The Selwyn School

Reviews

• Submitted by parent on January 17, 2024
  We withdrew both of our daughters from Selwyn after less than two months, despite committing to paying the full year of tuition. This decision was influenced by the school's notably low academic standards and expectations. Our older second-grader transitioned to Argyle public school, while the other attended Montessori Country Day School. Both of these alternative schools proved to be better fits than Selwyn.Initially, we believed that a private school with an entrance exam requirement would maintain academic standards at least equivalent to nearby public schools. During our school tour, we observed students working at their desks, creating an impression of a typical school environment.However, our experience with our second-grader was disappointing. The new teacher assigned minimal work and accepted low-quality submissions. Our daughter quickly realized that she could do the bare minimum and still have time for play or other activities. The teacher's reluctance to consistently send work home prevented us from ensuring our daughter put forth her best effort. This was a stark contrast to her previous school, Challenger, which had high academic standards and provided daily homework, offering valuable feedback on her progress.In the case of our Pre-K daughter, Selwyn's program lacked any emphasis on phonics. Unlike Challenger, which introduced basic reading skills before kindergarten, Selwyn delayed phonics instruction until kindergarten, including letter sounds. Recognizing the importance of early reading skills, we transferred her to a Montessori school that actively teaches phonics.Both our daughters enjoyed there time at Selwyn though they learned very little. That said neither dislike there current schools which are clearly more academically rigorous.Avoid Selwyn if academic excellence is a priority for you. Numerous public schools and certain private institutions, such as Challenger, offer superior educational experiences. Initially hopeful that this "process school" would have the academic rigor of our public school with more personalized learning opportunities, it ultimately proved to be nothing more than an exorbitantly priced daycare. ...More Reviews

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