Or the school says that each student got into their 1st or second choice. And one of the two they suggest would be the best fit is one the schools know the kid will likely get into. Not very telling unless you post the names of the schools, and you know the families and where they really wanted to go before being convinced otherwise. Or they say that you shouldn’t have a first choice of the three you apply to and then write in the newsletter “ all got into one of their top choices!” |
2021 pandemic |
one persons first choice is another persons last choice… |
Former HOS was barely involved in admissions. They are better since the new HOS arrived. The info you have is old and doesn’t include wait list kids. There are definitely five 2023 Langley kids at GDS. Two were originally accepted and three got off the waitlist. Four of the five did not have a sibling there. There is always waitlist movement over the summer after the matriculations are posted. |
There are actually 4 2023 Langley grads at GDS. I’m a parent of a 2023. In addition grads went to st Alban’s, NCS, Maret, Potomac, Field, Holton, Landon, Gonzaga, Madeira, many acceptances to SSAES but no one went, I’m missing others but sheesh. The grade was smal and resilient and very successful. |
? |
Do the k-8 kids have to be, by and large, stronger students than the kids they will be joining who already attend the k-12? |
Yes. However, they do not have to be stronger than other applicants, such as from public schools or other private schools. All K-12s will have some weak students from PK/K admissions but are not looking to add more in 9th grade. Weak K-12 lifers end up in weaker colleges. |
If given the choice for starting 4th grade next year between a smaller K-8, where the grade sizes do start to shrink as you get to MS and a bigger co-ed K-12 (not top 3/5); what would you choose?
If you read the tea leaves, is MCPS in particular going to keep going down and getting into co-ed , non religious high schools just going to get harder in 5 years? |
This was my thought!! Not everyone can get into Big 3 no matter how great the K-8. |
I think it depends on your kids and your goals. There are truly a lot of benefits in the K-8 model in terms of your child being known and developing. But it is true that admission for co-ed non-religious schools can be very unpredictable in 8h grade. Admissions for ninth is definitely more predictable at the catholic schools and the single sex schools. And co-ed schools like SAES (religious but pretty light on the religion), Bullis, SSSAS (same religion caveat), and Flint Hill are still pretty reliable admits (but not assured) if your kid is a good student. But GDS, Sidwell, Potomac, and Maret are very unpredictable at 9th unless you have a hook. Not impossible but you can’t rely on admission at all. |
That’s not true that the only students accepted in 9th are strong students. Schools take weaker, hooked students over stronger, non-hooked students all the time. |
This isn't always the case, but legacies and siblings are usually admitted well before 9th. |
If the K-8 is really one that dwindles in class size, this can be an issue. So in that case you might want to choose the k-12. Not all k-8 are like that though (for others reading). |
This isn't quite right - some of these students have hooks and end up at T20 colleges. And, the strong students coming in at 9th grade are not getting into T20 if they don't have a hook. Don't assume that just because your kid is smart and will get A's in hardest classes and goes to a HS with really great college placement record that your kid will land at one of those great colleges. It doesn't work that way. The college placements from the highly selective schools in the DMV are very very heavily kids with hooks (I'd venture 90% or more). |