Anyone considering Ideaventions Academy for middle school?

[Anonymous]

I don't know anything about this school or the Ideaventions people but there is a poster on here who definitely has a personal drudge against them. They are starting a school and you don't think they are qualified? So what? Don't pay to send your kid there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am curious about a school that advertises itself at a "STEM" school, yet does not offer Algebra until 8th grade.

That is interesting because even the lowest performing FCPS middle schools offer it earlier than 8th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because they're dragging unsuspecting families into this mess at $20k+ per kid.

Right. Because people who have $20k+ to spend per child on private school are "unsuspecting fools" who can't assess what's good for their children. Or is it just that you're jealous that you'll never have that kind of money? Or perhaps you're a teacher who applied there and got rejected because your subject matter knowledge was scant and your methods utterly dull?

Who are you and why do you keep posting on this thread with such immaturity and snark? You're embarrassing yourself.

If you must know, my kids are at a VA independent school and have attended programs at ideaventions, through which we came to know the company and the family. I am not jealous and I am not a teacher. I just can see where this is headed and it's not good.

Who are you and why do you keep posting on this thread with such immaturity and snark? You are embarrassing yourself.

You just admitted you're not a teacher, so you know no more about education than the people you are attacking. They at least have taught a great many STEM classes to a highly satisfied clientele, including my family and those of several of my friends. You haven't, but somehow you have some miraculous insight that allows you to judge them before they've even opened their doors.
Presumably the STEM education your children are receiving at their VA independent school wasn't good enough that you felt the need to sign them up for enrichment at Ideaventions. Yet suddenly you decrete from the summit of your ignorance that the owners are not good enough to teach or run a school?

It is obvious that you either know them on a personal level, or even worse, you are them. You are not helping their case with your tirades.

Their "case"? They have no case to make to you, since you've failed to give any rationale for your attacks other than that you magically know better and are out to save clueless rich people from the tragedy that's about to befall their children.

I posted for the first time on page 2, at 21:57, and did not hide the fact that I know them, though I'm not sure you could call it on a "personal level." My child attended Ideaventions for four years and is mostly aging out at this point--I've had a lot of conversations with them over the years during drop-off and pick-up and I believe they're kind, honest and genuine people who are being subjected to smear tactics that on this page alone have impugned their character and competence and even attacked their kids.
You can check with Jeff whether he can detect the location I'm posting from. It's about 20mn from Oakton and I believe from their house since I know they live very close to their business. So no, I'm not "them."

In the meantime, why don't you come clean regarding your real motivations? I just remembered an incident in which my kid was punched in the stomach by another child in one of their summer camps. I was told at pick-up that that was the last of a series of rules that the perpetrator had broken and that he had been asked to leave the camp. Are you the disgruntled parent?

I'm not the pp you are going back and forth with, but you were lecturing that pp about bringing the owner's kids into the discussion, and now you are suggesting pp's child punched your child and was kicked out of the camp. Way to take the high road and keep kids out of the bickering back and forth. I'm not sure whether you have a vested interest in the school or not, but you don't come across as providing an unbiased third party opinion. Just my opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because they're dragging unsuspecting families into this mess at $20k+ per kid.

Right. Because people who have $20k+ to spend per child on private school are "unsuspecting fools" who can't assess what's good for their children. Or is it just that you're jealous that you'll never have that kind of money? Or perhaps you're a teacher who applied there and got rejected because your subject matter knowledge was scant and your methods utterly dull?

Who are you and why do you keep posting on this thread with such immaturity and snark? You're embarrassing yourself.

If you must know, my kids are at a VA independent school and have attended programs at ideaventions, through which we came to know the company and the family. I am not jealous and I am not a teacher. I just can see where this is headed and it's not good.

Who are you and why do you keep posting on this thread with such immaturity and snark? You are embarrassing yourself.

You just admitted you're not a teacher, so you know no more about education than the people you are attacking. They at least have taught a great many STEM classes to a highly satisfied clientele, including my family and those of several of my friends. You haven't, but somehow you have some miraculous insight that allows you to judge them before they've even opened their doors.
Presumably the STEM education your children are receiving at their VA independent school wasn't good enough that you felt the need to sign them up for enrichment at Ideaventions. Yet suddenly you decrete from the summit of your ignorance that the owners are not good enough to teach or run a school?

It is obvious that you either know them on a personal level, or even worse, you are them. You are not helping their case with your tirades.

Their "case"? They have no case to make to you, since you've failed to give any rationale for your attacks other than that you magically know better and are out to save clueless rich people from the tragedy that's about to befall their children.

I posted for the first time on page 2, at 21:57, and did not hide the fact that I know them, though I'm not sure you could call it on a "personal level." My child attended Ideaventions for four years and is mostly aging out at this point--I've had a lot of conversations with them over the years during drop-off and pick-up and I believe they're kind, honest and genuine people who are being subjected to smear tactics that on this page alone have impugned their character and competence and even attacked their kids.
You can check with Jeff whether he can detect the location I'm posting from. It's about 20mn from Oakton and I believe from their house since I know they live very close to their business. So no, I'm not "them."

In the meantime, why don't you come clean regarding your real motivations? I just remembered an incident in which my kid was punched in the stomach by another child in one of their summer camps. I was told at pick-up that that was the last of a series of rules that the perpetrator had broken and that he had been asked to leave the camp. Are you the disgruntled parent?

I'm not the pp you are going back and forth with, but you were lecturing that pp about bringing the owner's kids into the discussion, and now you are suggesting pp's child punched your child and was kicked out of the camp. Way to take the high road and keep kids out of the bickering back and forth. I'm not sure whether you have a vested interest in the school or not, but you don't come across as providing an unbiased third party opinion. Just my opinion.

I never stated I was unbiased. I've said repeatedly that I believe they're really good people and that my child enjoyed going to Ideaventions and I stand by that. I was very impressed when I found out a few years ago that a small business like theirs provided need-based scholarships (I believe to Oakton Elementary kids, but I'm not entirely sure). I don't know if you realize how cash-starved small businesses often are, and I know if I'd been in their shoes I would never have been that generous. So it frankly makes me angry to see them being dragged in the mud like this.

And you're right, stating that the PP is the parent of that specific child was unwarranted, although unlike her, I'm not making assumptions about whether other children were successful in a given setting. My kid really was punched. Hard. And that child was asked to leave. It's easy to imagine how someone whose child was asked to leave might harbor a grudge.

So I think it's not far-fetched at this point to think that she's a disgruntled parent. She's stated that she's not a teacher, that her children were enrolled in their classes, and that her children already attend private schools. What motivates her to relentlessly attack them like this? As others have pointed out, it's not like she's being forced to send her kids there. She could be disgruntled because the classes didn't meet her expectations, or her kids had a horrible time, or she experienced administrative headaches dealing with them, all of which would be legitimate gripes (and none of which the half dozen people I know who send their children there have ever complained about), but she's never said as much and she hasn't responded with anything substantive other than ad hominem attacks on them and on me.
If you have a better theory I'd love to hear it, although to be frank I'm starting to get tired of this discussion and I'll probably sign off.
As the proverb says, the dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because they're dragging unsuspecting families into this mess at $20k+ per kid.

Right. Because people who have $20k+ to spend per child on private school are "unsuspecting fools" who can't assess what's good for their children. Or is it just that you're jealous that you'll never have that kind of money? Or perhaps you're a teacher who applied there and got rejected because your subject matter knowledge was scant and your methods utterly dull?

Who are you and why do you keep posting on this thread with such immaturity and snark? You're embarrassing yourself.

If you must know, my kids are at a VA independent school and have attended programs at ideaventions, through which we came to know the company and the family. I am not jealous and I am not a teacher. I just can see where this is headed and it's not good.

Who are you and why do you keep posting on this thread with such immaturity and snark? You are embarrassing yourself.

You just admitted you're not a teacher, so you know no more about education than the people you are attacking. They at least have taught a great many STEM classes to a highly satisfied clientele, including my family and those of several of my friends. You haven't, but somehow you have some miraculous insight that allows you to judge them before they've even opened their doors.
Presumably the STEM education your children are receiving at their VA independent school wasn't good enough that you felt the need to sign them up for enrichment at Ideaventions. Yet suddenly you decrete from the summit of your ignorance that the owners are not good enough to teach or run a school?

It is obvious that you either know them on a personal level, or even worse, you are them. You are not helping their case with your tirades.

Their "case"? They have no case to make to you, since you've failed to give any rationale for your attacks other than that you magically know better and are out to save clueless rich people from the tragedy that's about to befall their children.

I posted for the first time on page 2, at 21:57, and did not hide the fact that I know them, though I'm not sure you could call it on a "personal level." My child attended Ideaventions for four years and is mostly aging out at this point--I've had a lot of conversations with them over the years during drop-off and pick-up and I believe they're kind, honest and genuine people who are being subjected to smear tactics that on this page alone have impugned their character and competence and even attacked their kids.
You can check with Jeff whether he can detect the location I'm posting from. It's about 20mn from Oakton and I believe from their house since I know they live very close to their business. So no, I'm not "them."

In the meantime, why don't you come clean regarding your real motivations? I just remembered an incident in which my kid was punched in the stomach by another child in one of their summer camps. I was told at pick-up that that was the last of a series of rules that the perpetrator had broken and that he had been asked to leave the camp. Are you the disgruntled parent?

I'm not the pp you are going back and forth with, but you were lecturing that pp about bringing the owner's kids into the discussion, and now you are suggesting pp's child punched your child and was kicked out of the camp. Way to take the high road and keep kids out of the bickering back and forth. I'm not sure whether you have a vested interest in the school or not, but you don't come across as providing an unbiased third party opinion. Just my opinion.

I never stated I was unbiased. I've said repeatedly that I believe they're really good people and that my child enjoyed going to Ideaventions and I stand by that. I was very impressed when I found out a few years ago that a small business like theirs provided need-based scholarships (I believe to Oakton Elementary kids, but I'm not entirely sure). I don't know if you realize how cash-starved small businesses often are, and I know if I'd been in their shoes I would never have been that generous. So it frankly makes me angry to see them being dragged in the mud like this.

And you're right, stating that the PP is the parent of that specific child was unwarranted, although unlike her, I'm not making assumptions about whether other children were successful in a given setting. My kid really was punched. Hard. And that child was asked to leave. It's easy to imagine how someone whose child was asked to leave might harbor a grudge.

So I think it's not far-fetched at this point to think that she's a disgruntled parent. She's stated that she's not a teacher, that her children were enrolled in their classes, and that her children already attend private schools. What motivates her to relentlessly attack them like this? As others have pointed out, it's not like she's being forced to send her kids there. She could be disgruntled because the classes didn't meet her expectations, or her kids had a horrible time, or she experienced administrative headaches dealing with them, all of which would be legitimate gripes (and none of which the half dozen people I know who send their children there have ever complained about), but she's never said as much and she hasn't responded with anything substantive other than ad hominem attacks on them and on me.
If you have a better theory I'd love to hear it, although to be frank I'm starting to get tired of this discussion and I'll probably sign off.
As the proverb says, the dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.

You are seriously unhinged. First of all, to assume that an anonymous poster on a public forum is disagreeing with you because their child must have been the one who punched yours?
Secondly, I have read the entire thread and I don't see where anyone is being "dragged through the mud." I did see where the owner's motives and qualifications were questioned. I think you need to relax a little and realize that this is just not about you.

[Anonymous]

I just met the founder of the school at the Science and Engineering Expo at the Convention center. It seems like a fascinating idea. Some of the kids from the school were there and showing the work that they completed. The cost of the school isn't *that* high considering how much private schools generally cost, and the fee includes all fees. Just wondering if there are any new thoughts about the school? Constructive ones only please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am curious about a school that advertises itself at a "STEM" school, yet does not offer Algebra until 8th grade.

That is interesting because even the lowest performing FCPS middle schools offer it earlier than 8th grade.

My son was offered Algebra in 5th grade at Ideaventions Academy. Math is individually paced, using Redbird/EPGY.
We are *very* happy parents. If you are considering sending your child, and would like to ask questions of a current parent, please feel free to call me: Elizabeth, 703-448-6873.

[Anonymous]

Ideaventions Academy is the first AdvancED STEM-Certified in Viriginia as of today -- October 23, 2017!-- Impressive!! ...

https://www.ideaventionsacademy.org/

https://www.ideaventionsacademy.org/uploads/3/1/3/4/31341577/ia_new_stem_certification_press_release__1_.pdf

[Anonymous]

mmmm.. Do they even have a building?

Who would spend their kid to Private school? Someone whose kid is already in Private school, someone who wants to avoid a bad AAP MS (e.g. Luther Jackson), or someone who wants to get into TJ.

The first group is already in a Pvt school. Why should they move?

The second group has many choices. For example, Basis HS is a great STEM school that has a track record. Why bother going to IV? Isn't Basis cheaper as well?

The third group is likely cost conscious. They would rather have their kid go to a public MS and supplement at one of the many weekend options (again with solid track records of getting into TJ).

Not sure I see the value proposition here..

[Anonymous]

We are happy Ideaventions Academy high school parents. There is a tremendous value proposition here, for people who care about the emotional environment as well as academics.

Our older daughter attended BASIS high school last year -- straight A's, received one of the "Show-Take-Make" spirit of the school awards.

She is now at our local public school.

Many families that switch schools are reticent about why, for good reason.

We thought we would give our two ninth graders their own spaces, with one at Ideaventions Academy and one in the honors classes at the local public school.

Ideaventions was so much better -- really, no comparison.
We now have two ninth-graders at Ideaventions.

Ideaventions is well worth considering.

[Anonymous]

PP 11/16

To clarify: Ideaventions offers only grade nine this year; they plan to offer tenth and eleventh grades next year.

[Anonymous]

How many 9th graders are currently at Ideaventions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are happy Ideaventions Academy high school parents. There is a tremendous value proposition here, for people who care about the emotional environment as well as academics.

Our older daughter attended BASIS high school last year -- straight A's, received one of the "Show-Take-Make" spirit of the school awards.

She is now at our local public school.

Many families that switch schools are reticent about why, for good reason.

We thought we would give our two ninth graders their own spaces, with one at Ideaventions Academy and one in the honors classes at the local public school.

Ideaventions was so much better -- really, no comparison.
We now have two ninth-graders at

Ideaventions is well worth considering.

Could you describe in more detail what is better about Ideaventions than public school or BASIS? I would have assumed that there would be similar challenges in opening new schools in NoVa. What did your student not like about BASIS? Any insight/advice you are willing to provide would be helpful.

[Anonymous]

Happy Ideaventions Academy high school parent responding.

IDV's engineering and CS classes are phenomenal.
IDV's parent community is warm and welcoming.

Put the two together, and you get this: https://www.facebook.com/ideaventionsacademy/posts/2042540659330386

For ninth grade in particular, I would say the big differences between IDV and FCPS are size and academic level. (FCPS academics are great by the time you reach AP courses in grade eleven.)

IDV caps class sizes at ten, which allows teachers to really know each student well and tutor individually. (I've taught high school: there is a tipping point around fifteen.)
On the other hand, FCPS schools have robust sports, music, and extra-curricular programs made possible by their large size.

The IDV students all know each other well, and there is a spirit of congenial collaboration and encouragement, respect for differences, and appreciation for each other.
FCPS ... can be overwhelming if you don't know people already, because of the size.

IDV allows qualified students to take AP science and computer science starting in ninth grade, compared with eleventh grade for FCPS (and tenth for BASIS).
IDV - though it bills itself as a math and science school - has incredible depth and rigor in its History and English courses. Our children are writing, regularly, 5- and 10-page papers such as we weren't doing until college.

Comparing IDV to BASIS, the main differences come down to size (discussed above) and focus. BASIS is very test-focussed. IDV is more lab- and depth-focussed.

This means IDV has an unusually sweet non-competitive environment: the students help each other in a very natural way, and appreciate each other's strengths. They are very much "all in this together."
And the teachers and leaders truly care about your child.

Comparing IDV to BASIS financially, IDV is less expensive. The annual tuition is comparable, but at IDV it is an all-inclusive number, whereas at BASIS there were many extra costs: daily lunch, books, field trips, student activity fee, AP tests, clubs, extra-curricular activities, bus service. The only add-on at IDV is the optional year-end trip; the base tuition charge covers everything on that list.

IDV has seven students in grade nine this year. It would consider growing the class to as large as ten.

Any other questions? Happy to oblige.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the helpful response, PP.

How much homework do the kids get? How much are they focused on "academic rigor" versus exploration, projects, and creativity? What do students do for extracurriculars given the small school size?

Also, did your kid attend the middle school, and what was that like compared to the high school?