Barnhart School

This school feels like a community. The small classes allow teachers to provide individualized attention. All the teachers are in constant communication with each other to help every child become their best individual. The curriculum ranges from SEL (social emotional learning) to traditional educational strategies. They also have some project based learning collaborations and there are plenty of activities that keep the students engaged and happy.

We are forever thankful and grateful that we found Barnhart for our middle son. We knew we needed a different environment for our son, and found a place where he isn't held back at all. The best review you can get for a school is from a parent themselves, and that is exactly how we came upon this school. I remember reaching out to another parent at the school (who I didn’t even know personally yet), and she immediately sent me her number so we could chat. As she explained, Barnhart was a truly special place. High standards of academics, a caring and loving teaching staff and administration who knew my child from day one, wonderful campus and facilities, and a place where my son could be himself and really grow. When I asked my 7 year old what he loves about Barnhart, he said "everything."

We love Barnhart School! Prior to my older son’s fourth-grade year, we apprehensively left another, more expensive, independent school in the area (we had been there for 6 years) hoping to find a better fit for our family. We honestly can't believe our luck in finding Barnhart! Both of my kids are thriving there. In comparison to the school we came from, the quality of the academics and teaching staff are about the same (both good), but the leadership, the way the school supports students' individual learning needs, and the sense of community are a significant improvement! In general, Barnhart is a kinder, more supportive learning environment. The Head of School is warm and approachable and seems to care genuinely and deeply for the school and students. The class sizes are smaller than the school we came from, which has been great for both of my kids. And bullying doesn't seem to be a problem (we were starting to notice both bullying and exclusion at our previous school). At the time, my fourth-grader did not want to switch schools, but he settled right in on day one without a problem and, after only a few months at Barnhart, said he wishes he had gone there since kindergarten. We are now approaching the end of our fourth year at Barnhart and are still VERY happy. Another family we knew from our previous school also enrolled their kids at Barnhart. When asked what he likes about Barnhart, their older child said "the teachers seem happier". I think this is one of the things that's special about Barnhart - the teachers do seem happy and that, obviously, carries over to the classroom and teaching. Barnhart has also hired a fantastic Assistant Head of School, Miriam Singer. She is incredibly smart and has a background in administration at a school that specializes in meeting the needs of kids who are "twice exceptional" (both gifted and have one or more learning differences). With Mrs. Singer on board, it's clear to me that Barnhart truly is a place that meets the kids where they are and works hard to help them succeed socially, emotionally, and academically. I highly recommend this school.

What makes Barnhart so special?When we were searching for a school for our son, we were looking for the best fit. Somewhere that would help him become a well rounded individual and learn important life lessons in addition to an solid education. So when we toured Barnhart, we were impressed with everything the school had to offer, from the small classroom size, to all the extracurricular activities, to the virtues they instill in our young ones, and for a strong sense of community among all the families.There are many reasons why my family chose Barnhart, but the biggest reason has to be how much the staff and faculty care about the students. The teachers have always been very attentive to my son's needs and even during this pandemic, have gone above and beyond in maintaining a quality education while making it as fun as possible for my first grader. In addition, they truly value each child's intrinsic gift's and really support their social-emotional learning capacity. The school has exceed our expectations with how they've navigated the challenges of the past year and have kept us abreast to all the moving parts that come with reopening the school and putting the safety of everyone as a top priority. Barnhart has not been rigid in following a set of rules or guidelines, and have adapted to the changing times. It is for these reasons that I'm proud to have my son be a Bobcat and I look forward to seeing him grow into a fine young man with the school's support and care.

My time at Barnhart has been amazing. The teachers, students, and administration have created a community in which everyone feels welcomed and cared for. As a teacher, I couldn't feel more excited coming into work everyday. From the first day I started, I had already felt like I belonged in this community. The collaboration and curriculum offered at Barnhart has allowed me to feel like I can actually teach and work with students more closely. The staff has become my close friends and incredible working partners.