Definitely recommend you look at Burke. They often add kids in 10th grade who have tried the public and found that it is not working for them so there will be many kids coming from a similar situation as your child. The teachers are great and will treat your child well regardless of whether the academics come easily or not. They really try to bring out the best in each kid and don't have a hypercompetitive culture.

Anonymous wrote:My child is an average student but is having a difficult time adjusting to the public high school. We’re thinking about visiting some of the upcoming private school open houses and are considering switching to private for 10th grade. Which MD/DC schools would accept an average student and would there typically be many, if any, openings for 10th grade?

To the original question, no there won't be a lot of openings for 10th grade, but also not a lot of 10th grade applicants. So, if a school is willing to add a student and you make a good case for yours, then you have a shot. With that in mind, there is no school that you should rule out without at least looking at their curriculum. The first thing you might check is whether your child is on track for whatever math and languages they can offer in 10th (most schools post this on line). There are a few schools where your student may be off track, so it just won't be an option. Small schools do not have a lot of schedule flexibility; bigger schools might. If that part aligns, then I would simply ask the admissions director at each school that seems to be an option whether they expect to have 10th grade openings.

Op, go visit the school and make your own opinion. Only you really know your kid.

Anonymous wrote:I would try Bullis and St. Andrews. They accept a wide range of students.

Fact on the acceptance rates. But as a happily-former Bullis patent, I can suggest that you may want to look further into the below-average scene there. It is nothing I’d want my children involved in.

Girl or boy?

There are a lot of great schools that accept a wider range of students: Sandy Springs Friends, Field, Burke, St. Andrews, Whittle, The Heights

For girls: Stone Ridge, Visitation, Holy Cross
For boys: Landon, Gonzaga, Georgetown Prep

Be careful about the advice you might receive here though - there is definitely a group of posters who think that unless you are at a Big 3 and aspiring to go to Harvard, you might as well live in a cave.

Good luck - I'm sure there is a good place for your child.

Previous poster again-I inadvertently left out some text. But meant to type that my sporty non-quirky boy took a summer class at St Anselem's (without attending the school) and he met a number of kids who do attend and none were quirky. They had a great time together and remain friends a year later.

The kid I know at St. Anselem's is neither super smart or quirky and he loves the school. My son (sporty, non-quirky) met lots of boys there that he identified with and he remains friends with. It wasn't at all the land of the geeks.
My other kid is at a Big3 and is also not super smart but is doing extremely well in upper school.

Point of my post: don't stereotype schools. Each class is different and there are kids of all types in any schools. Even if a school is 50% of one kind of kid, that leaves 50% of kids who are something else entirely.
Posters on this site LOVE to characterize schools as X, Y or Z. It's just not the truth in reality.

I've always thought of St. Anselm's as a great school for super smart quirky kids, but my kid is neither, so I never looked closely at it.

St. John's, big school with a range of students.

I also disagree with the St. Anselm's suggestion.

Another school that seems to serve a wide range of students is Sandy Spring Friends.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bullis, St. Andrews, St. Anslems

Not St Anselms though, he will not strive there as it is very challenging.

Are you the same poster that posts these defensive posts about St Anselms every time somebody suggests it for those students who may not be the right fit for St. Albans or the other ultra-competitive schools? It's a great school, but it is a fact that it takes the less competitive boys, those that are average or just above--and many who are exceptional in a variety of ways (meaning smart but with learning differences). I think it's unfair of you to turn people off of it just because you want to believe your son is among only the best and brightest.

PP is right! Less competitive or the ones with learning differences can absolutely get in but will definitely struggle and transfer out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bullis, St. Andrews, St. Anslems

Not St Anselms though, he will not strive there as it is very challenging.

Are you the same poster that posts these defensive posts about St Anselms every time somebody suggests it for those students who may not be the right fit for St. Albans or the other ultra-competitive schools? It's a great school, but it is a fact that it takes the less competitive boys, those that are average or just above--and many who are exceptional in a variety of ways (meaning smart but with learning differences). I think it's unfair of you to turn people off of it just because you want to believe your son is among only the best and brightest.

Wow, not PP, but you have no idea what you are talking about.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bullis, St. Andrews, St. Anslems

Not St Anselms though, he will not strive there as it is very challenging.

Are you the same poster that posts these defensive posts about St Anselms every time somebody suggests it for those students who may not be the right fit for St. Albans or the other ultra-competitive schools? It's a great school, but it is a fact that it takes the less competitive boys, those that are average or just above--and many who are exceptional in a variety of ways (meaning smart but with learning differences). I think it's unfair of you to turn people off of it just because you want to believe your son is among only the best and brightest.

Anonymous wrote:Bullis, St. Andrews, St. Anslems

Not St Anselms though, he will not strive there as it is very challenging.

Huh? Which school is the only “one” and how would that be possible?