MS/HS -- high expectations but not a pressure cooker?

[Anonymous]

Does such a place exist? For a sharp, athletic boy currently in public school -- where he's not really challenged and doesn't really challenge himself. We're looking for a place with high expectations (which DS will rise to meet), but within a collaborative rather than competitive environment (DS is quite competitive by nature, and a competitive academic environment is the "other extreme" that we're not seeking for him). Many thanks in advance for suggestions (ideally convenient to NW DC).

[Anonymous]

GDS maybe but he would have to have the grades to get in.

[Anonymous]

St. Anselm's Abbey. Not in NW DC, but the metro accessible with their school shuttle and plenty of carpooling from different parts of town.

[Anonymous]

If he is athletic, Gonzaga has a nice balance of excellent academics and a fun sporty environment. He can definitely be challenged there.

[Anonymous]

Check out St. Andrews' -- yes, it is in technically in Potomac but the bus service is very good from places like Friendship Heights, Chevy Chase Circle, and other stops. Why -- because if you have a smart kid who isn't being challenged and isn't challenging himself, that speaks to motivation -- and motivating that type of kid is one of the long-time sweet spots of the school. Just to give one concrete example, the school gives effort grades" in addition to academic grades every trimester. It maintains "effort" as well as academic "honor rolls." May sound old fashion in some ways, but these and other practices are very good motivators without creating a "pressure cooker" environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Check out St. Andrews' -- yes, it is in technically in Potomac but the bus service is very good from places like Friendship Heights, Chevy Chase Circle, and other stops. Why -- because if you have a smart kid who isn't being challenged and isn't challenging himself, that speaks to motivation -- and motivating that type of kid is one of the long-time sweet spots of the school. Just to give one concrete example, the school gives effort grades" in addition to academic grades every trimester. It maintains "effort" as well as academic "honor rolls." May sound old fashion in some ways, but these and other practices are very good motivators without creating a "pressure cooker" environment.

Agree. Our oldest went to a pressure cooker that reinforced his competitive nature. We wanted something else for our younger child and have found it at St. Andrew's. The academics are just as strong, but the culture is much more encouraging, with an emphasis on collaboration and self-knowledge. We love what the school has done for our student. (Also love the reliable and convenient bus service.)

[Anonymous]

I also suggest looking at St. John's. My son was in a similar situation in a good public school system- but he quickly figured out how to easily maintain A's with little effort. At St. John's the honors classes are truly honors classes and the kids are held accountable - unlike our public school system kids cannot retake tests and they have midterm and final exams. My son also plays a sport, which is a big commitment of time, but has helped him with time management.

[Anonymous]

I second the recommendation for St. Anselm's. It is an amazing school that expects a lot from the boys but in a very gentle way.

[Anonymous]

Interesting that, aside from the (questionable) nod to GDS, all of the schools suggested here are religious.

[Anonymous]

If you are satisfied with Bs, GDS isn't very stressful. If you need to get all As, it definitely is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I also suggest looking at St. John's. My son was in a similar situation in a good public school system- but he quickly figured out how to easily maintain A's with little effort. At St. John's the honors classes are truly honors classes and the kids are held accountable - unlike our public school system kids cannot retake tests and they have midterm and final exams. My son also plays a sport, which is a big commitment of time, but has helped him with time management.

OP, if you're open to transferring in to a middle school and then applying for HS, I'd second this recommendation for St. John's College HS. Our son moved from public school to Washington Episcopal School - WES - for middle school, and then onto SJC. It's been a transformative experience. WES has a fantastic middle school - the teachers and curriculum inspired my son, who had tuned out of public. Socially, the kids were happy to welcome a new classmate (typically a handful of kids transfer in for the WES middle school, so he wasn't the only one). The required athletics are a great way to acclimate the kids. The coaching staff is fabulous - they really know how to coach, yet they're not over the top about it. It was my son's first experience on so many teams, and he loved it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GDS maybe but he would have to have the grades to get in.

Absolutely a pressure cooker - I disagree with the pp's advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS maybe but he would have to have the grades to get in.

Absolutely a pressure cooker - I disagree with the pp's advice.

+1. No different than Sidwell. Lots and lots of homework. Lots of pressure and veiled competition. Some kids thrive on this, but if your kid doesn't...

[Anonymous]

I respectfully disagree. My kid at GDS has homework but doesn't stress out if he doesn't get it all done. He gets mostly Bs and is fine with that. He doesn't play a sport so he gets home at a decent hour and gets enough sleep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I respectfully disagree. My kid at GDS has homework but doesn't stress out if he doesn't get it all done. He gets mostly Bs and is fine with that. He doesn't play a sport so he gets home at a decent hour and gets enough sleep.

Is your kid in high school at GDS?