Flint Hill and The Potomac School
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Anonymous
Not a FHS parent, but a “growth mindset” is a term coined by a psychologist (Dweck, I think) to describe a mindset that aims to improve overall performance by reinforcing the idea that one’s performance can be improved through effort and practice, rather than being the result of an immutable, fixed trait. It is closely associated with those who believe in neuroplasticity throughout adolescence, as opposed to those who believe intelligence and IQ are fixed in early childhood. Lots of private schools use principles of growth mindset to recast a challenge (e.g., a bad grade) as an opportunity to improve and grow, rather than a referendum on the kid’s intelligence. It’s proponents claim that this mindset engenders long-term learners who will accept risks, rather than striving for immediate positive feedback. |
Anonymous
FH Upper School family here, older one recently graduated and had a great college admission experience. He is now thriving at a top engineering school. He has no problem meeting adapting to the rigors of college and being independent. Quite a few of his friends were accepted in T10 and T20 schools. We have been very happy with FH US. The course offering allows for a much more tailor approach. For those who want rigor, it was certainly there and of course, if one just wants to cruise through high school, that is doable as well. Younger one is another Huskie heading down the rigor path. Very pleased with the recent parent teacher conferences. Teachers are attentive and caring. |
Anonymous
+1 We actually decided not to apply to Potomac after touring the school. We were getting the side eye on tours by the parent volunteers. We didn't feel welcomed. |
Anonymous
Side eye huh? |
Anonymous
Flint HIll isn't underrated, it actually just dropped even more on school rankings. It has fallen to #19. |
Anonymous
This is a great description. It's how we approach learning with our kids. |
Anonymous
| The absolute truth - although clearly many here are in denial - is that FH is not nearly as rigorous academically as Potomac. It’s not even the same “type” of private in all honesty. Honest parents with kid’s at both will admit this I know several. Potomac is similar to the DC top tier privates. Having kids at both I know this from direct experience. FH is not part of that cohort. It is more of a local area private that does really well catering to families who live around it and meeting the needs of many different kinds of students from very academic to more average and those who need lots of extra support. That is a great thing and necessary. Close in DMV needs a school like that. Edmund Burke or St Andrews may be the closest. Anyway, I digress. FH should be compared to school like St Andrews, not to Potomac. They are apples and oranges. |
Anonymous
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Talking about "Growth Mindset" is a red flag that the school buys into dumb educational fads.
Unfortunately, it's not a particularly useful red flag, because nearly all schools wave the dumb educational fads banner proudly. https://russellwarne.com/2020/01/03/the-one-variable-that-makes-growth-mindset-interventions-work/ "For a few months, I puzzled over the contradictory literature. The studies are almost evenly balanced in terms of quality and their results. Then I discovered the one characteristic that the studies that support mindset theory share and that all the studies that contradict the theory lack: Carol Dweck. Dweck is a coauthor on all three studies that show that teaching a growth mindset can improve students’ school performance. She is also not a coauthor on all of the studies that cast serious doubt on mindset theory. So, there you go! Growth mindsets can improve academic performance–if you have Carol Dweck in charge of your intervention. She’s the vital ingredient that makes a growth mindset effective." https://russellwarne.com/2020/04/03/mindset-theory-in-jeopardy-after-2-new-studies/ "The Big Question Given the disappointing results from every independent study on mindsets in the past few years, there is one question that looms large: Is there any independent evidence showing an effect of mindsets? The best available research shows that the answer is no. Mindset theory is clearly in jeopardy." |
Anonymous
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You can dismiss it as a meaningless fad if you want to. I don’t think it’s that simple. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/debate-arises-over-teaching-growth-mindsets-to-motivate-students/
Like most things, it comes down to the details. Schools need to really understand it in order to implement it. If a school pays lip service to growth mindset but doesn’t really implement it, it’s not going to “work.” And I don’t think anyone is saying it improve all students across the board, but that it will improve students at the margin. Some kids will do great without a growth mindset (but they’re not likely to do better than if they had), some will do poorly with one. But a large middle will improve over the *long term*. It seems common sense to focus on actual learning that chasing grades. Grades do not necessarily reflect what you’ve learned or how well. They are under artificial time constraints that may or may not reflect real work conditions. They are just the most convenient way for a teacher to distinguish among students, but not the only way. |
Anonymous
+1 FH and ST. Andrew's are in the same category. That being said, I would put St. Andrew's ahead of FH. |
Anonymous
I'm a FH parent and I don't disagree. We considered Bullis, St. Andrews, and SSSAS too. The grinder school culture isn't valuable to us, but smaller class sizes, sports for all students, and a place that can meet the academic needs of all of our kids was exactly what we were looking for. |
Anonymous
Recent US parent here. This^. |
Anonymous
| There are quite a few really smart kids at FH, and the school makes it easier for them to stand out when it comes to college applications. FH has a set going to top schools every year, but also have more average and above-average students, and athletic recruits, going to a wide range of schools. They have a range of classes and subjects, general, honors and AP, and kids are able to pick and choose their strengths, and these differences parlay into a variety of college choices. Their counseling staff is very good. |
Anonymous
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We’re new to FH upper school. It was my kids first choice school and I was not really thrilled but we went with it.
I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the quality of the teachers, the teaching, and the learning. Less than pleased with some aspects of administration, but the classes are definitely academic and require a great deal of critical thinking across all subjects. The teacher conferences were really helpful and the teachers really know my kid. Time will tell, but right now I think they are providing really great academics. |
Anonymous
| I have been a parent and teacher at both schools. There are some incredible teachers, students, and families. That said, teacher morale is very low for those that have remained. This is primarily to administrators and how they run things/treat teachers. Grade inflation is rampant as that is what some parents demand. There is a place for your child to excel and to be challenged and successful at each school. However, it is getting harder for colleges to discern the difference between that child and another who is not at that level. To be fair, this is happening at most schools. I would argue Potomac provides a better academic experience but the students struggle more with mental health issues. Flint Hill lost the LS and US head last year and the head of school will be leaving this next year, so I suspect there will be a lot of change in vision in the near future. |