Birches School

100 Bedford Road

Lincoln, MA 01773

37 Reviews

School District
Grade

K-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on March 09, 2023

Birches School is fabulous. The teachers are the most stellar, involved, and inspiring teachers I have ever met. They go out of their way to support, nurture, and encourage their students. They are clearly captivated by their academic material and ensure that that excitement is passed on to their lucky students. The school also offers fantastic additions to the already incredible curriculum including explorations (students can choose from 6 different unusual and exciting elective-type classes), nature hikes, learning in the natural world, field trips to MIT, yoga, wilderness-themed afterschool offerings, and more. The teachers are very responsive and go out of their way to connect with parents. The community is lovely, respectful of one another. Most importantly, my child is learning a tremendous amount, loves to go to school, has close friends there, and only wishes there were more days in the school year!
Submitted by parent on January 23, 2023

Wonderful school! We sent two of our children to Birches and both had great experiences. They were able to take my son who's confidence was shot from bad teachers at other schools and allow him to blossom. They were able to take him from where he was, and move him along in his education and make it fun as well. In addition to the great teachers, the outdoor component of the school was also fantastic. I could be sure my kids would get outside every day and connect with nature. There are so many benefits to that that I can't count and it truly helped with both my kids there.
Submitted by other on September 23, 2022

I attended this school in fourth and fifth grade from 2015 to 2017 and was absolutely heartbroken to leave. My experience was almost perfect except for one teacher, who routinely picked on me and screamed at me for the smallest mistakes. To my knowledge she is still working there, so while I would recommend this school, I would advise parents, especially ones of neurodivergent children, to be wary.
Submitted by parent on April 06, 2022

We have a student enrolled in the middle school at Birches and are so happy with the education our kiddo has received. My family has been part of the Birches community over the past several years as the school has grown into the wonderful place it is today. As the school has evolved, the many things that made us fall in love with Birches have only improved. The campus is amazing, the teachers are so supportive but also challenge the students, the academics are rigorous but the SEL focus is equally strong. Even through COVID the faculty and staff maintained an energy that created a safe harbor for students during a very difficult time. While they are still developing their special ed supports the teachers work hard to address individual learning styles and accommodate learning differences well. We couldn't be more pleased with our experiences at Birches and look forward to seeing how the school continues to deep and evolve.
Submitted by parent on March 15, 2022

Frankly, I am puzzled by some of the negative comments regarding Birches School. My child is a recent graduate, having attended the school for more than five years. Not only is the school extremely rigorous academically, but warm and nurturing as well. As a small, and relatively new school (10 years old), there is an open, expansive sense as the school and the community solidify their vision and place within the cosmos of independent schools. It is welcoming of all students and families, and it does strive for diversity.During the years my son was a student at Birches, the school was growing and changing, and he grew and changed too; learning to be a flexible, self confident person. Having a solid grounding in science, math, humanities and more, he has entered a demanding public high school and is excelling grade wise and as an active member of a much larger community. In addition to academics, he gained self confidence and self knowledge at Birches where the social and emotional needs of children are woven into the environment. Teachers truly make a school, and as a life-long educator, I can honestly say that Birches teachers are among the most committed, hard-working and kind teachers I have ever met. They are scholars in their own right with expertise, experience (and multiple degrees) in the subject matters they teach. Unlike many teachers who are trained only in educational methods, the Birches' teachers bring an amazing depth of knowledge of educational theories and practices to their work. In fact, they are creative craftsmen and women who can quickly "read" a student and then focus on the whole child without simply evaluating them and addressing only the "negatives". Parents come to a school with hopes and dreams for their children. There are few schools with a "size that fits all" children. For those parents who didn't find Birches to their liking, or who were disappointed by their family's experience, I hope they found a school for their children that was a better fit.
Submitted by parent on July 12, 2021

Laughable academics, especially for gifted children or those requiring extra attention in any academic area, which is scary considering the mixed age groups. Zero diversity- they literally teach it as a concept to the students via worksheets. Absolutely no communication from faculty and teachers (parent-teacher conferences are nonexistent, only informal meetings encouraged), and administration is openly dismissive and unreceptive to feedback. A lot of the older reviews talk about preferential treatment of faculty children- this still holds true, bad behavior is often overlooked. Nature-based meaning the kids bring their iPads outside to practice concepts. All academic work is completely solitary, which is odd considering the “project based” approach sold during campus tours. No curriculum and still unaccredited by AISNE. The school hides behind buzzwords like “child-led” and “learn through play” and offers zero accountability when it comes to the education and well being of your child. Serious attrition among students and teachers. I think there’s only been a few graduates total since the school opened its doors. Birches’ primary focus is to become what they perceive to be the standard in nature-based schooling- and the students are mere stepping stones on their path to nowhere. Avoid at all costs- it’s a dog and pony show in its truest form.
Submitted by parent on March 20, 2021

Good for lower elementary students.Nice community but poor academic standards.
Submitted by parent on May 08, 2020

Our experience at Birches so far has surpassed our hopes and expectations for our child. While we knew that there was a strong focus on community, the experience has felt more like becoming part of a family. As one of the few LGBTQ families at Birches, we feel the full acceptance, recognition, and celebration of our family as part of this community. We feel the genuine care and connection from the teachers, staff, and other families. And we can see all of the ways our son is thriving by being a part of this unique learning environment. We are so looking forward to being back on campus, and for the years to come at this truly special school.
Submitted by parent on November 13, 2018

In reading previous reviews, I had my reservations about Birches; however, as I explored more about the school I discovered that Birches was quite a hidden gem. I felt compelled to write a review for those who may overlook Birches due to a negative review. I have a child now attending and couldn't be happier with this decision. The school's environment provides my child a sense of freedom to venture beyond what she knows. She is constantly coming home excited to talk with me about what she discovered today either in the classroom or outside in nature play. The curriculum is rigorous but it is presented in such a natural and organic way that I can see how others may perceive it as too easy. I think this approach fosters and encourage an enthusiasm and a love of learning. I believe the teachers tailor activities and studies based on what the child needs. They truly listen and observe each student to discover needs to be taught. I gage my child's progress by talking with her and discussing what she is doing.But what really matters is that at the end of the day she is smiling and happy to share what she learned and excited for the next school day.
Submitted by parent on January 02, 2017

As a parent whose child went to this school, we have been highly dissatisfied by Birches. The negative reviews below accurately reflect our experience. We also note the posted review that points out that Birches was able to take down negative reviews from this site. How sad and how contrary to the notion of giving voice to varying--and, yes, sometimes critical--views in an open and honest forum (which is the mission of Great Schools reviews). This site then becomes merely a vehicle for advertising Birches. We even wonder if this review will post or if it will fall into the well of silence. We found that the administrators at Birches would discount very serious parent concerns. For example, not actively addressing the rude tone of voice that some teachers would often use towards students-- certainly out of alignment with their statement of nurturing joy and empathy. We were drawn into this school by their winning words, only to find the actual curriculum does not achieve a level of high standards. They do not provide for the gifted child as they say they do ( they truly lack a solid STEAM program--but they will tell you the opposite. We did not find the math program up to standards--basic stuff for a private school ).The head of school is the mother of the founder and a majority of the students are children of the teachers. There is a level of favoritism that certainly affects the culture of this school (and explains why many parent concerns don't get addressed) Familial relationships dictate so much of how this school is run, the place ends up feeling like a model for a subsided homeschool. The school is not rigorous by any means. As I looked at our child's end of the year work, I noticed that 90% of that work was from worksheets obtained from a website for teachers.The nature-based curriculum is really not at all what they advertise. If looking into this school it would behoove one to know that they are good at advertising for themselves but they don't necessarily live up to what they promise-- it appears that a good deal of hyperbole is used to promote the school. They appeal to the mind of a parent, but in actuality, our child reported being bored.. We did not find it a good value for the tuition they charge. Our child, for one, says they are so happy to be out of Birches. That says it all, in a nutshell.
Submitted by principal on December 14, 2016

I am very happy to write that Birches School has a new campus! In partnership with the Lincoln Land Trust, we are now the proud owners of four acres with a 12,000 square foot house surrounded by 12 acres of conservation land at 100 Bedford Road, just off Route 2. We will grow to become a K-8 school, offering a rigorous and joyful nature-based education.We are also strengthening our teaching staff. Our newest addition is Tassia Thomas, who comes to us with a rich background in teaching middle school students. She will play a leadership role as we grow our upper grades.These past few weeks have brought much national and personal reflection. At Birches we remain steadfastly committed to our core values of curiosity, creativity, self-reliance, and empathy. Now, more than ever, I believe Birches has a special role to play, where diversity is treasured and students become their best selves by connecting with each other, with the world of ideas, and with nature. At Birches, passionate teachers nurture children’s innate curiosity, stimulating insights that will last a lifetime.If you have a child who you think would benefit from joining our community, please contact us. We welcome you to our next Open House, on January 8, 2017, from 1:30 to 3:30 at 14 Bedford Road, Lincoln, MA. We would also be happy to arrange an individual tour of our school.Sincerely,Elizabeth ten Grotenhuis, PhDHead of Schoolwww.birchesschool.org
Submitted by other on October 25, 2016

We have had a very positive experience at Birches. The teachers are all incredibly invested in the students, from the broad topics studied to the small details of classroom management. As I write this, the school is focussing on the brain: all the students are studying some age-appropriate aspect of cognition or anatomy. This has lead to some pretty interesting (and entertaining) conversations at our dinner table, and provides us with a good indication of how engrossing the curriculum is.
Submitted by parent on October 25, 2016

[I posted this review in 2015; I wanted to update it by mentioning that Birches will be K-8 as of 2017.]Birches has been pretty fabulous for our kid. He was hesitant at first, but he has really taken to the time spent in the woods. Regularly experiencing nature seems to leave him a little calmer and better able to focus once the class is back indoors. His reading has been improving by leaps and bounds, and this seems largely thanks to very positive role modeling from the older kids. My son's classroom has two master teachers (instead of a master teacher + an aide), which is also fairly awesome-- I think that's also true for the other classes. My only regret is that it doesn't go to 8th grade. (Maybe, by the time my kid gets old enough, it will!)
Submitted by parent on October 24, 2016

I am trying to repost a differently worded review, as my review, along with several other recent negative reviews, were deleted a few days after they were posted. When we found Birches, we thought it would be the absolutely best thing for our children. It turns out that leaving was the best thing, and my kids continue to mention about once a week - unprompted - that they are glad they are no longer at Birches. One major problem is a leadership that cannot accept feedback from parents; they have no background in school administration but have simply founded a school for their families. In some cases, they treat the parents who suggest changes in cold ways, deny that there is any problem, but then later rectify (or try to rectify) the problem. Due to the large number of students will official ties to the school (children of founders, teachers, administrators, or board members), there are many inequities, including children getting away with all sorts of behavior that would never be tolerated at other schools. The administration and teachers sweep inappropriate behavior under the rug. I was always surprised that my kids were not excited about the curriculum, which sounded amazing to me. After spending time listening in on the classrooms, I learned that the way the teachers teach and the way they speak to the children, especially in K-1 and 4-6, does not make for the warm, responsive environment they claim . It is also odd that they claim to be a STEAM school, when they are doing nothing deeper than typical within these subjects: the Science is particularly problematic (but they have not listened to parent complaints about it), I didn't notice any Technology apart from websearching on ipads, the engineering comes about only sporadically (and the kids do enjoy, for ex, making catapults with popsicle sticks), the Art is the same as every other school (and there is no design incorporated into the art, as claimed), and the Math is significantly behind other private schools in this area. You will be tempted by the website, the nature walks, the show put on for parents, and the special extras, but you should really ask around to find out why almost a third of the kids left last year, and not a single one was due to “graduating” or moving. Keep asking, as you might be talking to a parent who is affiliated with or close friends with leaders of the school.
Submitted by parent on October 22, 2016

Birches has been an outstanding school for our son. He is thriving in the warm, nurturing environment that the teachers create. His joy in learning is what shines through the most -- he comes home every day asking for more math problems!
Submitted by other on October 18, 2016

Birches School is a jewel. It is a joy for me as a grandfather to watch my grandchild blossom in the warm and caring environment, developing a joy of learning not often seen these days. Walking through conservation land to art classes at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum every Friday is a highlight of my grandchild's week. This is a school that merits close attention by parents interested in a nature-based, mindful education.
Submitted by parent on October 15, 2016

On paper Birches school sounds ideal, but in actuality it falls far short. The sweet spot for this school is 2nd and 3rd grade. The administration of this school is impossible to deal with. There is no clear person in charge. The administration lacks experience, background and any depth or understanding of childhood development. The staff here are sorely lacking in people skills. They play favorites with parents—there is an in-group and then those who are, literally, treated with contempt. Many of the teachers speak sarcastically and rudely to the students. There is a lack of common respect for the children and parents alike. The school is a far cry from warm and cozy. This is not a school for the gifted, because the ceiling is set low and the academics are simply mediocre. They advertise as a STEAM school. It's a good catch-phrase. And, yet, the curriculum at the Birches really doesn't provide what they say in terms of innovation, technology, art, or engineering. The STEAM seems to be all hot air. There really isn’t anything exceptional about this school—a lot of the day is spent doing rote worksheets. This school is up for accreditation and hopefully their serious flaws will be ironed out before that. If I were looking into this school I would seriously question why so many families have left and I would take what the administration says with a grain of salt and would make sure I really want to send my child here before signing on the dotted line.
Submitted by parent on October 15, 2016

very disappointed with the overall lack of warmth and support of the teachers, I'm grateful that we didn't continue and left when we did and so is my child.
Submitted by parent on April 11, 2016

Last year, there was one bad review and a subsequent "witch hunt" to find the author, so many people have been hesitant to write reviews that are not "5 stars." There is some truth between all of these reviews below. The 2-3 classroom is very special and wonderful. The k-1 classroom leaves much to be desired, specifically the tone of voice they use with the children, and the 4-5 classroom is run by someone with no training or experience teaching children. Next fall, due to a maternity leave, there will be only one trained teacher within the 2-3-4-5-6 grades. Very nervous about that, though very happy for the fantastic teacher who is having the baby. Your experience will vary dramatically depending on what grade your child is in.
Submitted by parent on April 06, 2016

While there certainly are some great highlights of Birches School, most notably the nature walks each week when students get free play in the woods, as you read the reviews below, you might want to know that of the kids at Birches School, about a quarter of them have parents who are administrators, founders, or teachers at the school. I’m not convinced that these are unbiased reviews. For kids transferring from certain public schools, Birhces is a breath of fresh air and it certainly has some special aspects. However, Birches is lacking in some important ways, as evidenced by about a quarter of the kids not coming back next year. I am sure a good story will be told to explain that away.