| School Name | Address | Phone | Grades | County | Type | District Name |
| Whitby School | 969 Lake Ave
Greenwich, CT 06831 | (203) 302-3900 | PK-8 | Fairfield | private | |
| Date | Who | Comments |
| 10/24/2012 | parent | Whitby has been such a wonderful school for my children. They are so confident and self aware. Their math and reading skills are developing so strong. The Montessori and IB make for a wonderful pairing. |
| 10/6/2012 | parent | Whitby has always been known for its preschool and early elementary years excellence, but it is, in recent years- with its integration of the International Baccalaureate program and the recent arrival of the new Head of School (one of the leading educators in the IB world) -becoming a leader in upper elementary and middle school education in the Greenwich area. Our son, now in third grade, has been at Whitby since preschool and has experienced not only the best in academic teaching (tailored to his specific need for exceptional challenge in the classroom), but his teachers also have provided for him a warm environment that has led to extraordinary social development. The athletics program has undergone a complete overhaul in recent years, and we have been able to watch exceptional athletic team performances over the last several weeks. Any family that values an outstanding and challenging academic curriculum, emphasis on teamwork both on and off the field, and an unsurpassed welcoming sense of community should consider Whitby. It is well worth the investment! |
| 8/18/2012 | parent | Whitby is an excellent Montessori school with an IB International Baccalaureate) curriculum. It is set on 25 acres in the back country of Greenwich, Connecticut. |
| 9/29/2011 | parent | So glad we found Whitby! A great place to learn. The kids love going to school each day! |
| 9/28/2010 | parent | Great individualized learning for kids, great teachers |
| 6/3/2010 | parent | Whitby is Unparalleled!! I am beyond ecstatic about the quality of education my 3 children are receiving. The teachers are amazingly enthusiastic about bringing out the best in each child. Children love to learn! Whitby taps into this as soon as they walk through its doors. The primary program is amazing. Many children start reading at 3 yrs old. The Montessori materials are so practical and sensible which makes learning easier and fun. The International Baccaleaurate certification is an immensely wonderful change to the curriculum, especially in the upper years. Besides fostering a strong 2nd language, Whitby is better preparing our children to think in boundless ways - No borders and no boxes. With inquiry based learning, our children are able to think outside of the box. Lastly, Whitby is extremely culturally diverse. Whitby embraces it and encourages everyone to learn about the different cultures represented at the school. |
| 3/26/2010 | parent | My son has been a Whitby student for 4 years and it has been a wonderful experience!! The teachers are excellent, warm and nurturing. Unlike the 'union mentality' present at many public schools in the Fairchester area, they are there because of their love of teaching rather than a desire for early tenure and taxpayer-funded pensions. And believe me it shows!! The new headmaster had done a great job at focusing the school towards the future and now that it has received its authorization as an International Baccalaureate school, the quality that we have come to enjoy will only get better! In short, this a phenomenal place your children will want to go to day after day! It is a real gem amongst private schools! |
| 3/25/2010 | parent | As a parent, I have found Whitby to surpass Brunswick in both education quality and child nurturing. Now with the International Bachelorette certification, I expect even better results ! |
| 3/24/2010 | parent | I am a new Whitby parent this year with two children there and must say I have been very impressed by the quality of education and teachers at the school. The Montessori and International Baccalaureate curriculum has really gotten my kids excited about learning (and going to school each day!) I understand there was some administration issues a couple years back but I find them to be very experienced and open to parent feedback. |
| 2/11/2010 | student | I am a graduate of Whitby, now attending a top 20 University. I attended Whitby for 11 wonderful years. My parents were involved and invested in the school, even serving as members of the board. My time at Whitby taught me the fundamentals of reading, writing, and arithmetic, but it really taught me how to be a confident, competent, compassionate learner for life (perhaps the most important and useful thing I have ever learned in my life.) While Whitby does tend to go through periods of weak administration, this is no way compromises the teachers ability to teach or the students capability to learn (I survived one of the rockiest transitions in Whitby History.) I would highly recommend Whitby to any parent. Not only did Whitby grant me a great education, but Whitby also offered me a safe environment in which to learn, grow, and thrive in. |
| 11/8/2009 | parent | As a parent of a new upper school student, I am very pleased with the quality of teachers. The core teachers (math, english, culture, science) are terrific, as are the advisors. |
| 2/13/2008 | parent | I am the parent of a student in Whitby's Primary Program. Although I have not always been happy with the administration and sometimes question just how traditionally 'Montessori' the school as a whole is, I cannot say enough about the quality of the teachers and the amazing freedom and individuality that is allowed even at this young age. The best thing about Whitby that we have seen so far is that children are not subjected to a rigid curriculum, either with respect to their age or their interests. I cannot imagine having our daughter attend any other school for kindergarten, first grade, etc. because she would have to backtrack from the direction she is headed already at Whitby. The primary program is truly incomparable. |
| 10/13/2007 | student | As a student from the 5th grade to the seventh grade (where I transferred to a healthier community) I have to say that Whitby has been in a steady slide down the drain. Since the departure of the head of the upper school, the loss of montesorii principals, and the administrations decline, Whitby's system of education has fallen into disrepair. On another unrelated topic, students are required to wear uniforms (not montesorri by a long shot) and students are pretty much allowed to show up whenever they want, weather at 8:30 in the moringing (the begining of school, or 1:30 in the afternoon, without any consequences for showing up late. Not only that, but Whitby's upper school has been decreasing in size, going from a seperate Middle School (7-8) Buildng with 40 Kids, to (before I left) a (7-8) class with 12 kids. |
| 5/23/2007 | parent | Whitby School is continuing to advance in areas that most private schools haven not. Installing an international curriculum will have many merits. My children are fully engaged in the learning process and have maintained a high level of excellence. The teachers make all the difference, the attention my children recieve from the child teacher ratio allows them to be fully attentative to each child's individual needs. The facilities are state of the art, with exceptional music and art programs, and the community spirit of the school is very strong. Overall, we are pleased with the school, the curriculum and the teachers. It is a superb school where the children are allowed to explore, learn, and be the best they can be! I would highly recommend the school to prospective families. |
| 5/23/2007 | parent | I have be a parent at Whitby since 1993 and have seen great strides in the curriculum and outcomes of the children's performance. My daughter started at the school at age 2 and graduated 8th grade in 2005. She now goes to Deerfield Academy which is consistently rated in the top 3 of all boarding schools. My daughter not only excelled academically on all the standardized test (ERBs, SSATs, PSATs and the SATs) but she gained confidence in herself and developed into a respectful independent individual. Three cheers to Whitby; the Head of School and the faculty. The best kept secret in Greenwich CT. |
| 5/22/2007 | parent | I have been a teacher at Whitby for the past four years, and I am also the parent of two children who are enrolled here. I chose this school because I wanted my children to be a part of this community. I also love the support that Whitby provides for its faculty and staff. There is on-site childcare, and the school funds Montessori training for its faculty. Whitby also offers a stipend to those who wish to pursue advanced degrees. What's more, the Children's House (ages 18 months to 6 years) has a low ratio of students per teacher in each classroom. Whitby can also boast that it has at least two Montessori-trained teachers in each classroom. Most Montessori schools have one certified head teacher and one or two untrained assistants. The standard of quality at Whitby is much higher than most independent Montessori schools. |
| 5/21/2007 | parent | We have two children at Whitby, absolutely love the school, and plan to keep them here until 8th grade. There is no other school around that allows kids to learn with no ceiling on their level...as a result, there are many kindergartners reading and doing math at 3rd grade levels, etc. We have friends at all the other schools in the area, and believe there is no other school that comes close to inspiring the kids the way Whitby does. These kids love learning and develop incredible leadership qualities. The teachers are highly qualified and nurturing. The headmistress is very intelligent and has put the school on a more rigorous academic path. The board is very strong and the parent community very involved. There are always a few parents who are never happy, but this unsatisfaction tends to follow them to the other schools when they leave. |
| 5/21/2007 | parent | After 6 tremendous yrs.at Whitby it saddens me to read of others' disappointment. We have experienced nothing other than superb academics, the utmost in kind, skilled and compassionate teaching and a respectfulness for self, others, community and nature that is eyeopening at any age. The school fosters a self confidence through this respect and lots of public speaking. I am astounded each year as I watch the 8th grd.graduates deliver their speaches with unsurpassed poise, confidence and pride. This is a school where children first and foremost thrive because they learn who they are, their individuality is respected and celebrated and as it happens the academics and teacher student ratio (1:7)are additionally excellent. What this school lacks in glossy athletic facilities, it makes up for in its character and its ability to inspire curiosity and passion and mutual respect in its students. |
| 5/21/2007 | parent | We love Whitby! We've been here for two years and it's great! The teachers are wonderful! Our child is not even four, and she already started to read and write! Every year, the school is oversubscribed for its Pre-K and Kindergarten programs which are considered the best in the area. The school's board is committed to improving the school and mapping out its strategy. As part of this, the school has undertaken major renovation project creating new performance arts center, new library, and fully remodeled children's house to be completed by the beginning of fall 2007. Additionally, the school is exploring international baccalaureate degree program to prepare children for the global community. |
| 5/21/2007 | parent | I have two children at the school and have been part of the Whitby community for almost 9 years. As with every independent school, Whitby has had its ups and downs, but it always perserveres because it has a determination to be the best school it can be. The dedicated faculty maintain high academic standards as well as provide a nurturing and motivating environment in which to learn to love learning. Unfortunately, many parents come here as a stepping stone to other schools and the truth is, we prepare our students so well, other schools are always delighted to receive our students. However, those that stay throught the 8th grade are the most well-adjusted, inquisitive, well-spoken, academically prepared individuals I have met. They go on to attend some of the best secondary and boarding schools in the country...Deerfield, Pomfret, etc.Parents are always welcomed to be involved. |
| 4/12/2007 | parent | We have been at Whitby for 3 years and are also disappointed and also leaving. The great things about it are the curriculum is excellent and MOST of the teachers are loving and highly qualified. The negatives are that the administration is extremely poor. There have been some bad teachers and staff hired in our tenure there that have resulted in highly disruptive firings or quittings mid-year and, more importantly, a weak educational experience for some kids. There is tremendous pressure to give money as there is almost no endowment. The Board is weak and most members have no ability to run a school. Compared to other schools, there is a high rate of families leaving or applying out every year. The result is the school feels like its barely surviving. |
| 5/30/2006 | parent | I have been impressed by the level of attention given to us in the admissions process - despite coming in off cycle. It is clear that the school is genuinely interested in the child. |
| 1/31/2006 | student | I am a student of almost 6 years at Whitby School. Whitby is an amazing place, and I plan to stay here through 8th grade. Coming from England, I was new to the country, and I felt very welcomed and embraced by the community. Whitby has a very strong sence of family. The teachers are wonderful, and the students who attend Whitby consider themselves truely lucky. |
| 1/27/2006 | parent | although we have only attended on year at whitby, i am disappointed. i wanted to be bowled over by the 'private school' opportunity and the montessouri program and i am deeply underwhelmed. the administration is not parent friendly and the 'in click' makes it very difficult to enjoy and sense of community. we are looking elsewhere for next year. |
