Private schools with nice kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Burgundy Farm. My kid started in sixth grade, and it is a warm, accepting and kind culture. Kids are kids but the culture is stated and emphasized.

DC’s bestie in MS left Burgundy Farm after poorly handled bullying incidents.

This was pre-Covid, so it’s been years, and I don’t say this as a ding on Burgundy Farm, which I’ve also heard great things about. I say it only to emphasize what other commenters have said — it depends entirely on any given class or grade in any given year.

I am sure this is true, but the culture at Burgundy, very accepting, is different than other privates in our experience. Both of our kids starting at the same private and then we moved them to Burgundy and then both kids going to different private high schools. All toll, we have experience with three other privates. There it was class by class and also the age (aka worse in 9th vs 11th for example).

[Anonymous]

Second Burgundy Farm. LS teachers foster friendships and kindness in the classroom. Wonderful community, and kids are valued for who they are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with privates is that the toxic kids have a lot more power, and tend to have a ripple effect so that a few bad kids can control the culture of the entire grade. So even if 90% of the kids are nice, the overall experience is bad.
Stay in public! if you are worried about academic rigor, just do AAP and load on honors and AP classes in HS!
We have three kids who have been in both and public always is a way more pleasant experience.

This is very good advice

This is very true. Children of faculty and staff and large donors have outsized power. Ask around and if current students can recognize this dynamic, you should stay away.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:We chose St. Andrew's because it was supposed to have nice kids, and we have been incredibly disappointed on that front. I think it all might depend on the class.

Every school depends on the class

This. One year might have lots of nice kids. Another year might not have as many.

This is true. Definitely depends on the class.

Aren’t all the problem kids in public?

Fascinating.

The disruptive or violent kids are in public. The admissions team weeds them out effectively and kids do get kicked out of private.

The behavior problems in private are more subtle like mean girl behavior or low key bullying. It is unfortunate and harder to deal with. It exists in public too of course.

I'm going to disagree that the disruptive kids are only in public. There are PLENTY of disruptive kids in private schools. Often times, it comes down to who will fill a seat and pay full tuition.

[Anonymous]

Another vote for Langley

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We chose St. Andrew's because it was supposed to have nice kids, and we have been incredibly disappointed on that front. I think it all might depend on the class.

+1 This was precisely why we chose St. Andrew’s and was exactly our sentiment, “incredibly disappointed on that front”. We ended up leaving the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have an 8yo DD and trying to decide what is best for her. She has two older siblings both thriving in FCPS. My DD is more shy and less confident. She in the AAP program and getting what she needs academically. We are at an AAP center with strong science, math, engineering, band and orchestra. This area (McLean) is very competitive and I don’t think this is the necessarily the best environment for her.

The kids we know who are at certain private schools are not the nicest kids so not sure if those schools would even be better for our daughter. DD plays sports but not at a competitive level. She swims, plays tennis, soccer, golf and soccer at a very beginner level.

What schools are known for having really nice kids?

DD has had some issues with friends this year and think this would be a good excuse to try private. DH thinks the private school mean girls will be worse.

Not Holton if she is a nerd.

[Anonymous]

Norwood!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We chose St. Andrew's because it was supposed to have nice kids, and we have been incredibly disappointed on that front. I think it all might depend on the class.

+1 This was precisely why we chose St. Andrew’s and was exactly our sentiment, “incredibly disappointed on that front”. We ended up leaving the school.

We should have left. Disastrous socially for our very sweet kid.

[Anonymous]

It always depends on the cohort and class. I don't think you can ever generalize.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another vote for Langley

And another here! We had to leave for budgetary reasons but would have loved to stay in what is now the 4th grade class.