Anonymous wrote:SAES

+1 if she wants to take all honors/AP classes, she’ll have that option at St Andrews but the vibe is not pressure cooker. There is a real range of students which means a range of classes offered. Teachers have high standards, but are supportive vs soul crushing. Lots of EC/athletic opportunities so she could try new activities and sports as well. Parent community is welcoming and surprisingly laid back.

Anonymous wrote:Go visit Field

NP here. We went to their open house and were very impressed. I believe they have another one in December.

Go visit Field

We have a comedy of good private schools in the area. Speaking from experience, I’d try to narrow it down more by geography so you and your kid aren’t sounding their high school years sitting in traffic.

GDS. My kid is in top rigor classes and not feeling particularly stressed or pressured. He really likes most of his teachers and he and his friends study together. I especially like that there are three levels of math and it's easy to go up or down a level each year (going up two levels would be hard).

SAES

Edmund Burke, for sure

Field. Great school with excellent college outcomes without being a pressure cooker.

Bullis

SSSAS

Great school without the pressure cooker.

OP here. We’re looking in DC or somewhere within 30 min drive (Bethesda, Potomac, etc). We’d be okay with a religious school if was otherwise a good fit, but we’re not very religious.

Where are you looking geographically? Secular or religious?

Academically she could do well anywhere, but she’s a perfectionist and I think she’d crack under the pressure of being at school where all of the kids are intense and competitive academically. She has high hopes for college, so she needs to take high level courses, but I wouldn’t want her at a pressure cooker school. She's very easy going socially and I think she’ll be able to find friends wherever she goes. Any suggestions?