Overall we like Burke very much. We actually prefer it to Big 3. Yes, Big 3 was an option for us. Burke is a very warm and friendly place with diverse students and attentive teachers. It's less intense academically and socially than Big 3.

I don't know whether Burke is going to offer any distance learning options, but I'm sure the admissions staff will be happy to answer your questions. Over the past year, Burke did a pretty good job. Satisfying all Burke parents was not an attainable goal since some parents wanted to go back to in-person learning asap while others pretty much never want to go back until the pandemic ends. My impression is that Burke was a little slower about going back than most other DC area private schools.

Burke put a lot of thought into how to do distance learning. Many year-long courses ended up being taught in a single semester, with students taking a reduced course load to make up for the fact that the amount of nightly homework was double what it normally would have been. My kid remained engaged throughout the year but was much happier when in-person learning resumed.

It’s rare for any private school in this area to continue distance learning. There are already so many quality online private schools for much less.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How has Burke fared during pandemic with virtual/ hybrid learning? Are they requiring all eligible students be immunized in order to only offer in person school next school year, like Field?
Thanks in advance!

Look on the school website or call and ask if you really want to know. Can’t compare CoVID protocols between Field and Burke because they are in different jurisdictions. DC private schools have to follow OSSE guidelines. Things are much looser in VA and MD.

Obviously i have done that. What schools say on their web sites and lived out realities are not always in alignment.

Both schools are in DC and i was hoping to hear from current EB parents … have already heard from Field parents i know in real life (sounds like a great school but the lack of virtual options next school year as the pandemic is ongoing gives us pause.

If things get worse I can see schools pivoting back to virtual, but I would be surprised if any school, especially a school as small as Burke and Field, offer virtual options. Concurrent teaching is terrible for everyone. If you want a virtual school for this coming year, choose a school that has always been online.

And are you applying for the school year that is about to begin? You aren't going to have many options this late in the game.

Would really appreciate feedback from EB parents on how well they feel the school navigated and is navigating pandemic realities.

PP thanks for your response but this search process is for fall 2022. DC current school did an amazing job with pandemic and hybrid/ virtual options but there are other reasons DC wants to explore other options. I just do not want to sacrifice too much in terms of quality flexibility in education - but do want DC to be happy. This would be only one consideration of many. Thanks!

So you want a school that will offer a virtual option in fall 2022?

It would be a plus but not a deal breaker - maybe not realistic for smaller private schools. So interested in how EB families feel about the way their axhool has handled pandemic so far.. There may be other ways schools provide safe learning environments and keeping things as normal as possible.

I don’t hear much from EB parents on this forum - and that may be a good sign …

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How has Burke fared during pandemic with virtual/ hybrid learning? Are they requiring all eligible students be immunized in order to only offer in person school next school year, like Field?
Thanks in advance!

Look on the school website or call and ask if you really want to know. Can’t compare CoVID protocols between Field and Burke because they are in different jurisdictions. DC private schools have to follow OSSE guidelines. Things are much looser in VA and MD.

Obviously i have done that. What schools say on their web sites and lived out realities are not always in alignment.

Both schools are in DC and i was hoping to hear from current EB parents … have already heard from Field parents i know in real life (sounds like a great school but the lack of virtual options next school year as the pandemic is ongoing gives us pause.

If things get worse I can see schools pivoting back to virtual, but I would be surprised if any school, especially a school as small as Burke and Field, offer virtual options. Concurrent teaching is terrible for everyone. If you want a virtual school for this coming year, choose a school that has always been online.

And are you applying for the school year that is about to begin? You aren't going to have many options this late in the game.

Would really appreciate feedback from EB parents on how well they feel the school navigated and is navigating pandemic realities.

PP thanks for your response but this search process is for fall 2022. DC current school did an amazing job with pandemic and hybrid/ virtual options but there are other reasons DC wants to explore other options. I just do not want to sacrifice too much in terms of quality flexibility in education - but do want DC to be happy. This would be only one consideration of many. Thanks!

So you want a school that will offer a virtual option in fall 2022?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How has Burke fared during pandemic with virtual/ hybrid learning? Are they requiring all eligible students be immunized in order to only offer in person school next school year, like Field?
Thanks in advance!

Look on the school website or call and ask if you really want to know. Can’t compare CoVID protocols between Field and Burke because they are in different jurisdictions. DC private schools have to follow OSSE guidelines. Things are much looser in VA and MD.

Obviously i have done that. What schools say on their web sites and lived out realities are not always in alignment.

Both schools are in DC and i was hoping to hear from current EB parents … have already heard from Field parents i know in real life (sounds like a great school but the lack of virtual options next school year as the pandemic is ongoing gives us pause.

If things get worse I can see schools pivoting back to virtual, but I would be surprised if any school, especially a school as small as Burke and Field, offer virtual options. Concurrent teaching is terrible for everyone. If you want a virtual school for this coming year, choose a school that has always been online.

And are you applying for the school year that is about to begin? You aren't going to have many options this late in the game.

Would really appreciate feedback from EB parents on how well they feel the school navigated and is navigating pandemic realities.

PP thanks for your response but this search process is for fall 2022. DC current school did an amazing job with pandemic and hybrid/ virtual options but there are other reasons DC wants to explore other options. I just do not want to sacrifice too much in terms of quality flexibility in education - but do want DC to be happy. This would be only one consideration of many. Thanks!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How has Burke fared during pandemic with virtual/ hybrid learning? Are they requiring all eligible students be immunized in order to only offer in person school next school year, like Field?
Thanks in advance!

Look on the school website or call and ask if you really want to know. Can’t compare CoVID protocols between Field and Burke because they are in different jurisdictions. DC private schools have to follow OSSE guidelines. Things are much looser in VA and MD.

Obviously i have done that. What schools say on their web sites and lived out realities are not always in alignment.

Both schools are in DC and i was hoping to hear from current EB parents … have already heard from Field parents i know in real life (sounds like a great school but the lack of virtual options next school year as the pandemic is ongoing gives us pause.

If things get worse I can see schools pivoting back to virtual, but I would be surprised if any school, especially a school as small as Burke and Field, offer virtual options. Concurrent teaching is terrible for everyone. If you want a virtual school for this coming year, choose a school that has always been online.

And are you applying for the school year that is about to begin? You aren't going to have many options this late in the game.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How has Burke fared during pandemic with virtual/ hybrid learning? Are they requiring all eligible students be immunized in order to only offer in person school next school year, like Field?
Thanks in advance!

Look on the school website or call and ask if you really want to know. Can’t compare CoVID protocols between Field and Burke because they are in different jurisdictions. DC private schools have to follow OSSE guidelines. Things are much looser in VA and MD.

Obviously i have done that. What schools say on their web sites and lived out realities are not always in alignment.

Both schools are in DC and i was hoping to hear from current EB parents … have already heard from Field parents i know in real life (sounds like a great school but the lack of virtual options next school year as the pandemic is ongoing gives us pause.

Not all 6th graders will be eligible for the vaccine. Many will still be 11 in the fall.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How has Burke fared during pandemic with virtual/ hybrid learning? Are they requiring all eligible students be immunized in order to only offer in person school next school year, like Field?
Thanks in advance!

Look on the school website or call and ask if you really want to know. Can’t compare CoVID protocols between Field and Burke because they are in different jurisdictions. DC private schools have to follow OSSE guidelines. Things are much looser in VA and MD.

? Field and Burke are both in DC.

Anonymous wrote:How has Burke fared during pandemic with virtual/ hybrid learning? Are they requiring all eligible students be immunized in order to only offer in person school next school year, like Field?
Thanks in advance!

Look on the school website or call and ask if you really want to know. Can’t compare CoVID protocols between Field and Burke because they are in different jurisdictions. DC private schools have to follow OSSE guidelines. Things are much looser in VA and MD.

The schools are VERY different so going to visit them will be an important part of your process. SAES is lovely and has a suburban "big school" feel. Burke is urban and feels a little more "hip". The classrooms feel pretty different as well- the more traditional interactions at SAES and the progressive philosophy at Burke. I'm sure there are kids who would thrive at either place, but my kid had a clear preference for one of these after seeing it for themselves.

Anonymous wrote:PP 18:20, where did you preppy/sporty child enroll? We are interested in Bruke for DS as he is also very sporty and preppy we are wondering if it would be a good fit. Thanks.

I have DCs at SAES. Your son would fit right in.

How has Burke fared during pandemic with virtual/ hybrid learning? Are they requiring all eligible students be immunized in order to only offer in person school next school year, like Field?
Thanks in advance!

I would love to for the parent that had students at burke and st. andrews to give feedback

Keep in mind that Burke is a small school - by design - and simply can't accept all the qualified applicants it receives. So sometimes it is just a numbers game. That being said, it's worth a call to the admissions team if Burke was your kids first choice.

- Parent of two Burke kids - one with mild LDs and one NT kid who is an overachiever