Anonymous wrote:The only info I can offer is between Packer and Avenues. Packer is a more traditional path of learning and curriculum whereas Avenues is more project based learning, such as their mastery learning system which allows kids who have their own particular interests to pursue research projects in lieu of their core classes. I think if you have a kid who already has strong personal interests and doesn’t particularly llike traditional classroom learning, then Avenues could be a better option. They both have strong college matriculations.

Upper division at Avenues provides two paths, mastery and traditional. Less than half of the students choose mastery. Lots of elective courses available for interested students.

We picked Avenues over Browning fwiw, although it was a tough choice in the end indeed. This is for lower school.

We actually liked the for-profit model, especially the part where they aren’t allowed to collect donations, in other words, you know what you are paying for and what you get. Btw we also got accepted by Basis and had an honest talk with head of the school and he mentioned exactly the for profit model which encourages them to drive down the cost while keeping providing quality education. Yes there are concerns over cost reduction but if they are trying to run a business they know that the quality of their product (education) is more important in driving their success other than anything else.

We liked Browning too. Everyone at browning is so charming and welcoming. They are serious in boys education. I don’t think they are lacking in STEM, especially with their certificate of distinction programs. Being a smaller school where school also allows us to literally customize your child’s education (3 students are enough for them to form a new club)

Here is a discussion on Avenues recent results.
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1224735.page

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is Avenues so controversial in this board?

The article referenced here is behind a paywall, but the summary will give you the gist. It's a for-profit school that was introduced with an enormous and obnoxious NY Times ad. When it opened, the demand level was high for the relatively small number of available private school spots in the city, and Avenues was touting a shiny new tech-forward school that appealed to certain affluent parents. It seems they didn't really care much about getting education part right, and Avenues never lived up to the hype.

https://www.instagram.com/insider/p/DEiYG5fvHaU/when-avenues-the-world-school-opened-in-2012-in-chelsea-it-was-supposed-to-revol/

Please note that there are multiple people replying here and this is not just one person piling on Avenues.

Anonymous wrote:Why is Avenues so controversial in this board?

The article referenced here is behind a paywall, but the summary will give you the gist. It's a for-profit school that was introduced with an enormous and obnoxious NY Times ad. When it opened, the demand level was high for the relatively small number of available private school spots in the city, and Avenues was touting a shiny new tech-forward school that appealed to certain affluent parents. It seems they didn't really care much about getting education part right, and Avenues never lived up to the hype.

https://www.instagram.com/insider/p/DEiYG5fvHaU/when-avenues-the-world-school-opened-in-2012-in-chelsea-it-was-supposed-to-revol/

I have no affiliation with Packer other than knowing a few families there. And I made it very clear that those were just a few kids I met from Browning several years ago (who seemed to tie with the school's reputation at the time) but I also know a very nice family there now and that it seems to be changing.

I also noted some nice families at Avenues. Perhaps I went overboard in my description - my apologies. But I think that is the general impression people have of the school.

Anonymous wrote:Avenues is nouveau riche phony social climbers and kids who couldn't get in anywhere else. Packer families are much more normal.

Browning boys who were obnoxious, poorly behaved "bro's".

Right. I got it. Calling others "nouveau riche phony social climbers" is totally appropriate.

It really reflects on Packer so well ...

Anonymous wrote:Packer has a lot more legacies/donors. Avenues, as pointed out by others, "nouveau riche phony social climbers", has much less.

If you look at the matriculation results, Avenues performs better than Packer, even with so many new rich families.

Understandable that some people may feel insecure.

Who feels insecure? That is not a very appropriate comment. It is kind of an insecure comment, actually. You are not reflecting well on Avenues.

Packer has a lot more legacies/donors. Avenues, as pointed out by others, "nouveau riche phony social climbers", has much less.

If you look at the matriculation results, Avenues performs better than Packer, even with so many new rich families.

Understandable that some people may feel insecure.