Winchester Thurston School

The most amazing school I have gone to. I'm in the Upper School, and it is the best learning experience I've ever had. I switched from my old school, and was extremely surprised by how well WT approaches their teaching. The teachers keep class interesting and understand we are individuals in how we learn and think. The environment is relaxed (in comparison to my old school where everywhere you went you were stressed) and the kids are amazingly smart and nice. Yes, the tuition is expensive, however I find that it is totally worth it. I've come out of my shell a bit (I'm usually quiet and reserved) and they create a drive in students to become the best they can be.

We are parents with two children at the beautiful WT North Campus, and felt compelled to write after reading the prior review. Our experience at WT has almost been too good to be true. Every concern we've ever had has been addressed in exactly the manner we expected, our children have a differentiated curriculum tailored to their own personal talents and needs, we've met an amazing crop of great families, and, best of all, our children LOVE school. We literally have to ask them to stop dong homework on some evenings so we can get them ready for bed. Some other tidbits: There are roughly 100 students, PK-5, at the campus; the Head of School greets each one with a handshake every morning; the campus is HUGE (9 acres?) with a pond, woods, fields, a greenhouse, gardens, etc.; the school has a "family" feel -- the families all seem to know and respect one another; WT has a nationally recognized gifted program; teachers know the parents on a first-name basis almost immediately; the after-school programs are amazing; childcare is available until 6:00 p.m. each night for working parents; the school lunches range from pizza to sushi to baked chicken to gumbo. We love WT.
--Submitted by a parent

This school was a huge expensive mistake. Homework was almost non-existent, and tests were not even graded in the lower grades. My kids spent their entire kindergarten playing with blocks to learn "patterns" in "math." Spelling tests weren't graded and if one was missed, it didn't even have to be made up! Even with such small class sizes my kid was terrorized in kindergarten, and got no help from either teacher. The whole situation was totally mishandled from the director on down. When we finally moved the kids to a much less expensive but better school, they were actually behind the other kids in reading and math, and they had to be tutored to get caught up. Afterwards they told me how much more fun WT was because they had recess 3 times a day!
--Submitted by a parent

The Winchester Thurston School (lower school review only) is a fantastic school. You hear a lot of 'teaching to the whole child,' which might give you the wrong impression. It is not a child directed program. They simply use the best material from among many curricula and monitor what is working. Homework starts in first grade and is pretty much every night except for Friday. They expect parents to be involved at home and help their children. This leads to dramatic improvements. The kids get into a rhythm early doing their homework. Lot's of specials (classes taught by specialists in their own classrooms). Art, Music, Science, Dance, P.E., Library and Spanish. Math curriculum improved from several years ago. Academic Enrichment Challenge program for kids who need further challenge (some kids start high school Algebra in 4th grade). Teachers are VERY responsive, staff wonderfully polite! Cost: Expensive, but among the lowest of Independent Schools. Academics: Highest
--Submitted by a parent

My son has been attending Winchester Thurston for 4 years. He is in 3rd grade. I really appreciate the whole child approach they use in their cirriculum. They have given each child the desire to learn and succeed at levels that exceed local public schools. The schools motto is 'Think also of the rights and comforts of other.' This is a great moral and ethical lesson that is reinforced thru their community projects and regular school days.
--Submitted by a parent

School is very good but VERY EXPENSIVE and tuition keeps escalating at a ridiculous rate (nearly twice what I was paying when my child started). Class size is reasonable for the level of tuition (15-18). Academics could be a little more rigorous -- they should have a fast track for science and math for example, though my son was allowed to double-up in math.
--Submitted by a parent

Excellent school. The only weakness is the relative lack of sports teams but the leadership seems to be aware and is trying to improve this area.
--Submitted by a parent

Two of my children have attended the North Campus (K-5) and one has attended the Middle School at the City Campus. Both campuses are served by a superb faculty, staff and administration. They know and care about each and every child. The North Campus Director greets students at the door each morning! Each student is seen as an individual and faculty go out of their way to make the curriculum challenging while also meeting remedial needs. With an idyllic natural setting, including a pond incorporated into the science curriculum, and a newly expanded arts and activities building, you will fall in love with this school at first sight. They have a superb art curriculum and amazing music and dance program. Classes often study a unit linked across language arts, music, dance and art curriculums. (For example, ancient Greece in fourth grade.) This school should be a model for the Responsive Classroom.
--Submitted by Karen, a parent

WT offers a superb, well-rounded academic and extra-curricular program for students in KR through grade 12.
--Submitted by an administrator

WT is an exceptional school. The reputation is not as great as some of the other more prestigious independent schools in Pittsburgh, but unquestionably it is the best, by far. From the headmaster on down, WT offers the best holistic development for your child. From the moment you walk in the front door, you can sense the special environment. Parents truly participate, and teachers are engaged. One small, but telling example -- my daughter started chess lessons at age 5!. A well-deserved A+.
--Submitted by a parent