Comments on non- Sidwell typed independent schools

[Anonymous]

Question for any parents who are familiar with Green Acres, Woods Academy, WES and Norwood, which are not located in DC downtown: these are all preK/K-8 schools. Did you have any comments on these four schools, regarding their nurturing environment, curriculum, and outplacement? Are they all considered GOOD/BEST independent schools in the area? Many of you have been talking about schools in DC downtown, such as sidwells and Beauvoir, but how about these schools in a little bit different locations? Comments from current/past parents in above school are particularly appreciated....

I hope this message can spark mor discussions on those schools except such as Sidwell, Beauvoir which I believed their admissions are ridiculous - mor importantly, I actually knew quite well with their alumni as well as current studens, who I don;t think are qualitatively or quantitatively better than those kids rejected and didn;t deserve a good reputation AT ALL.

[Anonymous]

woods academy - have they sent out their letter yet?

[Anonymous]

I love the whole philosophy of Lowell School in DC, and the Waldorf schools in MD.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I have been wondering along similar lines, was WES or Norwood or Green Acres your family's first (or second) choice this year? (Or current parents - was it your first/second choice program?) As I read the recent waitlist/security deposit postings, are these the schools in play?

[Anonymous]

bump

[Anonymous]

i don't personally know about those schools except i met a woman recently who just RAVED about how much she loved norwood. she was a very kind and intelligent woman and her daughter now attends ncs.

[Anonymous]

We applied to all of those except WES, which was too far from our home. We have good friends with a child at WES and they are happy. We also applied to St. Francis.
We will probably go to Norwood for Kindergarten. We liked everything about the school. It seemed like one stop shopping. Good music, art, and phys ed; with excellent academics. It is however, traditional. There is Chapel every morning. The teachers are nice and seem happy.
Green Acres has been rumored to have so so academics, but great in terms of building a child's character and self esteem. These are very important factors. Parents say that GA kids are interested in learning and have an intellectual curiosity that you don't see as much elsewhere. The school did however concern us because of its tuition which is higher than Norwood and Woods. Also, we noticed that Spanish didn't start until grade 5. The phys ed is non competitive (good) but less rigorous. Their selection process is difficult to understand. It seems like you have to buy into all aspects of their progressive system to get accepted.
Woods is newer. It has a great Montessori program from age 3 through Kindergarten. They wear a uniform starting in grade 1. Surprisingly, it is Catholic (non parochial) with less Chapel time than any of the other Christian Schools in the area. Every one is nice there, and I would say that of all the schools we looked at, this was the most laid back!
Take a peek at St. Francis Episcopal which is going to be St. Andrews Episcopal in September. It will go from K to 12. And they have a preschool. Small class sizes. Also, very nice people.
Academically, I would say Norwood is the strongest of the ones I mentioned. But they are all so different and interesting.
The parents in Maryland are probably more laid back than DC, I think because we have the option of leaving to good public schools.
Good luck.

[Anonymous]

pp here. The best outplacement is probably Norwood. The most nurturing are probably Green Acres and St. Francis. The best facility is probably Norwood. People seem happy at all of these schools.

[Anonymous]

bump

[Anonymous]

GA has a bus.

[Anonymous]

bump - becasue I also have same questions and would like to know some comments from all of you...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GA has a bus.

From where?

[Anonymous]

It has about three buses (maybe more). Call the school and check the routes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It has about three buses (maybe more). Call the school and check the routes.

Thanks. Routes are on their website (I should have checked it).

[Anonymous]

Norwood has an incredibly impressive outplacement record - was handed a sheet of where all the grads go when I went on a tour. I love all the art and music offered there, much more than at other schools. Also happy that Spanish is offered starting in K. Will definitely be applying for K next year.