Is there a market for a cheaper no frills private school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why did Feynman choose to locate in Darnestown? I'm just curious. I would think that lower MoCo would be more fertile ground, just because it has a denser population, and the magnets have to turn away tons of qualified kids. The commute from lower MoCo to Darnestown is not an easy one, however.

I'm guessing the answer may have something to do with finding an affordable campus?

They are currently renting space from Seneca Academy which is in Darnestown. This has worked out really well for both schools. It's really an ideal way to start a new school because they can keep costs down on facilities and focus their attention on the core mission of the school. Feynman School has access to Seneca's resources like their library and playground as well. It's a lovely setting with plenty of nature to explore. I believe we have one more year there as of right now.

I believe their ultimate intention is to locate their campus in Rockville along I270 which is a fairly centralized location since we have children from Frederick Co. to PG Co.

They do plan to offer transportation from Silver Spring and Bethesda which will help as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:cheap, no frills private school = public school in wealthy counties

Yeah, unfortunately I don't have an extra $200K lying around to afford a home in one of those areas.

Also a no frills private could offer a focus on content without having to spend a ton of classroom time on test prep for the standardized testing. You can also probably get a better student/teacher ratio of less than 30 to 1. Wealthy public schools aren't immune to these things.

But you have an extra $20k / year to spend on private school? Your math makes no sense. An extra $200k in mortgage does not = $20k more a year in mortgage payments...

NP here, who struggled with the same scenario. We concluded tuition payments are binding for one year, mortgage payments are not. In Montco being zoned to a good elementary, middle and HS is not guaranteed. Housing prices dip. School boundaries and jobs change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We have a few kids at Feynman School (which is in MoCo) coming all the way from PG County and Frederick County. In my book I consider it a top school but I'm sure what you are referring to is a big 3. If the program is worthy the families will make the commute. This is especially true if the school serves a population with unique needs as Feynman does.

Oh c'mon. It's not even an accredited elementary school yet (currently K only -- see http://www.msde.state.md.us/nonpublic/nsab_directory/DisplayLocations.asp?County=Montgomery) -- hardly a "top school" by anyone's standard. Right now, it's a preschool/K start-up that hopes to grow. Nothing wrong with that -- if you're candid about it.

Hardly a "top school" by anyone's standard? Kathleen Cecil of the MSDE, with over twenty years experience in gifted education, says that Feynman School should be a state model for early gifted education.

Professor Lori Bland of the College of William and Mary, Center for Gifted Education (with whom Feynman School has partnered), believes Feynman can be a national model school for early gifted education.

Most of Feynman School's pre-kindergarteners are working at a second-grade or higher level across the board (science, math, reading, music) and would be bored at a Big 3. One came to FS after spending a year learning next to nothing at Primary Day. He's finally excited about school and gets individualized math instruction daily with the regular teacher using curriculum from Stanford's EPGY. The kids don't want to leave at the end of the day, my dd included.

And have you seen the resumes of the Director, Board of Directors and Advisory Board? This new school will be fully accredited as soon as it is time-eligible.

[Anonymous]

I'm not the "Oh c'mon poster" and I basically support you and the Feynman School, but I have to say this is getting a bit embarrassing. You're on here constantly plugging the place. Lots of schools hold themselves out as models - Maret for not doing APs, Alexandria Academy for classical education. Feynman is brand new and has maybe 12 students. It may eventually prove to be a model for its own brand of education, but we need to wait and see.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We have a few kids at Feynman School (which is in MoCo) coming all the way from PG County and Frederick County. In my book I consider it a top school but I'm sure what you are referring to is a big 3. If the program is worthy the families will make the commute. This is especially true if the school serves a population with unique needs as Feynman does.

Oh c'mon. It's not even an accredited elementary school yet (currently K only -- see http://www.msde.state.md.us/nonpublic/nsab_directory/DisplayLocations.asp?County=Montgomery) -- hardly a "top school" by anyone's standard. Right now, it's a preschool/K start-up that hopes to grow. Nothing wrong with that -- if you're candid about it.

Hardly a "top school" by anyone's standard? Kathleen Cecil of the MSDE, with over twenty years experience in gifted education, says that Feynman School should be a state model for early gifted education.

Professor Lori Bland of the College of William and Mary, Center for Gifted Education (with whom Feynman School has partnered), believes Feynman can be a national model school for early gifted education.

Most of Feynman School's pre-kindergarteners are working at a second-grade or higher level across the board (science, math, reading, music) and would be bored at a Big 3. One came to FS after spending a year learning next to nothing at Primary Day. He's finally excited about school and gets individualized math instruction daily with the regular teacher using curriculum from Stanford's EPGY. The kids don't want to leave at the end of the day, my dd included.

And have you seen the resumes of the Director, Board of Directors and Advisory Board? This new school will be fully accredited as soon as it is time-eligible.

LOL!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not the "Oh c'mon poster" and I basically support you and the Feynman School, but I have to say this is getting a bit embarrassing. You're on here constantly plugging the place. Lots of schools hold themselves out as models - Maret for not doing APs, Alexandria Academy for classical education. Feynman is brand new and has maybe 12 students. It may eventually prove to be a model for its own brand of education, but we need to wait and see.

I think the school has been discussed on about 3 or 4 threads out of a hundred or so this month. Each mention of the school was relevant to the discussion on the thread. I don't agree that this should be considered constantly plugging.

Moreover, third party validation can certainly speak to the quality of a program. Especially if that validation is coming from well respected leaders in the field.

[Anonymous]

OK, but for the time being, most parents don't want their kids to be the first at any school, especially those that might be experimental.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not the "Oh c'mon poster" and I basically support you and the Feynman School, but I have to say this is getting a bit embarrassing. You're on here constantly plugging the place. Lots of schools hold themselves out as models - Maret for not doing APs, Alexandria Academy for classical education. Feynman is brand new and has maybe 12 students. It may eventually prove to be a model for its own brand of education, but we need to wait and see.

I think the school has been discussed on about 3 or 4 threads out of a hundred or so this month. Each mention of the school was relevant to the discussion on the thread. I don't agree that this should be considered constantly plugging.

FWIW, count me as another person who thinks someone is "over-plugging" Feynman. It really does sound like an interesting school, but many of the over-the-moon comments posted on DCUM come across as puffery and advertising. I'm not sure whether the person posting these comments is a parent at that school, or someone in the school administration, or a PR professional working for the school. But whoever you are, maybe you should consider turning down the volume. I know your comments have started to turn me off the school, and it sounds like others might be feeling the same way. Maybe some others really enjoy your exuberant comments, but not me.

I'm not trying to argue with you, but just offering some friendly advice. Feel free to hear it, or to ignore it.

[Anonymous]

To me, there seem to be several schools being prompted by professional PR people on this site.

[Anonymous]

Hardly a "top school" by anyone's standard? Kathleen Cecil of the MSDE, with over twenty years experience in gifted education, says that Feynman School should be a state model for early gifted education.

Professor Lori Bland of the College of William and Mary, Center for Gifted Education (with whom Feynman School has partnered), believes Feynman can be a national model school for early gifted education.

Most of Feynman School's pre-kindergarteners are working at a second-grade or higher level across the board (science, math, reading, music) and would be bored at a Big 3. One came to FS after spending a year learning next to nothing at Primary Day. He's finally excited about school and gets individualized math instruction daily with the regular teacher using curriculum from Stanford's EPGY. The kids don't want to leave at the end of the day, my dd included.

And have you seen the resumes of the Director, Board of Directors and Advisory Board? This new school will be fully accredited as soon as it is time-eligible.

Do not further embarass yourself by revealing brazen ignorance. Do not assume your readers are as ignorant as you regrading the basic principles of scientific inquiry, hypothesis testing, intelligence and academic performance.

Do you have any data on this school to support any of the above contentions? How long is the school in existence? How many students have graduated from this school? What is the intellectual, academic or educational performance of the graduates of this institution? What are the short term and long term performance of students from this school?

I suggest, absent of hard data, your contentions are pure speculation. If you are an ethical individual you should acknowledge the speculative nature of your assertions. Otherwise, go blow elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OK, but for the time being, most parents don't want their kids to be the first at any school, especially those that might be experimental.

This is the original Feynman parent with the DS in the school.

It certainly takes a pioneer spirit to be the first in anything. I will say that my decision to enroll my child was well researched and thought out. The school has the backing of some of the most well respected institutions and leaders in gifted education in the country. I also believed very much in the vision the founders had for this program.

The good news is that the parents in this year's inaugural class took that leap of faith and are paving the way for new families. I can honestly say and this may sound over the top so please excuse me, that enrolling my child is turning out to be one of the best decisions I've ever made.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To me, there seem to be several schools being prompted by professional PR people on this site.

10:45 posting again. Maybe you're more savvy at spotting the marketing than I am; I have not noticed that. I've noticed a couple other schools where some over-exuberant parents plug the schools in annoying ways, and in some cases I've given them the same advice (i.e., turn down the volume because you may be doing more harm than good). Feynman is the only one I've noticed recently, and the only reason I note the possibility of a PR professional is that there were several other Feynman threads where a PR professional was posting about the school. (To her credit, that PR person seemed pretty up-front about making her relationship to the school clear, and I'm not aware of her posing as an interested parent.)

[Anonymous]

I'm 5:16 again. Honestly, I'm sympathetic to the school and to you. I didn't realize that PR people plug schools here, but since you have a kid there, I'll assume you're either faculty or a parent.

It's just that some of us are a little jaded. I too have gone through honeymoon phases with schools, only to become disappointed later on. Plus, it will be a big test for Feynman to manage growth/expansion in a way that continues to be both responsive to kids and affordable.

Not saying you should refrain from mentioning it completely. either. I'll be watching the school with sympathetic interest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OK, but for the time being, most parents don't want their kids to be the first at any school, especially those that might be experimental.

This is Robert Gold, co-founder of Feynman School. I agree that most parents (my wife and I included) would not prefer their children to be the first to attend a new school. Feynman School, however, cannot be considered "experimental," and Susan and I are hardly pioneers! In fact, there are long-successful schools with similar missions and approaches to ours in a number of major U.S. metropolitan areas. Prior to opening Feynman School, we visited Hollingworth Preschool in New York City, a school serving children with similar learning profiles to those at Feynman, operated by Columbia University. We spent several hours with the Director, Assistant Director and Lead Teacher, and were frankly impressed. The students appeared so advanced, engaged and happy. We said to ourselves, why isn't there a school like Hollingworth in Montgomery County? We had a similar experience when we toured Hunter College Elementary School and met with its outstanding leadership team. Luckily for us, schools like Hollingworth, Hunter, and other gifted schools including Open Window School in the Seattle area, Ricks Center in Denver and Quest Academy in the Chicago area were willing to share information with us, including proven identification / admissions methods and proven curriculum, including units and lesson plans. We believe we have adopted best practices from these programs, and our teachers have availed themselves of many hours of training from the country's most accomplished experts in early gifted education. The most novel aspects of our program are: i) making science the cornerstone of the curriculum (although we do not give short shrift to any key area of curriculum), and ii) incorporating part-immersion Spanish into the day. But we cannot take credit for either of these "novel" approaches; the former was suggested by Professor Joyce VanTassel-Baska of the College of William and Mary, the latter by Professor Alison Mackey of Georgetown University. In sum, the program is not at all experimental, just new to Montgomery County. Thank you for reading this post.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the background. I would not have expected anything less given the bias in view point. Time will tell.