Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d say GAS isn’t far behind. They’ve laid off teachers more than once due to their situation - I was one of them several years ago. They currently do not have an 8th grade class.
They rented the MS out to Diener to stay afloat, but they are now gone - and they’re MS is the smallest it’s been ever. People seem to like the new HoS, moreso than the last 2-3. lol. There’s been a lot of turnover there.

I would have a hard time investing any faith in a future at GAS if I had a young student. They are a mini version of SSFS.

The eighth grade thing is being blown out of proportion, they don't have an eighth grade this year but so what. All schools sometimes have bigger or smaller grades some years. The new HoS has been making things better all the time. The money from Diener is kept. As someone who has had children attending both Green acres and SSFS, Gas is absolutely not a mini version of SSFS, which has been crumbling for years. GAS is staying open.
Please don't speak on these things until you are more qualified.

"Our retention of 7th graders was 0% but so what."

I can tell you it's not a retention issue or the quality of the program. It was specific to that year. But that's a detail no one will tell you because they can't.

What would be the current 8th grade class was cursed from the beginning.

By 1st grade kids were leaving.

And then more left. And more exited each year until there weren’t enough kids for an 8th grade class.

It was a complete anomaly.

Thank you. "Anomaly" is the perfect word for it.

Green Acres is a fabulous school!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d say GAS isn’t far behind. They’ve laid off teachers more than once due to their situation - I was one of them several years ago. They currently do not have an 8th grade class.
They rented the MS out to Diener to stay afloat, but they are now gone - and they’re MS is the smallest it’s been ever. People seem to like the new HoS, moreso than the last 2-3. lol. There’s been a lot of turnover there.

I would have a hard time investing any faith in a future at GAS if I had a young student. They are a mini version of SSFS.

The eighth grade thing is being blown out of proportion, they don't have an eighth grade this year but so what. All schools sometimes have bigger or smaller grades some years. The new HoS has been making things better all the time. The money from Diener is kept. As someone who has had children attending both Green acres and SSFS, Gas is absolutely not a mini version of SSFS, which has been crumbling for years. GAS is staying open.
Please don't speak on these things until you are more qualified.

"Our retention of 7th graders was 0% but so what."

I can tell you it's not a retention issue or the quality of the program. It was specific to that year. But that's a detail no one will tell you because they can't.

EXACTLY! That year didn't have many kids from the beginning, and the kids there were sometimes left for personal or family reasons, as with all grades at all schools; the fact that there weren't many to start with is the only reason that it had the impact it did. The reason that the "retention of 7th graders was 0%" is that there were three kids in the 7th grade that year, not necessarily that any of them had bad personal experiences.

All schools will sometimes have less kids in a given year.

All schools will have kids come and go.

The grade being small (and ultimately disappearing) is simply an unfortunate, one-time consequence of this being a small school environment. It doesn't speak to any other years at the school and is not likely to be repeated.

That's all.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d say GAS isn’t far behind. They’ve laid off teachers more than once due to their situation - I was one of them several years ago. They currently do not have an 8th grade class.
They rented the MS out to Diener to stay afloat, but they are now gone - and they’re MS is the smallest it’s been ever. People seem to like the new HoS, moreso than the last 2-3. lol. There’s been a lot of turnover there.

I would have a hard time investing any faith in a future at GAS if I had a young student. They are a mini version of SSFS.

The eighth grade thing is being blown out of proportion, they don't have an eighth grade this year but so what. All schools sometimes have bigger or smaller grades some years. The new HoS has been making things better all the time. The money from Diener is kept. As someone who has had children attending both Green acres and SSFS, Gas is absolutely not a mini version of SSFS, which has been crumbling for years. GAS is staying open.
Please don't speak on these things until you are more qualified.

"Our retention of 7th graders was 0% but so what."

I can tell you it's not a retention issue or the quality of the program. It was specific to that year. But that's a detail no one will tell you because they can't.

How many kids are in the current 7th grade?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Sorry, but zero 8th graders in a prek-8 school would be a red flag to me as a parent.

This. It communicates zero confidence in 9th grade outplacement.

If you look at their website, class of '24 has kids at all of the Big 3 schools

A poem:

I was happy, oh yes, carefree,
When I first moved to DC,
Until I found out
And was crippled with doubt,
About something called "the Big Three"!

These schools of wonder and grace,
Each one a magnificent place,
My child would adore
To go through the door,
And emerge an Ivy League Ace.

But, alas! I learned of the debate
Which tangles DCUM forums with hate
Which ARE the big three?
Are they only in DC?
Or in a neighboring state?

Sidwell, Cathedral and St. Albans too
Will argue their "Big Three" status to you
Potomac, Maret, Georgetown Day
And the girls of Holton should have their say,
The laxers of Landon, the Georgetown Prep boys,
St. Stephens St. Agnes is making some noise . . .

Every child shouts: "My school is Big Three!"
. . . OH wait, that's their PARENTS . . .do pardon me!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d say GAS isn’t far behind. They’ve laid off teachers more than once due to their situation - I was one of them several years ago. They currently do not have an 8th grade class.
They rented the MS out to Diener to stay afloat, but they are now gone - and they’re MS is the smallest it’s been ever. People seem to like the new HoS, moreso than the last 2-3. lol. There’s been a lot of turnover there.

I would have a hard time investing any faith in a future at GAS if I had a young student. They are a mini version of SSFS.

The eighth grade thing is being blown out of proportion, they don't have an eighth grade this year but so what. All schools sometimes have bigger or smaller grades some years. The new HoS has been making things better all the time. The money from Diener is kept. As someone who has had children attending both Green acres and SSFS, Gas is absolutely not a mini version of SSFS, which has been crumbling for years. GAS is staying open.
Please don't speak on these things until you are more qualified.

"Our retention of 7th graders was 0% but so what."

I can tell you it's not a retention issue or the quality of the program. It was specific to that year. But that's a detail no one will tell you because they can't.

What would be the current 8th grade class was cursed from the beginning.

By 1st grade kids were leaving.

And then more left. And more exited each year until there weren’t enough kids for an 8th grade class.

It was a complete anomaly.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d say GAS isn’t far behind. They’ve laid off teachers more than once due to their situation - I was one of them several years ago. They currently do not have an 8th grade class.
They rented the MS out to Diener to stay afloat, but they are now gone - and they’re MS is the smallest it’s been ever. People seem to like the new HoS, moreso than the last 2-3. lol. There’s been a lot of turnover there.

I would have a hard time investing any faith in a future at GAS if I had a young student. They are a mini version of SSFS.

The eighth grade thing is being blown out of proportion, they don't have an eighth grade this year but so what. All schools sometimes have bigger or smaller grades some years. The new HoS has been making things better all the time. The money from Diener is kept. As someone who has had children attending both Green acres and SSFS, Gas is absolutely not a mini version of SSFS, which has been crumbling for years. GAS is staying open.
Please don't speak on these things until you are more qualified.

"Our retention of 7th graders was 0% but so what."

I can tell you it's not a retention issue or the quality of the program. It was specific to that year. But that's a detail no one will tell you because they can't.

Anonymous wrote:Hi folks. Maybe I am just paranoid because of Sandy Spring. But is Green Acres in any danger of shutting down? I know they're having financial struggles, but how much? Because I had heard murmurings that SSFS was having some money problems but I never would have guessed just how severely. I know that Green Acres has changed their head of school, which may be a good thing? Not really sure. But my child goes there and I'm worried. Thanks.

Green Acres is safe. It's not going anywhere. Unlike SSFS, Green Acres is transparent in its finances. However, it is like SSFS in its warm, caring and close community, and as part of that, I hope you feel that. I would also hope it's clear to you that the Head of School is doing a wonderful job; please join the Corporation Meeting to hear the state of the school. You can get a first-hand account of the health of the school, without listening to trolls on the internet tell you otherwise.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Sorry, but zero 8th graders in a prek-8 school would be a red flag to me as a parent.

This. It communicates zero confidence in 9th grade outplacement.

Their outplacement is very strong. If you look at their website, class of '24 has kids at all of the Big 3 schools, magnet programs, etc. Any school you could possibly want your kid to go to for high school is on that list. Not having an eighth grade this year is not a reflection of outplacement.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d say GAS isn’t far behind. They’ve laid off teachers more than once due to their situation - I was one of them several years ago. They currently do not have an 8th grade class.
They rented the MS out to Diener to stay afloat, but they are now gone - and they’re MS is the smallest it’s been ever. People seem to like the new HoS, moreso than the last 2-3. lol. There’s been a lot of turnover there.

I would have a hard time investing any faith in a future at GAS if I had a young student. They are a mini version of SSFS.

The eighth grade thing is being blown out of proportion, they don't have an eighth grade this year but so what. All schools sometimes have bigger or smaller grades some years. The new HoS has been making things better all the time. The money from Diener is kept. As someone who has had children attending both Green acres and SSFS, Gas is absolutely not a mini version of SSFS, which has been crumbling for years. GAS is staying open.
Please don't speak on these things until you are more qualified.

Sorry, but zero 8th graders in a prek-8 school would be a red flag to me as a parent.

This. It communicates zero confidence in 9th grade outplacement.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d say GAS isn’t far behind. They’ve laid off teachers more than once due to their situation - I was one of them several years ago. They currently do not have an 8th grade class.
They rented the MS out to Diener to stay afloat, but they are now gone - and they’re MS is the smallest it’s been ever. People seem to like the new HoS, moreso than the last 2-3. lol. There’s been a lot of turnover there.

I would have a hard time investing any faith in a future at GAS if I had a young student. They are a mini version of SSFS.

The eighth grade thing is being blown out of proportion, they don't have an eighth grade this year but so what. All schools sometimes have bigger or smaller grades some years. The new HoS has been making things better all the time. The money from Diener is kept. As someone who has had children attending both Green acres and SSFS, Gas is absolutely not a mini version of SSFS, which has been crumbling for years. GAS is staying open.
Please don't speak on these things until you are more qualified.

Sorry, but zero 8th graders in a prek-8 school would be a red flag to me as a parent.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d say GAS isn’t far behind. They’ve laid off teachers more than once due to their situation - I was one of them several years ago. They currently do not have an 8th grade class.
They rented the MS out to Diener to stay afloat, but they are now gone - and they’re MS is the smallest it’s been ever. People seem to like the new HoS, moreso than the last 2-3. lol. There’s been a lot of turnover there.

I would have a hard time investing any faith in a future at GAS if I had a young student. They are a mini version of SSFS.

The eighth grade thing is being blown out of proportion, they don't have an eighth grade this year but so what. All schools sometimes have bigger or smaller grades some years. The new HoS has been making things better all the time. The money from Diener is kept. As someone who has had children attending both Green acres and SSFS, Gas is absolutely not a mini version of SSFS, which has been crumbling for years. GAS is staying open.
Please don't speak on these things until you are more qualified.

Obviously the rent Diener paid in the past doesn't have to be returned, but if that was an important funding stream, it no longer exists. So I don't understand what you mean by the money from Diener is "kept." GAS has 115 students -- that's an average of 15 in each grade.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d say GAS isn’t far behind. They’ve laid off teachers more than once due to their situation - I was one of them several years ago. They currently do not have an 8th grade class.
They rented the MS out to Diener to stay afloat, but they are now gone - and they’re MS is the smallest it’s been ever. People seem to like the new HoS, moreso than the last 2-3. lol. There’s been a lot of turnover there.

I would have a hard time investing any faith in a future at GAS if I had a young student. They are a mini version of SSFS.

The eighth grade thing is being blown out of proportion, they don't have an eighth grade this year but so what. All schools sometimes have bigger or smaller grades some years. The new HoS has been making things better all the time. The money from Diener is kept. As someone who has had children attending both Green acres and SSFS, Gas is absolutely not a mini version of SSFS, which has been crumbling for years. GAS is staying open.
Please don't speak on these things until you are more qualified.

"Our retention of 7th graders was 0% but so what."

Anonymous wrote:I’d say GAS isn’t far behind. They’ve laid off teachers more than once due to their situation - I was one of them several years ago. They currently do not have an 8th grade class.
They rented the MS out to Diener to stay afloat, but they are now gone - and they’re MS is the smallest it’s been ever. People seem to like the new HoS, moreso than the last 2-3. lol. There’s been a lot of turnover there.

I would have a hard time investing any faith in a future at GAS if I had a young student. They are a mini version of SSFS.

The eighth grade thing is being blown out of proportion, they don't have an eighth grade this year but so what. All schools sometimes have bigger or smaller grades some years. The new HoS has been making things better all the time. The money from Diener is kept. As someone who has had children attending both Green acres and SSFS, Gas is absolutely not a mini version of SSFS, which has been crumbling for years. GAS is staying open.
Please don't speak on these things until you are more qualified.

Anonymous wrote:Why are people so hurt by schools closing? I’m genuinely curious—is it the emotional factor, the monetary factor, or both?

Maybe it's that they have one shred of empathy for kids who are getting ripped away from their friends, their teachers, their school grounds, for a few their going to school in a safe environment, easy transport to/from school, their scholarships or financial aid, their school spirit, classes, sometimes their culture, their heritage. All due to poor planning and pure selfishness. It's an awful, awful, awful thing. I don't think you truly understand what this will mean for some people.

Anonymous wrote:Be glad you can see a 990! The religious exemption is so frustrating.

Post SSFS closing, I don’t think I would let my kids attend a school that doesn’t make it public, even Sidwell. Interestingly, Episcopal High makes there’s public even though they can have an exemption.