The Nysmith School

My family toured many of the private schools in the area before landing on Nysmith for our child. The whole family, including our child, couldn't be happier with our choice. I am a Nysmith alum and know firsthand the value of the education they provide. It's been amazing to see how they've preserved and built upon the core experience and vision that founder Carol Nysmith built. To be clear, I have no incentive to post this review other than to help other families in the area consider Nysmith as a choice for their children. Before we chose Nysmith, we considered and toured a number of schools, including Basis Independent, Flint Hill, Ideaventions, Pinecrest, and Edlin. Most of these are among the top-ranked schools in Northern Virginia. We felt that Nysmith had the best blend of factors for our child. - Academics: Nysmith has incredible academics, highly personalized to meet each individual child's needs. Nysmith's roots are in nurturing gifted/talented children, and with that approach comes the understanding that not every child is equally advanced in every subject. Some other schools will assign lots of homework to kids, which isn't really our vision for academic success. We like Nysmith's approach, which is to cultivate and nurture a love of learning rather than to put kids on a treadmill of endless homework. We also like that Nysmith integrates subject matter expertise into their curriculum from kindergarten onward: math experts teach math, science teachers teach science, rather than one teacher teaching all or most subjects - Size: Nysmith is bigger and more established than some of the younger "startup" schools. The classes are big enough that your child will have multiple sections of students to be friends with; they won't be siloed with only 5 or 10 classmates. Teacher ratios are still great-—teachers and staff: Nysmith's teachers are qualified and smart, which you'll get at most private schools. But there's a key difference: they seem happier and more engaged than at any other school in the area. Retention is incredible: some of the Nysmith teachers have been there for over 25 years - since I was a student in the 90s! - Facilities and resources: Nysmith has a great facility that still has the DNA of a school rather than a country club. The facility is big, the playground is great, everything feels new, bright, and spacious - Community -We're still early in our experience with Nysmith, but the PTO seems very engaged with many events scheduled. By reputation, Nysmith has one of the strongest communities of any school in the area

We couldn't be happier with our experience. We have two kids going to Nysmith, and they are happy to go to school every day. The environment is warm, welcoming, and incredibly stimulating for young minds. As a parent, I appreciate how communicative and inclusive the school is. The administration is always available to address questions or concerns, and there's a strong sense of community among families. It's clear that Nysmith is committed to creating a supportive and collaborative environment for both students and parents.Beyond academics, Nysmith offers an incredible array of extracurricular activities. From debate clubs to science fairs, there's something for every interest. The school also organizes amazing field trips and special events that make learning even more fun and memorable.Nysmith is the perfect choice. We feel so fortunate to be part of this incredible community!

Nysmith has been a terrific choice for our daughter. We started at Nysmith in kindergarten and have been there (so far) for six years. The small class sizes and two teachers offer the students a more tailored approach to learning and meet the students at their level. My daughter is two grade levels ahead in math, which is possible because of the unique curriculum offered by the school. If your child is at grade level that isn't a problem or if your child is four math levels above their grade that can be accommodated, too. I always think it's amazing when teachers who have never had my daughter as a student know her name and say hi to her in passing, it is truly a close-knit community. Nysmith is a little bubble in the big NoVa area. The children seem a bit more innocent and not as exposed to the negativity and problems of the outside world. If there are any issues between students the administration is on it and immediately addressing any concerns. There is no tolerance for mean or bullying behavior, which is very refreshing in today's world! Nysmith has been wonderful for our family!

Having attended public schools as a child, I honestly never expected to send my children to a private school. But my kids were coming home from their public school bored, and the options within that environment felt limited. After touring other private school options, coming to Nysmith was a breath of fresh air. It felt like everything that an idealized public school would be. The teachers have the small class sizes needed to give students more personalized attention, and get to focus on teaching only one subject. The children get differentiated learning so that their specific educational needs can be met (amazingly, a lot of private schools can't deliver on that!). The environment is diverse and welcoming, with students, teachers, and administration all seeming happy to be there. And while the academics are generally rigorous, I feel that the teachers and administration also put an emphasis on nurturing happy and kind children. My kid are enjoying their time at Nysmith and thriving. And I never hear complaints of boredom anymore!

Our son joined Nysmith for middle school, and as a family, we have been very happy with his time here. We had known about Nysmith and had wanted to transition earlier in his school life but our commutes to work did not allow it till now. We knew the school would be a good fit and it completely lived up to our expectations once we joined. The curriculum is advanced and thoughtfully designed, with a level of acceleration that can be taken advantage of by students. Nysmith School has helped challenge and engage our son, providing him with a happy and enriching learning environment. We have come to realize that what truly sets the school apart is the quality of its teachers and their deep level of engagement with the students, during class and in after-school clubs. Their dedication to nurturing each student's potential is -they go above and beyond to ensure that every child receives personalized attention and guidance, especially with the low student-to-teacher ratio - that helps build our children's unique talents and interests. Nysmith has a strong sense of community and there are events year-round that help build this. The PTO coordinates numerous activities that provide ample opportunities for parents to get involved. As parents, we have genuinely felt welcome every time we visit the school and are encouraged to come and participate and interact with other parents and teachers. It's been great to be able to observe firsthand the dynamic learning environment. The school administration deserves special mention for their constant support and communication. I was so surprised that within a short time of being in the school the head of school and other staff knew us by name and we felt like we had been here forever! Nysmith has encouraged our son in his love for learning that extends beyond the classroom, and we are confident that this strong foundation will benefit him on the road ahead.

We couldn't be more thrilled with our choice to enroll our son, Shreyas, at Nysmith. Since starting here in 4th grade last year, he's been flourishing academically and socially. The school's exceptional care and dedicated teachers have not only fueled his enthusiasm for learning but have also nurtured his kindness and social skills in ways that amaze us. Each teacher genuinely strives to help him reach his full potential, and we truly feel this is one of the best decisions we've made for him. We look forward to many more years of growth and success at Nysmith!

After deciding to go the private school route for my 2 kids (4 years old and 7 years old), I interviewed several school in the Washington metropolitan area. I narrowed it down to 3 schools and visited each of them to get first-hand information. When I entered the Nysmith school, I was immediately struck with the warm energy and smiling faces. Literally everyone I met was happy- and the kids looked like they wanted to be there. As simple or unimportant as this observation might sound, it's actually not a common thing to see/feel at school these days. As I learned more about Nysmith, the following stood out above other schools: their growth mindset philosophy, the efforts made throughout the year to ensure that each kid's strengths and learning style is understood, how closely the teachers communicate with one another across subject areas, the attention given to every detail of class preparations and composition, the fact that on-site police officers ensure everyone's safety, the ways in which interactions between teachers, parents, and students are genuine, personal, and caring. The reality is that our kids watch, learn, and emulate their surroundings and therefore an environment with these characteristics are important for us. And it has shown with my kids, as they have grown academically and socially from this structure and attitude. We believe that because of this our kids will learn to approach challenges with confidence and skills. Additionally, having 2 dedicated teachers for each class (during each day and all year) really makes a difference-I've never seen a stressed out, uninterested, or unhappy teacher! Needless to say, we've been at Nysmith school for the past 2 years (going on 3) and couldn't be more pleased with the attention, positive attitude, and the genuine care shown by teachers and administrators alike. I would encourage parents to visit the school, have 1-on-1 interactions, and watch the little things during the visit as they are often indicative of the larger context!

Our two children started at Nysmith in the 4th grade and are graduating in 2024. We did a lot of research on private schools before deciding that Nysmith was the best choice for our children. We were drawn to its superb reputation for academic excellence and emphasis on STEM education, excellent high school placement record, and a student body from families of many different nationalities. We also liked the history of the school's founding by an individual passionate about education, a remarkable legacy that continues under the direction of the founder's son. As diverse as Nysmith's student body is, it is uniform in one aspect: all the kids are remarkably bright, have many interests, and are eager to learn.Our children have excelled at Nysmith. They have had teachers who connected well with the students and were able to give them individual attention, assisted by a second teacher in many of the classes. The curriculum is demanding, but not so much so that students get left behind. The subjects are taught above the curriculum level, with math classes having the broadest variation, depending on individualized placement. The school tries hard to live up to its motto of a joy-filled education. There are many opportunities to indulge a child's interests and skills outside normal classroom hours, with many after-school clubs and enrichment programs. This is supplemented with a number of social activities that help create a sense of social cohesion. Our children have made close friends that we think will last a lifetime.We discovered during the high school admission cycle that Nysmith has a stellar reputation with the most demanding private schools. Those schools generally think that a Nysmith graduate would be an excellent student schooled in hard work and well prepared for the rigors of high school.Our children will be moving on to well-respected and highly competitive private high schools, no doubt due in large part to the preparation they had at Nysmith.

We are a Family at Nysmith. World-class education with remarkable teachers and incredible administrators. We fell in love with the school the day Mrs. Carol Nysmith welcomed us with our kindergarten age son. The kids in the hallway, library and in the classrooms were happy, participating and well mannered. Our son graduated from Nysmith in 2023 with tears in his eyes and still misses his teachers, and Nysmith administrators. Our twins who followed their brother's steps also joined Nysmith at preschool age and they are in 4th grade now. We both have full-time demanding jobs. We drop off our kids at 7 AM and pick them up at 6 PM most of the days. We always say "we cannot take credit for these lovely kids who are becoming the very best version of themselves, because all the credit goes to the Nysmith Family". We were incredibly sad for losing Mrs. Carol Nysmith a few years back and we, to this day, miss her welcoming smile in the morning. However, Mr. Ken Nysmith, who leads the school administration today, continues the Nysmith culture of kindness, integrity, and forward-looking education with top educators. Mr. Nysmith adapts to today's technological changes and the new generation's learning and adjusts the curriculum and way of teaching to connect with kids at their levels. Our kids are not only academically growing beyond their current grade levels, but watching them growing into respectful, thoughtful little humans, make us as parents very proud. The Nysmith Family recognizes that each child is unique and has a different way of learning. Each kid's interest is supported by the brilliant teachers and administrators. The Nysmith academic curriculum is focused on expanding children's creativity and social engagement through close instruction, presentations and class and tri-wall projects our children have developed early project management skills. These kids can do math beyond their age, build a science project you wish you could do at their age, sing and dance in world-known plays (such as Mary Poppins) and play an instrument like a professional in school band.We can write about Nysmith for days, because this school is that GOOD. However, we prefer you see with your own eyes. Meet with Nysmith School's incredible teachers and administrators and make your own decision. We know you will be hooked day-one when you walk through the doors.

Our family's relationship with The Nysmith School spans more than 30 years and two generations. We found Nysmith through a stroke of good fortune when we were trying to find a kindergarten for my daughter. Both my daughter and my granddaughter have thrived at Nysmith because each child is seen as a unique individual and taught that way in a caring and supportive environment. Carole Nysmith devised and Kenneth Nysmith further expanded a style of education that encourages each child to strive to reach their maximum potential as a student and as a person yet without causing undue stress. The depth and breadth of the educational offerings, the uniformly outstanding level of the teachers and staff, and the world-class facilities at Nysmith are stunning! The school gives each student an incomparable foundation for success in their academic and their personal lives going forward. Our family owes both Carole (God rest her soul) and Kenneth a debt of gratitude we will never be able to repay. It is not surprising that The Nysmith School was ranked as one of the top 10 schools in the world!

Both of my kids went to Nysmith starting from preschool. Nysmith school is one of few schools in the area that offers preschool to children 3 years and older with a strong academic setting. As a full time working mom I searched for a school I could leave my three year old son and daughter; while feeling confident that not only they are cared for, but also learn a lot by the end of the day. Nysmith not only delivered, but exceeded my expectations. Upon graduation, my son was well prepared for high school and later academic challenges in life (dental school). My daughter also started Nysmith at age 3 and graduated by 8th grade. I wish they offered high school as well! I highly recommend this school. Now all three of my nieces and nephews (6,4,3 respectively) attend, and another nephew will be going there next year. I recommend this school to any family who would like to start their child's education at an early age, in a strong academic yet nurturing environment.

15 years on and off and still wowed. Over the course, things have changed, just like life, it evolves. The heart and soul of the school remains untouched and unparalleled. Having experience at 5 private schools around the country, Nysmith continues to surpass our expectations. The devotion of the Nysmith family to serve our youth, and the faculty/staff who nurture and inspire our kids and help them be the best they can be, is something you just don't find often. They hire serious teachers who serve as exceptional role models and we are privileged to be a part of this special place. We continue to be amazed at the value of a Nysmith education - both in superior quality and in extremely fair tuition costs.

Great school with small classroom size and student:teacher ratio. Chose this school for the STEM subjects and differentiated learning.

Nysmith is a gem. Our son totally lost interest in school in 4th Grade and just blossomed again when he joined Nysmith in 5th Grade. His teachers are absolutely fantastic. They really care about him and are able to challenge him at the right level every day. The curriculum is highly stimulating and well balanced, and definitely supports in-depth thinking. The school handles differentiation like no other school in the area. Nysmith is different and works for bright children who are eager to understand the breadth and depth of the world in which they live, at the pace that is right for them. The children we met at Nysmith have a wide range of interests, a deep knowledge of what they are interested in, and always want to know more just like our son. We are impressed by what we see, we get exactly what we were looking for our son, and even beyond. Our son really feels home.

Nysmith is truly a special school. The environment and teaching is truly exceptional. I was always struck by how happy the kids always were and what a great nurturing atmosphere. Without a doubt the best place I could have had for my child. Everyone at this school cares so much about education and the all round experience for your child.

Our 3 kids attended Nysmith from pre-K to 8th grade and it was the best decision of our lives. Our kids never wanted to miss a day (I know, that's not the norm!), and went on to a great high school (TJ), and their 1st choice colleges. But, most importantly, they were more than ready academically as they went out into the world, as well as happy and confident. The teachers, who are all experts and passionate about the subjects that they teach, treated the kids with kindness and respect, welcomed their questions, nurtured their curiosity, and helped my kids discover their gifts and abilities, sometimes before they even knew what they were. I highly recommend this school. Or, better yet, don't listen to me..... look at their website, schedule a tour and a couple of student visit days for your child. See for yourselves what Nysmith is all about!