Current middle school parent. We have been very happy with the instruction and the academics. We have another child at another much more highly regarded school, and there are things about Bullis's academics we actually like better.
Across the board the teachers have been pretty wonderful- caring, experienced and organized. We were surprised and impressed.

HOWEVER: There is a reason for the stereotypes abut the school. The emphasis on money and materialism and the big homes and fancy cars owned by many of the parents are a reality. But it is not everyone.
There are very nice, cool, socially aware families and kids at the school.

What cannot be ignored is that there is ALSO a group of rich and powerful families who are big sports boosters who are loud and visible and seem to dominate school events. I personally find them obnoxious, but I am not as worried about that as what I hear about the social scene for the kids in the high school- the cliques, the emphasis on sports, the money etc.. We are in for now for all the good reasons listed above - and our child is happy, but time will tell. We know families in the high school who have had great experiences and families who are unhappy.

I will say I don't think Bullis is a good fit for a quirky, off beat, iconoclastic kid. If your kid is sporty, all-american, preppy they may do fine.

Anonymous wrote:Not a Bullis parent, but you Bullis haters have got to stop. Why disparage someone else's choice? Are you that unhappy and insecure in your lives that you have to make someone else feel bad in order to feel good about yourselves?

I am a former Bullis parent, and we are not disparaging the fact that others choose the school. We are disparaging an institution that disrespected us and hurt our kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
As long as the school continues to accept kids who were denied admission at other league schools or accepts kids who were flat out rejected from other privates, the perception of the school will never change.

I have no pony in this race, but this is a disappointing sentiment. There shouldn't be some private schools that are willing to work with a wider range of student and are willing to be more adventurous in where they find potential? Is it really necessary for parents to view any school that isn't selecting only stereotypically strong students as a "bad school"? This strikes me as a narrow way to think about people and the future.

Don't get me wrong, if you have a straight A child with three or four exceptional skills, all power to you. That took both a lot of luck and a ton of hard work. But it shouldn't follow that you need to eye-roll at everyone else. Plenty of people with different profiles go on to live perfectly fine, even accomplished lives -- and I would gladly pay for a school that viewed a more average student as valuable person.

I have never been on the Bullis campus, so I am not saying that Bulls is that school. But if I could find such a school, I'd be more likely to enroll -- not only because my child might be more likely to get in, but also because it reflects the way our family rolls. I always get a little twitchy when I sense a community is interested in only a narrow profile.

That was beautifully said and the world would be a happier place if everyone could understand it.

Bullis has graduates at every Ivy League school--so academics must be good enough.
Of course that is not how you judge a school, but it portrays that the academic rigor seen by Ivy Admissions is acceptable.

Bullis has had strong athletics for years. Wrestling and soccer were national powers in the 80's and 90's. Basketball has always been a top program in the DMV. Bullis athletics are still strong today basketball, track, football, and lacrosse are all excellent programs.

The academic and athletic facilities are first class and attract students from all directions. A new state of the art STEM building and new turf field just add to a more popular school.

Bullis may not be for you, but to hear negative comments by people who are not aware of all the good that Bullis can provide is not an accurate picture of the institution. Bullis does not force anyone to attend the school, but if you stop by, take a tour and speak with the families you will see Bullis is full of possibilities.

https://www.bullis.org/page.cfm?p=1754

Anonymous wrote:
As long as the school continues to accept kids who were denied admission at other league schools or accepts kids who were flat out rejected from other privates, the perception of the school will never change.

I have no pony in this race, but this is a disappointing sentiment. There shouldn't be some private schools that are willing to work with a wider range of student and are willing to be more adventurous in where they find potential? Is it really necessary for parents to view any school that isn't selecting only stereotypically strong students as a "bad school"? This strikes me as a narrow way to think about people and the future.

Don't get me wrong, if you have a straight A child with three or four exceptional skills, all power to you. That took both a lot of luck and a ton of hard work. But it shouldn't follow that you need to eye-roll at everyone else. Plenty of people with different profiles go on to live perfectly fine, even accomplished lives -- and I would gladly pay for a school that viewed a more average student as valuable person.

I have never been on the Bullis campus, so I am not saying that Bulls is that school. But if I could find such a school, I'd be more likely to enroll -- not only because my child might be more likely to get in, but also because it reflects the way our family rolls. I always get a little twitchy when I sense a community is interested in only a narrow profile.

Anonymous wrote:great the school built a beautiful STEM center thanks to 1 - 3 powerful donors!

As long as the school continues to accept kids who were denied admission at other league schools or accepts kids who were flat out rejected from other privates, the perception of the school will never change.

or takes kids that were asked to leave other schools or kids who come for one sports season.

But no one cares what the haters think. No matter how you say it, you come across as either insecure or jealous.

great the school built a beautiful STEM center thanks to 1 - 3 powerful donors!

As long as the school continues to accept kids who were denied admission at other league schools or accepts kids who were flat out rejected from other privates, the perception of the school will never change.

The kids we know who are there went to pursue sports at a higher level and academics at a lower level from there they were.

Great kids, just different priorities.

We moved our kids to Bullis and have been very happy. Our kids need smaller class sizes, but would buckle under the pressure of the "Top 5" schools. I am all for challenging and rigorous schools, but they are not a good fit for everyone. Bullis has made our children enjoy school and they adore their teachers. I don't think we could ask for anything more in that regard.

Yes, there are some stereotypically Bethesda/Potomac parents, but I would say they are not as prevalent as everyone is making it seem. They won't bother you if you don't bother them

Good post

Not a Bullis parent, but you Bullis haters have got to stop. Why disparage someone else's choice? Are you that unhappy and insecure in your lives that you have to make someone else feel bad in order to feel good about yourselves?

The reputation is the public that you pay for. Take that how you will. I know nice families that go there but often it is the new money people that just say “oh let’s do private for private’s sake” because the free option can’t be better. Right? Eh.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bullis doesn’t get hate so much as disdain. Most people in the DC area private school world consider it a school of last resort. You only send kids there who get asked to leave other private schools or can’t get in to other private schools. Therefore many of the kids are either not very nice or not very smart. Not all of course but many.

Then of course there is also the whole issue of athletic competition and recruiting and that does garner hate from some parents because it impacts the overall private school athletic culture. For the poster above who claimed that Landon and Potomac recruit solely on the basis of athletic ability like Bullis does is flat out wrong. Neither do that and I have experience with both and kids who are athletes. Bullis does though and it just seems to be operated with a lack of high standards and that turns many people off.

See?? IRRATIONAL COMMENTS. Only kids who go there are asked to leave other privates or can't get in other private schools?? Your bitterness is ridiculous.

Bullis is sending 2018 grads to Brown, Cornell, Navy, Washington & Lee and a host of other great schools. Those kids, along with dozens of others in the class of 2018, could get in anywhere in DC. Why? Because they're great kids like most of the other kids at Bullis, who have a mix of talents in academics, the arts and athletics.

Disdain? The only disdain anyone needs to have is for dingalings like you who have such malice in their hearts and minds. Why don't you go write something positive about something you like? Instead of this drivel.

DP here.....you sound hysterical. The PP wasn't bitter, they were dismissive. Bullis is a reasonably good private school but you'd have to be delusional to think it was on the same level as Landon, STA, Potomac, SFS, etc. Rather than being defensive, just embrace reality.

This. It's okay. My youngest is at another okay not great school. It is a good fit for her and she is happy and thriving. Focus on what's working for your kid and forget the haters.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bullis doesn’t get hate so much as disdain. Most people in the DC area private school world consider it a school of last resort. You only send kids there who get asked to leave other private schools or can’t get in to other private schools. Therefore many of the kids are either not very nice or not very smart. Not all of course but many.

Then of course there is also the whole issue of athletic competition and recruiting and that does garner hate from some parents because it impacts the overall private school athletic culture. For the poster above who claimed that Landon and Potomac recruit solely on the basis of athletic ability like Bullis does is flat out wrong. Neither do that and I have experience with both and kids who are athletes. Bullis does though and it just seems to be operated with a lack of high standards and that turns many people off.

See?? IRRATIONAL COMMENTS. Only kids who go there are asked to leave other privates or can't get in other private schools?? Your bitterness is ridiculous.

Bullis is sending 2018 grads to Brown, Cornell, Navy, Washington & Lee and a host of other great schools. Those kids, along with dozens of others in the class of 2018, could get in anywhere in DC. Why? Because they're great kids like most of the other kids at Bullis, who have a mix of talents in academics, the arts and athletics.

Disdain? The only disdain anyone needs to have is for dingalings like you who have such malice in their hearts and minds. Why don't you go write something positive about something you like? Instead of this drivel.

DP here.....you sound hysterical. The PP wasn't bitter, they were dismissive. Bullis is a reasonably good private school but you'd have to be delusional to think it was on the same level as Landon, STA, Potomac, SFS, etc. Rather than being defensive, just embrace reality.