Primary Day School

[Anonymous]

My son was accepted to the Primary Day school today for pre-K
and I am looking for opinions. Is it fun?

[Anonymous]

Current parents are likely better responders, but I hear mixed things about the academics. Not sure about fun, but I like that you asked that! Good luck to you!

[Anonymous]

Current parent here. Not sure I would call it "fun." Like most other private schools, it has its own philosophy, curriculum and desire to "feed" into certain schools. It's not a place that has chatter in the halls or a level of student hum. I would actually call it slightly more serious than that - which works for those students/learners who need that type of environment. Pros of school: very, very well run administratively, small scale, lots of music, emphasis on being young ladies and gentlemen. HTH.

[Anonymous]

Thanks to the PP. We liked the school a lot. I wonder, do you have a girl or a boy there? I've heard that it might be better suited to girls than boys but have heard it both ways.

Also, I know they feed strongly to Landon and Holton. Do you know where else they send their graduates?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

We have a son there and before we had accepted we had heard from lots of alum parents that it was a good place for boys and it was that reputation that swayed us to accept there. Now that we've been there a while, I think it is a good place for boys if your goal is to have your child follow structure, respect authority, say please and thank you, etc. (all laudable goals). If your goal is to let your son "be a boy", get into the usual boy trouble/boy fun, be a little messy, etc., it probably is not the right place (nothing wrong with a child being a child for heavens sake!). I'm trying to be objective since I constantly wonder what my son will say to me when he's grown up about his experience there (if he even remembers it!) and whether he would have liked something different or whether it will have served him well down the line.

Feeds into all the usual suspects. Amazing outplacement help.

[Anonymous]

What about attending Primary Day for pre-K
and then applying to Sidwell, Maret etc. for kindergarten?

[Anonymous]

This is what I have heard:
One teacher at Holton told me (and this was 5 years ago) that Primary Day is supposed to feed into Holton and Landon. She said that overall, it seemed to be a waste, and public schools in the area were just as good at preparing the kids. She then told me that Norwood was better.
A teacher at Primary Day told me that it was a waste of time, and the academics were so so.
I do know that they want older more "mature" children (esp. boys) and are in the habit of suggesting that the child be held back.
I don't understand why a primary school would want mature children.???

[Anonymous]

they said our DC should wait a year and reapply (July bday)

[Anonymous]

Current mom again. ITA -- they have made a lot of kids wait a year, so much so that there were several rising 6 year olds when my son was a Pre-Ker (meaning they turned 6 before they entered K the following year).

[Anonymous]

My feeling is if you want to teach 6 year olds, teach first grade. Let the people who want to teach 5 year olds teach kindergarten.

[Anonymous]

I'm very surprised that someone would call the academics at Primary day so-so. From what I've heard its very accelerated, the kids are an entire grade ahead. In fact, I am wondering if any current Primary Day parents have concerns about their kids self-confidence b/c it is so challenging. And what about creativity? Is "thinking outside the box" frowned upon? Or is it just serious, as far as behavior? For the poster who is curious how her son will feel about attending Primary day once he is older, does he enjoy it now?

[Anonymous]

I'm curious too, do kids actually enjoy Primary Day? Is it a good experience for them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm very surprised that someone would call the academics at Primary day so-so. From what I've heard its very accelerated, the kids are an entire grade ahead. In fact, I am wondering if any current Primary Day parents have concerns about their kids self-confidence b/c it is so challenging. And what about creativity? Is "thinking outside the box" frowned upon? Or is it just serious, as far as behavior? For the poster who is curious how her son will feel about attending Primary day once he is older, does he enjoy it now?

The kids are a grade ahead because they are a year older than everyone else.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know if the Primary Day waitlist is real?

[Anonymous]

yes it is real. my DC is waitlisted for pre-k.