Anonymous wrote:the last 3 days on this thread are ridiculous... sorry... i am totally turned off by this discussion.

No need to be sorry...bye.

NCS by a mile. Much better "old school network."

the last 3 days on this thread are ridiculous... sorry... i am totally turned off by this discussion.

Holton after school lessons are free to reinforce what they learn with their ensembles during the day. (There is a nominal instrument rental fee.) Other lessons through the Center for the Arts, such as piano, are at a cost. Chorus and ensemble are mandatory in all lower school grades and it's a beautiful, thriving program that the kids seem to enjoy. The girls can also switch instruments from year to year if they choose to learn something different.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NCS has music lessons on campus after school.

Are they free?

No, and if the individual lessons are free at Holton, that would be a difference. I just wanted to point out that there is also a lot going on after school at NCS -- clubs, publications, sports, music lessons, music groups, plays, whatever. And lots of opportunities for leadership. My guess is that there really isn't a difference between the schools in this area. OP, go with your gut.

Anonymous wrote:NCS has music lessons on campus after school.

Are they free?

Anonymous wrote:Hi everyone and thanks for the insight! OP here- Our DD Loves her classmates many of whom will attend NCS and we live in DC, but NCS has no playground and the girls have to go out in bad weather to get to the dining hall and the gym. Also Holton shines when after school activities i.e.. music lessons on campus etc are considered. Shadow day at Holton and NCS were good. The distance is a hinderance, but I've heard that Holton nurtures the whole child and NCS is a bit more tough and piles on the homework. Sorry to sound so indecisive still. I appreciate all of the help from your postings!

FYI, every school says that "nurtures the whole child" line -- that's one of the great school cliches of this generation, like "encouraging learning for life." Nevertheless, sounds like you have a good gut feeling about Holton and that's a nice thing to have as you go into a new school. Congrats to your DD and I'm sure she'll have a great experience.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NCS mom here. DD and her classmates like the independence of crossing the street multiple times a day for sports, lunch, etc. And the crossing guards have complete control over the situation. I sometimes think DD and her friends like rainy days--just look at the way they stomp around in their rain boots up and down Woodley Road.

I


Ridiculous. Have to call bs on this. They love stomping in puddles. I can assure you my hs daughter does not love walking through a wind tunnel several times a day to go to and fro. Wouldn't base my decision on this , but this is not a positive at the school. Head shaking.

Yeah, and that's a big problem with our lazy indoors couch slouch society. I think it's a plus that the kids are moving around and going outside during the day, including during in inclement weather. Does anybody remember the movie from the 1970s starring John Travolta "the boy in the plastic bubble"? Lol. Get your kids out of the mini-van plastic bubble of modern life and let 'em get outside a little bit and walk to class. And when they get a little older they can walk across the campus in the shadow of that beautiful Cathedral and take classes at St. Albans -- too bad there is not an air-conditioned climate control mono-rail between the schools though, so they don't have to experience wind or rain or temperature change EVER.

OP - have to share that even with the distance (we live about 30 minutes away from Holton) there is so much going on at the school that the girls are able to get home work done in HW zone, go to after care, after school music (instrument) or participate in some other after school activity, such that they are quite content hanging out at school with their friends until you can get there for pick up. I just don't have enough good things to say - we LOVE it. And as for the lower school head ... he is definitely one of the most outstanding heads I've met in this area ... the girls really like him and as a parent, I think he is an incredible male (non-parental) role model for the girls.

Anonymous wrote:NCS mom here. DD and her classmates like the independence of crossing the street multiple times a day for sports, lunch, etc. And the crossing guards have complete control over the situation. I sometimes think DD and her friends like rainy days--just look at the way they stomp around in their rain boots up and down Woodley Road.

I


Ridiculous. Have to call bs on this. They love stomping in puddles. I can assure you my hs daughter does not love walking through a wind tunnel several times a day to go to and fro. Wouldn't base my decision on this , but this is not a positive at the school. Head shaking.

NCS mom here. DD and her classmates like the independence of crossing the street multiple times a day for sports, lunch, etc. And the crossing guards have complete control over the situation. I sometimes think DD and her friends like rainy days--just look at the way they stomp around in their rain boots up and down Woodley Road.

NCS has music lessons on campus after school.

Hi everyone and thanks for the insight! OP here- Our DD Loves her classmates many of whom will attend NCS and we live in DC, but NCS has no playground and the girls have to go out in bad weather to get to the dining hall and the gym. Also Holton shines when after school activities i.e.. music lessons on campus etc are considered. Shadow day at Holton and NCS were good. The distance is a hinderance, but I've heard that Holton nurtures the whole child and NCS is a bit more tough and piles on the homework. Sorry to sound so indecisive still. I appreciate all of the help from your postings!

Anonymous wrote:Is Holton less socially competitive than NCS?

If you mean the "who has what" materialistic scene, I don't know about NCS, but even in third grade there is some of that. I think everywhere has some though. Maybe you see it more in the parents than the kids, sometimes. At least that's our experience with Holton. We just ignore it and move along. Everyone has something and there is always someone with more stuff. Fact of life.

OP, you may want to take a look at some data comparing the schools. You should be able to find some here

https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AnukIDABt_JKdDdZYXlQbnFUQ0VfMHRpTFp1SUIxS2c&hl=en&pli=1#gid=5

and here:

http://matriculationstats.org/

What I found interesting is that that despite all the discussion of maths/science at Holton, NCS gets better outcomes in the math and science competitions (and average SATs and college placements).