(The Lab School Of Washington Part 1) 10/15/19…read moreBefore The Gow School, there was The Lab School Of Washington. This is a school for students that have learning disabilities. A school that uses many techniques to help kids and adults learn challenging tools and skills they will need in the big bad world. I came to this school at the age of five or maybe six. My reading and math skills were under developed as; well, as being unable to focus on my studies.(gotta love that hyper attention deficit disorder on top of dyslexia) I thought I was focused, but in the words of Mr. Hans (aka Jackie Chan) "Your focus needs more focus. " And so it begins... I was brought to the school and given the tour by an administrator who's name I can't remember. I remember seeing kids younger than me and thinking of a number of things. I wondered if I was going to like this school? If I was worried about making friends, those worries were laid to rest not long after I joined the school. I don't really remember my first week of school as the new kid, but I do remember classes like Caveman Club, Knights&Ladies Club, Gods Club and Renaissance Club. These were actually history classes, but the teachers dressed up in their classes for at least week...(Some teachers like Lord Don *aka Don White* really dressed the part.) There were classes as I moved up in grades like wood working with a teacher name Dieter. There are some people that did not like him, but he was one of the coolest teachers out there. Pitty I didn't see this back then. Other classes like PE (aka physical education) with a woman named Heather, who later on introduced us to a man name Angelo, who later introduced us to a man name Judd. Judd stayed with Angelo for decades and eventually became the head of PE. In between Angelo and Judd, there was another woman who's name escapes me. She took PE to a higher level than Angelo and Judd did. Moving up through the grades, I remember how my reading and mathematics improved. My reading improved more with the help of Talking Books at the Media Center and Drama Class. The Media Center helped students learn how to sound out words as well as entertain students. We also practiced writing out what we heard on the talking books. Another learning technique for writing. I wish I remembered that teachers name because she really helped so many students. With the help of the Media Center, Drama classes with Sean Miskell helped us remember words, sentences to memorizing lines for theatrical performances. One of my favorite games of his was hide the chip. Another was word games. We had to remember words and phrases as the word or sentence passed from one student to another. I am sure you can imagine how the real sentence changed dramatically as the last student said the sentence out loud. All these little things did not seem like much, but all together it helped students get a better grip on one's schooling. Yes, Sally Smith knew what she was doing even if I did not get along with her from time to time. She was known as the Perfume Lady back when I was a kid. She wore a lot of it and her downstairs office smelled like it too. Her office use to be in an office outside the main school. Her office later was changed to the castle/library later on. Sally Smith knew how to get intouch with many celebrities like Dexter Keith Manley, Henry Franklin Winkler aka The Fonz, Cher, Tom Cruise and the actor who die and became a monster in the movie Leviathan. These are just a few people that the student body got to meet and learn how the celebrities turn their learning disabilities into their strengths. I don't know if this still goes on today, but it did back then. I will write more later on... To be continued.....

We love this school. My son loves going to school again and has gained more self confidence and…read moreless anxiety about school. Thank you Lab School and their dedicated teachers and staff.

My first grader goes to Maret, and it's such a lovely community. It definitely has the vibe of a DC…read moreelite school without the elitism. My daughter came from a Montessori program which was very self-guided, and the transition to Maret - which naturally has more structure - has been really well received by her. The school's pedagogy preserves the importance of agency in its students, something that will be critical for Generation Alpha kids with access to LLMs that can do anything for them. My sense from conversations with the high schoolers is that self-worth (not self-flagellation) is prioritized as students enter the rat race for college; excellence is expected, but it's not designed to be an unhealthy pressure cooker.

My name is Henry. I'm in 1st grade and I want to leave a review about my school. It's the best…read more It's very fun. They help you learn. There are a lot of resource classes. And it is the best. I didn't like when I saw it had three stars so please help them get more stars.

I have been coming here to read (as a DC librarian) since 2019. The teachers and director are truly…read morededicated to the children. They create a warm and welcoming environment for all. Highly recommend!

Our daughter is in her second year at Palisades Preschool and we couldn't be happier. The teachers…read moreare excellent, responsive and totally invested. The parents are engaged and show up. The community has been wonderful for us as parents as much as for the children. The cost is comparable to other preschools in the area and worth every dime. Our son will enroll in 2020 and we look forward to a couple more years with the Preschool!

On the campus of a private elementary school connected to the Washington National Cathedral is one…read moreof the city's best playgrounds. If you're a parent of a child between the ages of 2-8, this is the place to be...when it's open to the public. Here are all the details: 1) Hours: It's open when school is not in session. That means on weekends and during school breaks. (Check their website for their break schedule. For example, Winter Break 2021 ran from December 18th through January 2nd.) A few neighbors report it's open during the week in the evening. 2) Space: It's one large, tiered open area completely fenced in. There's a large turf area perfect for running around or soccer. There are different levels with plenty of areas to sit for parents. 3) Equipment: The most popular items are the zip line, a two-level fast slide and a rope tunnel course. They also have swings, lots of climbing equipment, a wooden bear, gargoyles art, a bear cave, two sand pits and so much more. My four-year-old daughter spends hours here without ever getting bored. 4) Parking: There's a small parking lot at the school. If it's full, easy street parking nearby can be found. One thing I didn't see while there are bathrooms. If you really need to go, walk north along nearby Wisconsin Avenue to local restaurants.

This elementary school is the best, there are so many activities for kids to do and they will have…read moreso much fun at beauvoir!!!

My son (in middle school) applied to only two high schools, St Albans and TJ (Thomas Jefferson…read moreSchool for Science and Tech. (Fairfax Co. public)). Accepted by both, the choice was obvious. He loves STA (although all in his class received "5's" on state Calculus AP exams, his instructor thought not good enough, awarding only "B's"and "C's to to these "underachievers all"). Although not permitted to identify same, he/she is not atypical of the group entrusted my son, they expecting, regardless of product presented, more. Dispirited at first, upon reflection it to me is becoming apparent that Saint Albans (a private ( non-public) secondary education provider) is without peer in the "mid-atlantic region" (whatever that means) for a young man's education (look at NCS if you are of a different persuasion (#2, but nearly equal in quality)). Not to discredit Georgertown Prep, St. Anselm's, TJ, Sidwell or Landon, but when your child verbally rebels, but cannot intelligently articulate his/her rationale therefor, then he (or she at NCS) is not a Saint Albans product, from which the kid returns home with an "A" and complains (unlike those otherwised schooled) " Yes, it's an A, but I could have done better". Only at STA. Good, Better, Best, BESTED. St. Albans=Excellence+.

From the owner: St. Albans School is an independent college preparatory school for boys in grades 4-12, located in…read moreWashington, D.C. The school is named after Saint Alban, traditionally regarded as the first British martyr. Within the St. Albans community, the school is commonly referred to as "S-T-A." It enrolls approximately 575 boys from grades 4 through 12 and is located on the grounds of the Washington National Cathedral on Mount St. Alban in Washington. The school was founded in 1909 by Harriet Lane Johnston, niece of President James Buchanan, as a school for boy choristers to the Washington National Cathedral, a program that the school continues today. The St. Albans motto, "Pro Ecclesia et Pro Patria," translates to "For Church and Country." Check out St. Albans on Facebook and Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/stalbansschool @StAlbans_STA

Hands down, five stars…read more This is a school with small class sizes and lots of enrichment classes, even for the earliest grades. A number of the teachers have been at St. Ann's for a long time, and they are complemented by newer teachers who bringing new energy and enthusiasm to the school. The teachers and principal care for the students. For example, the principal will run to Subway to pick up a sandwich for a student who forgot his or her lunch. There is a strong sense of community and a high level of parental involvement. I encourage you to look into the school and talk to parents with current, first-hand knowledge of the school.

My kids love St. Ann's and so do I. The teachers are awesome at engaging students to learn and…read moreproviding a firm foundation in education. I have 2 students that have been there 3 years and every day I know that my kids are in a great school and a nurturing environment. The parents are also very engaged in activities so there is a real sense of community among the students and parents. The location is also great since I can jump on the Metro after dropping them off and everything I need for food, grocery and shopping are within 5 minutes of the school. I highly recommend the school!

Alumni Reunion 2022 scheduled for the weekend of April…read more22-24, 2022. Received flyer in the mail last week. Bring latest family news and photos. Wife and sisters are making plans.

This school has already provided my twin daughters with an exceptional new outlook into their…read moreupcoming high school years. I'm truly hoping I can keep them connected to such a great school of diversity, Catholic values and tradition! Definitely shooting for this school as their first choice!

Exceptional teachers offering tailored instruction with a whole-child approach. A joyful,…read moresupportive environment that inspires growth and academic achievement.

Burke is a phenomenal school. The teachers all seem happy to be there and are given the freedom to…read moredevelop lesson plans that work for each class. I have no doubt that my child is ready for college based on their experience at Burke. It's a warm and welcoming community with academic rigor, but kids are not as stressed out as some other schools. Kids are taught to be independent thinkers and to self advocate. It's an urban school so wonderful opportunities to explore the city. Sports facilities are lacking, but an easy compromise to make for the location. Sports teams are no cut which means kids can play sports every season if they choose.

The River School is an incredible place that has been life-changing for our family. After our…read moreyoungest son was diagnosed with hearing loss at 2.5 years, we found The River School. That diagnosis lead to an incredible path of support, communication, therapy, learning, and tutoring through The River School for the past 6 years. The River School is an inclusive, diverse, welcoming, empathetic and loving environment for our sons. Our older son joined the school the next year and stayed through 5th grade. We were impressed with how he embraced a love for learning, developed confidence across all subjects, and benefited from the incredible social-emotional support that is embedded throughout the school's culture. Every teaching team has provided unique insights into our sons' learning styles and supported their very different personalities and learning styles. Outplacement after 5th was great. We highly recommend The River School and are so grateful for all the teachers, staff, doctors and administrators that make The River School possible and work each day to make sure all the students are thriving.

Can't say enough positive things about this school. We've seen our son Jackson blossom into a…read moreconfident, intelligent, articulate, and eager to learn young boy. He started as a "turtle" at 18 months and just finished the "alligator" class at age 4. He loves going to school every day and we continue to be impressed by how much he learns. What this school offers for not only kids with hearing loss but typically hearing peers is very unique and we've had a difficult time finding a school like this anywhere else in the country. We located from Colorado for this school when our son was born profoundly deaf and received cochlear implants at age 1. Our son has constant access to sound with the support from The River School. He gets listening checks daily and with audiology on site if we ever have a problem it gets addressed right away. There is a master's level speech language pathologist in each class. You would never know my son was born with a profound hearing loss because his speech and hearing are better than most kids his age. Thanks to the support of the River School, I never have to worry about my son's hearing loss limiting him in life.

I'm actually rating this as an event location. I just went to an intimate wedding here last night,…read moreand the place is truly a hidden gem. The ceremony was outside, among the trees. Dinner was served outside on a terrace, but I'm not sure what the name of the building was. Dancing was inside in a wooden hall with a fireplace and a portrait of an academic who I do not recognize, but I am sure the WIS students could help me out. The catering staff was awesome. If you're getting married in the District and you have less than 100 people attending, I would check this place out!

Hype, hype and more hype. Full immersion? Not so. After over 10 years of "full immersion", students…read moreare barely able to speak the language (Spanish or French). "Global" and "diverse" thanks mainly to a rotating population of expatriates. The diversity is geographic, not racial. Poor administration - problem students are not addressed and remain in the school. Families' (and students') concerns are treated according to affluence and influence. Cliquish environment, although the school writes and aims to sell a sense of community, which all false/fake. There are much better schools out there for that kind of money. You just have to get past the smoke and mirrors and then be able to get your students to switch. "WIS lifer" no more; every year for the past 11 years, things have gotten worse.