Holton-Arms School

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

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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

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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

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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

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