Anonymous wrote:Yes but if your child would thrive with smaller class sizes and group learning and lots of hands-on activities, then aap may not be for them.

There is a big difference between a private school with classes of 15 kids or so, and a private school that will be lucky if it gets 15 kids total.

Yes but if your child would thrive with smaller class sizes and group learning and lots of hands-on activities, then aap may not be for them.

Maybe it is just me, but I live in Vienna. I can not imagine spending my money on a private middle school when the public middle schools offer so much, particularly for AAP students.

Anonymous wrote:shouldn't this be in the private school forum?

good point

shouldn't this be in the private school forum?

It's just a middle school. The kids will either have to apply to different private high schools or go back to public middle schools.

Anonymous wrote:I have looked into it. It's not open yet but they are looking at spaces in the same general area. The new place will house their after-school programs and their middle school. It seems like they have a good philosophy and a lot of experience already what with running their enrichment programs. It would be a good school if your kid loves science and would thrive in a small, nurturing environment. I don't think they are trying to play to the financially gifted crowd, but trying to serve the kids who are into STEM but a bit, how you say... socially awkward. I think it will be a good fit for a small group of kids, and that's what a micro school is for.

I know the couple who runs Ideaventions and I can assure you they're not trying to play to the financially gifted crowd. In fact, they are very concerned about access and have traditionally given quite a few scholarships to kids who couldn't afford to attend their enrichment classes otherwise. I haven't exactly quizzed them about the economics of the MS they want to start, but I assume they've figured that's what it's going to cost to offer the kind of program they want. I even had a brief conversation with her in which she was musing about sources of scholarships for kids who couldn't afford to attend. Would love to send my child there but it's not in our budget.

Interesting. We've been to bday parties at Ideaventions (and hosted one there, too).

So I just looked at the website. It seems like an awesome idea - a STEM middle school that's rigorous (not hippy dippy "expeditionary learning "or whatever) but seems more creative and kind than a bootcamp like place like BASIS. BUT that name ... seriously, just change the name. The name makes me question the whole endeavor.

I have looked into it. It's not open yet but they are looking at spaces in the same general area. The new place will house their after-school programs and their middle school. It seems like they have a good philosophy and a lot of experience already what with running their enrichment programs. It would be a good school if your kid loves science and would thrive in a small, nurturing environment. I don't think they are trying to play to the financially gifted crowd, but trying to serve the kids who are into STEM but a bit, how you say... socially awkward. I think it will be a good fit for a small group of kids, and that's what a micro school is for.

Anonymous wrote:The entire ideaventions program was created by parents for their own kids. I would guess their oldest kid must be going into middle school next year.

I can't really understand the concept of a middle-school only school.

OP here. DH was also not sold on the idea. He is now a physician but majored in engineering as an undergrad. I was just curious what other parents thought of the idea.

DH also isn't a fan of moving out to the Oakton area. He wants to move closer to DC or stay where we are and explore private middle/high schools. I think we are limited to Browne, Burgundy Farms and St Agnes St Stephens for private middle school options.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought advertisements were discouraged on these threads.

Go peddle your stupid school idea somewhere else, OP.

OP here. I am not advertising. My kids are age 5 and under and looking into various neighborhoods in VA. We live in Alexandria and ok with elementary schools until middle school. There seem to be a ton of great private high schools but very limited middle schools.

Your child is 5 and you're already looking into MS? And it's nowhere near you? Perhaps you can make some plans to buy a house nearby this place. It is planning ahead..

I think it is pretty common to look at school pyramids when buying a home. This includes middle school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought advertisements were discouraged on these threads.

Go peddle your stupid school idea somewhere else, OP.

OP here. I am not advertising. My kids are age 5 and under and looking into various neighborhoods in VA. We live in Alexandria and ok with elementary schools until middle school. There seem to be a ton of great private high schools but very limited middle schools.

Your child is 5 and you're already looking into MS? And it's nowhere near you? Perhaps you can make some plans to buy a house nearby this place. It is planning ahead..

Anonymous wrote:I thought advertisements were discouraged on these threads.

Go peddle your stupid school idea somewhere else, OP.

OP here. I am not advertising. My kids are age 5 and under and looking into various neighborhoods in VA. We live in Alexandria and ok with elementary schools until middle school. There seem to be a ton of great private high schools but very limited middle schools.

Anonymous wrote:I reported it, but it remained

Probably because there is a chance, however small, that OP might actually be asking a real question. At least if anyone reads the thread your comments will be a red flag that this may be thinly veiled advertising.