[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by mrgmrg

I have friends who attended high school in Westport who have never even heard of GFA!

Originally Posted by Stratford, Ct. Resident

Yeah, OK.

G comes before W.

So, when your "friends" were listening for delays/cancellations, Greens Farms was announced before Westport. Thank You.


#FAIL

Originally Posted by mrgmrg

Most people I know don't listen extremely closely to announcements of snow delays, but we all have our own forms of entertainment!

That's the best explanation you can give? Why did you bother responding? LOL.

[ataves]

You are all making me laugh. I think I get the idea. If I do hear from anyone (or see when I visit in a week) that GFA is really a kind, nurturing, thoughtful, inspiring academic institution with innovative ideas that allows primary students to experience childhood without extreme pressure, I will let you know

We are visiting Easton Country Day, Green Farms Academy, Mead School, Unquowa, and New Canaan Country School in a week. Any input is welcomed. Wish me luck-- on so many fronts!

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by ataves

Any input is welcomed.

If you're definitely doing private, consider saving your money and opting for a less expensive town. In Westport, a lot of the purchase price of the house is for the schools.

You might also consider the public schools in Weston. They are smaller, which might help.

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by mrgmrg

Relatives went to Unquowa and had great experiences. Then went to GFA for high school--one ended up institutionalized, both dropped out of college, both attribute the blame, in some part, to the social and academic pressure of GFA. Therefore, my personal experiences with GFA are that it is a pretty toxic environment and the apex of what you're trying to avoid--but I don't know to what extent that trickles down to the elementary school level.

Conversely, one could conclude that Unquowa failed to prepare them for GFA.

Just a thought....

[ataves]

Thank you! We want to be near the water, and get a more "neighborhood walkable feel" so we are looking all over the place along the coast. Not excited that I will need to drive a ways to get to private schools.

We decided to head toward private because we have consistently heard that the public schools there are "top notch" but super high pressure. I actually heard today that Weston is especially high pressure and not at all good with special needs issues. Sad to me.

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by ataves

Thank you! We want to be near the water, and get a more "neighborhood walkable feel" so we are looking all over the place along the coast. Not excited that I will need to drive a ways to get to private schools.

We decided to head toward private because we have consistently heard that the public schools there are "top notch" but super high pressure. I actually heard today that Weston is especially high pressure and not at all good with special needs issues. Sad to me.

I'm starting to think that maybe Fairfield would be a good fit for you.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by Stratford, Ct. Resident

I'm starting to think that maybe Fairfield would be a good fit for you.

More walkable than most CT towns. Near the water. Good balance of socioeconomics. Great schools that aren't super high pressure. Several private schools nearby. Less expensive than Westport.

Yep, seems like a perfect fit - especially as you said it's your upper limit for going east - I'm assuming working in NYC? I would have said Stratford or Milford if you were willing to go further out.

[mrgmrg]

If you want to be near the water and like walkable, Southport Village is my favorite little hamlet in Fairfield County. Probably close to or as expensive as Westport, though. But you have some stores and galleries, a little grocery/deli, a gorgeous harbor and beach all within a short stroll.

[mrgmrg]

I would also agree with the suggestion that Fairfield public schools are going to offer much more socioeconomic diversity (relatively speaking, of course) and less pressure than Westport. Southport is a part of Fairfield. So something else to keep in mind.

[whome224]

Originally Posted by mrgmrg

If you want to be near the water and like walkable, Southport Village is my favorite little hamlet in Fairfield County. Probably close to or as expensive as Westport, though. But you have some stores and galleries, a little grocery/deli, a gorgeous harbor and beach all within a short stroll.

I personally think there's no reason for the OP to consider private schools in Westport or any of the surrounding towns. Most people in the area only do private for the status, to be honest. Any of the area privates won't be any less pressure cooker than Staples, and a student can make any school as stressful as they want - it's all about the individual.

I agree that Southport is breathtaking, but it seems on par if not slightly higher in price than comparable areas of Westport, like Greens Farms. There's really no place like Southport in Fairfield County.