Anonymous wrote:We got off the waitlist 2 months into my kid's first year of private HS, but we had pretty much decided prior that it wouldn't have been a good fit.

Anecdotally, 4 families we are very close with had kids that transferred out between 9th-11th grade.

I think I was just done with APS by then, but also the vibe just isn't my kid.

Same. Both my kids thriving at private HS.

Woodlawn would not have been a good fit. It is for some.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We ended up last year in this position. Ended up taking the HB spot. Ended up being a big mistake for us. But I understand that everybody is different. My daughter never really found her people there and ended up leaving after a month. This was for a ninth grade spot. She found the students incredibly clicky because they had been together since sixth grade, she did not feel like she was getting a real high school experience. For example, if you want to go to any of the high school football games, there is a lottery and so often times she wasn’t able to go because there are only a certain amount of extra spots that they give out for other schools to go. Addition there a lot less academic differentiation classes offered. My daughter ended up switching to the local public school. Looking back I wish we had taken the private spot. But we turned it down for HB and ended up being a big mistake for us. But again everybody’s different.

The social scene would be totally different for a new 9th grader than a 6th grader.

Why do you say that if you don’t mind me asking?

Not the PP, but in 6th grade everyone is brand new. With the exception of the 2-4 kids who lotteried in from the same elementary, nobody knows anyone. By 9th grade, 2/3 of the kids will have been together since 6th grade, making it a bit harder for new kids to find his/her people. It’s not impossible and kids do it every year, but it just takes longer than in 6th grade.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We ended up last year in this position. Ended up taking the HB spot. Ended up being a big mistake for us. But I understand that everybody is different. My daughter never really found her people there and ended up leaving after a month. This was for a ninth grade spot. She found the students incredibly clicky because they had been together since sixth grade, she did not feel like she was getting a real high school experience. For example, if you want to go to any of the high school football games, there is a lottery and so often times she wasn’t able to go because there are only a certain amount of extra spots that they give out for other schools to go. Addition there a lot less academic differentiation classes offered. My daughter ended up switching to the local public school. Looking back I wish we had taken the private spot. But we turned it down for HB and ended up being a big mistake for us. But again everybody’s different.

The social scene would be totally different for a new 9th grader than a 6th grader.

Why do you say that if you don’t mind me asking?

Anonymous wrote:We ended up last year in this position. Ended up taking the HB spot. Ended up being a big mistake for us. But I understand that everybody is different. My daughter never really found her people there and ended up leaving after a month. This was for a ninth grade spot. She found the students incredibly clicky because they had been together since sixth grade, she did not feel like she was getting a real high school experience. For example, if you want to go to any of the high school football games, there is a lottery and so often times she wasn’t able to go because there are only a certain amount of extra spots that they give out for other schools to go. Addition there a lot less academic differentiation classes offered. My daughter ended up switching to the local public school. Looking back I wish we had taken the private spot. But we turned it down for HB and ended up being a big mistake for us. But again everybody’s different.

The social scene would be totally different for a new 9th grader than a 6th grader.

We ended up last year in this position. Ended up taking the HB spot. Ended up being a big mistake for us. But I understand that everybody is different. My daughter never really found her people there and ended up leaving after a month. This was for a ninth grade spot. She found the students incredibly clicky because they had been together since sixth grade, she did not feel like she was getting a real high school experience. For example, if you want to go to any of the high school football games, there is a lottery and so often times she wasn’t able to go because there are only a certain amount of extra spots that they give out for other schools to go. Addition there a lot less academic differentiation classes offered. My daughter ended up switching to the local public school. Looking back I wish we had taken the private spot. But we turned it down for HB and ended up being a big mistake for us. But again everybody’s different.

Take the HB spot, especially for 6th grade. Small size, and a unique campus that rivals many private schools. (Most schools keep kids inside, but the abundant opportunities for fresh air and outdoor learning on each of the terraces is truly unique.) Academics are strong, and the students are truly self-motivated. HB is not ideal for students who are not motivated to do the work. They tend to gravitate back to the home middle or high schools or private.

Sports options are abundant at the home high schools for HB students despite earlier posts. There are many no cut options like rowing (crew), rifle team, cross country, football, wrestling, swim/dive, etc. And the competitive sports like basketball are generally an option for talented students from the freshman through varsity teams since there is no recruiting, common at the private schools. HB also has its own ultimate frisbee team, an official varsity sport.

Also consider your child’s friend group. I wouldn’t abandon the assigned school and only choose between HB and private. So look carefully at all your options. There’s also Arlington Tech and IB at W-L for example. For private schools, I have a high bar and would really only consider STA, NCS, GDS, Sidwell.

Bumping this thread because we hope to be weighing the same options (and to distract myself as we countdown to 4 pm). Would love any insights.

Anonymous wrote:OP. Many thanks for the input everyone! My child is entering 6th so it seems we should give it a try.

We applied for some top schools in DC but not sure if there is any chance of getting in. To be frank, the tuition burden is not trivial to us, already higher than our mortgage. We are paying 1K a month now for regular extra curricular activities (sports, arts, piano and some rotating ones) but the cost is really nothing as compared to the tuition.

One thing to consider – and it is impossible to know – is whether you think you’d stay at HBW thru HS. The privates that are very hard to get into now only get harder, especially if your DC gets in this year and turns down the spot in favor of HBW. We are in the same position and while the lack of tuition is a no brainer, the impossibility of predicting the future is definitely on my mind.

That’s not to say that a perfect solution. No scenario has a guaranteed outcome.

OP. Many thanks for the input everyone! My child is entering 6th so it seems we should give it a try.

We applied for some top schools in DC but not sure if there is any chance of getting in. To be frank, the tuition burden is not trivial to us, already higher than our mortgage. We are paying 1K a month now for regular extra curricular activities (sports, arts, piano and some rotating ones) but the cost is really nothing as compared to the tuition.

Anonymous wrote:Go to St Alban’s if he gets in.

Why?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does HB stand for?

Haute Bourgeois

FTW!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does HB stand for?

Haute Bourgeois

Anonymous wrote:What does HB stand for?

Haute Bourgeois