Anonymous wrote:Class sizes are not too big, the community is close-knit (many families remain on the school ground and surrounding park well after school hours), the kids seem to stay friends through MS and HS. It has a more suburban feel than Murch or the Janney site (AU Park has a more suburban feel, but the school itself is right off Wisconsin Ave), but not like in MoCo - kids and dropped off and picked up at the school, which fosters the community feel. The school will be vastly improved once the renovations are completed. Diversity, which is a big factor for many in choosing DC schools, is more multicultural than, say socioeconomic, but your child(ren) will be surrounded by children of many different backgrounds.
Incidentally, I don't think you could go wrong with Janney, Murch, or Mann either (or several other schools in the area - I don't mean to leave anyone out) - they just each have their own character. You asked about Lafayette, though, so I think it makes sense to stick to your question. And, if you are limited in how much time you will have to look around, I think you will do well with CCDC.
What about Eaton? I don't hear much about it, especially when mentioned along with Janney, Lafayette and Mann.
Eaton, too. It's why I said I didn't mean to leave anyone out. It does depend on what OP is looking for, though. If the starting place is Lafayette, then perhaps that's the feel OP is going for? Eaton has a different feel - not worse, not better, just different. OP may not have a lot of time to check out every school, either, so, to the extent OP is trying to get a sense about Lafayette, I thought I might just stick with that.
Deal and Wilson for HS are fine schools. Great? No, not really, but they offer many incredible experiences that your child will never get in a suburban HS. Some would argue that more than makes up any academic difference that may exist.
What academic differences?
NP here. No idea. All I know is that many of my neighbors kids at top SLAC or Ivys went to Wilson. We've had babysitters who are now at Columbia, Swarthmore, Wesleyan, NYU, Yale and Colby.
PP here: That's been our experience too. And judging from my kids' classmates in ES and MS, it will be much the same for years to come.
You are right, but the perception is there nonetheless. Otherwise you simply wouldn't see people choosing to move at the end of ES because of the schools. That said, I said any academic difference that "may" exist - I think I tried to keep it pretty neutral. But, if we all want to suggest that Wilson is just as good as Whitman and BCC in all things, that's fine, too. Whatever makes you happy.
No one from our ES moved to MoCo at the end of ES. Not. One. Kid. Out of about 90. And no one said "just as good in all things," but you said Deal and Wilson are "fine. Great? Not really." That was not neutral. But whatever makes you happy.
Ok. I'll bite.
Perhaps I am wrong. Or, at least my wording wasn't neutral enough. I've known people who have left because of the schools. Or, that's what they said, anyway. It appears, in your case, no one did. That's fantastic - and about time, really. I'm curious if that's normal?
And I do think Deal and Wilson are good schools. But, there is still a perception out there that they are not good enough. Maybe it's totally unwarranted, but it's there. That's what I meant by my comments. Then again, given the backlash I got for mentioning that perception, maybe I'm the only one who thinks that. Who knows.
As for perceptions, we did DCPS through 5th, then Middle in private, Wilson for HS. First graduating kid scored 2330 on first SAT, and is up for great options for college. Wilson for sure is good enough if you work it.
Anonymous wrote:As for perceptions, we did DCPS through 5th, then Middle in private, Wilson for HS. First graduating kid scored 2330 on first SAT, and is up for great options for college. Wilson for sure is good enough if you work it.
That's terrific, and congratulations. It's stories like this that change perceptions. Including mine.
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