What did you decide, OP?

Anonymous wrote:I cant speak for SSFS - but We have been really happy with Field. Our 9th grade high achieving kid is thriving, challenged and enjoys the community.

What is this/her/their favorite thing about Field?

I cant speak for SSFS - but We have been really happy with Field. Our 9th grade high achieving kid is thriving, challenged and enjoys the community.

SSFS is a MUCH sportier school which is great for my kid. Though not "cutting" has been meh because she is more on the competitive side.

My child will be starting SSFS in 10th grade this fall and this whole thread has made me so happy!

We were deciding between the same 2 schools (both equally inconvenient distance wise) and went with SSFS for the following reasons:

Paying what is essentially a college fee for HS seemed crazy, especially because I couldn't identify any extra gain that was worth to me the difference in price with SSFS. And...
1. I know a few families with kids who went to SSFS and the parents/kids all raved about the school, and the kids all developed true passions in SSFS that they are pursuing in university now.
2. SSFS has consistently been described to me (by kids and parents) as a super nice place, with very attentive teachers.
3. The grounds at SSFS are tremendous and the extra curricular offerings seem very extensive.
4. Reports on Field are consistently mixed, and while I liked the location (it's vaguely more convenient than SSFS), the building, and if I'm being honest, perhaps the "cachet" of being at a well known DC private school (albeit not GDS, Maret etc), I wasn't convinced the extra cost above SSFS meant extra... anything.

In the end, had the price been equal, I might have spent a few more days agonizing about the decision, but as it was the savings of $14k a year was an important factor + the certainty that I was a picking a school where my child would learn and would be happy (given reports from other kids/parents).

We have experience at both SSFS and Field. The middle school program at SSFS is FANTASTIC! Academics are very strong, great social emotional support and teaching, strong sports (in same league as Field - PVAC - and typically beats Field) but anyone can join any team, awesome campus that allows for many outdoor opportunities. In our experience, Field wasn't as strong academically and administrators weren't as involved or collaborative with students and parents. My DS loved her teachers at Field, even though she wasn't challenged enough. She also loved Field's project based learning model, which they also have at SSFS but perhaps not as fully integrated as Field. Totally different campus environment, as you know. SSFS is way more diverse, if that is a consideration. The SSFS price tag is a bonus

Both great choices! We chose SSFS and our kid is thriving in this inclusive, authentic, and intellectual community. Its a special place!

Great colleges - sorry autocorrect.

Field is much more of a DC private school crowd. Many families have one kid at Field and another at Sidwell or Maret or GDS or the like. So you have a lot more connected parents who themselves went to great colleagues, are well off etc. I think that is one part of why college acceptances at Field are pretty darn strong compared to other schools in its orbit. We didn’t send our DC there but is seemed lovely. That DC insider vibe was fine and comfortable for me but not for DH.

Congratulations to your DC. Cannot speak to Field but have been at SSFS now through all the divisions and Middle School is our favorite! So well run and so many gems in the middle school teacher pool. Our DC felt super supported (in classes and in sports) and had so much growth as a student. Our DC would probably pick upper school as their favorite division though. Good luck with your decision.

I feel like I consistently hear positive things about SSFS. Field seems like more of a mixed bag with inconsistent feedback and varying levels of parent satisfaction.

I do agree Field has been in a bit of a transition phase and sort of finding its identity as a school. SSFS has the Friends tradition and seems more rooted to its identity. Personally, if I lived in MoCo, I’d lean towards SSFS. It’s a pretty special and unique school!

FWIW, that’s not our experience with Field at all. The teachers are, to a person, excellent, expert and deeply committed. Field has exceeded our high expectations on many levels and would make the decision to go all over again. But I’m sure SSFS is strong as well. Two great options.

We chose Field over SSFS due to convenience and location and were deeply disappointed. There seems to be a lack of intellectual leadership at Field. It’s been just ok. Its always felt like high end packaging of mediocre education by weirdly uninformed teachers that seem like they don’t read much.

SSFS from the outside appeared to have a stronger bolder culture of integrity and values. And far more gorgeous setting. A beloved new head for SSFS while the Head at Field has been wobbly and insecure from the start.

But maybe it was just buyers remorse.