People love to trash BS on this board.

Why?????

Seems to me that if we look at the Blue Ribbon Application with Terra Nova and the fact that they got the award, we are talking about a very well performing school....

Have you considered St. Ann in Arlington? Also a Blue Ribbon School. Small class sizes. Nice community. Strong academics but stronger sense of community. Parents volunteer 30 hours, unless it is a single parent. Single parents volunteer 15 hours.

Anonymous wrote:And what might measure these "higher rating schools"? How/why is BSS not considered high rating? Any actual evidence or reliable method of measuring academic performance???

Yes, read their Blue Ribbon Application with Terra Nova test scores indicated on the last pages. The scores are reported as 'Scaled Scores'. I don't know how that translates to a percentile or percentage...
http://www2.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/2012/applications/pv237-blessed-sacrament-school.pdf

And what might measure these "higher rating schools"? How/why is BSS not considered high rating? Any actual evidence or reliable method of measuring academic performance???

Anonymous wrote:Would still appreciate some constructive feedback about the quality of the education at BSS-thanks! Education in an academic sense, as well as, social/emotional learning. Anyone happy/unhappy with this school community?

We have been extremely pleased with academics. Two graduates at competitive high schools and thriving. They were well=prepared and did well on placement tests. Especially strong in grammar and if your child is up to it, they will be challenged in math.
(Eldest DC will be taking AP Calculus AB, younger, not so much.)
Suggest you chat with other parishioners to get their feedback. You do need to be a parishioner to get in – being active in parish helps to.
Some of our best friends are from BSS and we are not multi-generational Chevy Chase people.

Would still appreciate some constructive feedback about the quality of the education at BSS-thanks! Education in an academic sense, as well as, social/emotional learning. Anyone happy/unhappy with this school community?

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, I am new to all of this. Parochial school is "my thing" only if I can provide my kids with a nurturing environment for LEARNING. It's the academic performance that I want I am asking about, care less about the parochial aspect of it... Thanks for your feedback!

It's probably not "your thing". I would stick to schools with high rating, you will find like minded parents there.

Sorry, I am new to all of this. Parochial school is "my thing" only if I can provide my kids with a nurturing environment for LEARNING. It's the academic performance that I want I am asking about, care less about the parochial aspect of it... Thanks for your feedback!

It's a parochial school that generally feeds into other parochial schools. If that is your thing, then it is fine.

"doesn't have resources of NWDC public schools"... meaning that it's academically less competitive than other tier one schools? Social or religious aspects aside, I'd like to know if there is learning taking place and if kids get out of there with solid bases to excel in high school and beyond.

Bump

It doesn't have the resources of the publics in NWDC. I think people go there more for the social and religious aspect if it's your thing.

People love to trash BS on this board.

I read a recent post about Holy Trinity vs. Blessed Sacrament, and there seems to be mixed reviews. Can I please call on any more feedback regarding Blessed Sacrament? Academically, are we equating it to a good public school (JKLMM) or charter, or is it a step up closer to the higher performing private schools? It's a National Blue Ribbon School, so that must mean something, no?