for the first time. And my kid just participated in the school musical (Mean Girls), which was fabulous! I love that in addition to the focus on challenging them educationally, students are encouraged to expand their horizons in other ways. They really have the formula down for stretching teens in a manner that is unique to Burke. It’s one of the things I most appreciate about the school!

My kid is also at Burke, but in MS.
Mean Girls was SO GOOD! Congrats to your kid for being part of something so fun and fabulous. What a great show. Our family thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.

Are there lots of non-quirky kids there in your experience?

Yes there are. I’d say maybe 60-70% non quirky, but distinct group is “quirky.”

Okay. What are the Burke feeder schools?

River School’s director of education came from Burke. It’s a good ES option for kids who want Burke for MS.