Anonymous
Post 09/05/2025 10:41     Subject: Are progressive schools a bad fit for parents who want to see academic progress?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure how progressive education became synonymous with lack of structure. The days, assignments, academics, etc, are completely structured. A kid doesn't just get to do whatever they want to do whenever. I think an above poster is correct that the term is used around here to describe calling teachers by their first names, lack of dress code, etc.

Some of them also don’t use standard grading scales, so if parents are focused on knowing how their kid is progressing and really want a numerical or letter grade scale, it might not be a good fit.


Even without a standard grading scale, it's easy to know how students are progressing. For example, my kid's school gives several skills (both study skills like getting to class on time and having all supplies needed and 3-4 content skills) in each subject. Each of those skills is rated as above expectations, meeting expectations, almost at expectations, and well below. My child has never received below, but I assume there's further conversation if that's an issue. I get more information than I would with an A or B in English.
Anonymous
Post 09/05/2025 10:28     Subject: Are progressive schools a bad fit for parents who want to see academic progress?
Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure how progressive education became synonymous with lack of structure. The days, assignments, academics, etc, are completely structured. A kid doesn't just get to do whatever they want to do whenever. I think an above poster is correct that the term is used around here to describe calling teachers by their first names, lack of dress code, etc.

Some of them also don’t use standard grading scales, so if parents are focused on knowing how their kid is progressing and really want a numerical or letter grade scale, it might not be a good fit.
Anonymous
Post 09/05/2025 10:28     Subject: Are progressive schools a bad fit for parents who want to see academic progress?
Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure how progressive education became synonymous with lack of structure. The days, assignments, academics, etc, are completely structured. A kid doesn't just get to do whatever they want to do whenever. I think an above poster is correct that the term is used around here to describe calling teachers by their first names, lack of dress code, etc.


It can look like lack of structure to a casual observer -- desks are in groups, not rows; there is significant time with students spending working with each other instead of passively listening to the teacher; rote memorization is not stressed. But for us, that's a positive. I agree with you that there is appropriate internal structure and that the teachers are making deliberate choices so that students learn whatever is the goal of the lesson plan.
Anonymous
Post 09/05/2025 09:27     Subject: Are progressive schools a bad fit for parents who want to see academic progress?
I'm not sure how progressive education became synonymous with lack of structure. The days, assignments, academics, etc, are completely structured. A kid doesn't just get to do whatever they want to do whenever. I think an above poster is correct that the term is used around here to describe calling teachers by their first names, lack of dress code, etc.
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2025 23:39     Subject: Are progressive schools a bad fit for parents who want to see academic progress?
Gds is a peogeessive school, the bcurriculum is extremely rigorous.
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2025 23:08     Subject: Are progressive schools a bad fit for parents who want to see academic progress?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If your kid needs structure it won’t be a good fit. Progressive schools also tend to attract a lot of chaos in the classroom so you and the child will have to be ready to cope with that.


Admittedly old intel, but I went a progressive school (major city, not DC) and that was the opposite of my experience. I transferred from a large public school and, in retrospect, the day-to-day experience was WAY more structured and intentional at the small progressive school than the regimented/rules-based environment that I'd come from. We didn't have to raise our hands all the time or ask to sharpen our pencils, but there was definitely a system working in the background.

Progressive education isn't for everyone, as nothing is. But when it works, it can be super liberating and empowering. I'm planning to go this route with my own kids.


I agree with this poster. I moved DS from a high performing public to a progressive K-8 in 6th. He was an average student in public and we worried he wasn’t working to his potential. He didn’t like school. We were so glad we made the change. He was suddenly very challenged and his think outside the box ideas were embraced. What was missing was the busy work and teaching to the test. Many parents assume progressive education means no rigor but that’s far from the case. He learned critical thinking and was able to dig deep in areas of interest. The writing instruction was far better than in our public schools. Debate was encouraged. Subjects like math and science were taught in engaging ways and made to feel relevant. He returned to our local public for HS where he excelled in advanced classes. My only regret is that we didn’t start him in K.


I could have written this myself. I think especially for middle school it can be transformative. We came in 6 and three fabulous years

I do know people where it didn’t work for elementary—some kids really do need more structure.
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2025 22:32     Subject: Are progressive schools a bad fit for parents who want to see academic progress?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If your kid needs structure it won’t be a good fit. Progressive schools also tend to attract a lot of chaos in the classroom so you and the child will have to be ready to cope with that.


Admittedly old intel, but I went a progressive school (major city, not DC) and that was the opposite of my experience. I transferred from a large public school and, in retrospect, the day-to-day experience was WAY more structured and intentional at the small progressive school than the regimented/rules-based environment that I'd come from. We didn't have to raise our hands all the time or ask to sharpen our pencils, but there was definitely a system working in the background.

Progressive education isn't for everyone, as nothing is. But when it works, it can be super liberating and empowering. I'm planning to go this route with my own kids.


I agree with this poster. I moved DS from a high performing public to a progressive K-8 in 6th. He was an average student in public and we worried he wasn’t working to his potential. He didn’t like school. We were so glad we made the change. He was suddenly very challenged and his think outside the box ideas were embraced. What was missing was the busy work and teaching to the test. Many parents assume progressive education means no rigor but that’s far from the case. He learned critical thinking and was able to dig deep in areas of interest. The writing instruction was far better than in our public schools. Debate was encouraged. Subjects like math and science were taught in engaging ways and made to feel relevant. He returned to our local public for HS where he excelled in advanced classes. My only regret is that we didn’t start him in K.
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2025 22:30     Subject: Are progressive schools a bad fit for parents who want to see academic progress?
Progressive is a vague term in the DMV. It could mean the kids call teachers by their first names, there isn’t a dress code, and diversity is valued but the actual curriculum delivery is still very traditional. Many so called progressive schools in the DMV are like this. Just because they have a few more group projects than public schools doesn’t mean they aren’t traditional in academics.
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2025 22:15     Subject: Are progressive schools a bad fit for parents who want to see academic progress?
Anonymous wrote:If your kid needs structure it won’t be a good fit. Progressive schools also tend to attract a lot of chaos in the classroom so you and the child will have to be ready to cope with that.


Admittedly old intel, but I went a progressive school (major city, not DC) and that was the opposite of my experience. I transferred from a large public school and, in retrospect, the day-to-day experience was WAY more structured and intentional at the small progressive school than the regimented/rules-based environment that I'd come from. We didn't have to raise our hands all the time or ask to sharpen our pencils, but there was definitely a system working in the background.

Progressive education isn't for everyone, as nothing is. But when it works, it can be super liberating and empowering. I'm planning to go this route with my own kids.
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2025 22:00     Subject: Are progressive schools a bad fit for parents who want to see academic progress?
If your kid needs structure it won’t be a good fit. Progressive schools also tend to attract a lot of chaos in the classroom so you and the child will have to be ready to cope with that.
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2025 21:45     Subject: Are progressive schools a bad fit for parents who want to see academic progress?
DC just graduated from a progressive K-8 and is now at a Big 3. I have seen families come and go at the school as they allege that the kids aren't learning. This is because they don't hear about tests or homework. Despite not ever taking a standardized test, DC did very well on the SSAT entrance exam. I do think it takes understanding (i.e., familiarity with how the progressive, project-based model works), faith (trusting the process) and a bit of vigilance to ensure success. DC is a very strong writer and seems very well prepared for DC's rigorous high school.
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2025 17:54     Subject: Are progressive schools a bad fit for parents who want to see academic progress?
It was not a good fit for us. It might well be a good fit for others. Our DC learned better with more structure. We are academically focused.
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2025 17:21     Subject: Are progressive schools a bad fit for parents who want to see academic progress?
You have to know your child. It was not a good fit for my older child, who has learning disabilities. It was fabulous for my younger child, who is a self starter and intellectually curious. He loved the freedom and we definitely saw academic progress.
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2025 17:19     Subject: Are progressive schools a bad fit for parents who want to see academic progress?
Based on how you phrased this, a progressive school will likely not be a good fit. My DCs went to a notoriously progressive K-8, and there are definitely points at which you have to have faith that it's all going to come together at some point (it does).

Read this on the topic . . . if it doesn't resonate, look elsewhere.

https://www.alfiekohn.org/article/progressive-schools-children-deserve/

Anonymous
Post 09/04/2025 17:12     Subject: Are progressive schools a bad fit for parents who want to see academic progress?
We are trying to decide whether a progressive school is a good fit. There is a lot that we liked, but we wondered whether the academics were a bit squishy. Will be disappointed if we go in expecting to see regular and discernible academic progress?