School Without Walls High School

Posted: January 6, 2023

This school has amazing programs and amazing teachers and students who are eager to teach and eager to learn. This school helps educate the students while doing so in a very fun way. The people who attend School without walls come in and out as geniuses with high IQ. I went to the School Without Walls Middle School since Pre-K and then attended the high school and i absolutely, L-O-V-E LOVED the experience with the School Without Walls. The teachers are so nice and caring and so are the students. I attended a variety of fun educational programs in both of the schools and i learned so much from it. In the middle school we had amazing field trips and due to it's study abroad program, we could travel to different countries to learn about their culture. Also the STEM program is really well. When i saw bad things about it on greatschools i was instantly infuriated because i know it is truly a gifted school with talented people. I once walked by a random stranger saying that her daughter went there and it is the school for smart people. I agreed with this 100 percent. I definitely had a great time at these schools and highly recommend.

Posted: January 6, 2023

Posted: January 6, 2023

Posted: January 6, 2023

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Posted: October 20, 2022

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Posted: October 20, 2022

You Don't Learn Anything They Don't Teach Us I Never Learned Anything From This School I Don't Reccommend it At all

Posted: October 20, 2022

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Posted: July 11, 2018

Overall, while some experiences were quite wonderful, SWW's posture regarding students with disabilities is one of being careful but not really committed. I think my son would have been better prepared to be a an advocate for himself in post-secondary and in life had he attended a school that was actually as committed to him as a student with disabilities as it is to its high achievers without disabilities. There are many students who are duallly exceptional (gifted and disabled) who have quite a bit to offer. Yet all too often they are marginalized in a high achieving environment where implicit bias against disability becomes an ongoing obstacle; fostering a sense of low self worth---that although they are achieving they are really impostors. It is just maddening.

Posted: July 11, 2018

Too much HW and all tied to the Advanced Placement courses which is more about the school's rankings than about teaching students to love learning. One good thing though is that there is an emphasis on collaborative group work at times.

Posted: July 11, 2018

Generally SWW has a very caring and committed group of teachers with a few exceptions. Teachers could however be more sensitive regarding disability issues.

Posted: July 11, 2018

I can't say there was any real focus on character building but I can say that if students behaved badly (which rarely happened) it was addressed.

Posted: July 11, 2018

The leadership is generally committed to the students yet is very aloof when presented with concerns-especially concerns from families regarding disability issues.

Posted: July 11, 2018

My son was verbally discouraged from using his accommodations on several occasions by teachers, overhead by me the parent. He was also 'othered" during the Sr. project and downgraded for using 'too much' data and not having perfect eye contact - both of which are normal behaviors for neural atypical people.(However he placed in the 3rd in his category in the DC STEM fair with the same project- thus all I can say is that implicit bias is an issues at the school)
During transition planning the goals that he stated for his post secondary education were not even recorded until I came back months later and insisted that his perspective be included as part of the 504 plan as it was to him to follow him on to college,. Unfortunately, SWW's posture stunts students with disabilities in their efforts to develop skills to advocate for themselves and their future. This is unfortunate because otherwise the school has a lot of positives. I hope that parents of students with disabilities are ready to advocate when placing their child at this school. Having seen that other families here note negative experiences
with learning differences and working through some of the the long term consequences for my son, I really can not emphasis this enough.

Posted: July 11, 2018

Perhaps I'm comparing apples and oranges, but compared to the student on student bullying my son endured in junior high ...SWWS` was a pleasure. However, I do feel discouragement of students by a few teachers from using accommodations conveys a message that 'you wont really belong if you do' which is a form of subtle adult on student bullying.

Posted: May 24, 2018

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Posted: May 24, 2018

There is a tone of arrogance that you can feel the moment you step in and deal with the staff at the front office. They really treat people disrespectfully. The administration of the school is terrible. The principal is arrogant and a bully with his staff. Many of the teachers have reported harassment. The assistant principals are both clueless and ineffective. They really do not know how to run a school. Students have a lot of power to the point where they can lie about teachers and damage their reputation and receive no consequences. There are some excellent teachers but some really bad ones too. Students do not have many academic choices and this is a problem. Overall students are very stressed out. The school pushes them to take as many AP´s as possible and this often results in unnecessary stress and anxiety. The culture amongst the students is very competitive. Seniors who make it to Ivy League schools like showing off often undermining other students and this is something the administration approves and encourages.
Overall, not a healthy place for your kid to have a good high school experience.

Posted: October 1, 2015

Posted: October 1, 2015

Posted: October 1, 2015

Posted: October 1, 2015

School without walls has a good reputation because the students that are accepted into the program are all excellent and independent. Nobody with less than straight A´s in middle school ever gets in. They have some good teachers but some very terrible ones too. An example is the AP Spanish teacher, who has been reported by parents and students in endless occasions. Despite being the AP Spanish teacher he has a very poor command of the language and he is a terrible educator. In addition he tends to bully students and plays favoritism in the classroom. Parents have been complaining for years and the principal, however, ignores all these complains and keeps him on board. Sadly, he is not the only teacher that bullies students. We are more than disappointed with the principal and his administration for ignoring what we all think are very valid concerns. Besides this, Walls feels more like a homework factory. Kids are overloaded with too much homework which often is just busy work or preparation for endless tests. This is not what I consider an excellent school.

Posted: June 5, 2015

Walls has some very good teachers, who are passionate about teaching and truly caring about the kids. Unfortunately, there’s also a lot of dead wood among them, including counselors. These bad apples negate all the good work being done by others. So far my worst experience was with one of the French language teachers. She’s been treating my child as an annoyance and avoiding me like the plaque. It feels like she just doesn’t want to be bothered, except for traveling abroad on student’s dime. Of course there is always a struggle to keep the good ones and get rid of the bad ones. The status of the teaching profession in this country is not high enough to consistently attract the best and brightness.
The school’s principal however, is responsive and approachable; it would be great if he could get more help and support. There are also good Math and Humanities teachers, who are effective and do have my child’s success as their priority. The school also has tons of extra activities, sports, clubs and outside opportunities, but all of it pales in comparison with the stress from a few poor performers

Posted: April 17, 2014

Walls is an awesome school! I can't wait to go there next fall! Class of 2018!!!

Posted: January 25, 2014

I love School Without Walls .... it is challenging, and so to those parents who want their child to do an outstanding job APPLY THEM AT SCHOOL WITHOUT WALLS, when they first start it might be a struggle to adjust but they'll get used to the work .

Posted: July 14, 2013

Work for the sake of work. It's not worth it. Wilson is just as good for self sufficient students.

Posted: February 5, 2013

With two daughters one a sophmore and the other a junior currently enrolled, I know there is no better choice, public or private for their education and development as young leaders. Dedicated leadership and opportunities galore for those that want to learn and achieve ... the sky is the limit! Now expanding to a full k-12 program every parent of a motivated learner needs to get their child there!

Posted: January 14, 2013

Four years of being a "Walls" parent has been outstanding! My daughter has transformed into the young lady I knew she would be. I love the location, I love the diversity, I love what they stand for, I love the challenge. What I've loved most for the past 4 years is the principal's motto. " If you need help with something, ask your teacher(s).....You have a right to demand your education". I think that should be every principal's motto. The students are definately prepared for the next level of college. I would highly recommend SWW to any student who is up for a challenge.

Posted: December 22, 2011

Have your kid apply to Walls-forget Private School. I sent my daughter to three of them before realizing that their main interest was in raising money and keeping affluent families in their communities even if their children were awful brats. Walls isn't perfect but the students seem to understand that they can't treat people badly and get away with it and there are only a smattering of students with snobby attitudes. In addition, their expectations of students are higher and the students, by and large, live up to them without the private school spoonfeeding.

Posted: March 15, 2011

This school is an excellent school with a diverse student body. The curriculm is challenging and definitely college preparatory. This is an excellent school if your child wants an excellent education and does want to attend college. The school also is very communicative and does use a lot of technology for students to submit some of their work, parents to see grades and weekly progress, this school also offers a wonderful partnership with GWU. This school is not for slackers but for students that is committed to getting a good education.

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