Bradley Hills Elementary School

Two issues in this school:1- Bullying2- RacismMy 7 year old child was physically attacked by other kids on the school bus EVERYDAY! it went for a while and he went from the happy child to screaming and kicking every day and I used to force him to go on the school bus not knowing what was waiting for him there, by the time he finally said what was going on it was too late he was traumatized and suffered bad anxiety, the school never bothered to protect him, and when I started driving him to school instead of using the bus I brought up that bullying issue with the school there was no investigation and all they told me is that they “tell kids to love each other”!!!! He after that faced more bullying in his classroom but not physical and his school turned into a hell so we decided to break our lease and move away from that area just to get him away from that school, now we’re in another school that is much smaller but they care for their children the principal knows the kids by name and he himself follows on any bullying complaint and at the slightest sign of bullying (no physical bullying there but some verbal) they take it seriously and they bring it to the parents attention before it escalates. Now about the racism, maybe my experience had to do with the fact that I’m an immigrant and have a thick accent, but what happened that proved to me they are in fact racist is that I was assigned for a volunteer opportunity to come to my child’s class who was extremely excited for that, the day before that event there was a STEAM night and I met the teacher/staff who was responsible for that volunteering event, we talked and I introduced myself to her, the next morning (the day of volunteering after I bought all the supplies) I received an email from her saying I cannot attend because I don’t have a proof for Covid vaccination, what she didn’t know is that there was a chain on emails that I received with a list of volunteering parents and their vaccine status and over half were m not vaccinated but welcome to join. So ya this school is BAD! But maybe your mile would vary if you’re not a minority (mainly immigrant) and if the child wasn’t prone to attracting bullies then maybe it’ll work with you, but I’d never gamble using my children because the trauma my son experienced in this school changed him for life, he has social anxiety and was diagnosed with PTSD and after a year of homeschooling then this good school he’s in now he’s finally going back to normal.

With great empathy and compassion, please do not register your child to attend Bethesda Elementary (BE) School. The inept academic structure and the one-size fits all teaching model will cause your child to lag at least two (to three) years behind their level of academic competency. Sadly, your parental concerns as you advocate for your child's academic success, will be construed by BE (administrators/teachers) as intrusive and unwarranted. Collaboration among parents, teachers, and the administration to foster a nurturing and safe learning environment, unfortunately, is foreign to BE's mission and as a result students suffer. It is disappointing and heartfelt to write this review but for BE to thrive corrective actions must be implemented, with its students as the number one priority. Regrettably, I cannot recommend this school. :(

High caliber teachers. Atmosphere is a bit competitive but it suits my child and motivates her. Very engaged pta and fantastic multicultural events make this a fun school community for our family. Lots of racial, ethnic and cultural diversity at this school, but being in Bethesda, it lacks socioeconomic diversity. We like the academics and teacher quality though.

My sister has been attending the Woods Academy for nearly a full school year, and unfortunately, our experience has been deeply disappointing. As a child born during the COVID-19 pandemic, she struggles with anxiety in unfamiliar environments and around strangers. This has significantly affected her well-being at school—she refuses to eat snacks or lunch while there.Despite numerous emails to the administration explaining her situation, the only responses we've received are variations of "it's school policy" or vague promises like "we will do our best to support her." Yet no meaningful support has been provided. She continues to sit alone during the day, often isolated in a corner with only occasional interaction from peers. This is not acceptable.A school should be a place where children feel safe, supported, and cared for—especially those who are struggling. Simply telling families to manage everything at home is not enough when the child spends so much of their time in school. The Woods Academy has failed to show the compassion and flexibility that should be expected of any institution responsible for a young child’s development.Not saying that this school isn't for everyone, but it's certainly unequipped and unprepared to aid kids that need some extra attention or help. Please be careful, and make your own, thoroughly thought through decision.

Our son attended public school through 6th grade, starting at Bradley Hills Elementary and then Pyle Middle School (virtually), so we may have a slightly different perspective. Both public schools are well regarded; however, during Covid we decided to explore options for 7th grade and discovered St. Jane de Chantal, which is more financially viable than other options and offers a smaller, more familial environment. Initially, we worried about our son adapting to a new school that starts in pre-K, but we were grateful for the warm welcome from the students and community.Of note, Pyle, Montgomery County's largest middle school, offers a wider range of programs, including extracurricular activities and IEPs. However, we felt St. Jane’s intimate setting allowed for more personalized attention from teachers. They also have a relatively robust selection of activities and sports; our son enjoyed the ski club, playing baseball, and CYO basketball (two championships).We were very impressed by the school's support as the students transitioned to high school. The teachers work hard creating a personalized packet for each student to help with high school admissions. Further, Principal Hamilton is a vocal and direct advocate for the students (a fact we learned later from two different high school admissions reps).Our son loved his time at St. Jane and we appreciated its supportive community and the balance it strikes in offering a comprehensive education while maintaining a shield against external chaos of a large public school. Our only real regret is that we didn't send him sooner.

Not always safe, there is bulling and as a parent my daughter complained in middle school about bullying. The principal asked to have empathy for the bullies - there parents being out of the country - they were foreign exchange. Of course, I did not have empathy for those mean girls.While the last headmistress who es a nun was great, the current one is mercenary and only looking for star power (Katie Ledecky).I am mbkvalent. Class size was fine. Curriculum fine. An art teacher in middle school was absolutely useless.

My child left this school last year. I was deeply alarmed by what became clear when she was enrolled at a new school. Her reading comprehension was abysmal, as was her spelling level for her age. And as for french, she knew basics but nothing beyond that! French relatives and online programming have taught them more. They also don't inform me of any issues with spelling or reading, even though I can see it in previous work. I should have paid more attention. That's my responsibility. But there's absolutely no excuse for this. Additionally, they weren't proactive in resolving bullying and gendered harassment our child experienced, and didn't stay the course in creating healthier emotional development. Don't invest in this school. If multi cultural, bilingual learning is important to you, or actually necessary, please seek other resources in Philadelphia, or the surrounding areas. Find french tutoring. Enroll them in local programs. I'm speaking from my heart, from my family experience, and I wish you and your family the best in making these very difficult decisions.