Sidwell Sibling Policy

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know if Sidwell siblings have to apply in the pre-k year to receive preference (like at Beauvoir)? If not, does anyone know if there are more non-sibling spots available for pre-k or k in any given year? Or is it about even?

[Anonymous]

bump

[Anonymous]

Not sure if they have that rule, but I assume informally they do.

I did hear that last year they had so many siblings applying for pre-k that some were not offered admission and were asked to reapply.

[Anonymous]

I've been told that they try to hold about half the spaces in preK and K for kids with no connection to the school - not sibs, not alumni kids. Don't know the precise numbers, though.

[Anonymous]

I've heard Sidwell has the weakest sibling policy of all the schools.

[Anonymous]

From whom? Weaker than Maret's? (I think Maret's AD told us on our tour that Maret takes only 60% of sibling applicants. Not sure if that was for K or in general.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've heard Sidwell has the weakest sibling policy of all the schools.

Is it because they have the same admission standards for siblings as for everyone else? I ask because some schools admit siblings as a priority even though the siblings have weaker applications than some non-connected applicants (including WPPSI, recommendations, play visits).

[Anonymous]

My understanding from current and former parents is that students must make a minimum cut (WPPSI > 120). A certain number, probably half, are reserved for new families and the rest for priority applicants. There are so many priority applicants (Siblings, siblings of alums, minority, siblings of alums, children of staff, quakers, you get the picture) that admissions in this group is still very selective though not nearly as competitive from a pure numbers point of view as it is for new families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:...some schools admit siblings as a priority even though the siblings have weaker applications than some non-connected applicants...

I thought all schools do this to some degree--not true?

[Anonymous]

The way you have to look at this is out of say 200 applicants, there are 80 "priority" applicants.

The 60 applicants are aiming for a possible 12 spots, and the remaining 140 applicants are aiming for the other 12 spots.

So the priority applicants have a better chance of admissions, but nothing is automatic.

Also, the applicants have to be "qualified' in terms of academics/WPPSI or whatever.

[Anonymous]

I thought WIS had the weakest policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought WIS had the weakest policy.

In what sense? Do you mean that WIS has the lowest admission rate regarding siblings? I would be interested in knowing more. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My understanding from current and former parents is that students must make a minimum cut (WPPSI > 120).

Is this the minimum WPPSI to be considered for admission to Sidwell as a non-connected child or a sibling, or both? Do other schools (Beauvoir, GDS, Maret) have a minimum WPPSI as well?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My understanding from current and former parents is that students must make a minimum cut (WPPSI > 120).

Is this the minimum WPPSI to be considered for admission to Sidwell as a non-connected child or a sibling, or both? Do other schools (Beauvoir, GDS, Maret) have a minimum WPPSI as well?

Can anyone answer this? TIA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've heard Sidwell has the weakest sibling policy of all the schools.

Green Acres is also not great.