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.
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