Anonymous wrote:Just keep in mind that second grade is NOT an expansion year at most schools. If you are intent on private, you should cast a very wide net.

Thank you, I didn't know that. What years are considered expansion years?

Just keep in mind that second grade is NOT an expansion year at most schools. If you are intent on private, you should cast a very wide net.

Anonymous wrote:GDS
I'm a nerd with a non-nerd kid. I loved GDS when we toured. My kid (jock) was accepted to the rest of the Big5 schools but not GDS. His close friends (nerds) were accepted to GDS.
It seems to be a type of kid that they select (of course not entirely (there are non-nerds there!), but in my kid's cohort it's completely what happened when all other things like grades and extracurriculars were even).

Thank you! Nerds unite.

For all the GDS posters (seems to be a consensus here) - are they good about dealing with bullying? That's a big concern of mine too, especially in MS.

GDS
I'm a nerd with a non-nerd kid. I loved GDS when we toured. My kid (jock) was accepted to the rest of the Big5 schools but not GDS. His close friends (nerds) were accepted to GDS.
It seems to be a type of kid that they select (of course not entirely (there are non-nerds there!), but in my kid's cohort it's completely what happened when all other things like grades and extracurriculars were even).

Anonymous wrote:1. Where are you, OP and does location matter?

2. Stay far away from Maret.

OP here - Chevy Chase, MD. Would like to drive no more than 20ish minutes if possible; don't care which direction.

Thank you for all the responses!!

1. Where are you, OP and does location matter?

2. Stay far away from Maret.

Field School

Another vote for Langley. My Langley child told me “nerds are cool now”. Very telling of the community vibe is that one of the most popular sell-out Langley parent events every year is Leopardy (trivia night). On a non-covid year it’s actually very hard and plenty of parents know the answers.

Norwood is also an option - especially so if he likes either music or art.

Burke makes a good home for these types of kids.

Langley does a good job with kids like this.

GDS

My similar kid is doing well at GDS (ignoring their terrible pandemic response).

Lowell
GDS
Maret

Looking ahead to applying in the fall. DS will be going into second grade in 2022. Very bright, quirky and sort of awkward, but very sweet and funny. Yes he's been tested for various things and no he does not have a diagnosis. He's just not going to be homecoming king, but will build you a kickass robot.

We are looking for a regular private school, just one that isn't so athletics/jock heavy, and is welcoming to kids who are not the popular ones. It's important that he can find some peers and feel included (he has some good friends in the neighborhood, but we want to switch to private school for him for various reasons).

Before anyone comes at me for this, rest assured I am a nerdy, quirky and awkward parent and I embrace that. Just looking for the right environment for my kid and it seems most of the privates around here are pressure cookers with straight to Harvard pipelines. Not our scene.