Green acres school Reviews

I am a 3rd generation Washingtonian that attended all private schools, co-ed and then all-girls all the way through high school. As the mother of a current Green Acres 1st grader, I am happy to write a review of this exceptional school. The environment is challenging, stimulating and the teachers do a wonderful job of focusing on the social and emotional health of children, the importance of which cannot be emphasized enough. The faculty and staff work simultaneously with parents to enrich each individual child's experience. My son has flourished, his self-confidence has grown, he is engaged academically and loves school. The hands-on approach to learning is what is absent in other area schools, but it is a core element of the Green Acres program and philosophy. The fact that the school ends in 8th grade is an ADVANTAGE I feel prospective families need to understand this: your child changes each year, so the student they are in 3rd grade will grow and evolve by Middle School. By 8th grade, the high school selection process is that much EASIER particularly because Green Acres does such a fantastic job with their Middle School kids, preparing them WELL for the next chapter : how to self-advocate, how to organize, how to approach teachers, how to work collaboratively as well as independently. I also want to add that Green Acres graduates are HIGHLY sought after by other area independent high schools. All you need to do is look at where the 8th grade class has been accepted, and that these children have options.Other area schools actually seek out Green Acres 8th graders. Finally, I want to address the importance of a school that ends in 8th grade. I understand that many families do not want to switch schools at high school time for reasons such as "they won't have as good a chance of getting in if we wait for high school" or "we want a school that goes 3-12 and it is easier," the admissions process in 9th grade is different - MANY vacancies open up as schools EXPAND their classes in 9th grade so keep that in mind. I personally know multiple families whose children started at schools beginning in 3rd grade and they thought they were all set until 12th grade only to discover, that sure enough, the high school was not a match and they wound up transferring. We love Green Acres and did a lot of research in selecting a school for our son so my advice - talk to current families as well as parents of graduates, tour the school and spend time on campus especially observing classrooms, meet the Admissions folks, and by all means, stop by and meet the Head of School, Neal Brown. You will not meet a more approachable, savvy and sophisticated team of people highly specialized in their field! Sincerely, Lauren Gage

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We have two children at Green Acres School and what an awesome experience they have had! Both adore going to school every day, are energized and engaged, and their teachers really know them and challenge them to be their best. It is amazing to me how much they learn each day and how excited they are to talk about it! The entire community is extremely warm and open and although we've only been a part of it for a year and a half, it feels like so much longer. If you are considering an independent school, go visit and you will understand why it is such a special place.

I cannot say enough good things about Green Acres School. Our son, Jake, started at Green Acres in 1st grade and is now in 8th grade and has developed a true love of learning. We are now going through the high school admission process and truly appreciate that the culture at Green Acres has enabled Jake to become a high academic achiever while at the same time cultivating a sense of wonder, curiosity and reflection in him.

One example of this culture is his 8th grade history class. Although the class syllabus was to study history from 1900 to the present, his teacher started the school year in 2000 and went through the present in advance of this presidential election. This enabled my son to participate in the election process in a much more meaningful manner and is something that he will remember for the rest of his life.

As we search for the right high school, Green Acres School has given Jake a passion for learning and confidence to take intellectual and creative risks that will not only serve him well in high school, but also for the rest of his life.

Green Acres has been an excellent school for each of my three kids. They hate to miss a day! My son was well prepared for the competitive DC high school school that he now attends, and my two daughters continue to thrive at there. There is a real comradery among the girls in their classes. Class sizes are so small that lesson plans can be individualized to address student strengths, and teachers can teach kids how to write one-on-one. Homework encourages student ownership, so kids feel proud of their accomplishments and our family life is peaceful without homework battles. Thank you Green Acres School for an unbeatable start!

We could not be happier with Green Acres School. Our son started Kindergarten there last fall and he absolutely loves it. The teachers are creative, patient and are truly interested in the children and the way that they learn. All of his teachers know him so well and are able to engage him on a social, emotional and academic level - all three equally important for children at that young age. Our son loves coming to Green Acres and we can't wait to send our daughter there next year. We feel very fortunate that we found this wonderful school.

Congrats on 50 great years!!! hopefully it will be around for another 50 years.

If you're going to spend all this money to send your child to a private school this is the school where you want your child to be. Every time I read, hear and watch industry leaders talk about how they have lots of smart candidates to choose from but what they can't find are young people who can bring people together to solve problems, think creatively, appreciate the talent of others, stand up for themselves, get knocked down and get back up, etc. I think "they should come to Green Acres". Sure my child is learning algebra, the rules of grammar, how to think analytically, and write creatively but he's learning all of these things in a setting that nurtures and in many ways demands the development of the skills above. Skills that future employers are looking for and that I am confident will lead to a future of choices for him.