Allanwood

My kiddo completed 1st grade and is now in his 2nd grade year at Bel-Pre. In my experience, this school has excellent teachers with trash administrative staff and leadership. Again, This rating is not a reflection of the teachers, aides, or paraeducators - Only the admin and leadership. Actually, I have NEVER felt welcome at Bel-Pre as an EFL citizen (English as a First Language) and Special Needs Parent. Upon arrival, if you are not Spanish speaking, YOU CAN WAIT. You will wait to be assisted if there are other Spanish speaking parents also waiting to be helped. At first I thought I was imagining it, but I was not. The front office staff does not even greet you until you speak to them first - Or of course unless you appear to be Spanish speaking. It's very strange and off putting. No matter how friendly you are to them, they are stone walls - unless of course your appear to speak Espanol. Does it matter how friendly the secretaries are - Definitely. They set the tone for the entire establishment. By the way - My child is Autistic and minimally verbal. Imagine the cringe of entrusting him to extremely unfriendly authority every morning. Nightmarish to say the least. In regards to the leadership - The Principle is not respected by her staff , it shows - And now I understand why. She is a one dimensional leader. Not fit for the task of ensuring that her AND her immediate staff makes everyone feel welcome - including plain ole' English speaking citizens as well as the neuro diverse community. In violation of FAPE, My child was initially turned away, on his much anticipated, first day of school because the Principle failed to prepare for his needs.(As outlined in his IEP) I was told "I'm warning you that he is not safe here!" My kid is still recovering from the anxiety of that day. (as if he does not have enough challenges) In true poor leadership form, there was zero acknowledgement, zero apologies, and zero accountability. She has followed up with the same unprofessional behavior that she condones from the front office staff - No hello, smirking and eye rolling. I had no idea that my kid would not be welcome at Bel-Pre for his 2nd grade year. If I had known, I would have moved mountains to make sure that he never returned there. Last year in first grade, His teacher, peers, and the Special Education staff welcomed my kiddo in all his unique, Autistic glory. This year leadership decided that they did not want to do the work. He was NOT welcome.

Best counselor, I found it the way I was recommended!

I simply don’t understand some of the poor reviews on this site…Our experience with Barrie is excellent. The community is diverse and caring. Academics are challenging and project-based.We plan for our daughters to attend through Middle and Upper School.

Winchester is a hidden gem. Our son has been going for two years now, and we’ve seen such a positive change in him—he loves being there! The teachers and staff are warm, genuinely connect with him, and have adapted to his learning needs. Since switching from another school, he’s been much more vocal and excited about what he’s learning. We love that the curriculum includes not just academics, but also social skills, cultural appreciation, and kindness. They also have a great summer camp! We really appreciate how open they are to feedback, their flexible schedule, and the overall caring, understanding environment. It feels like it’s being run by other parents who really understand what families need. We highly recommend it!

The teachers are the beating heart of the Upper School and they are amazing! They are dedicated and gifted professionals and almost every one goes above and beyond to make learning engaging, to seek out extra enrichment activities, and to support students when they struggle. I see the care they put into their daily lessons and the emphasis on getting students not just to memorize the "how" and the "what" but to truly understand "why this matters." They are all here because they want to be. I also see my child gaining confidence through interacting with their teachers, learning the give-and-take of seminar discussions, learning how to respectfully advocate for themselves or ask for clarification or even the occasional extension. These skills help prepare them to engage with college professors and future bosses. I am confident my child is getting an individualized and top-notch education and I know they are well-prepared for college.