Interesting. Schools in DC with combined middle and high are... Field, Burke, SFS, GDS, St. Anselm's... Did I catch them all?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do not recommend a middle and upper school that’s together. Pick a school that goes up to grade 8 and not beyond. We unfortunately did not do that and learned the hard way.

Why?

NP, I know in our case some upper school teachers taught some middle classes as well. They did not pivot to what was appropriate for a middle schooler academically and expectations were often unattainable and not appropriate.

Hmmm...so not as much of an issue if the staffs are seperate?

I don’t think the staff are separate, most if not all the teachers will rotate classes between high school and middle throughout the day. I do not like it at all and wish I knew the issue with this before. Would not choose an upper and middle school together again. Go for up to grade 8.

Interesting. I've been following the aims/nais want ads and the school I enrolled DC at for next year advertises position by division and specifically lists the courses.

Foreign Language was the only content I have seen that bridged divisions.

Definitely not at my DC school. Science, math, English, all teach both upper and middle.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do not recommend a middle and upper school that’s together. Pick a school that goes up to grade 8 and not beyond. We unfortunately did not do that and learned the hard way.

Why?

NP, I know in our case some upper school teachers taught some middle classes as well. They did not pivot to what was appropriate for a middle schooler academically and expectations were often unattainable and not appropriate.

Hmmm...so not as much of an issue if the staffs are seperate?

I don’t think the staff are separate, most if not all the teachers will rotate classes between high school and middle throughout the day. I do not like it at all and wish I knew the issue with this before. Would not choose an upper and middle school together again. Go for up to grade 8.

Interesting. I've been following the aims/nais want ads and the school I enrolled DC at for next year advertises position by division and specifically lists the courses.

Foreign Language was the only content I have seen that bridged divisions.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do not recommend a middle and upper school that’s together. Pick a school that goes up to grade 8 and not beyond. We unfortunately did not do that and learned the hard way.

Why?

NP, I know in our case some upper school teachers taught some middle classes as well. They did not pivot to what was appropriate for a middle schooler academically and expectations were often unattainable and not appropriate.

Hmmm...so not as much of an issue if the staffs are seperate?

I don’t think the staff are separate, most if not all the teachers will rotate classes between high school and middle throughout the day. I do not like it at all and wish I knew the issue with this before. Would not choose an upper and middle school together again. Go for up to grade 8.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do not recommend a middle and upper school that’s together. Pick a school that goes up to grade 8 and not beyond. We unfortunately did not do that and learned the hard way.

Why?

NP, I know in our case some upper school teachers taught some middle classes as well. They did not pivot to what was appropriate for a middle schooler academically and expectations were often unattainable and not appropriate.

Hmmm...so not as much of an issue if the staffs are seperate?

The school my child attends has teachers that teach both upper and middle and it’s not good for the middle schoolers for reason above.

PP here. I mean to say: at a k-8, middle schoolers are at the top, not just stuck in the middle…

For schools that go through 12th, their high school is their bread and butter. It’s often the focus of the school and where the resources go towards, as it’s their cash cow. If you want a super special middle school experience for your DC, choose a private school where your middle schooler can be at the top, rather than stuck in the middle and overlooked. An oversimplification, maybe, but just speaking from what I know.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do not recommend a middle and upper school that’s together. Pick a school that goes up to grade 8 and not beyond. We unfortunately did not do that and learned the hard way.

Why?

NP, I know in our case some upper school teachers taught some middle classes as well. They did not pivot to what was appropriate for a middle schooler academically and expectations were often unattainable and not appropriate.

Hmmm...so not as much of an issue if the staffs are seperate?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do not recommend a middle and upper school that’s together. Pick a school that goes up to grade 8 and not beyond. We unfortunately did not do that and learned the hard way.

100 percent.

+1

Anonymous wrote:Do not recommend a middle and upper school that’s together. Pick a school that goes up to grade 8 and not beyond. We unfortunately did not do that and learned the hard way.

100 percent.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do not recommend a middle and upper school that’s together. Pick a school that goes up to grade 8 and not beyond. We unfortunately did not do that and learned the hard way.

Why?

NP, I know in our case some upper school teachers taught some middle classes as well. They did not pivot to what was appropriate for a middle schooler academically and expectations were often unattainable and not appropriate.

Anonymous wrote:Do not recommend a middle and upper school that’s together. Pick a school that goes up to grade 8 and not beyond. We unfortunately did not do that and learned the hard way.

Why?

Do not recommend a middle and upper school that’s together. Pick a school that goes up to grade 8 and not beyond. We unfortunately did not do that and learned the hard way.

Anonymous wrote:As others have said, you have a lot of calls ahead to track down spots. I'd start with K-8's - it's no uncommon for kids to transfer out at middle school, so they may have openings as kids have accepted spots at other schools.

Agreed... try K-8 schools. Our DD is at Green Acres off of Old Georgetown Road and we have been really happy with her experience (both academic and social/emotional).

Feynman School was a good place for my kid at that age. Moved to a traditional school afterwards.