Anonymous
Post 08/19/2024 22:18     Subject: Private School Recommendations near Arlington VA
Our son has been at Basis for 3 years and we are very happy with the school. The HOS has been here since before we started and we really like him, not sure what the beef is all about from one of the PP. The teachers have been really great and they really teach to the students’ specific needs in terms of advanced learning. I can honestly say we haven’t had a single teacher yet that we felt badly about. Our only gripe is the physical footprint of the school is fairly small for about 700 students. The school started with way less students, and have grown a lot without expanding its facilities. They also don’t have a full sports field but our son does sports outside of school anyway.
Anonymous
Post 08/18/2024 09:04     Subject: Re:Private School Recommendations near Arlington VA
Not much has changed at BIM, apparently....

2.0
Jul 30, 2024

Keep to yourself
Teacher
Former employee, more than 1 year
McLean, VA

Pros

The job itself is rewarding. The students are the highlight of the job. The pay is nice.

Cons

Employe turn over is not good. That should say enough on its own. Do not work here if you are LGBT. If you intent on coming to work only to work, not to have any established professional relationships — this is the place for you. Teachers and staff are cliquey. Management is hands off unless they dislike you, and then they micromanage you. They do not care about your health; mental or physical. They will fire people suddenly who are in charge of large projects and ask for everyone else to magically make it work. Moving up is only an option if you are favored.
Anonymous
Post 08/18/2024 08:25     Subject: Re:Private School Recommendations near Arlington VA
Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure it does. The students learn Mandarin in 1st - 4th, and then it's just an offering beyond that. There are a lot of kids of Asian descent, but I'm honestly not sure if it's children of Chinese or Korean etc descent. It IS a rigorous school, which, compared to public school, we are very thankful for. It's changed our child's life.


BIM is fine for parents who want their kids' education to be tests, grades, scores, tests, grades, scores, tests, grades, scores, tests, grades, scores, tests, grades, scores, with a few clubs thrown on top.

It works for the target market. Anyone else who wants something different for their kids to grow up with, look elsewhere. They have one model, one lane, and no support for anyone who doesn't keep up.

They have also turned over just about all of the faculty in the last five years with yet another new HOS whose arrival preceded the departure of many strong teachers who had been there before. Maybe his formula works with the new staff and current enrollment. They lost some of their best STEM teachers in the process.
Anonymous
Post 08/17/2024 15:08     Subject: Re:Private School Recommendations near Arlington VA
I'm not sure it does. The students learn Mandarin in 1st - 4th, and then it's just an offering beyond that. There are a lot of kids of Asian descent, but I'm honestly not sure if it's children of Chinese or Korean etc descent. It IS a rigorous school, which, compared to public school, we are very thankful for. It's changed our child's life.
Anonymous
Post 08/17/2024 14:21     Subject: Private School Recommendations near Arlington VA
Anonymous wrote:Our child goes to the intermediate school at BASIS and it's great. I would highly recommend it. It is made for STEM kids, but it's also a rich and nurturing environment. The teachers she's had have been incredible and we're really really pleased. DCUM loves to hate on BASIS, but people with children actually at the school have a very different view. It might not be for every child, but it is a good (GREAT) fit for academically strong children who don't mind a smaller environment and are interested in STEM.


How does China's ownership influence the curriculum? And do they have many extracurricular activities?
Anonymous
Post 08/17/2024 08:12     Subject: Private School Recommendations near Arlington VA
Our child goes to the intermediate school at BASIS and it's great. I would highly recommend it. It is made for STEM kids, but it's also a rich and nurturing environment. The teachers she's had have been incredible and we're really really pleased. DCUM loves to hate on BASIS, but people with children actually at the school have a very different view. It might not be for every child, but it is a good (GREAT) fit for academically strong children who don't mind a smaller environment and are interested in STEM.
Anonymous
Post 08/16/2024 19:42     Subject: Private School Recommendations near Arlington VA
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We were in a similar position for DS in middle school and did not find any DC privates that worked logistically for transportation. We ended up sending him to SSSAS and he has loved it. There is a pretty good bus system, which is crucial for us due to work schedules. It's not Sidwell but completely fine academically and not a pressure cooker. The only big drawback is that most of his friends are in Alexandria so we spend much of our weekends driving there and back.


Both YHS and W&L are very comparable (and likely much better) academically than SSSAS. For math and science specifically, you are losing a lot with SSSAS over YHS or W&L; the AP offerings alone are not comparable. SSSAS had very few fast tracked math kids, like none. The facilities at both public schools are also, amazingly, much nicer than at SSSAS. I was a little shocked when I went there how dated it was. I do know kids who went there but it was usually a need—they weren’t “succeeding” at the north Arlington elementary or needed individual attention for some reason or another. It’s definitely a useful place to get out of ACPS, don’t get me wrong, but it doesn’t draw a ton from Arlington for these reasons. Not to say you shouldn’t look at it, but kids who transfer back in find APS more challenging which is a little scary.


The problem is not the high schools. The problem is the middle school system in APS. It is a weak link, both socially and academically. Private school is absolutely worth avoiding many of the APS middle schools.


And once you get to private you see the massive difference and end up staying there for HS.


This is correct. I am PP who sent my son to SSSAS to avoid APS public middle school. The person who posted that APS high schools are superior seems to have limited experience with SSSAS. Our daughter went to APS through senior year, and her experience was a night-and-day difference from that of our son at SSSAS. The school has paid far closer attention to him and has challenged him far more than anything our daughter has experienced. Although he has multiple teachers, we have a single point of contact each year, and that has made all the difference. We considered sending him back to APS once he reached ninth grade, as we are zoned for a "good" high school, but the quality of education at SSSAS is just so much greater.
Anonymous
Post 08/16/2024 17:15     Subject: Private School Recommendations near Arlington VA
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We were in a similar position for DS in middle school and did not find any DC privates that worked logistically for transportation. We ended up sending him to SSSAS and he has loved it. There is a pretty good bus system, which is crucial for us due to work schedules. It's not Sidwell but completely fine academically and not a pressure cooker. The only big drawback is that most of his friends are in Alexandria so we spend much of our weekends driving there and back.


Both YHS and W&L are very comparable (and likely much better) academically than SSSAS. For math and science specifically, you are losing a lot with SSSAS over YHS or W&L; the AP offerings alone are not comparable. SSSAS had very few fast tracked math kids, like none. The facilities at both public schools are also, amazingly, much nicer than at SSSAS. I was a little shocked when I went there how dated it was. I do know kids who went there but it was usually a need—they weren’t “succeeding” at the north Arlington elementary or needed individual attention for some reason or another. It’s definitely a useful place to get out of ACPS, don’t get me wrong, but it doesn’t draw a ton from Arlington for these reasons. Not to say you shouldn’t look at it, but kids who transfer back in find APS more challenging which is a little scary.


The problem is not the high schools. The problem is the middle school system in APS. It is a weak link, both socially and academically. Private school is absolutely worth avoiding many of the APS middle schools.


And once you get to private you see the massive difference and end up staying there for HS.
Anonymous
Post 08/16/2024 17:13     Subject: Private School Recommendations near Arlington VA
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We were in a similar position for DS in middle school and did not find any DC privates that worked logistically for transportation. We ended up sending him to SSSAS and he has loved it. There is a pretty good bus system, which is crucial for us due to work schedules. It's not Sidwell but completely fine academically and not a pressure cooker. The only big drawback is that most of his friends are in Alexandria so we spend much of our weekends driving there and back.


Both YHS and W&L are very comparable (and likely much better) academically than SSSAS. For math and science specifically, you are losing a lot with SSSAS over YHS or W&L; the AP offerings alone are not comparable. SSSAS had very few fast tracked math kids, like none. The facilities at both public schools are also, amazingly, much nicer than at SSSAS. I was a little shocked when I went there how dated it was. I do know kids who went there but it was usually a need—they weren’t “succeeding” at the north Arlington elementary or needed individual attention for some reason or another. It’s definitely a useful place to get out of ACPS, don’t get me wrong, but it doesn’t draw a ton from Arlington for these reasons. Not to say you shouldn’t look at it, but kids who transfer back in find APS more challenging which is a little scary.


The problem is not the high schools. The problem is the middle school system in APS. It is a weak link, both socially and academically. Private school is absolutely worth avoiding many of the APS middle schools.


It depends on the middle school. Any decent private school would be better than Gunston or Kenmore - I know they have good programs and facilities but academically the kids really struggle, not to mention the tough social dynamics. I’d also send my kid to private over Swanson because it is so crowded and antiquated, also with some bullying issues that are worse than standard middle school.
Anonymous
Post 08/16/2024 17:00     Subject: Private School Recommendations near Arlington VA
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We were in a similar position for DS in middle school and did not find any DC privates that worked logistically for transportation. We ended up sending him to SSSAS and he has loved it. There is a pretty good bus system, which is crucial for us due to work schedules. It's not Sidwell but completely fine academically and not a pressure cooker. The only big drawback is that most of his friends are in Alexandria so we spend much of our weekends driving there and back.


Both YHS and W&L are very comparable (and likely much better) academically than SSSAS. For math and science specifically, you are losing a lot with SSSAS over YHS or W&L; the AP offerings alone are not comparable. SSSAS had very few fast tracked math kids, like none. The facilities at both public schools are also, amazingly, much nicer than at SSSAS. I was a little shocked when I went there how dated it was. I do know kids who went there but it was usually a need—they weren’t “succeeding” at the north Arlington elementary or needed individual attention for some reason or another. It’s definitely a useful place to get out of ACPS, don’t get me wrong, but it doesn’t draw a ton from Arlington for these reasons. Not to say you shouldn’t look at it, but kids who transfer back in find APS more challenging which is a little scary.


The problem is not the high schools. The problem is the middle school system in APS. It is a weak link, both socially and academically. Private school is absolutely worth avoiding many of the APS middle schools.
Anonymous
Post 08/16/2024 16:56     Subject: Private School Recommendations near Arlington VA
Anonymous wrote:We were in a similar position for DS in middle school and did not find any DC privates that worked logistically for transportation. We ended up sending him to SSSAS and he has loved it. There is a pretty good bus system, which is crucial for us due to work schedules. It's not Sidwell but completely fine academically and not a pressure cooker. The only big drawback is that most of his friends are in Alexandria so we spend much of our weekends driving there and back.


Both YHS and W&L are very comparable (and likely much better) academically than SSSAS. For math and science specifically, you are losing a lot with SSSAS over YHS or W&L; the AP offerings alone are not comparable. SSSAS had very few fast tracked math kids, like none. The facilities at both public schools are also, amazingly, much nicer than at SSSAS. I was a little shocked when I went there how dated it was. I do know kids who went there but it was usually a need—they weren’t “succeeding” at the north Arlington elementary or needed individual attention for some reason or another. It’s definitely a useful place to get out of ACPS, don’t get me wrong, but it doesn’t draw a ton from Arlington for these reasons. Not to say you shouldn’t look at it, but kids who transfer back in find APS more challenging which is a little scary.
Anonymous
Post 08/16/2024 16:28     Subject: Private School Recommendations near Arlington VA
We were in a similar position for DS in middle school and did not find any DC privates that worked logistically for transportation. We ended up sending him to SSSAS and he has loved it. There is a pretty good bus system, which is crucial for us due to work schedules. It's not Sidwell but completely fine academically and not a pressure cooker. The only big drawback is that most of his friends are in Alexandria so we spend much of our weekends driving there and back.
Anonymous
Post 08/16/2024 11:37     Subject: Private School Recommendations near Arlington VA
Arlington is very close to most of the DC independents, both by Metro and car. Other than the boosted-fueled BIM (which seems to be great if you're looking for a STEM factory, not-so-great if you care about things that make school, well, school), you can look at all of the oft-discussed names in NW DC.
Anonymous
Post 08/16/2024 10:28     Subject: Private School Recommendations near Arlington VA
Where in Arlington are you? If you're close to Alexandria, the suggestion might be different than if you're up near McLean.
Anonymous
Post 08/15/2024 18:25     Subject: Private School Recommendations near Arlington VA
I am looking for private school recommendations in Arlington VA or neighboring areas for both middle and high school. Preference for someplace that has a focus on science and math (or if not a focus, at least a strong program in those areas).

I can do a google search - but looking for recommendations based on personal experience.

If you have any specific experience with Basis Independent School in McLean, I would love to hear about it!

Thanks!