I think it’s a fantastic experience for PK and K, but slowly starts to fall apart as you climb up the grades.

I’ve definitely seen the pandering to big donors thing happening. It’s hard at a small school to ignore the big donors who can have an outsized impact on school finances.

In an ideal world, I’d send my kid for PK and K and then move them by first or second grade

Anonymous wrote:Had a simply horrible experience there. Zero-value academics leaving kids utterly unprepared for HS (look at the long-lead college record - truly bizarre). Rampant bullying. School administration that openly catered to the biggest donors. We very happily pulled. Absolute No from here.

+1 - Happened to us too. I encourage OP to look at the recent reviews carefully. Changes are needed to get what could be a fantastic school back on track.

No experience with the lower school (our child entered at middle school ) but we have loved the middle school and haven’t met anyone who was displeased with the lower school. Based on Walking around the campus at fall fair, the lower school area seemed magical; the connection to nature and open spaces seems like such a great benefit. I do think the lower school is more different from other area privates than the middle school , so it may not be a great fit for everyone

I assume “long-lead college record” means to look at where Burgundy grads ultimately go to college, but I think you should pick a k-8 based on fit, not colleges, and I don’t even know how someone would determine where Burgundy kids go to college.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Had a simply horrible experience there. Zero-value academics leaving kids utterly unprepared for HS (look at the long-lead college record - truly bizarre). Rampant bullying. School administration that openly catered to the biggest donors. We very happily pulled. Absolute No from here.

What does this mean?

I'm also curious - "long-lead college record"?

Anonymous wrote:Had a simply horrible experience there. Zero-value academics leaving kids utterly unprepared for HS (look at the long-lead college record - truly bizarre). Rampant bullying. School administration that openly catered to the biggest donors. We very happily pulled. Absolute No from here.

What does this mean?

Totally different experience from PP. We loved the whole child approach and had two kid go through. They made great friends, are doing well in HS and wouldn’t change a thing. OP definitely tour and talk to current parents. Seems to be a lot more negativity on this thread than we experienced.

Had a simply horrible experience there. Zero-value academics leaving kids utterly unprepared for HS (look at the long-lead college record - truly bizarre). Rampant bullying. School administration that openly catered to the biggest donors. We very happily pulled. Absolute No from here.

I have heard very good things about the school, but my closest experience is that my child’s bestie at a different k-8 transferred out from Burgundy Farm after experiencing bullying there. That was a few years ago, however.

My child went, and frankly it was a mixed experience. A few amazing teachers, and people who really made a huge difference believing in them.

But also a head of school who can be petty and deeply political and allow bullying, prioritizing families over others and letting harm persist.

Anonymous wrote:I just can’t see that word without thinking washcloth.

Best wishes on your private search!

+1

It’s a truly special place. The campus is amazing and the teachers are so kind and attentive. We started in later elementary and also loved the middle school. The Cove campus in WV is another added bonus. Definitely tour and talk to current parents if you haven’t already.

We’ve taken childhood away from children. This also came up in a recent NYT article: Are Schools the Problem?
Or some similar title.
Burgundy lets children be children, which strengthens independence and confidence.
At they same time, they build all of the skills they need to succeed in high school and beyond.
Being outside is healthy for children, though they are out less in middle school than lower school.
Kindergarten is wonderful.

I just can’t see that word without thinking washcloth.

Best wishes on your private search!

We are seriously considering Burgundy for our super inquisitive Kindergartner. We have read up on all the distinct elements of the campus and curriculum. Any Burgundy parents out there that would like to share what they love? Always so helpful to hear from folks with first-hand perspective. TYSM!