Browne vs. Burgundy Farm - middle school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What high school is most like Burgundy?

More Burgundy students go to TC Williams than any other because they are Alexandria City residents and there is a bias among Burgundy parents to be part of the public school system. Every 3-4 years, the TC valedictorian or salutatorian is a Burgundy grad. For average Burgundy students, Field and Burke would be similar independent schools. For strong students, it would be GDS. GDS has been the most popular high school to apply at Burgundy, but enrollment (don't know how many acceptances) has been pretty much limited to 1 or 2 students while SFS and StA/NCS are typically 0-1 students.

Um, no. Looking at Burgundy exmissions over the last half dozen years, it is rare for more than a handful of kids from each graduating class to go to TC (typically, it's 3 or 4 or 5 a year). Burgundy kids go all over. My older DC's graduating class had several kids at Burke, several at Field, a couple each at NCS, Episcopal, Maret and GDS, a couple at Madeira, a couple at places like Gonzaga and St Anselms, and then it was all over the map: a few kids to other NoVa public schools,a few to other parochials, a couple to TJ, a few to out of state boarding schools, some to schools in other states b/c families moved, etc. My younger child's class had four or five to Flint Hill, which got popular with Burgundy kids b/c the HoS's child went there. Burgundy kids tend not to go to Holton, Bullis, St Andrews bc they are just too long of a commute, but they are distributed at all the big DC privates and NoVa private and public schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What high school is most like Burgundy?

I'd say Burke and Field are most Burgundy-ish. Among public schools in DC, Walls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is Peggy Otey, Head of School at Browne Academy, and I wanted to reach out on this thread. I am proud of our school’s program, teachers, and our families’ commitment to the core values of Excellence, Diversity, Character, and Community. No school is the perfect fit for every single child, and the greater community is fortunate to have so many wonderful schools in this area from which to choose. At our school, we teach our students that sources must be current, credible, and correct and never to accept “anonymous” as a valid source. I encourage current families to talk directly with me when they have questions or concerns, and I invite any prospective family to visit our campus and gain first-hand knowledge of Browne so that they are able to make an informed decision about what is best for their child and family. I have tremendous respect for Burgundy Farm Country Day’s head of school, and I am certain he would also welcome you to his campus. I am delighted to answer any questions you may have. Please email me at [e-mail] or call 703-960-3000.

This is why I love Browne!

Me too! Love the community and Peggy Otey.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, both my kids recently graduated from Burgundy. It is far from perfect (we thought the lower school was stronger and more even than the middle school), but overall it was a very nurturing place and the kids have a lot of independence. We loved the fact that it gently pushes all kids to perform and speak in public. I was recently back for the alumni panel (where grads speak to current 8th graders about their high school experiences) and multiple alums spoke about how well they felt Burgundy had prepared them to speak publicly, self-advocate and communicate well with adults.

I have had various complaints about Burgundy middle school in the past but the new MS head is getting rave reviews from families I know who still have kids there.

Browne.... meh. Honestly if you have any interest in a progressive school, it is not the place for your child.

Also: Burgundy was the first integrated school in Virginia! Just saying.

So what? That was decades ago. The school lacks diversity today. There is a skew towards white, progressive, elites.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, both my kids recently graduated from Burgundy. It is far from perfect (we thought the lower school was stronger and more even than the middle school), but overall it was a very nurturing place and the kids have a lot of independence. We loved the fact that it gently pushes all kids to perform and speak in public. I was recently back for the alumni panel (where grads speak to current 8th graders about their high school experiences) and multiple alums spoke about how well they felt Burgundy had prepared them to speak publicly, self-advocate and communicate well with adults.

I have had various complaints about Burgundy middle school in the past but the new MS head is getting rave reviews from families I know who still have kids there.

Browne.... meh. Honestly if you have any interest in a progressive school, it is not the place for your child.

Also: Burgundy was the first integrated school in Virginia! Just saying.

So what? That was decades ago. The school lacks diversity today. There is a skew towards white, progressive, elites.

Burgundy is 39% students of color.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GO. BURGUNDY.

The social climate there is unbelievable. Especially with older kids, if your 7th/8th grader is fine dumbing themselves down, not trying, and vaping, Browne is for you. My DC got bullied at Browne. It depends on the class, but honest to god our DC did not mix well at all. Kids will ridicule your child if they aren't a good fit, and the teachers don't do jack.

Please go Burgundy.

Wow! We’re at Browne now and have concerns, wish I could pick your brain. The social scene is very tough at Browne given the small size and our kids are definitely victims of bullies with little action from the teachers or administration. Also, the caliber of students they admit or allow to stay is astounding. One parent commented to me that this place is turning into a refuge for SSSAS rejects and PG county parents escaping their public school system. The most disruptive students with very clear behavioral issues are allowed to stay because the school has such low enrollment. Current 3rd grade class has only 7 kids.

Racist are we????

[Anonymous]

Alex, I'll take "Two School Nobody Has Ever Heard of" for $500

[Anonymous]

lol Burgundy kids do not go to TC. The ones I know who went public in 9th went to FCPS not TC.

[Anonymous]

Browne is a tiny school that charges as much as other privates and doesn’t offer much in return other than tiny class sizes. It’s public school education for a small group of kids. If overcrowding is an issue than visit the school, but social dynamic is rough given the extreme small class sizes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Browne is a tiny school that charges as much as other privates and doesn’t offer much in return other than tiny class sizes. It’s public school education for a small group of kids. If overcrowding is an issue than visit the school, but social dynamic is rough given the extreme small class sizes.

I can imagine this. I went to a Christian private with tiny class size in elementary and I left in 3rd grade. If you weren’t part of the ONE social group your life was miserable. Versus in a big school there were more groups and things to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Alex, I'll take "Two School Nobody Has Ever Heard of" for $500

If you lived in Alexandria, you would have heard of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What high school is most like Burgundy?

More Burgundy students go to TC Williams than any other because they are Alexandria City residents and there is a bias among Burgundy parents to be part of the public school system. Every 3-4 years, the TC valedictorian or salutatorian is a Burgundy grad. For average Burgundy students, Field and Burke would be similar independent schools. For strong students, it would be GDS. GDS has been the most popular high school to apply at Burgundy, but enrollment (don't know how many acceptances) has been pretty much limited to 1 or 2 students while SFS and StA/NCS are typically 0-1 students.

A few years ago that was true - especially during the recession years. In the past few graduating classes, it’s only been a couple kids who go to TC or any public school. Also, more kids are coming from areas other than Alexandria City. In the past 10 yrs, some City elementary schools really did improve enough for parents to want to send their kids to them so the demand for private dipped a bit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What high school is most like Burgundy?

More Burgundy students go to TC Williams than any other because they are Alexandria City residents and there is a bias among Burgundy parents to be part of the public school system. Every 3-4 years, the TC valedictorian or salutatorian is a Burgundy grad. For average Burgundy students, Field and Burke would be similar independent schools. For strong students, it would be GDS. GDS has been the most popular high school to apply at Burgundy, but enrollment (don't know how many acceptances) has been pretty much limited to 1 or 2 students while SFS and StA/NCS are typically 0-1 students.

A few years ago that was true - especially during the recession years. In the past few graduating classes, it’s only been a couple kids who go to TC or any public school. Also, more kids are coming from areas other than Alexandria City. In the past 10 yrs, some City elementary schools really did improve enough for parents to want to send their kids to them so the demand for private dipped a bit.

Where are the Burgundy 2020 kids going to high school? Burgundy hasn’t announced it at all. Poor results?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What high school is most like Burgundy?

More Burgundy students go to TC Williams than any other because they are Alexandria City residents and there is a bias among Burgundy parents to be part of the public school system. Every 3-4 years, the TC valedictorian or salutatorian is a Burgundy grad. For average Burgundy students, Field and Burke would be similar independent schools. For strong students, it would be GDS. GDS has been the most popular high school to apply at Burgundy, but enrollment (don't know how many acceptances) has been pretty much limited to 1 or 2 students while SFS and StA/NCS are typically 0-1 students.

A few years ago that was true - especially during the recession years. In the past few graduating classes, it’s only been a couple kids who go to TC or any public school. Also, more kids are coming from areas other than Alexandria City. In the past 10 yrs, some City elementary schools really did improve enough for parents to want to send their kids to them so the demand for private dipped a bit.

Where are the Burgundy 2020 kids going to high school? Burgundy hasn’t announced it at all. Poor results?

I don't believe not announcing is poor results. It seems to be standard practice regardless of good or bad year, and I don't like those terms good or bad. But perhaps announcing is delayed with all the focus on Covid etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What high school is most like Burgundy?

More Burgundy students go to TC Williams than any other because they are Alexandria City residents and there is a bias among Burgundy parents to be part of the public school system. Every 3-4 years, the TC valedictorian or salutatorian is a Burgundy grad. For average Burgundy students, Field and Burke would be similar independent schools. For strong students, it would be GDS. GDS has been the most popular high school to apply at Burgundy, but enrollment (don't know how many acceptances) has been pretty much limited to 1 or 2 students while SFS and StA/NCS are typically 0-1 students.

A few years ago that was true - especially during the recession years. In the past few graduating classes, it’s only been a couple kids who go to TC or any public school. Also, more kids are coming from areas other than Alexandria City. In the past 10 yrs, some City elementary schools really did improve enough for parents to want to send their kids to them so the demand for private dipped a bit.

Where are the Burgundy 2020 kids going to high school? Burgundy hasn’t announced it at all. Poor results?

They probably haven't got around to it. You could email them and ask if you would like to know. My child graduated in recent years and as I noted less and less kids were from Alexandria City and post recession more parents were seeking private school.

The admissions are usually for the local VA privates and some of the DC private schools. If you are really interested, if you go back for the last 15 years, the high school admissions are consistent for the same set of schools with one or two outliers every year. Public school becomes more popular during recession years for obvious reasons.