Langley, Connelly

imo, safety schools in this area are: Good Counsel, Flint Hill, and Bullis

As a Washington DC native I do agree that those schools that were once considered safety schools have become more competitive. Maret used to be a school full of kids who were kicked out of other privates. St. Andrew's used to be the same way, but both schools have changed considerably.

Anonymous wrote:What could be a "safety" for one grade level, might not be for another.

And what could be a 'safety' school for one family might not be for another... As another poster stated it all depends.

What could be a "safety" for one grade level, might not be for another.

Anonymous wrote:Methinks the pp's kid either didn't get into Congressional or was counseled out. This theme is popping up on every thread tonight.

I'm the PP & there may be a troll here tonight posting repeatedly about Congressional but it's not me. This is the first time I've ever even mentioned Congressional on this board.

We never even considered sending our kids there due to the commute (we're in NW DC) so I have no dog in this fight. We lived in Falls Church for the first five years of our oldest DC's life, however, & have several friends with children who still live in that general area. Three different sets of parents we're close to have told us that Congressional was their kids' safety for PK or K. I also know that all of their kids were admitted (even though one was not admitted to another school his parents thought would be a safety). None of these friends are the type to lie about something like that.

These kids -- 7 in total between the 3 families-- were all admitted within the last 4 years, BTW (3 of them this year).

I'm really not trying to bash the school; I'm just reporting what I know in hopes that it might provide someone a bit of help in navigating the crazy admissions process next year. But who knows? Maybe my friends' children are outliers. Maybe they all just happened to luck out & have what admissions was looking for their particular application years & Congressional really isn't a safety school for most kids. And even if it is generally considered a "safety", it could still very well be an excellent school. The competiveness of the admissions process isn't always indicative of the quality of the school. Like I said, living where I do, I didn't even look into it for my kids so I have no clue.

Methinks the pp's kid either didn't get into Congressional or was counseled out. This theme is popping up on every thread tonight.

^ oops. Meant Congressional obviously! Time for bed

Cogressional

For K-8, WES, Woods, Blessed Sacrament & St. Jane De Chantel maybe?

I'm guessing at least a few kids each year get rejected or WL at these schools, too, however.

10 or so years ago when kids were applying to HS, WIS was for high school. Now I am not so sure.

Anonymous wrote:The private school scene in DC has changed a lot in twenty even ten years. Maret used to be a safety now it's really hard to get into. The idea that kids with over 80% on their HPST can't get into SJC is mind-boggling. I think by high school many are not satisfied with public school offerings for whatever reason.

Don't want to turn this thread into FH bashing, but I think they were hit hard by Exxon moving to NJ. I knew people who worked there sent kids to FH. Also FCPS elementary schools are solid, but that said they are attracting kids from all over NOVA something they weren't doing even ten years ago.

Maret may have been a safety school 20 years ago but it certainly wasn't 10 years ago, at least not for K. I was a nanny back then & the boy I took care of was accepted to Sidwell, Beauvoir & St. Patrick's & never got of the WL at Maret. He had a 99% composite score on the WPPSI & was/is a very sweet, personable kid who was very well-liked by his teachers at his "top" preschool. So even back then, Maret was far from a sure bet!

Flint hill, bullis, Avalon, good counsel and saint johns

Anonymous wrote:St. Andrews, Good Counsel

SJC also. From special needs kids to mediocre to advance students. Pretty much anybody that U.S. willing to apply.

SSFS maybe?

Barrie