Anonymous
Post 03/08/2023 14:19     Subject: Re:Norwood
Current Norwood family here and our child was accepted into a "Big 3" high school with absolutely no hook this year - and we've heard there were others that were accepted at "Big 5" schools in a similar position. Our child is not an athlete, no sibling at the school, not a URM, and we are not super wealthy.

That said, we picked Norwood because it was the right school for our child at a time - not because we thought it would help them get into a certain high school. We applied to a range of schools and had a few options as a result. If the most important thing to your family is your child ends up at a particular high school, you should likely apply to that school as early as possible to secure a spot. Hopefully that school ends up a good fit for your child as they get older.

We've loved Norwood and will especially miss the attentiveness and capabilities of the teachers there.
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2023 14:18     Subject: Norwood
Anonymous wrote:All the strong students from my DC's Norwood cohort got into top are schools (STA/NCS, Sidwell, GDS, Holton, Maret, Potomac). They had a bright class and it was reflected in admissions and it wasn't based on any sort of hook. Some others outside of that group were solid students and landed at Landon and SAES. A small number chose to go to Prep and Bullis. The distribution across these schools always shifts from year to year based on preferences of Norwood families and the needs of the HS admissions teams. There's always been a good number that choose to return to public for HS. Norwood has always sent students to a wide variety of high schools because they really make a concerted effort to find the right fit. It's not just about getting into a Big 3.

If you are choosing for your child to attend Norwood - I wouldn't worry about HS placement. Your child will get a great education and will be set up to succeed. HS placement team is great - enjoy the ride and step up in 7th to start thinking about HS.


Was that this year, or a past year?
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2023 14:05     Subject: Norwood
All the strong students from my DC's Norwood cohort got into top are schools (STA/NCS, Sidwell, GDS, Holton, Maret, Potomac). They had a bright class and it was reflected in admissions and it wasn't based on any sort of hook. Some others outside of that group were solid students and landed at Landon and SAES. A small number chose to go to Prep and Bullis. The distribution across these schools always shifts from year to year based on preferences of Norwood families and the needs of the HS admissions teams. There's always been a good number that choose to return to public for HS. Norwood has always sent students to a wide variety of high schools because they really make a concerted effort to find the right fit. It's not just about getting into a Big 3.

If you are choosing for your child to attend Norwood - I wouldn't worry about HS placement. Your child will get a great education and will be set up to succeed. HS placement team is great - enjoy the ride and step up in 7th to start thinking about HS.
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2023 13:31     Subject: Norwood
Anonymous wrote:No. Only major hooks got into the top 3 or 5. Terrible outcomes. You'll hear they are good, for the ones with hooks. Duh.


Ah yes, because your entire life is doomed if you don't get accepted into one of 3 schools that someone has arbitrarily determined are the best. The majority of us who realize that this area is replete with excellent schools were very happy with outplacement!
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2023 12:52     Subject: Norwood
Anonymous wrote:No. Only major hooks got into the top 3 or 5. Terrible outcomes. You'll hear they are good, for the ones with hooks. Duh.


Were there any that were waitlisted everywhere?
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2023 12:42     Subject: Norwood
No. Only major hooks got into the top 3 or 5. Terrible outcomes. You'll hear they are good, for the ones with hooks. Duh.
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2023 12:37     Subject: Re:Norwood
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:How did the rest of the 8th grade class do with HS placement this year? Do a lot of kids go to boarding schools away from the DMV?


I think boarding school decisions come out this week (at least that's how it was last year). Norwood 2022 had 3-4 kids go to boarding school off the top of my head.


Boarding school decisions come out on Friday. From what I’ve heard, 2 or 3 Norwood applied this year.
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2023 12:27     Subject: Re:Norwood
Anonymous wrote:How did the rest of the 8th grade class do with HS placement this year? Do a lot of kids go to boarding schools away from the DMV?


I think boarding school decisions come out this week (at least that's how it was last year). Norwood 2022 had 3-4 kids go to boarding school off the top of my head.
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2023 10:19     Subject: Norwood
Anonymous wrote:Everyone should realize that Covid pushed a lot of new families into the independent school pipeline. Schools are bursting with current students and an plethora of high-achieving applicants. Swallow the red pill.

Next, the reason to send your child to Norwood should be for the education, not the high school placement. Your child almost has to be in private school these days for him/her to learn how to write, have a teacher pay attention to him/her, or get the administration to return a parent's call. Those reasons alone are good reasons to send your dc to an independent school.

And finally, Norwood is a cut above.

Of course if tuition is not in your budget, then that's a different issue.


I agree with this. Elementary and middle school education is too important for it to be subsumed into a calculation about HS placement. This isn’t to say the strong K-12s aren’t strong for all grades. They are. But no one should be sending their 5 year old to a school solely in order to ensure a spot for them at that school when they’re 14.

We took outplacement into consideration, but it was not our primary concern. Our primary concern was making sure our daughter has the best education for her right now. For us, that’s a K-8.
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2023 10:14     Subject: Norwood
Everyone should realize that Covid pushed a lot of new families into the independent school pipeline. Schools are bursting with current students and an plethora of high-achieving applicants. Swallow the red pill.

Next, the reason to send your child to Norwood should be for the education, not the high school placement. Your child almost has to be in private school these days for him/her to learn how to write, have a teacher pay attention to him/her, or get the administration to return a parent's call. Those reasons alone are good reasons to send your dc to an independent school.

And finally, Norwood is a cut above.

Of course if tuition is not in your budget, then that's a different issue.
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2023 09:57     Subject: Re:Norwood
Anonymous wrote:We have an 8th grader at Norwood. He was accepted into his first choice high school. My only concern is that no school is going to live up to Norwood!


This is truth....just be resigned that it won't be the same. Part of that is the age (HS is more independent and parents there don't need more contacts) but part is that Norwood is a special school community.
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2023 09:06     Subject: Norwood
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:when is the admit event?


It is noted in the acceptance letter.


thanks
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2023 09:03     Subject: Re:Norwood
How did the rest of the 8th grade class do with HS placement this year? Do a lot of kids go to boarding schools away from the DMV?
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2023 08:59     Subject: Re:Norwood
We have an 8th grader at Norwood. He was accepted into his first choice high school. My only concern is that no school is going to live up to Norwood!
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2023 22:35     Subject: Norwood
Anonymous wrote:when is the admit event?


It is noted in the acceptance letter.