Laurel School

Shocked by the reviews stating that this school "only cares about the money," as this was 100% not my experience. This is a group of educators that genuinely care about the students. My children absolutely loved the years we spent here. Mr. Griffith is kind and engaging. Coach Dom is fun and energetic. Nadia has great communication. All of the teachers were loved by my kids, and really put their hearts into their jobs. My kids made wonderful friendships with really great kids, and learned incredible things they never would have learned elsewhere. The only thing that I don't like about Ratner is that it doesn't go up to high school, because I would put my kids here K-12 if I could!

The school provides very limited support in core academic subjects, and the overall level of learning appears lower compared to same-age peers at other local schools. Communication with teachers is minimal, with progress updates largely confined to basic, checklist-style report cards rather than detailed feedback.The structure of the school is also challenging for working parents, as many projects, conferences, and events (teacher parents conferences, kids projects) take place during regular business hours. Additionally, there are frequent vacation days and cancellations.The school may be a suitable option for families seeking a strong emphasis on Jewish heritage and community, but this may come with a compromise in academic rigor

Our experience at Hathaway Brown fell short of expectations, especially given the high tuition. Most teachers were average, with only one standout educator. In contrast, at a much more affordable private school we previously attended, nearly all teachers were exceptional.I was also surprised by the lack of professionalism in the appearance and demeanor of some staff—something I wouldn’t expect from a school with this reputation and cost.Additionally, aspects of the parent community raised concerns about values and integrity, which impacted our overall impression of the environment.While there are bright spots, we did not feel the experience justified the price.