We are at a Big 5 and kid is happy, but my kid wanted to go there. In your situation, go with Bullis! It sounds like it is a great fit. Just don’t look back on your decision - every school has its issues and no school will be perfect. You make decisions based on available information.

What grade? 9th grade - let him pick. K - parents get a lot more say. In between - judgement call. I'd have him shadow at each of them though and really spend a day at each place to be sure.

Not sure. Have the academics improved at Bullis? How bad is your public option?

Send the kid where he’s comfortable.

Anonymous wrote:Pick the school that is the best fit for your child - thrive not survive!

This! Our DC made a similar decision for 9th and never looked back.

Pick the school that is the best fit for your child - thrive not survive!

This big 3, big 5 stuff is all dcum nonsense. Pick the school he will be happiest at and he will thrive.

Anonymous wrote:Personally, given what you have described, I suspect the regret you would have is going to the prestigious school. Could be a disaster, or merely a slog. Sounds like he really wants to go to Bullis and would thrive there.

This. Bullis is a great school, and if your kid is excepted about it, wonderful!

Go for it!

If your son wants Bullis, go for it! Bullis is an excellent school with dedicated teachers, a warm environment, and excellent college placement. This area is so ridiculous with one school being more "prestigious" than another. Give me a break. Every private school is good and will give a great eduction if the student takes advantage of all a school has to offer. Same goes for public school. Bullis has so much to offer. Listen to your heart and, more importantly, to your son.

Anonymous wrote: DS got in at a Big 5 but his heart was set on Bullis from the first time we toured. DS is a bright kid, and strong athlete but he does have some anxiety and we worry he won't do well at a pressure cooker type of environment. He is very hardworking and intrinsically motivated. We loved the fact that Bullis can achieve amazing college placement with subjecting the kids to too much pressure. We were very impressed by their Signature programs in STEM, Visual Arts and Entrepreneurship in high school. We also loved the campus (impressive facilities) and the whole vibe. DS had a great time when he shadowed and already made a couple of friends who he keeps in touch with.
Some of our friends are telling us we are crazy to give up a much more prestigious school for Bullis, but in my heart I feel we are making the right choice.
Is this something we'll regret in the future?
PS: Commute isn't an issue
Thanks in advance

I assume you mean commute to Bullis isn't an issue...but is it an issue to the Big 5 school which is the option?

If I lived in Potomac/North Bethesda, I would pick Bullis if it meant a 10 minute commute vs. 45 minutes.

Maybe it's just where I live, but when I speak with other private school families, the commute time was probably 75% of the reason to narrow the school selection down to 3-4 schools.

Personally, given what you have described, I suspect the regret you would have is going to the prestigious school. Could be a disaster, or merely a slog. Sounds like he really wants to go to Bullis and would thrive there.

So, you’re asking about Bullis versus Maret or Potomac? Because those are the schools that people try and sneak in under the “big 5” banner

If so, then I would have no qualms about picking Bullis over either one of these.

A "Big 5?"

Wut? Is this even a thing? I don't think this is a thing.

DS got in at a Big 5 but his heart was set on Bullis from the first time we toured. DS is a bright kid, and strong athlete but he does have some anxiety and we worry he won't do well at a pressure cooker type of environment. He is very hardworking and intrinsically motivated. We loved the fact that Bullis can achieve amazing college placement with subjecting the kids to too much pressure. We were very impressed by their Signature programs in STEM, Visual Arts and Entrepreneurship in high school. We also loved the campus (impressive facilities) and the whole vibe. DS had a great time when he shadowed and already made a couple of friends who he keeps in touch with.
Some of our friends are telling us we are crazy to give up a much more prestigious school for Bullis, but in my heart I feel we are making the right choice.
Is this something we'll regret in the future?
PS: Commute isn't an issue
Thanks in advance