Congratulations PP! Sporty and social is how I would describe my DC who has been at SSFS since lower school and is now in upper school. We have loved our time at SSFS - our DC has played several sports and has made great friends, but has also learned to be a critical thinker and a strong writer. DC has had some incredible and impactful teachers. Good luck with your decision - the Burke kids and families we’ve met at sporting events (SSFS and Burke are in same league for some sports) also seem lovely, so I think you cannot go wrong with either.

Anonymous wrote:My kid got into the upper school for 9th. Deciding between SSFS and Burke. I’d say DC is on the sporty side and quite social. We are looking for an environment where DC will thrive and be well prepared for college. Public school has not been a great fit academically (smaller classrooms with less distractions is why we are considering private school). The locations and physical layouts are obviously totally different. Wondering if any has additional thoughts about DC’s potential fit at SSFS. We will visit admitted students day at both. Thanks in advance for comments.

If you are looking for a comparison of college placement, just check each school's 2024 college decision instagram page. They give you a good idea of the trajectory of the students.

@burkeseniors
@ssfs24seniors

My kid got into the upper school for 9th. Deciding between SSFS and Burke. I’d say DC is on the sporty side and quite social. We are looking for an environment where DC will thrive and be well prepared for college. Public school has not been a great fit academically (smaller classrooms with less distractions is why we are considering private school). The locations and physical layouts are obviously totally different. Wondering if any has additional thoughts about DC’s potential fit at SSFS. We will visit admitted students day at both. Thanks in advance for comments.

Any feedback on the lower school? It sounds incredibly nurturing and warm, and able to tailor itself to the individual student--is that accurate?

Anonymous wrote:There’s a lot of leadership churn, a normal amount of teacher churn, but the kids at SSFS upper school are generally happy and probably wouldn’t be at other higher pressure independent schools.

+100

There’s a lot of leadership churn, a normal amount of teacher churn, but the kids at SSFS upper school are generally happy and probably wouldn’t be at other higher pressure independent schools.

Anonymous wrote:She seems okay, but not as dynamic as head who’s leaving to Bullis.

I’m sure the head going to Bullis is great, but my kid said he’s never had a conversation with her and she doesn’t interact with kids easily - no chatting at lunch or coming to games etc. On the other hand he knows and likes the new head. While the kids liking the head isn’t everything, I do think it is helpful.

She seems okay, but not as dynamic as head who’s leaving to Bullis.

Over the moon about new head - she is amazing in every regard. So excited to see her named and this is good news for us as we have two DCs in upper school next year!

We love SSFS and are excired for the new US head!

New 9th grade family. We are extremely happy ant SSFS. Teachers are dedicated and genuinely want to engage and teach. No turnover in any teachers this year. Kind and inclusive peers. The school has exceeded our expectations.

I agree with prior comments that new head of the US is beyond qualified and knows SSFS very well. I believe she also has a child that graduated from SSFS, so she knows the US from multiple angles. She will do a fantastic job!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah. Apparently this one leaving for Bullis made it clear she wanted SSFS…unless Bullis came calling. And Bullis came calling. I don’t know I would have hired someone that said they’d leave for a peer school if asked. She had good reason to want to go to Bullis, but it feels icky.

This. SSFS took a gamble on hiring her in the first place. She was transparent about her desire to return to Bullis. That said, the incoming US Head will be great, and I imagine she will stay in that position for a while.

I agree she’ll be great but why would they have hired someone who explicitly wanted to move to Bullis after a big fail the year before in trying get a new us head? Why didn’t they promote the internal person then instead of “taking a gamble”? Another administrative ball dropped is disappointing but not surprising.

Anonymous wrote:Yeah. Apparently this one leaving for Bullis made it clear she wanted SSFS…unless Bullis came calling. And Bullis came calling. I don’t know I would have hired someone that said they’d leave for a peer school if asked. She had good reason to want to go to Bullis, but it feels icky.

This. SSFS took a gamble on hiring her in the first place. She was transparent about her desire to return to Bullis. That said, the incoming US Head will be great, and I imagine she will stay in that position for a while.

Yeah. Apparently this one leaving for Bullis made it clear she wanted SSFS…unless Bullis came calling. And Bullis came calling. I don’t know I would have hired someone that said they’d leave for a peer school if asked. She had good reason to want to go to Bullis, but it feels icky.

I think it speaks to questionable judgement/ hiring decisions to hire two people in a row that were job hunting before first quarter of their first year in the job was done.