Holton-Arms School

couldn't disagree more wih the Jan 23, 2013 parent. My daughter has been at Holton since 3rd grade and I have nothing but positive things to say about the school, the girls and the parents. My daughter is cerebral and a high performer. She has found like-minded friends and i have found all the girls get along, whether they are sporty or nerdy. There is something for everyone at the school. I have found the girls at NCS to be more like what she is describing.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter began Holton art 4th grade. She is a high performer academically, and is very independent-minded. Unfortunately, the mean girl clique-ishness at Holton has not been terribly accomodating of her individualist nature. The Lower School Director does not like confrontation and has not addressed the verbal bullying effectively. I love the academic challenge for my daughter, however, the closer the girls get to middle school, the more the affluence and pressure to be the same seems to take hold. The school seems to have no answer to combat the mean-ness and the formation of strong cliques, which have left a lot of girls by the wayside. Holton is great is you fit in; if you find yourself on the outside, your daughter will have a hard time finding her way. The school offers little in the way of support for the individually-minded. Academic pressure is high and the school does a poor job of nurturing the whole child. If well-roundedness is something you value for your child, take a very critical view of Holton. Parents are major contributors to the dysfunction, through overindulgence or a need to use the school to climb scoially or professsionally.
—Submitted by a parent

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

Holton-Arms is an extraordinary school for girls with strong academic, athletic, visual and/or performing arts interests. In the upper school, its academic program has great breadth and depth. In 2009, the girls sat AP exams in 20 subject areas. Twenty-eight girls were received National Merit commended, finalist or scholar recognition. As highlighted in its school profile, "The School admits girls with strong academic interests and abilities who wish to enjoy and contribute to the life of the school community. Our student body reflects a diversity that includes academic, economic (24% receive financial aid), geographic (72% Maryland, 13% D.C., 14% Virginia), cultural, racial and ethnic (40.7% students of color and 4.2% foreign nationals), and religious differences." My daughter, who falls in the 40.7% students of color category, has enjoyed lower, middle and upper school divisions at Holton.
—Submitted by a parent

2nd generation student. My daughter started in the 3rd and is going to the 10th. Love the school. It is a good fit for my daughter. We do not live in the HAS community and use the HAS school bus. We have not had any problems worth complaining about. There will always be something that is not perfect. However, I encourage my daughter maintain family values and keep it moving.
—Submitted by a parent

Stay away from this place. The parent who wrote that "in order to balance diversity, whether it be financial or ethnic, some girls are admitted who have certain discipline issues" pretty much sums it up. A good place if you are lily white and rich...cause we know those folks don't have discipline problems.
—Submitted by a parent

Do your daughter a favor , keep them out of this overprice cliquish school, especially they don't want minority there. also there is quite a bit of low level harrassment (maybe better word is bullying).
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter attended the Holton arms school for girls for 7 years. She thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it. The homework is rigorous and very much prepared her for college nicely. The girls are nice and accepting. The school is full of christian virtues. Overall, holton is a wonderful school
—Submitted by a parent

Holton is a good school. However, in order to balance diversity, whether it be financial or ethnic, some girls are admitted who have certain discipline issues. While bullying is not a major issue at the school, there are instances of low level bullying. Hopefully, the school will confront this directly and not be afraid of offending the offenders. The safety of the bullied should always be first and foremost.
—Submitted by a parent

I graduated from Holton-Arms and honestly do not believe I could've gotten a better education anywhere else I went. From the true care of the teachers to school unity throughout divisions, Holton truly does uphold its motto: 'education not only of the mind, but of the soul and spirit.' Academics are strong and can be overwhelming at times, but it's a college-prep school, and that's what you're paying for.
—Submitted by a student

My daughter started at Holton in the 9th grade. We looked diligently for a high school in VA, MD and DC that would offer her top notch academics, a place where she could participate in sports and grow into a confident young woman. We found that and so much more at Holton. I continue to be impressed each and every day. The faculty/administration knows girls and makes conscious decisions with the girls' best interest at heart. The community (students, parents and faculty/staff) was so welcoming of us as newbies. The girls are poised, articulate, motivated, kind and smart. The faculty knows its students and truly wants them to succeed; every one of them. What a great environment for my daughter. What a great education she is receiving. We are thrilled!
—Submitted by a parent