Flint Hill School Again Upgrades Technology

With every student already armed with laptops or iPads, Flint Hill School is upgrading its technology program once again.

The fifth- through 12th-grade students will now be given MacBook Airs to replace their MacBooks. The transition for more than 1,100 new computers is expected to be completed by mid-January, according to a statement from the Oakton private school.

There will be no tuition increase mid-year for the upgrade. Next year, all technology-related fees will be incorporated into the projected tuition increase.

The upgrade is part of the school's . This year, Apple named Flint Hill School an "Apple Site Visit School," which designates the school as a place for other schools to see how they are using technology in classrooms.

“It’s lighter, smaller, easier, faster, more durable, and includes some great new Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technologies. All of these features will allow our students more opportunities to work on critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration anywhere and any time," said John Thomas, headmaster. "We’re very excited by this opportunity because it’s our goal to provide our students and teachers with the best technological tool in order to enhance their teaching and learning.”

Shannan Schuster, who has been charged with leading the 1:1 initiative, said the goal is not just to have technology enhance a lesson.

"It’s that the technology is essential to the lesson, and the end result is deeper, more meaningful learning,” said Schuster, dean of faculty.