I'm a parent of a Burgundy alumnus and I recently went through 4th grade admissions with a younger son who ended up NOT going to Burgundy. My in-between child went public.

The school has definitely changed over the years. One clue to me was that the admissions director talked about IQ scores in the 125+ range being "a good starting point" for Burgundy. I have trouble believing that everyone there is now in the 95th percentile and above, but OK, sure. They're trying to tell us something with comments like that.

I think they are trying to put the "hippy dippy" reputation behind them more emphasis on rigorous academics. Don't get me wrong -- expectations of achievement have always been reasonably high at Burgundy, because that's the profile of DC private school parents. We're overwhelmingly overachievers. But at Burgundy, your kid could thrive even if they weren't academically driven.

My older child needed the child-centered academic atmosphere that Burgundy provided. He was one who got pretty far on native smarts, but didn't work terribly hard until high school. For my younger one, other options just ended up looking better. He got in, but we declined the spot. I was as shocked as anyone to say no, but my younger child didn't connect with Burgundy the way the older one did.

It is much harder to get into the school now than it was 10 years ago, that's for sure.

I liked ACDS a lot "back in the day" for what it's worth. Burgundy, however, had that marvelous campus, which was a big plus for my child.

With all these schools, the key is really to go and see for yourself. I would not have sent my oldest to Browne, for example, because he would have climbed the walls in those underground classrooms. But my youngest doesn't have that problem, and it might yet be a good fit. We'll probably apply for 5th grade, which is when they start MS at Browne.

Bump. What's the latest on the Lower School at ACDS? How's the new head doing? We're considering sending DS there for K in 2019-2020. TIA!

OP I think you are overthinking this. You can't assume that the people who currently teach third grade will be there next year, etc. And no one has a clue what it means to cater to a kid who "scores high in visual spatial." And test scores for young kids don't mean much anyway.

Just visit the schools. They are all excellent in the early years. Go to the one that "feels" right to you. You know your child; trust your gut, not what a test score tells you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why the huge turnover of teachers at ACDS? Change in admin?

Nope, nothing like that. Many are life changes—becoming a stay at home parent, relocation out of area, devoting full
time to a personal business, etc.

There are some life changes, but the reality is that most of the teachers who are leaving are moving on to other local schools.

Anonymous wrote:Why the huge turnover of teachers at ACDS? Change in admin?

PP, you should bear in mind that this kind of turnover is not uncommon in private schools. The compensation is roughly half of what public schools pay, so most teachers in private do not have the luxury of viewing it as long-term employment.

Anonymous wrote:Why the huge turnover of teachers at ACDS? Change in admin?

Nope, nothing like that. Many are life changes—becoming a stay at home parent, relocation out of area, devoting full
time to a personal business, etc.

Why the huge turnover of teachers at ACDS? Change in admin?

You should reach out to Browne Academy. It is a gem and it sounds like your child would do well there. We moved our child two yrs ago and it is amazing. Our child is flourishing from the independent yet collaborative learning. The teachers are dynamic and recognize each child's unique abilities. Good luck!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking for current feedback in regards to Alexandria Country Day school and Burgundy (most information on this forum in relation to these schools seem to be a couple of years old). Which situation would be best for a child that scores high in visual-spatial? Also what if a child flourishes in an environment that sets strong boundaries but allows freedom? Are the third grade teachers strong in regards to recognizing where a child is at and appropriately challenging them, giving them more individualized attention? Burgundy's new arts building seems to be amazing but the feeling I got in some of the classrooms was chaotic at times. Do children have quiet time here to focus on their work/projects? Would enjoy to hear about peoples current experiences at these schools, how the children interact, the quality of the teachers and assistants in 2, 3rd, 4th and 5th grade.

If this is your situation, then eliminate Burgundy from the list. There is a focus on the child being self directed and if your child doesn't fit that profile, they will just be unhappy.

+1 Longtime Burgundy parent

Anonymous wrote:Looking for current feedback in regards to Alexandria Country Day school and Burgundy (most information on this forum in relation to these schools seem to be a couple of years old). Which situation would be best for a child that scores high in visual-spatial? Also what if a child flourishes in an environment that sets strong boundaries but allows freedom? Are the third grade teachers strong in regards to recognizing where a child is at and appropriately challenging them, giving them more individualized attention? Burgundy's new arts building seems to be amazing but the feeling I got in some of the classrooms was chaotic at times. Do children have quiet time here to focus on their work/projects? Would enjoy to hear about peoples current experiences at these schools, how the children interact, the quality of the teachers and assistants in 2, 3rd, 4th and 5th grade.

If this is your situation, then eliminate Burgundy from the list. There is a focus on the child being self directed and if your child doesn't fit that profile, they will just be unhappy.

Go visit and get a feel for yourself. I would suggest you include a few others schools too. You are the best and only judge of the best school for your child. Visit as often and as many times as you need.

None of the independent schools will say they are geared towards some particular neuro/IQ profile. They are about letting the younger kids be kids and helping the older ones develop the self-regulation and management to achieve at their best. Your sense of what "sets strong boundaries but allows freedom" is likely very different than mine. Just as my academic expectations for my child are probably very different than yours.

As a Burgundy parent, I appreciate that people have different expectations and experiences. My oldest went on to a Big 3 for high school and was among their best students. I can name several private school class presidents and Ivy students from Burgundy. Many valedictorians and salutatorians at TC are Burgundy alums. But, they were also the strongest students at Burgundy. I certainly do not feel like the parent who says feels Burgundy left their child academically unprepared, but their child is different than mine.

Anonymous wrote:We are ex-Burgundy, and we pulled in part because of what in our opinion was systematic academic weakness. Kids still sitting in group tables in 5th grade, with no experience being individually graded as they enter middle school. Selected parents meandering around the classrooms "helping" and paying attention to their own DCs. A frustrated teacher hurling pencils at students. Mixed-grade classrooms in which the most advanced 3d grader was essentially years ahead of the least advanced 2d grader, producing a benefit to no one in the class. It was beyond chaotic, and about a third of our class pulled the same year we did. We wouldn't go back under essentially any circumstance.

Sigh. Posting the same story for a decade.

Not sure where the myth of no individual grading comes from. It is false.

We are ex-Burgundy, and we pulled in part because of what in our opinion was systematic academic weakness. Kids still sitting in group tables in 5th grade, with no experience being individually graded as they enter middle school. Selected parents meandering around the classrooms "helping" and paying attention to their own DCs. A frustrated teacher hurling pencils at students. Mixed-grade classrooms in which the most advanced 3d grader was essentially years ahead of the least advanced 2d grader, producing a benefit to no one in the class. It was beyond chaotic, and about a third of our class pulled the same year we did. We wouldn't go back under essentially any circumstance.

Also looking at these two schools and would be interested in feedback. Have done a couple of tours at both, leaning heavily toward ACDS. The 3-4-5 classrooms at BFDS just didn't impress.

Looking for current feedback in regards to Alexandria Country Day school and Burgundy (most information on this forum in relation to these schools seem to be a couple of years old). Which situation would be best for a child that scores high in visual-spatial? Also what if a child flourishes in an environment that sets strong boundaries but allows freedom? Are the third grade teachers strong in regards to recognizing where a child is at and appropriately challenging them, giving them more individualized attention? Burgundy's new arts building seems to be amazing but the feeling I got in some of the classrooms was chaotic at times. Do children have quiet time here to focus on their work/projects? Would enjoy to hear about peoples current experiences at these schools, how the children interact, the quality of the teachers and assistants in 2, 3rd, 4th and 5th grade.