Sienna School vs Field

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maret has a 10% admissions rate for 6th. Where does the next 10% go? Not Sidwell, GDS, or NCS. They go to Field.

It is not a school where Sienna students would thrive. That misconception leads to many students being weeded out during admissions.

Kids leaving Siena with remediated dyslexia can thrive in lots of places, including Field (and Maret). When my child was at Field (several years ago), there were a number of kids who had come from Lab after they no longer needed the intensive support.

Kids with remediated dyslexia can thrive anywhere. However Field does not offer the remediation.

Field is no longer the place it was when Lab School kids successfully went there in high numbers. It is sad to see Field try to be something it is not, it is not GDS, it is not Gonzaga or Sidwell and it is failing to make the grade. Lab School needs a better partner so we are keeping our eyes on Sienna, I hope they stay true to their mission better than Field.

I think of Siena as equivalent to Lab, not a next step. Whereas pre-pandemic, Field was proud of accepting kids with disabilities -- not as a SN school, but a place that was accommodating and inclusive to those who no longer needed specialized instruction. While the new attitude toward disabilities might serve some students fine, it's a loss to the private school universe.

Field has long been a magnet for parents of special needs kids because it lets parents feel like they have mainstreamed their child in an expensive private school that has some of the bells and whistles of other independent schools---but little to no homework or academic challenge. Field has been desperate for money over the many years since it built out its current campus and has been happy to admit anyone who can pay. But the problem for the kids is that Field has minimal capacity to meet the needs of special needs kids. So those kids languish, get distracted and disruptive, and drag down the entire class. That's the modern Field story. Old timers there will talk about the vision of the founder and of everyone sitting around some broken down mansions in Kalorama counting on an abacus and singing Kumbaya. But those days are long gone and the new Field business plan is to grab as much money as it can by admitting rich kids with significant needs who have parents with too much pride to enroll them in a school actually set up to help them.

This is the core problem at Field. And they can't fix it because they need the tuition money and can't turn kids away. At the same time, Field has not invested in support services to meet the needs of all students-- and the school has a disproportionate number of fairly inexperienced teachers who are called on to manage challenging classrooms. Frankly, the suburban public schools that most Field parents are avoiding have better support available than Field does, for many of the students who end up at Field.

[Anonymous]

I just went on Field's website. Looks like the student support team is: a director of student support who doubles as a math teacher, a school counselor, and an academic support coordinator. That's it (at least on the website). Not much for a grades 7-12 school.

[Anonymous]

I think most of the people on this thread visited Field one time and read DCUM a bunch and think they know about it. Current family here with some fact checking.

Inexperienced teachers? False. My daughter has been there two years and every one of her teachers has been great, with one exception of a teacher I thought was just meh. Zero of her teachers have been first or second year teachers, most of them have many years of experience. We have been truly impressed on that front.

And mold, really? You people are ridiculous. I spend a whole lot of time there and it absolutely does not smell like mold. The campus is homey, welcoming, really nice, if a bit small (wish the theater in particular were larger). I can't believe I have to say this, but false.

One thing that does ring true is what PP pointed out - academic support staff is too small, and I'll add that it's lackluster. The teachers are very attentive, so it has worked for my ADHD daughter, but I do wish the academic support staff was more robust and more proactive.

My daughter loves Field and so do we. It is such a nice place and we have been really happy with the academics. As always, don't believe what you read here. Check out their college admissions. (But if this kind of thread keeps the PITA parents out and keeps the school smaller for those who are in the know, then better for us I guess!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I think most of the people on this thread visited Field one time and read DCUM a bunch and think they know about it. Current family here with some fact checking.

Inexperienced teachers? False. My daughter has been there two years and every one of her teachers has been great, with one exception of a teacher I thought was just meh. Zero of her teachers have been first or second year teachers, most of them have many years of experience. We have been truly impressed on that front.

And mold, really? You people are ridiculous. I spend a whole lot of time there and it absolutely does not smell like mold. The campus is homey, welcoming, really nice, if a bit small (wish the theater in particular were larger). I can't believe I have to say this, but false.

One thing that does ring true is what PP pointed out - academic support staff is too small, and I'll add that it's lackluster. The teachers are very attentive, so it has worked for my ADHD daughter, but I do wish the academic support staff was more robust and more proactive.

My daughter loves Field and so do we. It is such a nice place and we have been really happy with the academics. As always, don't believe what you read here. Check out their college admissions. (But if this kind of thread keeps the PITA parents out and keeps the school smaller for those who are in the know, then better for us I guess!)

This all sounds like things are working well for your daughter. But don't you agree that a disproptionately high number of students have one or more special needs (ADHD, LDs, autism, etc)? And don't you also agree that if any public school had that kind of profile for the student body--and then provided minimal and insufficient suppport--- that school would get its a$s sued by angry parents? Field benefits from 1) being exempt from ADA requirements, and 2) having families who are grateful that their kids got into an independent school. But parents should find the lack of meaningful support to be a huge red flag (and the school accommodating students by cutting out homework and cutting back on expectations for all students is not OK). Take yourb child to a school that will meet your child's needs, not just take your money.

[Anonymous]

These posts about business plans, and special needs students, and longings for Field circa 1975 are the epitome of misinformed and irrational speculation. Possibly sock-puppeting by a former Field employee that’s just still super angry? Whatever this (these) bitter critics think Field once was or should be, it’s a fantastic school today, in far better shape than when my kids started several years ago. I understand that not every family will feel 100% satisfied- as is the case with every school. And there’s always more work to be done. But the current head, her admin team, and the teachers doing the work there every day have my support and appreciation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I think most of the people on this thread visited Field one time and read DCUM a bunch and think they know about it. Current family here with some fact checking.

Inexperienced teachers? False. My daughter has been there two years and every one of her teachers has been great, with one exception of a teacher I thought was just meh. Zero of her teachers have been first or second year teachers, most of them have many years of experience. We have been truly impressed on that front.

And mold, really? You people are ridiculous. I spend a whole lot of time there and it absolutely does not smell like mold. The campus is homey, welcoming, really nice, if a bit small (wish the theater in particular were larger). I can't believe I have to say this, but false.

One thing that does ring true is what PP pointed out - academic support staff is too small, and I'll add that it's lackluster. The teachers are very attentive, so it has worked for my ADHD daughter, but I do wish the academic support staff was more robust and more proactive.

My daughter loves Field and so do we. It is such a nice place and we have been really happy with the academics. As always, don't believe what you read here. Check out their college admissions. (But if this kind of thread keeps the PITA parents out and keeps the school smaller for those who are in the know, then better for us I guess!)

This all sounds like things are working well for your daughter. But don't you agree that a disproptionately high number of students have one or more special needs (ADHD, LDs, autism, etc)? And don't you also agree that if any public school had that kind of profile for the student body--and then provided minimal and insufficient suppport--- that school would get its a$s sued by angry parents? Field benefits from 1) being exempt from ADA requirements, and 2) having families who are grateful that their kids got into an independent school. But parents should find the lack of meaningful support to be a huge red flag (and the school accommodating students by cutting out homework and cutting back on expectations for all students is not OK). Take yourb child to a school that will meet your child's needs, not just take your money.

Seem like two good questions. Could a Field supporter please answer them, rather than just say that anyone questioning what's happening at Field is a disgruntled teacher?

Seems like if the answer is yes to both questions, then there would be good reason to avoid Field, right?

[Anonymous]

Your questions are speculative at best and based on absolute misinformation and your own poorly formed conclusions.

But let me summarize what you’ve said here: Field has to take every student because they're money hungry and don't care about education, even though they turned away countless applicants and gave almost $3M in financial aid last year. So they’re burdened with every sort of learning challenged kid (that was pretty offensive) and they fail to provide services for these special needs students because they can't afford to, even though they run surpluses each year. And a few people are mad about this, even though Field is not a special needs school. But mostly, they need to be true to their original mission which is to be a quirky school for quirky kids, who are actually just rich kids with learning and behavioral issues- whether or not that actually means special needs- because Kumbaya in Kalorama is what the founder and DC families really want for their kids.

For any of your previous posts to be remotely accurate, you would have to be somebody currently in admissions, student support, or the CFO. So I’ll just call it all fiction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your questions are speculative at best and based on absolute misinformation and your own poorly formed conclusions.

But let me summarize what you’ve said here: Field has to take every student because they're money hungry and don't care about education, even though they turned away countless applicants and gave almost $3M in financial aid last year. So they’re burdened with every sort of learning challenged kid (that was pretty offensive) and they fail to provide services for these special needs students because they can't afford to, even though they run surpluses each year. And a few people are mad about this, even though Field is not a special needs school. But mostly, they need to be true to their original mission which is to be a quirky school for quirky kids, who are actually just rich kids with learning and behavioral issues- whether or not that actually means special needs- because Kumbaya in Kalorama is what the founder and DC families really want for their kids.

For any of your previous posts to be remotely accurate, you would have to be somebody currently in admissions, student support, or the CFO. So I’ll just call it all fiction.

So you're not answering the two questions.

I'll go with the obvious. Yes, Field has a disproptionate number of special needs kids. And yes, any school subject to the ADA would be in serious trouble if the school had as few dedicated resourcesfor SN kids as Field has.

And sadly, it does seem like a likely explanation for much of the concerns parents raise here about Field--from chaotic classrooms to a dumbed down curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your questions are speculative at best and based on absolute misinformation and your own poorly formed conclusions.

But let me summarize what you’ve said here: Field has to take every student because they're money hungry and don't care about education, even though they turned away countless applicants and gave almost $3M in financial aid last year. So they’re burdened with every sort of learning challenged kid (that was pretty offensive) and they fail to provide services for these special needs students because they can't afford to, even though they run surpluses each year. And a few people are mad about this, even though Field is not a special needs school. But mostly, they need to be true to their original mission which is to be a quirky school for quirky kids, who are actually just rich kids with learning and behavioral issues- whether or not that actually means special needs- because Kumbaya in Kalorama is what the founder and DC families really want for their kids.

For any of your previous posts to be remotely accurate, you would have to be somebody currently in admissions, student support, or the CFO. So I’ll just call it all fiction.

So you're not answering the two questions.

I'll go with the obvious. Yes, Field has a disproptionate number of special needs kids. And yes, any school subject to the ADA would be in serious trouble if the school had as few dedicated resourcesfor SN kids as Field has.

And sadly, it does seem like a likely explanation for much of the concerns parents raise here about Field--from chaotic classrooms to a dumbed down curriculum.

If I'd answer your questions I'd be accepting your misinformation and conclusions, and entertaining your personal animus toward the school and I'm not doing it.

I do know my kids are both having a great experience at Field. And school is hard for one of my kids. Field has been the best thing to have happen for her.  We're very grateful to be there. I can also recognize that in this thread, which was not started for your agenda, but was started to compare Field to Sienna- which is actually a special needs school- some posters feel that Field is not a good school for kids with special needs and Field disappointed them. Shocking. Field is not a school specifically for special needs. That's OK.

[Anonymous]

Field's marketing hands are all over this and I say this as a disgruntled former staff. But I am one of a large community of mistreated and disappointed staff so stop assuming it is only one person trying to share the truth about Field. It was once a great place for students with learning needs, it was known for having kind and capable teachers that met kids where they were. But those teachers, we all have moved on because of the new admin choices that have changed Field to a less compassionate, less rigorous and overall less of a school. It had a great place in the DC school community and they have lost that in search of this "new" Field. And yes, having worked there, there is a mold smell in the older parts of the building where there is extensive water damage.

[Anonymous]

This is ridiculous. I think in the question of Field vs Sienna - Sienna wins for a lack of drama.

[Anonymous]

I am a current parent, not a marketing person- I think a consistent theme here is that current parents are saying they are happy with the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I am a current parent, not a marketing person- I think a consistent theme here is that current parents are saying they are happy with the school.

+1

Another current parent whose child is thriving and happy.

I will say that we are not a huge fan of the HOS, she has a hard time really connecting with parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is ridiculous. I think in the question of Field vs Sienna - Sienna wins for a lack of drama.

Yeah. Field seems to be endless drama. They used to blame it on the last hos, but he's been gone for years. Now they blame the current one. Sometimes institutions are broken and can't be fixed.

[Anonymous]

That previous HOS was known for positive leadership but also had an affair with a young staff member while his wife was also on staff (she still works there but has been demoted from the current HOS) and word from admin when I taught there was parties used to cost 30k+ but they are scaling back since covid. I am glad not to teach there any more, just broken.