Nysmith School

Nysmith School isn't a 'Top 10 Schools in the World' for no reason. With two kids who absolutely adore their time there, it's surpassed all our expectations.What truly stands out about Nysmith is its emphasis on teamwork among students. My kids aren't just learning from teachers; they're surrounded by classmates who excel in various areas. This creates an environment where growth and discovery happen daily.At Nysmith, kids have the freedom to learn at their own pace, ensuring they're always engaged and excited. The innovative classroom setup, with teachers specializing in different subjects and classes held in various spaces, keeps learning fresh and exciting. And those frequent field trips? They're hands-on experiences that make learning come alive.The pride my kids have for Nysmith is evident in their enthusiasm every time we pass by the school. It's clear they truly love being there.I was deeply touched by how the teachers remembered my third child's name before she even started. It's a testament to their genuine care for each child's well-being.My son's rapid academic progress, already excelling in 2nd-grade math and delving into advanced topics in 1st-grade, speaks volumes about the quality of education at Nysmith.The responsiveness and care shown by the teachers have left a lasting impression on our family. And with top-notch facilities and over 40 different clubs and activities, there's always something exciting happening at Nysmith. The faculty and staff, with their warm smiles and greetings, create a lively atmosphere that makes everyone feel welcomed and appreciated.Switching my kids from the nearby Montessori school to Nysmith was the best decision we've ever made. Despite any concerns about tuition or academics, I firmly believe that the value of a Nysmith education extends far beyond academics. What truly sets Nysmith apart is its focus on fostering friendships, providing an enriching environment, and nurturing a positive school culture.In summary, Nysmith School has blown us away. We're grateful to be part of the Nysmith family and can't wait to send our third child there! Plus, for families with four kids, it's worth mentioning that the fourth child's tuition is free!

My daughter was almost two years old when started in the Mommy and Me program. Since then, we are witnessing her growth. It is different from growing up. She is nine years old now. She’s found answers for some questions that still occupy grown-up’s minds; the value and importance of true friendship, humanity, respect, diversity, nature, self-confidence, resilience, persistence, experience, and love. Every morning, we can see happiness in her eyes when she is dressing up for school. When picking her up from school in the afternoon, she is still thinking about her good time at school.She loves her classmates, teachers, school staff, and even the classrooms and the building. Last week, when asked her to talk about her school, she broke down to tears. I knew my daughter liked her school, but I didn’t know she loved it this much that prevented her from talking for seconds. These are her words: “We love our teachers, classes with exciting subjects, lots of activities, and joyful recess sessions. Going from one class to another means a lot to me and my friends. You feel like there is a really life outside of your body. You see different kids, different clothes, but they are all kind and like to help. That’s the person is worth a lot …”.The ratio of the teachers to students allows teachers and students to discuss the subjects in more details, more questions to be asked and answered, more teamwork and collaboration between the students, and a better chance to know themselves and their friends. I can’t say enough how much we appreciate all her teachers’ selflessness and sacrifice to teach their students what they need to learn. She’s earned National Math competitions’ Gold and Silver medals, Grade 3-4 Science Olympiad Gold medal, and Superior performance at Bach-Baroque Piano Festival and none would be possible without Nysmith.The head of the school, Mr. Nysmith, knows all more than 600 students by name. He is directing the school after his mother, the founder of the school, and looks for any opportunity to make the students’ time at school more engaging and more fun. He and the directors of the lower and upper school have been always enthusiastic and available for us and other parents to discuss about their ideas, recommendations, and even concerns.When we drop our daughter at school, we know she is in good hands, she is happy, and she is being challenged and prepared for her future. She’s been thriving. We couldn’t be happier and prouder. Thank you Nysmith!

Our daughter has been at NySmith for four years now since pre-K, we absolutely loved the experience. The campus feels extremely safe and secure, we never had any worries about the safety of our precious little one there. The school creates a very warm and loving ambience - the moment kids step into the school, they are greeted with warmth and joy, and empowered to pursue intellectual curiosity in a nurturing environment. The school offers comprehensive academic curriculums. Science and computer classes are taught daily from the very beginning, along with other essential subjects. Teachers go out of the way to tailor their teaching to each student’s academic levels - it’s not unusual to have 3 or 4 study groups inside each class taught at different grades. We also appreciate the impressive balance between academic studies, personal developments, and extra-curriculums activities. The campus is well maintained for all sorts of physical activities, the school offers a rich selection of enrichment programs taught by internal teaching staff and external coaches. Most importantly, our daughter has been very happy at NySmith every single day since she joined. Soon we will be sending our younger one to the same school. NySmith is a gem in Northern Virginia, highly recommended to any parents who care deeply about their children’s well-being and education.

It is the best choice we made for our two kids for elementary school so far! Our kids have been in Nysmith School since they were 3 and 5 years old, respectively. They are very happy about the school and want to go to school everyday. This is the magic about Nysmith. The kids are advanced in academics but they enjoy learning. I think the main contribution is probably from the project-based and individual-paced learning approach they use. Nysmith teachers understand the need of individual kid, and provide the right level of learning curriculum for them. I’m very impressed by the tailored learning officially since kindergarten and unofficially even from 3 years old.

Our child and family were left with deep scars that will last a lifetime from our experience at Nysmith. Our child has never had a problem with a teacher or bullying, usually being amongst teachers favorites. When you tour the school just know that they are very targeted about what you see, and it is not as it appears. When you go on your tour or read about the school think "Used Car Sales", it all may look shiny but it is likely to leave you broken down on the side of the road. This school is resting on it's laurels and accolades from the past. The "top 10" they continue to use in advertising is from many years ago. Any awards these days are their students, not the school itself. Despite their prolific marketing efforts it is NOT a Joy Filled experience as they would have you believe. If you are considering Nysmith and you value your child's well being RUN to a different school. Our child was bullied not only repeatedly by other students, but by a teacher as well, and the school effectively did nothing despite our repeated requests. Another relevant detail not disclosed is that low student teacher ratio includes a number of TA’s who are not native English speakers, which means you can have instructors for technical subjects that are very difficult to understand. Which also causes a problem since they are likely here on work visa's they will not go against the main teacher if you make a complaint about a teachers treatment of a student.We are not the only family who has had issues, we know other families who are leaving due to concerns for their children's well being. The school is run in a dictatorial manner since the original owner passed. Even to the point that when the PTO wanted to host a seminar on bullying, the head of the school would not allow it due to concerns about the optics. That says it all. My hope with this review is to help other families avoid the heartache/trauma such as we have encountered at Nysmith.