Anonymous wrote:It's schizophrenic. Jocky suburban vs. nerdy urban (with Potomac partaking a bit of each). Very different school cultures.

One think you might want to do is check and see whether the grade you will be applying for is an entry year at these schools. Apply regardless (there are often a few spots due to attrition and out-of-towners seem to be favored in those cases), but that info has implications for whether you need a back-up plan. If so, consider public, even if only temporarily.

In the long run, there's no shortage of spots in good privates here (just certain crunch years like PreK/K). So why settle (perhaps permanently) for average when if you look at admissions as a 2 year process, you'll probably get what you want? And you (and your son) will be in a position to make a better judgment about what that is once you're in the area.

If you will be paying full tuition you are in good shape.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:... do I just worry too much?

Yes, but it is nice that you love your boy so much.

Especially, since you work 12 hours a day. Does that include commuting?

Bullis' Lower School has turned out to be an excellent, academically rigorous school for our child. I am disappointed that its less than stellar reputation may keep some parents from applying. It almost kept us away as our other children attend Holton Arms. I think an interested parent should visit the school, ask questions, etc. and not simply rely on rumor. The language arts, music and math programs in Lower School has been challenging. Indeed, the method being taught to our child, in a grade lower, has been more effective than that which was used at another school which a better reputation in this forum. So, parents please do your child a favor chose the best school for THAT child! Worry less about often misguided reputations

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell is religious and should not be on the list.

Spiritual, more than religious. Certainly not evangical. And this is about acadmic rankings anyway.

Sidwell is religious and should not be on the list.

OP, I'm not trying to be rude but are you functioning well with that ranking?? How do you put Sidwell below BULLIS? Here are my rankings and descriptions:
1. Sidwell Friends - Very academically rigorous

2. Landon and Potomac - Both academically rigorous school

3. Georgetown Day- Only an inch below #2's. Just doesn't
have a good exposure to the arts and athletics.

4. Maret- Solid School but a notch below the top 3.

5. Bullis- Average to good private. There are more privates out there which are value for the money.

[quote=Anonymous]Does your child participate in the AMC program (8 or 10 ... whatever grade he is in)? Also some great online math contests. [/quote]



Are you the PP ? My child is in 2nd grade, is strong in logic , visual spatial concepts and geometry ie can do 8th grade word problems,in pre-k would offer that 9 could just as easily be made with -1 plus 10 as 4+5,but was never taught at home and has never been taught beyond 2nd grade EDM in school( currently that means one digit subtraction without carry over) and never tutored .Seems what is being taught now in 2nd grade is same as what was taught in pre-K I want to find a mentor for him;someone who will channel his long attention span and quick grasp of concepts so that he can get excited about learning. most of what he knows he seems to have taught himself and I think someone who can self teach should have a tutor in the old sense of the word: someone to tailor the lessons to his ability alone and challenge him and encourage him to take risks. I could not care less about grades, ERB scores or placement. I just want him to be exposed to elements of math that he grabs onto and likes.Same as if he was out in the back every day kicking around a soccer ball, I'd find him a field , a team and a coach.

Does your child participate in the AMC program (8 or 10 ... whatever grade he is in)? Also some great online math contests.

[quote=Anonymous]I am a tutor and I have tutored students at GDS, St. Albans, NCS, Landon, Maret, Field School, Bullis and Gonzaga. I think that many people are making comments based on 2nd and 3rd hand opinions. At least my opinion is based on years of working with students at each of these schools.

While it may seem appealing to describe a school's overall academic level, it is an accurate metric. Secondary schools - just like colleges - have departments with varying degrees of effectiveness, rigor, etc. I know that certain schools are very strong in math, weaker in science or amazingly successful in English.

Next, what is your measure of academic effectiveness? Does it mean that a school gives too much homework every night only to encourage students to cram information to pass a test only to forget shortly thereafter? Or does it mean teachers provide appropriate assignments that build critical thinking skills and encourage an interest in learning? It seems that many parents confuse rigor with hw, tests, etc.

I attempt to be brief, but this thread is disturbing to me. Another thing that I observe is parents hire tutors. This is great for me, but what about the child? Sometimes parents are so pressed to get this “academic rigor”, and despite the fact that their child is not at the level, the parent will hire tutors to help their child succeed. Parents are artificially raising the rigor of private schools because professional tutors are essentially writing essays, research papers, etc.

All in all, the idea of ranking is ridiculous when considered in a vacuum. Parents need to really think about the needs of their child, the strengths and weaknesses of their child, the culture of the school, the class ratio, etc.

I know that this is the real world and at the end of the day students will apply for college and therefore need to appear competitive by attending a competitive school. But wouldn’t it be nice if parents were concerned with something more meaningful than "ranking”?


Reply: Yours is an old post, but if you are still out there can you please post a contact email. I am a parent who is hoping to find a tutor for my child who loves math.He is about two grade levels ahead in both reading and math and his Independent school is not providing pull out teaching at this time because everyone is so focused on ERB's.He is a little bored and I am concerned he will soon come to associate this feeling with school in general. I like and agree with what you shared about hands on learning and intellectual pursuit, not the cramming for a test and a grade as reflections of an educated person. It also sounds that you know a lot about various schools. We are a FA family and my DC has a fine mind( I think). All I want is for my child is to be in an intellectual environment where there is a lot of independent intellectual curiosity, pursuit and growth through the exposure to great mentors.There is a lot of poverty of the mind out there.


[/quote]

I thought "busses" were "kisses"! Back to work, folks.....

Anonymous wrote:Not true -- it's an acceptable alternate spelling.

You are right - thanks! here is the Websters online entry.

Main Entry: 1bus
Pronunciation: \?b?s\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural bus·es also bus·ses
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: short for omnibus
Date: circa 1909
1 a : a large motor vehicle designed to carry passengers usually along a fixed route according to a schedule b : automobile
2 : a small hand truck
3 a : bus bar b : a set of parallel conductors in a computer system that forms a main transmission path
4 : a spacecraft or missile that carries one or more detachable devices (as warheads)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And you just misspelled "buses".

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On our tour this year, I noticed that Potomac had something misspelled on a LS class poster -- one that was made by a teacher and on permanent display to show the rules of the class. (Something like it is a "privelege" to be in the class.) So I am not sure that whether every word is properly spelled is the complete measure of the school.

And one of their busses used to have a label that misspelled Capitol Hill (Capital). I think they changed it recently with the fancy new bus signage.

True - but I am not an educator and I didn't print it up and slap it on the side of a school bus without spell checking first.

Hmmmm, I'm an educator, and making the signs for the bus windows has never been my responsibility. If the educators at Potomac are going around making bus signs I'd be more concerned about their stewardship of resources than their spelling.

Not true -- it's an acceptable alternate spelling.

Anonymous wrote:And you just misspelled "buses".

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On our tour this year, I noticed that Potomac had something misspelled on a LS class poster -- one that was made by a teacher and on permanent display to show the rules of the class. (Something like it is a "privelege" to be in the class.) So I am not sure that whether every word is properly spelled is the complete measure of the school.

And one of their busses used to have a label that misspelled Capitol Hill (Capital). I think they changed it recently with the fancy new bus signage.

True - but I am not an educator and I didn't print it up and slap it on the side of a school bus without spell checking first.

And you just misspelled "buses".

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On our tour this year, I noticed that Potomac had something misspelled on a LS class poster -- one that was made by a teacher and on permanent display to show the rules of the class. (Something like it is a "privelege" to be in the class.) So I am not sure that whether every word is properly spelled is the complete measure of the school.

And one of their busses used to have a label that misspelled Capitol Hill (Capital). I think they changed it recently with the fancy new bus signage.