Holton-Arms School

The lower school is beyond amazing, with a fabulous director- makes me want to go back to school. Middle school is full of teachers who LIKE teaching those ages, and is a really good transition place- director has a great understanding of the needs of the whole child, and the girls are really prepared for the full-on intensity of upper school. Upper school is great if your girl is ready for it: it is staggering what these girls do- academics, sports, arts. Lots of opportunities, lots of support. Btw- the comment about the 'eery' quiet of the MS & US- it is very Montessori-like.If you go, ask about the 'gift of time', take a peek at the Senior & Junior lounges, look at the girls working in 1s and 2s in the halls. It is purposeful in a happy way. Mine LOVE that there are no harsh bells between classes! The vast majority of Holton girls are amazingly kind and welcoming to the new girls; the snobbish minority is very small, and tmost of the girls look down on it. The diversity of the student body is the best I've ever seen, and they are very well integrated (students more tnan the parents). No school is right for everyone, but this community really tries to work together for the kids.
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter has been at Holton since the 3rd grade and is now in 8th. We have found Holton to be a wonderful school. The teachers, school heads as well as the head of school Susanna Jones have been exceptionally attentive to each and every girl. Academics have also been exceptional and there have been numerous opportunities to engage in almost any athletic pursuit. She made friends easily and continues to maintain a large circle of close knit friends who interact like sisters. As an African American family, we have found the school to be particularly welcoming and inclusive of our and all other cultures. In the 6 years that we have been a part of the Holton community, we have not seen or experienced any of the elitist attitudes expressed by another reviewer. My daughter has been challenged academically but has found the workload to be very manageable as long as she prepares adequately. Within the first 2 weeks of entering Holton in the 3rd grade she demonstrated a higher level of confidence and self assurance that has only continued to grow. We could not be more pleased with the experience and education at this school.
--Submitted by a parent

Holton is a wonderful place where girls of different social, economic and cultural backgrounds can find their place. There are great athletic opportunities as well as extraordinary arts (both visual and performing). The teachers really care and provide great mentoring for the girls, even though who might be hesitant to ask in another environment. My family has been there for 9 years and my daughters friends cross all of the lines that might otherwise divide people. Holton encourages that. Girls can safely take intellectual risks here, which makes them better prepared for the future.
--Submitted by a parent

My Daughter just graduated from Holton. She entered in 9th grade from public school and was welcomed warmly. She has thanked us repeatedly for "making her go." The elitist reputation of the school is completly false- although it was funny that the girls from Maryland ( the majority) thought Vienna, Virginia was the "country" when they came to visit her at home. The althletic program was excellent as was the academic rigor and personal advising staff. She is intellectually curious and engages me in conversation on subjects from cancer therapy to Picasso's misogyny. Sending her to Holton was the best decision we ever made. Oh, and she still hangs out with all the neighborhood girls who went to the local public school- it is not considered "slumming" as an earlier post claims.
--Submitted by a parent

It is not hard to get a good education in the Washington DC area, so even though Holton is OK academically, you want to consider what kind of values and social skills your child will be exposed to in this school. Holton is extremely elitist and most students carry a sense of entitlement due to their affluent social status. The girls are very smart, but utilize their intelligence toward advancing their social standing. The girls generally only associate with those in their same affluent society because to bee seen "slumming around" with public school kids or the merely upper middle class lowers your social standing.
--Submitted by a parent

Lower school science department is great. Library is nice. Good facilities and Center for the Arts.
--Submitted by a parent

Our first year at Holton-Arms School has turned out "okay". Big Kudos to the Science department in the lower school. The girls did have some great visitors this year, such as visiting authors, etc.
--Submitted by a parent

Holton arms school is not a good place to put your child in if you want them to become a grounded adult. The majority of students are phony and self centered. The students form 2 cliques: those on scholarship and those who are not. The middle and High schools are eerily quiet, and the girls file through them as if drugged. It is not normal. However, if you have a shy child, the lower school is a very nurturing environment that will help them come out of their shell.

As a parent with children in three different private schools, I have to say that Holton-Arms has proven itself to be an incredible school. Not only is it exceptionally well organized and tailored to fostering a truly productive learning environment, but it has managed to attract amazing teachers and administrations at all levels whose talents and diligence has created an amazing educational program. It is not by chance that all the students consistently show kindness and respect for each other, welcoming new girls and foreign students as if they knew them all their life and at the same time showing a sense of independence and confidence so important in building good leadership skills among girls.
--Submitted by a parent

As a parent with children in three different private schools, I have to say that Holton-Arms has proven itself to be an incredible school. Not only is it exceptionally well organized and tailored to fostering a truly productive learning environment, but it has managed to attract amazing teachers and administrations at all levels whose talents and diligence has created an amazing educational program. It is not by chance that all the students consistently show kindness and respect for each other, welcoming new girls and foreign students as if they knew them all their life and at the same time showing a sense of independence and confidence so important in building good leadership skills among girls.
--Submitted by a parent