I’m going to apply to Woodberry Forest school for 9th grade. I recently learned about their One Strike policy, which means that any lying, stealing, or cheating results in expulsion. I asked for clarification on which lies would result in being expelled, and they told me that even if I told a small lie about going to the bathroom instead of the nurse’s office, then I would be expelled.
Can anyone with experience at Woodberry Forest tell me how intensely enforced is Woodberry’s one strike policy? I love the school, and the campus is beautiful. But I am afraid of making a small mistake and getting kicked out.
I do not have first hand experience with this school, but most schools that have one strike policies are good about setting expectations and serious about enforcement. My impression is that the behavior they are trying to prevent is around drugs and alcohol and academic integrity. My kid went to a 3-strike school and students were asked to leave at 3. The school can’t be responsible for students who engage in dangerous behavior and the 24/7 community suffers morale problems when rule-breaking is the norm or unevenly enforced.
In your example, why would you not be telling the truth about where you were going? Usually, because you were doing something forbidden! Nobody is going to catch you up on a harmless mistake, but if you are being deliberately deceitful because you have something to cover up, that’s likely to be a problem.
If they have a policy and you are concerned you may violate, then why go there ?
If you do go there, don’t tell an even a little fib.
It may not be enforced or it might be enforced on one kid vs another a based on who they like / don’t like.
If you have to ask the question, it’s likely not the right school for you - and if you are already thinking you’re going to skirt the policy - well if you get ejected you only have yourself to blame.
That you are asking about their enforcement tells me the school isn’t for you. Find another woodsy school that you like.
I have no experience with Woodberry Forest, but be aware that expulsion means you lose your fees. Your parents should be prepared to pay for tuition insurance that covers expulsion.
Personally, that would be a dealbreaker for my family.
I just don’t trust institutions to believe enforcements would be fair and equitable - who decides proof? Who investigates? Too much can end up he said/he said. I’ve been around too many private schools to assume all adults at them are perfectly rationale and agenda free. AND kids that age naturally push envelopes and do dumb things and it’s age appropriate development (within some reason of course) 1 strike seems absolutely archaic and against development norms and would potentially push lots of unsafe things behind close doors IMO
That said I know little about the school. I did have a friend whose kid went there awhile back, though did transfer out (to an academically more famous school).
I checked an old handbook, and it outlines clear one-strike offenses like drug or alcohol use, possessing weapons, tech misuse, gambling, and breaking curfew—standard major infractions anywhere. Lying about going to the bathroom instead of the nurse isn’t on that list, though I can’t imagine why anyone would lie about seeing the nurse in the first place.
They do use a demerit system for minor infractions, and accumulating too many could jeopardize a student’s enrollment. You’ll need to look into this more closely.
I noticed on a forum on another site that examples they gave for violations leading to expulsion at Woodbury Forest included drinking someone else’s bottle of Gatorade, and telling a teacher you’re going to the bathroom, but going to the cafeteria instead.
I have no idea if that’s legend or reality.
I second the importance of tuition insurance, and that @OrangeDragon and his parents should make sure that they understand the policy limitations.
Many schools have things listed as “one strike” policies, but it really does vary how strictly the school enforces it. Every school handbook say that drugs/alcohol possession/use are not tolerated - they pretty much have to, legally. However, there are still schools that will mostly turn a blind eye, so long as the violation isn’t too flagrant. (For example, if you’re told to leave your dorm fridge empty for Spring Break, and that dorm parents will be checking to make sure that all dorm fridges are empty, then leaving alcohol in your dorm fridge is begging for disciplinary action.)
However, asking admissions about a clarification of which lies would result in expulsion, might not be a good look.
If one is going to live in concern, then it’s not the right school. Too many get their mind on something when all the signals are saying this isn’t right for you.
WBF may want to have this on the record so any eggregious cases of drinking/sneaking out/cheating can be punished with expulsion if the situation warrants. They don’t want parents arguing that there was a two-strike system when the violation warrants immediate expulsion. I would assume that this is a way for the administration to preserve the option to expel a student rather than actual practice.
Rather than ask the AO about this (which, agreed, is a bad look), can you ask any current students about how often this policy is used?
Try to find out how many students are expelled each year.
Mistakes and misunderstandings occur, and will occur, throughout one’s life.
Read the student handbook and then discuss any concerns with a school representative as well as with current and former students.
Expulsion from school for disciplinary reasons can adversely much in one’s life long after the event.
P.S. Lying may be a major offense at Woodbury Forest School. If so, then lying to a teacher about where one is going,or where one went, may lead to serious disciplinary consequences.
Also, if a prospective student cannot address this concern directly with school representatives before applying, or before attending, then reconsider.