SSFS Will Stay Open

[Anonymous]

The cash infusion will help the books, but the enrollment problem is the problem.

Time being spent on the 90 families who chose not to enroll back in January is where the helpful information lies. They need to get real about the product they are selling and how to make it better rather than blame this on the federal govt, the previous head or the pandemic. Its the product.

97 kids in the entire US (and likely mostly juniors and seniors) is not a vibrant high school. The most helpful part of the call was the transparency around the actually enrollment numbers to date and its unlikely that they are going to sky rocket up after that call which was weird and sad.

The school should consider re-shaping itself into something new - certainly not a PK-12 anymore, but maybe a 6-12 or a K-8 or something aside from what its trying to be at this time.

[Anonymous]

I think the meeting went as well as it could have. Big decisions have to be made now. There will be no more real answers.

The people I've talked to are probably staying, not because they want to but because it's the only option. Fortunately we found another place to land but I want the program to succeed. Good luck to all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The cash infusion will help the books, but the enrollment problem is the problem.

Time being spent on the 90 families who chose not to enroll back in January is where the helpful information lies. They need to get real about the product they are selling and how to make it better rather than blame this on the federal govt, the previous head or the pandemic. Its the product.

97 kids in the entire US (and likely mostly juniors and seniors) is not a vibrant high school. The most helpful part of the call was the transparency around the actually enrollment numbers to date and its unlikely that they are going to sky rocket up after that call which was weird and sad.

The school should consider re-shaping itself into something new - certainly not a PK-12 anymore, but maybe a 6-12 or a K-8 or something aside from what its trying to be at this time.

Thank you. Someone who realizes there is a reason people left that isn’t outside of the schools control!

Maybe going back to basics in the short term would help. The school didn’t start as a k-12 maybe invention means to go back to an operation it can do WELL. Not just keep alive on life support.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The DOGE excuse strikes me as odd. You’re not hearing that from any of the other DMV schools. It seems like the debacle with the last HOS and the revolving door of other administrators left the school without a rudder. And the admissions strategy and effort?

DOGE absolutely has affected other schools, just not at this level. I'm sure the local economy going nuts made everything harder for SSFS, but I can't imagine it was uniquely worse there than at other schools. (I'd also think that the schools in DC proper actually have more federal employee families ...)

[Anonymous]

DOGE was discussed at various school tours we took this past month as a reason for lower enrollment numbers.

Also, let’s not forget that inflation started kicking up quite a bit last school year and could easily contribute to folks returning back to public after Covid (or cheaper options). While there are some very wealthy families at SSFS, that’s not the general vibe. Most families seem to be middle class but truly cherish what the school offers their kid so they make it work financially as best they can. This is not the same at some of the other ritzier schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The DOGE excuse strikes me as odd. You’re not hearing that from any of the other DMV schools. It seems like the debacle with the last HOS and the revolving door of other administrators left the school without a rudder. And the admissions strategy and effort?

DOGE absolutely has affected other schools, just not at this level. I'm sure the local economy going nuts made everything harder for SSFS, but I can't imagine it was uniquely worse there than at other schools. (I'd also think that the schools in DC proper actually have more federal employee families ...)

I think the key is to look at who left for public schools vs who left for other private schools. Anecdotally, I've heard that there has been a high number leaving for public, and not just at the traditional starting points (ie, not heading into 6th or 9th grade). It's also a mistake to think that only federal employees are affected by DOGE - as a federal contractor, our company and others like us are being hit hard by contract cancellations and subsequent layoffs.

[Anonymous]

Exactly. Any role that relies on the existence of a federal program or funding has been impacted. Big ripple effect.

[Anonymous]

And of course nothing was ever wrong with ssfs. It’s just all doge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And of course nothing was ever wrong with ssfs. It’s just all doge.

A lot of people left after the big tuition hike 2 years ago. So, in effect, that tuition hike which was meant to offset some of the debt likely hurt the school more than it helped. Many people just don't think SSFS is worth the money they are charging. I'm absolutely perplexed that people are sticking around and willing to pay for what is obviously going to be a rather "dead" campus - certainly not at all vibrant. I'm perplexed at the people I think are "hiding" behind some false uptopian vision they have of SSFS as being this "magical" place. I think it's false but not in a way that people are outright lying but it's like they are trying to convince themselves. My kids have been there for awhile and we have liked the school but I would hardly call it "magical". It's like those studies they do where parents say that collectively public schools are failing but when asked about their child's public school they indicate that its fabulous. Something's just not adding up here. SSFS just isn't anymore "magical" then lots of other independent schools that didn't betray their community by shutting down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And of course nothing was ever wrong with ssfs. It’s just all doge.

Literally no one here is saying that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And of course nothing was ever wrong with ssfs. It’s just all doge.

A lot of people left after the big tuition hike 2 years ago. So, in effect, that tuition hike which was meant to offset some of the debt likely hurt the school more than it helped. Many people just don't think SSFS is worth the money they are charging. I'm absolutely perplexed that people are sticking around and willing to pay for what is obviously going to be a rather "dead" campus - certainly not at all vibrant. I'm perplexed at the people I think are "hiding" behind some false uptopian vision they have of SSFS as being this "magical" place. I think it's false but not in a way that people are outright lying but it's like they are trying to convince themselves. My kids have been there for awhile and we have liked the school but I would hardly call it "magical". It's like those studies they do where parents say that collectively public schools are failing but when asked about their child's public school they indicate that its fabulous. Something's just not adding up here. SSFS just isn't anymore "magical" then lots of other independent schools that didn't betray their community by shutting down.

I’m one who left once the US hit more than I thought it was worth (the 24-25 rate). For that kind of money I needed more, or for what I was getting I need a place that charged less. And that’s where I went - a place where cost vs return made sense to me.

[Anonymous]

It might not be magical for you or your child. But it is for mine, and a lot of their classmates. We’ve been in numerous public schools, as well as another private (all due to moving and shifting during pandemic) and my kid, who was bullied and treated poorly in those places is thriving at SSFS in ways I never thought possible. There is a real reason a whole bunch of people clamored to raise this money in record time. People are staying put for good reasons and reasons that are deeply personal and it’s shitty to try to paint that as delusional. What harm does it do to just move on and stop shitting on this school all goddamn day long?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The cash infusion will help the books, but the enrollment problem is the problem.

Time being spent on the 90 families who chose not to enroll back in January is where the helpful information lies. They need to get real about the product they are selling and how to make it better rather than blame this on the federal govt, the previous head or the pandemic. It’s the product.
.

It may also be helpful to look at why students declined enrollment offers this year. My kid was in love with sandy spring, shadow days were excellent, and then he felt the interview didn’t go well. He said the person interviewing him seemed disconnected and bored and told us he was sure he would be rejected. He was accepted (maybe only because of low numbers, it’s possible he just wasn’t a good fit) but chose another school based on that experience.

I am glad the school is still going and wish the best to all the families there. It has been a rough spring for you all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No way they survive three years. Those grade levels of 10 kids are gonna self-implode sooner or later. Just too small for the social pool.

Friends Community School used to have grades that small (they've expanded since).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It might not be magical for you or your child. But it is for mine, and a lot of their classmates. We’ve been in numerous public schools, as well as another private (all due to moving and shifting during pandemic) and my kid, who was bullied and treated poorly in those places is thriving at SSFS in ways I never thought possible. There is a real reason a whole bunch of people clamored to raise this money in record time. People are staying put for good reasons and reasons that are deeply personal and it’s shitty to try to paint that as delusional. What harm does it do to just move on and stop shitting on this school all goddamn day long?

Well no, not a lot of their classmates. Some, but not enough to keep the enrollment from falling drastically. Or maybe magic wasn't enough to overcome the tuition hike.

Eyes wide open.