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[quote=Anonymous]Thank you for this thoughtful response from an actual WIS parent. It speaks volumes as to the overall culture and spirit of WIS. Wish there were more responses like this on DCUM instead of the usual catty and/or insulting remarks.

[quote=Anonymous]I am a current WIS parent, our child having been there for five years. We are an American family.We particularly liked the themes, rigor, and WIS’ track record of high IB scores on the international front.. They also are a Project Zero site, teaching teachers in the area, so the pedagogy of the teaching is strong and well-respected in education circles.

We looked and passed on several schools — including the Big 3 — because we felt WIS was a better fit for our child and our family’s values. We felt the school was professional, direct, and would eventually help our child how to learn to be an independent, critical thinker. We also felt that it was not a cookie-cutter school; kids were allowed to be individuals so long as they were respectful and socially appropriate; and that the biggest donors or the most affluent families were not given  specialized treatment, all of which have been confirmed in the time that we have been there. While there are certainly a few social climbers at the school — as you will find to varying degrees at most any independent school in the region — most of the WIS parents we have met are grounded and not particularly concerned with status.

We don’t speak a second language at home so we have had to utilize the summer resources online and/or available at libraries as well as have had our child practice language skills with other families at WIS and utilized high school student babysitters from the upper campus in our child’s language track on occasion.

Previous posters are correct in that WIS sees diversity as an international school through a slightly different lens than Americans do, with race being but one of many factors that they consider necessary to be an internationally diverse school (different family structures, countries of origin, religions, and nationalities are some additional factors.) Several children in our section speak Arabic, Amharic, Berber, Russian, Polish, and other languages as well.

Our experience is that most families have been welcoming and are focused on supporting the children. Parents pitch in when and where they can and are civil with one another and parties are inclusive of the entire class or section (french or spanish) throughout much of the Primary school.

For those who receive an acceptance email on Friday, congratulations! Should you have any questions, current WIS parents are available to answer any last-minute questions you may have before making a decision.

For those who are not interested or did not feel WIS was a good fit, I hope you find a school that is a good fit for you and yours. We have friends at many independent schools in the area, all of whom are generally happy with their choices. While the process of choosing an independent school can be stressful, it is a privilege and a choice.

Best of luck and enjoy your day! 
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