Burgundy Farm

Anonymous
Can somebody tell me what the starting age at Burgundy Farm is in Alexandria? Perhaps I'm missing something but I swear I've searched their entire website and can't figure out what the age is for the junior kindergarten. Is it 3, 4?

Also, they say that a teacher recommendation is required for all students (including junior kindergarten). I guess this means that your child is required to go to pre-school prior to junior kindergarten? I guess this makes sense if the age is 4...

Can somebody just let me know? I like what I've read about the school, but just can't figure this out.
Anonymous
Junior Kindergarten at Burgundy is for 4 year olds. When we were looking to apply there, it was not mandatory to have a year of preschool completed, but it was highly recommended for obvious reasons. It is a pretty expensive JK program, but if your heart is set on Burgundy, it is your best chance to get in--up to 16 slots available (less siblings of current students, of course.) If you wait to apply for K, there will generally be fewer than 10 slots. It is a lovely school--warm, nurturing, hands-on, lots of arts, and good exmissions.
Anonymous
Wow, fewer than 10 spots for K. I was looking at Burgundy also but had no idea there would be so few spaces. To the PP who is a Burgundy parent, do you know if the kids tend to stay there through all 8 grades or is there a lot of attrition at the upper levels?

It does seem like a wonderfully warm place that kids would just love, though it seems on the expensive side.
Anonymous
21:48 PP here. I meant to also ask if you know approx. how many apps they generally receive for K.
Anonymous
We applied for K last year, and there were over 60 applications for 8 slots. Yeah, I know, OUCH! Although it is even steeper odds at the "big 3". I know that Burgundy applications were up 9 percent this year, but do not know the exact number of slots. It is around 10 every year, from what I hear. So it is still pretty competitve. BUT, the admissions director told me that a large number of applicants can be ruled out fairly quickly in the beginning because they are not a good "fit" -- my interpretation of what she meant by that is that the families were applying to a school without understanding the focus of the curriculum and it showed in their parent essay. Burgundy is a progressive school that has children working outside a large portion of the day on hands-on life sciences work -- at the barn, at the pond, in the woods, and two times a year at the second campus in West Virginia. This is not a drill and kill school with a focus on traditional academics. The kids do really well when they go on to high school -- but they have a very nontraditional experience on their path to that end. They really celebrate diversity -- not just lip service -- so there are special programs and projects during the school year about diversity, as well as peace, conflict resolution, and so forth. And earth day? Fagettaboutit! It's earth WEEK! Plus daily composting, waste-free lunches, etc. Sorry to ramble. As for your other actual question -- there is a very low attrition rate because the children really do well at this school--academically, socially, emotionally, physically. They really love going to school every day, which results in their doing well almost as a result of that emotion. The people who leave generally have to because of a job change that takes them completely out of the area. There is one family who moved but drive nearly 45 minutes each way (as in 3 hours of drive time for mom every day) just so their two kids can stay in the school.
Anonymous
I think the same/similar description applies for Green Acres.
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