Anonymous wrote:I grew up here and I never liked the name of the school cause it sounded like a school for bullies. Weird but true.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC loves being outdoors and goes to a school that has more outdoor time than most. It would not be a good school for a child needing a great deal of external structure. In this case, it's not about things like WISC score or reading ability; it's about fit. Either sort of school can have excellent students, but where would you be comfortable and what would most benefit your DC? That's a more obvious example, but as you visit schools, more subtle elements will appeal to you or nag at you. Then imagine where your child would thrive.

This is wise. I grow weary of the mindset that school A is better than school B in some objective, abstract sense. What is best depends on the kid and the environment in which they are most likely to progress.

In our case we wanted: a) small classes, b) individualized instruction, c) positive encouragement from the teachers, d) clarity from teachers with respect to expectations, e) performing arts opportunities, f) socially safe environment, g) academic rigor, h) flexibility to allow child to move ahead in some areas while getting extra work in others, i) attention to the techniques that enable our particular child to learn best. We also paid attention to things like proximity and the attractiveness of the physical environment. And obviously, physical and emotional safety were prerequisites.

That's what I want too. Where did you choose.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC loves being outdoors and goes to a school that has more outdoor time than most. It would not be a good school for a child needing a great deal of external structure. In this case, it's not about things like WISC score or reading ability; it's about fit. Either sort of school can have excellent students, but where would you be comfortable and what would most benefit your DC? That's a more obvious example, but as you visit schools, more subtle elements will appeal to you or nag at you. Then imagine where your child would thrive.

This is wise. I grow weary of the mindset that school A is better than school B in some objective, abstract sense. What is best depends on the kid and the environment in which they are most likely to progress.

In our case we wanted: a) small classes, b) individualized instruction, c) positive encouragement from the teachers, d) clarity from teachers with respect to expectations, e) performing arts opportunities, f) socially safe environment, g) academic rigor, h) flexibility to allow child to move ahead in some areas while getting extra work in others, i) attention to the techniques that enable our particular child to learn best. We also paid attention to things like proximity and the attractiveness of the physical environment. And obviously, physical and emotional safety were prerequisites.

Anonymous wrote:My DC loves being outdoors and goes to a school that has more outdoor time than most. It would not be a good school for a child needing a great deal of external structure. In this case, it's not about things like WISC score or reading ability; it's about fit. Either sort of school can have excellent students, but where would you be comfortable and what would most benefit your DC? That's a more obvious example, but as you visit schools, more subtle elements will appeal to you or nag at you. Then imagine where your child would thrive.