‘Something for every student’

Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2005

See also: Big demand for small schools

After graduation, school pride lives on

With more than 30 private and independent schools in the downcounty, educational institutions vary widely when it comes to program, philosophy and personality.

Some schools are parochial; others are centered around a language or a theme. Some excel in athletics, while others are known for their arts programs.

With so much to choose from, there is bound to be a place that will fit the needs of each student, educators say.

‘‘Every school in the area is different from the next school,” said Joanne Zinsmeister, an educational consultant for Educational Options. ‘‘There’s really something out there for every student.”

Zinsmeister said that schools don’t differ much in their mission statements, but do vary in how they achieve those missions.

‘‘The common thread is that most schools are looking to educate the whole child,” she said. ‘‘They are about taking the individual student and bringing out their talents. They do it in different ways. Some do it spiritually, others athletically, depending on the specific school.”

Boarding schools may focus on residential learning, while other schools could focus on vocational training — such as the Katherine Thomas School in Rockville — or on students with learning differences, she said.

Schools for small children may emphasize learning in a fun and nurturing environment, while a progressive school will foster curiosity and love of learning.

‘‘Parents should look at a program that’s going to support or advance skills that a child has or wants to develop,” she said.

At The Holton-Arms School, an independent, college preparatory school for girls, a spirit of creativity, confidence and resourcefulness makes the school unique, said Head of School Diana Coulton Beebe.

‘‘There is a lot of activity, a lot of noise, a lot of collaboration,” she said. ‘‘It’s a place where you learn to speak up.”

A strong focus on performing arts, a Chinese language and exchange program and, of course, the single-sex student body are all factors that could make Holton the perfect place for some students, but a bad fit for others, she said.

The Avalon School specializes in education geared toward boys and young men, said Headmaster Kevin Davern.

‘‘We select works of literature that tend to inspire boys...,” he said. ‘‘We have lots of chances to move around and harness their energy and competitiveness.”

A philosophy of building leadership is at the heart of the school.

‘‘We believe there is a need in society for chivalry,” Davern said. ‘‘We teach men that it’s important to be good husbands and fathers, the kind of men that you want your daughter to marry.”

At Chevy Chase’s Family Oneness School, aside from academics, students incorporate yoga, tai chi, meditation and journaling into their day, as part of a curriculum that focuses on academics, self-reflection and manifestation, which means a presentation of what the students have learned, said Jessica Weiss, director of communications and outreach.

The school’s international slant and diverse student body also make it unique, Weiss said.

Zinsmeister said that most parents don’t base decisions to send their children to a certain school on its mission statement.

‘‘Sometimes [mission statements] are just very broad,” she said. ‘‘Most parents will base their decision on what they see.”