Private School for Ordinary Middle Class Family

[Anonymous]

I recommend NPS, but I also have a dear spot in my heart for Maret. I also agree with the earlier posts about not ruling out schools with larger endowments. NPS is great, but there's more financial support available at other schools.

[Anonymous]

I will chime in for Sheridan. We love the school and have been there for 6 years. Its a special place that feels like home to both of our kids. They really work hard to make sure everyone feels welcome and a part.

[Anonymous]

Definitely look at Norwood. It has been such a warm and nurturing home for our family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is absurd. The average family in a DC private does not even live in a $2M house. Give me a break. So a $20M is clearly an outlier. How many of you have been to a LOT of play dates at $20M homes?

I know a lot of very rich families. Several have 5 mil houses. I don't know anyone with a 20mil house.

[Anonymous]

+1. Not many $20,000,000 homes in DC.

[Anonymous]

There are several $2M homes owned by families at our school- but I'd guess just as many $800k homes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can speak to Sheridan, as we have been a family there for years now -- like St Pats, there is definitely great wealth there too, and also normal middle class folks, but EVERYONE there is made to feel equal and people are not showy about their wealth. You honestly don't know folks are loaded until you get invited for a play date at their $2M CC/Bethesda/NW home, and even then, there is no pretense, just love for the kids, and a sense of community. We are not at all wealthy and have always felt perfectly comfortable at Sheridan, including at the auction, where money is being thrown around. There is something for everyone to buy at the auction (I scored items for $40 & $60 each this past year). There is a real culture of embracing everyone at Sheridan. Its a wonderful school, academically and socially and we'd love to have you come take a look at it if you are looking for a lovely community for your family.

No offense, but I wouldn't call 2M house "loaded," by most DC private school standards. At DCs' school "loaded" means 10-20mil. Just saying. 2M is about the average. Not saying that's good or bad, but pointing this out.

Really stupid remark--just sayin'

[Anonymous]

I would look into Browne Academy for your child. It's in Alexandria, and it has small class sizes and teachers who work very hard to provide an individualized program for the kids.

[Anonymous]

OP, I haven't read all these posts, but I'd suggest gently you might try out your public before jumping ship. Many of us (most? all?) on DCUM are convinced that our kids are bright/special/extraordinary, and I suspect most of us highly value education and would prefer to have our kids in the best possible schools with small classes etc. But you'd be surprised at how well a good teacher handles a large elementary class. My active, sensitive bright boy did very well at an MCPS elementary that feeds into BCC, despite our concerns. And we can afford to give him any enrichment and tutoring that he needs and wants, send him to whatever camps interest him, etc. You can always apply for grade 3 if you're unhappy with what you find.

[Anonymous]

Give Friends Community School a try.

[Anonymous]

As a general rule, if you want to know about a school -public or private talk to someone who went there, preferably for more than one year. There are many misunderstandings in the NW DC BCC community about what its "really like" at public school and what its "really like" at private school. All of the schools that OP mentioned, public and private, are good-- the difference lies in the teacher that your child has, and that if there is an issue with that teacher what the administrators can/will do about it. There are great and horrible teachers at every school, but if you have no recourse, then you will have a very unpleasant and long year.

[Anonymous]

Take a look at Grace Episcopal in Kensington. Very friendly, low-key parent culture and a great diverse community. The school has a wonderful nurturing, caring atmosphere that emphasizes good citizenship and kindness towards others. The faculty is great, especially since the new head came on board last year. I'm a long time parent and I really can't say enough positive things about the curriculum (responsive classroom), the culture, and the community. They are also doing some great outdoor ed on their campus, and incorporate science and art throughout the curriculum. Their emissions are strong, with most going to top privates or MoCo magnets. My older two are thriving at their respective schools, and were very well prepared (one is in a MoCo GT program and the other is at St. Andrew's Episcopal). They are having an open house Jan 11.

[Anonymous]

PP here again -
My youngest is still at Grace, and I will be so sad when it's time for her to move on! All three of my kids started when they were three. Small classes, amazing teachers. And FWIW, we also do modest beach vaca's and drive old cars, as many families at Grace do.

[Anonymous]

WhAt is the $/snobby situation at Primary Day??