Anonymous
Post 07/31/2025 16:50     Subject: Where to start research on privates near NW DC for middle/high schooler?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Teacher here with a temp job offer at Lowell and likely full-time offers at Sheridan and Sandy Spring Friends School. Would like to hear more about what's been about Lowell and instability, thank you.


Start your own thread specifically about Lowell.


Appreciate it and may do so, but there are two posters on *this* thread who have strong opposing perspectives on Lowell and would like to have them expand on that. Thanks.
Anonymous
Post 07/31/2025 16:49     Subject: Where to start research on privates near NW DC for middle/high schooler?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:One of you has to be lying.


Wasn’t true until the current HOS arrived, but since then, teachers have been leaving in droves annually. And not just teachers- admin too. Lower school heads, assistant heads of school, pre-primary heads… sometimes in the middle of the year… only the middle school head has remained, and that’s an issue in itself.


NP here. Current Lowell parent. This is untrue.


Can the current Lowell parent on this thread elaborate please?
Anonymous
Post 07/31/2025 13:38     Subject: Where to start research on privates near NW DC for middle/high schooler?
Anonymous wrote:Teacher here with a temp job offer at Lowell and likely full-time offers at Sheridan and Sandy Spring Friends School. Would like to hear more about what's been about Lowell and instability, thank you.


Start your own thread specifically about Lowell.
Anonymous
Post 07/31/2025 13:02     Subject: Where to start research on privates near NW DC for middle/high schooler?
Teacher here with a temp job offer at Lowell and likely full-time offers at Sheridan and Sandy Spring Friends School. Would like to hear more about what's been about Lowell and instability, thank you.
Anonymous
Post 05/28/2025 19:08     Subject: Where to start research on privates near NW DC for middle/high schooler?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Edmund Burke School sounds like a potentially great fit. It’s grade 6-12 so most kids enter in 6th or 9th (they expand class size from middle to high school). It’s a wonderful, welcoming community where teachers really nurture and challenge students. Lots of individualized and personalized attention.

I agree about planning to attend open houses in the fall. Most are in Sept/Oct and then you’d apply in the fall and winter if looking to start private school in fall 2026.


But it is so SMALL. Not all kids thrive there and not all teachers nurture or challenge. My kid left after middle school. The existing cohort was less than ideal socially, and we didn’t want to take a $50k chance on the next year even with the bit of expansion.

Not saying it’s a bad school. But the size and lack of resources are definitely things to consider.


Less than ideal
Socially in what way?
Anonymous
Post 05/25/2025 16:48     Subject: Where to start research on privates near NW DC for middle/high schooler?
Definitely check out Burke. They admit kids with mild ADHD and have strong science/math offerings. A smart kid can find classes that will challenge them but it isn’t super competitive or stressful. Great music program, too, even if your kid has never played.
Anonymous
Post 05/25/2025 16:28     Subject: Where to start research on privates near NW DC for middle/high schooler?
Is literally everything that PP said untrue, or only certain parts?
Anonymous
Post 05/25/2025 15:42     Subject: Where to start research on privates near NW DC for middle/high schooler?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:One of you has to be lying.


Wasn’t true until the current HOS arrived, but since then, teachers have been leaving in droves annually. And not just teachers- admin too. Lower school heads, assistant heads of school, pre-primary heads… sometimes in the middle of the year… only the middle school head has remained, and that’s an issue in itself.


NP here. Current Lowell parent. This is untrue.
Anonymous
Post 05/25/2025 15:26     Subject: Where to start research on privates near NW DC for middle/high schooler?
Anonymous wrote:One of you has to be lying.


Wasn’t true until the current HOS arrived, but since then, teachers have been leaving in droves annually. And not just teachers- admin too. Lower school heads, assistant heads of school, pre-primary heads… sometimes in the middle of the year… only the middle school head has remained, and that’s an issue in itself.
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2025 22:45     Subject: Where to start research on privates near NW DC for middle/high schooler?
Anonymous wrote:Agree on Burke and Field being good options for what you describe. They get grouped together a lot based on size, location, and being independent non-religious schools but they have some key differences (I like them both, one was a better fit for my kid).

Definitely recommend some tours/open houses to learn more. I think that could help you get a sense of whether to apply earlier or try Deal first.


+1
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2025 20:18     Subject: Where to start research on privates near NW DC for middle/high schooler?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Look at K8s like Sheridan and Lowell as well.


Respectfully, see them as back ups. They’re nice schools. But if you can get into a 6-12 and it’s a great fit, and you stay for high school, you will be so happy that you’re not making applications again and keeping your fingers crossed for admissions in the highly competitive 9th grade.

100%
Anonymous
Post 05/24/2025 12:22     Subject: Where to start research on privates near NW DC for middle/high schooler?
Anonymous wrote:Edmund Burke School sounds like a potentially great fit. It’s grade 6-12 so most kids enter in 6th or 9th (they expand class size from middle to high school). It’s a wonderful, welcoming community where teachers really nurture and challenge students. Lots of individualized and personalized attention.

I agree about planning to attend open houses in the fall. Most are in Sept/Oct and then you’d apply in the fall and winter if looking to start private school in fall 2026.


But it is so SMALL. Not all kids thrive there and not all teachers nurture or challenge. My kid left after middle school. The existing cohort was less than ideal socially, and we didn’t want to take a $50k chance on the next year even with the bit of expansion.

Not saying it’s a bad school. But the size and lack of resources are definitely things to consider.
Anonymous
Post 05/23/2025 20:15     Subject: Where to start research on privates near NW DC for middle/high schooler?
One of you has to be lying.
Anonymous
Post 05/23/2025 19:47     Subject: Where to start research on privates near NW DC for middle/high schooler?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Look at K8s like Sheridan and Lowell as well.


Lowell is in the middle of a lot of turmoil and is losing a lot of teachers again this year. It will take some time to rebuild. Sheridan seems to be on a decent track at this point but still has its share of issues. In your case it isn't worth applying to a PK-8 at this point.


This claim about Lowell is simply not true.


Not only is it true, Lowell has been purging faculty and families for years. 6 years, to be precise, ever since the current head of school took a sledgehammer to the place.
Anonymous
Post 05/23/2025 17:53     Subject: Where to start research on privates near NW DC for middle/high schooler?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Look at K8s like Sheridan and Lowell as well.


Lowell is in the middle of a lot of turmoil and is losing a lot of teachers again this year. It will take some time to rebuild. Sheridan seems to be on a decent track at this point but still has its share of issues. In your case it isn't worth applying to a PK-8 at this point.


This claim about Lowell is simply not true.