Anonymous
Post 03/01/2025 17:27     Subject: Avenues, Packer Collegiate vs Browning
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why is Avenues so controversial in this board?


It is very different from most other schools and attracts a certain type. Though like everywhere else, there are plenty of exceptions to the rule. I feel like the school and the parents there try too hard. I think the early grade language immersion is overkill and I know that for some kids, it gets in the way of learning reading, writing and arithmetic, which is more important for long term success. Personally, it is more important for my kid to learn the academic basics and how to socially interact than to be a "citizen of the world" or whatever they call it (not that those are mutually exclusive, but I think Avenues leans too hard towards the latter and not enough on the former).

I have a close friend who is there and is lukewarm on it. I know another great family who left. My child goes to school with a few kids who left for HS. And I know another nice, bright kid who transferred in for HS and I think is pretty happy.

There was an episode of Will & Grace when they relaunched it a few years ago where they went to visit an over-the-top NYC private school. It was very clearly modeled on Avenues.

And whoever said it is rare for Packer kids to take calculus is completely wrong. You can see Packer exmissions on IG (they post it so it is free game). Not quite Tier 1 good, but still quite impressive. I'm sure there are a lot of legacies, URM, etc., like at other schools, but it is still very good.

super helpful! The for profit status also probably makes things a very different environment and incentives by teachers and the admin
Anonymous
Post 03/01/2025 16:37     Subject: Avenues, Packer Collegiate vs Browning
Anonymous wrote:Why is Avenues so controversial in this board?


It is very different from most other schools and attracts a certain type. Though like everywhere else, there are plenty of exceptions to the rule. I feel like the school and the parents there try too hard. I think the early grade language immersion is overkill and I know that for some kids, it gets in the way of learning reading, writing and arithmetic, which is more important for long term success. Personally, it is more important for my kid to learn the academic basics and how to socially interact than to be a "citizen of the world" or whatever they call it (not that those are mutually exclusive, but I think Avenues leans too hard towards the latter and not enough on the former).

I have a close friend who is there and is lukewarm on it. I know another great family who left. My child goes to school with a few kids who left for HS. And I know another nice, bright kid who transferred in for HS and I think is pretty happy.

There was an episode of Will & Grace when they relaunched it a few years ago where they went to visit an over-the-top NYC private school. It was very clearly modeled on Avenues.

And whoever said it is rare for Packer kids to take calculus is completely wrong. You can see Packer exmissions on IG (they post it so it is free game). Not quite Tier 1 good, but still quite impressive. I'm sure there are a lot of legacies, URM, etc., like at other schools, but it is still very good.
Anonymous
Post 03/01/2025 16:05     Subject: Avenues, Packer Collegiate vs Browning
Anonymous wrote:Why is Avenues so controversial in this board?


The founder was a scammer!
Anonymous
Post 03/01/2025 16:00     Subject: Avenues, Packer Collegiate vs Browning
Why is Avenues so controversial in this board?
Anonymous
Post 03/01/2025 15:12     Subject: Avenues, Packer Collegiate vs Browning
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Avenues is nouveau riche phony social climbers and kids who couldn't get in anywhere else. Packer families are much more normal and the HS is less Brooklyn-centric. It is not perfect but it is the best of the batch.

About 7-8 years ago my son played sports with some Browning boys who were obnoxious, poorly behaved "bro's" and I got the sense that was the culture. But we also know a wealthy but very down-to-earth family that is happy with kids that just started there. I think it is evolving for the better.


OP might just be one of those "nouveau riche phony social climbers". lol
Get a hint, OP is looking for stem focus schools. It's rare for packer kids to take calculus by graduation.


??? Of course Calculus is common at Packer. I’m the poster who suggested Packer, but said to be open to Browning based on location/fit.

I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s one person pushing Avenues, maybe on their payroll. In 90%+ of cases, parents are choosing Packer in this situation.
Anonymous
Post 03/01/2025 14:54     Subject: Avenues, Packer Collegiate vs Browning
Anonymous wrote:Avenues is nouveau riche phony social climbers and kids who couldn't get in anywhere else. Packer families are much more normal and the HS is less Brooklyn-centric. It is not perfect but it is the best of the batch.

About 7-8 years ago my son played sports with some Browning boys who were obnoxious, poorly behaved "bro's" and I got the sense that was the culture. But we also know a wealthy but very down-to-earth family that is happy with kids that just started there. I think it is evolving for the better.


OP might just be one of those "nouveau riche phony social climbers". lol
Get a hint, OP is looking for stem focus schools. It's rare for packer kids to take calculus by graduation.
Anonymous
Post 03/01/2025 09:34     Subject: Avenues, Packer Collegiate vs Browning
Anonymous wrote:Packer>Browning>Avenues


This.
Anonymous
Post 03/01/2025 09:30     Subject: Avenues, Packer Collegiate vs Browning
Avenues is nouveau riche phony social climbers and kids who couldn't get in anywhere else. Packer families are much more normal and the HS is less Brooklyn-centric. It is not perfect but it is the best of the batch.

About 7-8 years ago my son played sports with some Browning boys who were obnoxious, poorly behaved "bro's" and I got the sense that was the culture. But we also know a wealthy but very down-to-earth family that is happy with kids that just started there. I think it is evolving for the better.
Anonymous
Post 03/01/2025 00:22     Subject: Avenues, Packer Collegiate vs Browning
Among the three, Avenues has the strongest stem curriculum.

College matriculation information is available for all three. Avenues has the best results, followed by Packer then Browning. Browning's results are abysmal.

Anonymous
Post 02/28/2025 20:58     Subject: Avenues, Packer Collegiate vs Browning
Packer>Browning>Avenues
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2025 19:34     Subject: Avenues, Packer Collegiate vs Browning
Definitely would not choose Avenues. Would choose Packer unless Browning is a lot closer or your son likes it more. Would visit both.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2025 13:49     Subject: Re:Avenues, Packer Collegiate vs Browning
Anonymous wrote:Packer is by far the best school of these three.


Agree with this.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2025 12:23     Subject: Re:Avenues, Packer Collegiate vs Browning
Packer is by far the best school of these three.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2025 09:58     Subject: Re:Avenues, Packer Collegiate vs Browning
The only info I can offer is between Packer and Avenues. Packer is a more traditional path of learning and curriculum whereas Avenues is more project based learning, such as their mastery learning system which allows kids who have their own particular interests to pursue research projects in lieu of their core classes. I think if you have a kid who already has strong personal interests and doesn’t particularly llike traditional classroom learning, then Avenues could be a better option. They both have strong college matriculations.
ARag
Post 02/27/2025 01:00     Subject: Avenues, Packer Collegiate vs Browning
Any thoughts/ experience with Upper school at Avenues, Packer Collegiate and Browning. Our child was accepted in all 3 and we are trying to finalize our decision. Looking for rigorous education, with a focus on STEM. Thanks a lot.