Frequently Asked Questions
- What does cooperative education mean at Burgundy? Hide
At Burgundy, we believe children learn and grow best when child, parent and school are brought together in a cooperative relationship. A successful educational program requires collaboration among students, their families and the school. Working together, family and school make the child’s educational experience whole. Parents are expected to be involved with their child’s classroom teachers and to volunteer for jobs as outlined by the designated room parent. It is also expected that all family members will cooperate with the school in matters relating to the education of their children and to abide by policies, rules and regulations of the school. In addition, our early childhood program, Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten classes, continues to be a cooperative and asks parents to spend a morning in the classroom once a month
- What is progressive education and what does it mean at Burgundy? Hide
Progressive education describes an educational philosophy that employs a child-centered, developmental approach to teaching. At Burgundy, this approach can be seen in our small class sizes, group and project oriented class work, hands-on experiential learning experiences, and integrated curriculum emphasizing the relationship and interdependence of diverse, people, places, and ideas. We believe that the educational process is essential to the product.
- Why do we combine grades in our elementary program? Hide
Combining grades during 2nd through 5th grades offers our students unique opportunities to work in a collaborative environment. Students remain in homogeneous groups by grade for Math and English, though teachers group students with peers who are good social and academic matches during table work in those courses. However, in science and social studies classes combining grades enables teachers to organize group work so that students develop cooperative social skills and learn to serve in leadership and supporting roles. Elementary classes work in a two-year cycle providing students with continuity during these key academic and developmental years. This means when students return for the next year, they are able to dive into their work for the year without an acquaintance period.
- Do our students take standardized tests? How do they perform? Hide
Fourth through seventh grade students at Burgundy take the CTP 4, a test published by the Educational Records Bureau, annually beginning in fourth grade. This norm-referenced test, covering math and language arts skills and knowledge, was designed specifically for independent schools. The independent school norms offer an opportunity to compare a student’s reasoning and skill development with students in comparable schools nationwide. Burgundy students typically perform at or above the independent school norm, which falls above national public school norms. Results of the CTP 4 are also used as a measure of our curriculum to ensure we are consistently offering students a rigorous program that will prepare them for success as graduates.
- What is the makeup of the student body? Hide
282 Students Total
147 Male, 135 Female
246 live in Virginia, 27 live in Maryland, 9 live in Washington DC
34% students of color
187 Caucasian students
52 African-American students
20 Asian-American students
9 Latino-American students
7 Multiracial students
7 Foreign National students- What is the makeup of the faculty and staff? Hide
44 Teachers Total 41 full-time, 3 part-time 33 Female and 11 Male 2 African-American, 2 Latino/Hispanic-American, 1 Asian-American Tenure at Burgundy 1st Year - 5 1-5 Years - 12 6-10 Years - 8 11-15 Years - 6 16-20 Years - 7 20+ Years - 5 25 Hold Master Degrees (All Earned Bachelor Degrees)
- What kind of sports and extracurricular activities does Burgundy offer? Hide
After school sports are offered in fifth through eighth grade and include coed soccer, girls and boys basketball, coed cross country, coed softball, and girls volleyball. Most sports offer a JV and Varsity team. Burgundy competes in a league of similarly sized, area independent schools. Middle school students can also participate in an optional choral group. Through our extended day program, a number of activities are offered after school at every grade level. These activities vary yearly based on a parent/student interest survey completed at the start of school. Teachers also offer four to six week classes in areas of their own interest after school. In the past these have included gardening, cooking, sewing, and lacrosse. Though separate from Burgundy’s programs, Girl Scouts, gymnastics and Tae Kwon Do are also offered and private voice and instrument lessons can be arranged on campus after school.
- Does Burgundy offer financial aid? Hide
Parents in need of tuition assistance can request financial aid information from the admissions office and complete and mail them to the Student Support Service (SSS). SSS analyzes this information and makes an assessment of financial ability to each school from which the parents are seeking assistance. Burgundy then offers funds for the remaining amount of tuition to as many families as possible within its limited annual funding. Limited funding each year means that grants rarely exceed 50% of tuition. For more information on funding a Burgundy education, click here. (Links to previous section Financing a Burgundy Education)
- Why do we use intellectual testing in our admissions process? Hide
Intellectual testing offers insight into how well suited our academic program and environment is for a child by identifying a student’s giftedness along with potential strengths and weaknesses. In trying to promote success for each child it is crucial that our program be able to challenge a child in areas of personal strength and to support them in areas of personal difficulty. Though test scores offer only a small glimpse of who a child is and what assets he/she would bring to Burgundy, history has proven them good guidelines in predicting the success of our applicants.
- What is the success profile for a good match at Burgundy? Hide
A good match for Burgundy includes not only the applying child, but his/her family. As a cooperative school, we believe that children whose families are supportive and involved in their education are better able to realize their potential and become successful students and people. In addition, our program emphasizes our strong beliefs in diversity, community and respect for the natural world, and students and families committed to these beliefs flourish at Burgundy. The top Burgundy applicant is a student who brings a joy for learning and a unique spirit to our community and a family who shares the vision of our mission and hopes to instill those values in their child.
- Does Burgundy offer foreign language? Hide
Students take both French and Spanish, each for half the year, in Kindergarten. That following summer prior to 1st grade, students and their parents choose one of the two to take regularly starting in 1st grade. Our comprehensive foreign language program covers history, government, and all aspects of culture, as well as teaching students to speak the language. Completion of our foreign language program typically prepares graduates to enter a 2nd or even 3rd year level of their chosen language when they enter high school.
- Where do Burgundy graduates go to high school? College? Hide
Visit Our Graduates page to view the current list.