I don't have children at Sidwell, but I remember being told on the tour that half the class will often go out to a special, leaving two HR teachers to work with 12 kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell 24!!

With two full teachers.

At the very least, I would expect 2 teachers in the classroom with 24 children. I would be quite upset about paying Sidwell's tuition AND having 24 kids in my child's K class. I'm also not impressed with Maret's and Beauvoir's class sizes. There are several Ward 3 public schools with smaller K class sizes and better student/teacher ratios. Isn’t one of the hallmarks of a private school education small class sizes (i.e., 18 kids or less)?

Anonymous wrote:Beauvoir is 20-21 per class. There are two teachers in every classroom, every grade. Specials are taught to children in small groups (half the class or less)...these include science, spanish, art, music/drama etc. When that group is with the "specials" teacher the classroom teachers work with the remaining smaller group. The ratio is about 7:1.

For its two teachers, does Beauvoir still use the model where one is an experienced teacher and the other is a new trainee teacher? I recall them talking about that a few years ago when we applied.

I personally think it's a fine model for reducing the ratio, and each year's trainee should bring in new ideas and energy. But I recall thinking the admissions person describing the program came across a little defensive, as if she herself felt she had to justify it. But then again, she was an admissions person, not a teacher herself, so she probably had to put up with a lot of skepticism from parents.

So anyway, do they still use that model?

Wow, my JKLM K is 19 with a teacher and an aid. Huh.

Lowell is 16-17 with 2 full teachers.

Anonymous wrote:K at Potomac is 16 with a teacher and assistant-- assistant is there for the morning, usually including reading and math (plus a specialist several days a week)

Assistants are full teachers in that they are trained appropriately, etc. Asst teacher is often there way more than not, we didn't find the asst left every day.

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell 24!!

With two full teachers.

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell 24!!

With two full teachers.

K at Potomac is 16 with a teacher and assistant-- assistant is there for the morning, usually including reading and math (plus a specialist several days a week)

Burgundy farm - 14 with 2 teachers

Sidwell 24!!

Maret is 20 with 2 teachers.

17 kids, two teachers.

Beauvoir is 20-21 per class. There are two teachers in every classroom, every grade. Specials are taught to children in small groups (half the class or less)...these include science, spanish, art, music/drama etc. When that group is with the "specials" teacher the classroom teachers work with the remaining smaller group. The ratio is about 7:1.

What is the size of your K class? I am concerned that our school keeps adding kids to the K class sizes.

I had expected lower than average teacher/child ratios-they are much higher than when we toured.

My DCs class is now pretty much in line (ratio wise) with local public options that I had bypassed in lieu of what I thought would be more individual attention.

What is the norm for non Montessori K?

In particular, curious about

Beauvoir
WIS
St. Pats
Maret
Potomac
SSSA
NPS