Norwood v. Lowell MS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had our son at Norwood for two years and then pulled him out because he just was not challenged in the classroom. Too many of his classmates needed support for impulsive control and had language based learning needs. We were told to try to supplement outside of the class. We left and started at another independent school and are so glad that we did. I'd skip Norwood.

That was our experience as well. Too many behavioral issues. One student continually has to be kicked out of class. He should just be asked to leave the school, but they refuse. The head of the middle school does try to address these issues. But keep in mind that most of the students from Norwood go to Bullis after. Including the students who are disruptive and impulsive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only "incident" I know of with Norwood and bullying happened 3 years ago. Those kids who were in 8th would be in 11th now. It was a different (and useless) Head of Middle School at the time.

We have 2 kids in middle right now there. Yes, there have been some typical middle school issues but they jump all over it if you bring it to their attention. We had a situation with a student bullying one of our kids for a few weeks and BAM. That was locked down so fast it made my head spin. They handled it amazingly well.

The current head of Middle School and Assistant Head are absolutely not going to let even a side-eye happen on their watch.

That is great that this was your experience. Our experience is that they put my kid's bully on their promotional materials. And another child with severe behavioral issues. It's perplexing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have 2 kids graduated from Norwood in recent years. Both had very good experience there although they are very different type of students. Nice and caring teachers, friendly and welcoming parents community, very strong leadership team. Mr. Gould is the best head of school. Both DCs went to a private school in DC. Maybe the pace of learning at Norwood and DC schools are different, both DCs struggled a little at the first semester at HS, but thrilled to get strong academically later. If I have to say cons of Norwood, I would say the school is a little short of expertise and resources to support learning difference kids. Overall I would definitely recommend Norwood.

My kid has learning differences and Norwood has been terrific about supporting her.

Same. The Head of Student Support in the middle school is top notch.

[Anonymous]

My child is dyslexic and was really struggling in the public school system to keep up academically and socially. Norwood has been wonderful about giving her the support that she needs - esp. for her language-based learning needs. She is still 2 grades below grade level, but she is making progress.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't recommend Lowell right now, or at least until they clean their administrative house. They have a lot of things to sort out in that department. Drama aside, their MS academics also leave a lot to be desired. There is some solid teaching happening there, but potential is limited by an administration that can't seem to get out of its own way.

Can you say more?

Admin is just super nasty, especially to teachers behind closed doors and to parents who raise issues. They're also not good educators. They seem to be concerned first and foremost with shutting down any sort of discourse that could be perceived as a challenge, which has a chilling effect on all aspects of the school's culture. Many, many talented teachers and great families have left over the past six or seven years as a result. One administrator is currently embroiled in controversy over his/her treatment of a thirteen year-old sexual assault victim when she reported what a fellow classmate had done to her. She has become an advocate for sexual assault victims and posted about her experiences at the school. One such post went viral on Instagram, which is why the school had to take their faculty and board lists off their website and disable comments on their social media accounts. The school is also reckoning with a very serious string of bullying incidents in one grade. Questions have arisen about why problematic students were admitted in the first place, and why the school didn't take more action once they had been advised about serious harm being done. Seems the board can't or won't do anything about these situations so they continues to fester. Not a good place.

Totally disagree with this. Love Lowell, find the administration open-minded and easy to work with. The incidents this poster is referring to are all years old and there has been a lot of soul-searching and renewal. I had a child graduate MS last year and I have another there presently, and I am super-grateful for the school and its community.

[Anonymous]

I hope the last poster is right about soul-searching. This would be necessary after the way countless students, teachers and families have been treated in an environment that is toxic for most. Some may be able to stay under the radar, and that’s nice, but overall the same admin folks are still there - nastily doing whatever they can to protect the image of the school - casting aside the concerns of children and adults alike. If you have a choice, and you do, MCPS or Norwood would be a far safer experience for your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child is dyslexic and was really struggling in the public school system to keep up academically and socially. Norwood has been wonderful about giving her the support that she needs - esp. for her language-based learning needs. She is still 2 grades below grade level, but she is making progress.

We were in the same situation. Our daughter was in reading recovery in the public schools and getting nowhere with her reading. She was 2 grades below grade level as well. Thank God we found Norwood. The support they have for struggling kids is amazing.

[Anonymous]

Norwood parent here. We have kids at the school in the middle and lower school. Generally, we are happy with the school but I’m honestly shocked at the posters who think the school doesn’t have issues. We stay because my kids are happy, and I think they are learning (lower school is not very rigorous, middle school can be if your kid is self motivated).

There had been a lots of turnover in my kids grades, and many of the families and kids who have left had good reasons to leave (nice kids and nice families). I’m not interested in bashing the school, because there are a lot of great things about it, but it’s not perfect and neither are all the decisions from the admin.

Middle school seems to be as kind a place as a middle school can be - but there are still cliques and bullying and mean behavior. I don’t think schools can really stamp that out.

I honestly doubt there is that much difference between Norwood and Lowell - unless you see something that really bothers you when you check them out, I would pick the one that is the most convenient.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Norwood parent here. We have kids at the school in the middle and lower school. Generally, we are happy with the school but I’m honestly shocked at the posters who think the school doesn’t have issues. We stay because my kids are happy, and I think they are learning (lower school is not very rigorous, middle school can be if your kid is self motivated).

There had been a lots of turnover in my kids grades, and many of the families and kids who have left had good reasons to leave (nice kids and nice families). I’m not interested in bashing the school, because there are a lot of great things about it, but it’s not perfect and neither are all the decisions from the admin.

Middle school seems to be as kind a place as a middle school can be - but there are still cliques and bullying and mean behavior. I don’t think schools can really stamp that out.

I honestly doubt there is that much difference between Norwood and Lowell - unless you see something that really bothers you when you check them out, I would pick the one that is the most convenient.

+1

[Anonymous]

also +1, and would add that support for learning differences is a teacher-by-teacher experience. Some are great; others apparently have never met a kid with ADHD and act accordingly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Norwood parent here. We have kids at the school in the middle and lower school. Generally, we are happy with the school but I’m honestly shocked at the posters who think the school doesn’t have issues. We stay because my kids are happy, and I think they are learning (lower school is not very rigorous, middle school can be if your kid is self motivated).

There had been a lots of turnover in my kids grades, and many of the families and kids who have left had good reasons to leave (nice kids and nice families). I’m not interested in bashing the school, because there are a lot of great things about it, but it’s not perfect and neither are all the decisions from the admin.

Middle school seems to be as kind a place as a middle school can be - but there are still cliques and bullying and mean behavior. I don’t think schools can really stamp that out.

I honestly doubt there is that much difference between Norwood and Lowell - unless you see something that really bothers you when you check them out, I would pick the one that is the most convenient.

What were their reasons for leaving Norwood? I think many leave for Landon or Holton because of legacy.

[Anonymous]

Norwood parent here- families leave mostly because they want more rigorous academics in the upper grades- leaving in 6th usually. That's my experience.

[Anonymous]

Former Norwood parent here- our experience was that people left because the application process is more competitive for 9th grade so families wanted to get their kids into a school that went through 12th grade earlier. For our family, it was worth taking the chance to stay at Norwood through 8th and our kids got into their top choices for 9th.

Honestly, I don't know many private middle schools that are considered extremely rigorous. I've heard parents and kids from most of the top schools talk about how much the rigor ramps up in high school and what a transition it is, even for kids who were at the school prior to high school. My two very different kids got a very solid education at Norwood, found it a very warm environment, and were prepared for the rigor of Big 3 high schools. But I get the impulse to avoid the 9th grade application process and we knew lots of families that left earlier.

[Anonymous]

Number of families leaving = less than 5 families

[Anonymous]

Norwood mom here- more than 5 families have left- that's a fact. We are still there but considering leaving next year.