Why is everyone at SR leaving?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a flat out lie. The departures were NOT announced.

Not a lie at all. Current parent here. Take a look at your Thursday page from May 21. I didn't notice at first either because I always jump to the upper school section.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Will the school advise which teachers are leaving? (and arriving for that matter). Our other schools have always done this.

The list of teachers leaving was shared with the community through their weekly communication. A handful were planned retirements.

This is false. This info was not shared.
- US parent

Yes they were. Look at the May 21 Thursday page. I would share the verbiage here, but that would be inappropriate.

[Anonymous]

I'm very worried about SR. It feels like the school is spiralling right now. The HoS had been a force for years at SR; maybe it is time for her to step back and allow new leadership to bring back life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm very worried about SR. It feels like the school is spiralling right now. The HoS had been a force for years at SR; maybe it is time for her to step back and allow new leadership to bring back life.

+1. New leadership is greatly needed.

[Anonymous]

This whole thread is so bizarre. I have two daughters at SR, it is not a perfect school but we think it's a great fit for our family. Leadership is accessible and warm, the girls have normal teenage girl drama and are also getting a strong education. I can't imagine why people are attending the school and paying upwards of $50k per year to go on an anonymous message board to say it's spiraling. Maybe this place is not for you? Enrollment is at an all time high and they are turning away a lot of applicants so if you really think it's awful perhaps give your spot to one of the many girls on the wait list right now. There are so many other options for you to complain about!

[Anonymous]

The personality of the school has changed dramatically in the last 5-10 years, and not for the better. Many alums would not send their own daughters there today. The academics continue to be strong. The issues are the social and athletic cultures (to include both the girls and their parents).

[Anonymous]

What about the athletic culture?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm very worried about SR. It feels like the school is spiralling right now. The HoS had been a force for years at SR; maybe it is time for her to step back and allow new leadership to bring back life.

Spiraling? Are you actually a part of the community?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This whole thread is so bizarre. I have two daughters at SR, it is not a perfect school but we think it's a great fit for our family. Leadership is accessible and warm, the girls have normal teenage girl drama and are also getting a strong education. I can't imagine why people are attending the school and paying upwards of $50k per year to go on an anonymous message board to say it's spiraling. Maybe this place is not for you? Enrollment is at an all time high and they are turning away a lot of applicants so if you really think it's awful perhaps give your spot to one of the many girls on the wait list right now. There are so many other options for you to complain about!

My thoughts exactly! SR isn’t for everyone but I wouldn’t be paying $50k a year for a school that was “spiraling”

[Anonymous]

The social culture is not great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The social culture is not great.

Grade specific or just in general? Have heard some stories about a few Highschool grades but thought maybe it was grade specific because of the parents' influence in those grades?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This whole thread is so bizarre. I have two daughters at SR, it is not a perfect school but we think it's a great fit for our family. Leadership is accessible and warm, the girls have normal teenage girl drama and are also getting a strong education. I can't imagine why people are attending the school and paying upwards of $50k per year to go on an anonymous message board to say it's spiraling. Maybe this place is not for you? Enrollment is at an all time high and they are turning away a lot of applicants so if you really think it's awful perhaps give your spot to one of the many girls on the wait list right now. There are so many other options for you to complain about!

My thoughts exactly! SR isn’t for everyone but I wouldn’t be paying $50k a year for a school that was “spiraling”

I wouldn't pay $50,000 a year for SR when MCPS is beyond better. STEM alone, Science, college acceptances...

[Anonymous]

Have 2 recent graduates. Both MCPS through 8th grade. Do not think they would have had the same strong college outcomes had they stayed in MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So the complaint about Catherine is that she cries? Seriously?

In my two decade association with SR I have seen her take the school through COVID, multiple successful funding rounds, renewed emphasis on sports, and a re-build of a good portion of the school’s physical plant. She’s been both True Blue and Bold Gold.

Agreed this is a silly complaint. Catherine is fine. Let’s keep the focus on the middle school head and the not great impact she is having.

[Anonymous]

SR is a mess and has been for years. They can’t keep teachers or administrators to save their life. Last year, they had three admin leave alone. The old MS head left for the same assistant head role they had available at SR. The fact that she wouldn’t stay to do that same work is pretty telling. There seems to be a lot of instability that makes it hard for people to actually want to stay. This unfortunately affects the girls and the quality of the programming.