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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Blue Ribbon schools are something they apply for...they aren't awarded because of any standards or anything. So it really doesn't mean much. Also the teachers there, I found, weren't certified by the state - didn't fill even the basic standards. After my son's issues, I learned the Maryland Board of Education doesn't oversee or regulate the academics of private schools. So just because you're paying tuition doesn't mean you're getting what you think you're paying for...and it does mean you have NO recourse when things are subpar.

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Yes Blue Ribbon must be applied for, but a school must meet a threshold (I believe it is 85%) of performance on a national standardized test.  The only exception is schools receiving No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Awards but I doubt St. Bartholomew or any school in Bethesda would qualify in that category.  It is a long process to apply and many schools don't have the resources to pursue it, but it isn't something you can even apply for unless you have the statistics to back it up.

Also, please know parochial schools are not flying blind just because they are accredited differently.  From the ADW website - "Elementary and Secondary Accreditation Schools in the Archdiocese of Washington receive accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, a division of AdvancED. In addition, they must meet the new National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools."  http://www.advanc-ed.org/company-overview.  The curriculum standards of the Archdiocese (here: http://site.adw.org/curriculum-standards) have always been in line with those of the public schools in the states they serve.  At least when I was teaching a few years ago, ADW's standards were actually based on Indiana standards which were one of the highest ranked in the country.  All ADW teachers must be state certified or have a clear and concise timeline for certification.

All schools certainly implement differently and you can judge a school accordingly, but please don't trash them all because of your bad experience.  There are wonderful schools with strong faculty and administration that do a fabulous job with very impressive outcomes.[/quote]

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