Anonymous wrote:That won't be true for many families at other, less-costly private schools.
It's cute that you think families going to "less-costly private schools" aren't also extremely privileged relative to the rest of the general population.
There's no gotcha here. Of course the majority of us with kids at private schools probably have some level of privilege. Where did I say otherwise? Oh, that's right, I didn't. It's true of many of the parents who send kids to certain public schools, as well.
I'm simply pointing out that there is a continuum among private-school parents just like any other group. Many of us have to budget very carefully and give up other things to send our kids to private schools. We were more limited in the schools we applied to due to cost. And it will be the same for college. We are grateful to be able to do what we can, but our choices here are not unlimited.
And it by no means speaks to the academic abilities or worthiness of our kids and the schools that they attend. Or to the academic abilities or worthiness of kids in public schools and the schools they attend, for that matter. But keep deluding yourself.
I know you hate measurable metrics like college admissions. Here are the college profiles page for Gonzaga and Potomac. Potomac has better ACT, SAT, and AP exam results. But please keep telling me how much better it is.
I don't hate measurable metrics. I hate when snobs attribute worth to metrics that is not based on anything other than their desperate need to feel superior.
The whole argument that using college acceptances as the best way to judge academic rigor and quality at one school versus another is flawed. There are too many other factors that contribute to why each student is accepted to particular schools. Unless everyone is applying to all the same schools, you can't make these judgments. Unless you take into account things like family wealth, you can't make these judgments.
When you have a useful metric or additional data to support your snobby assertions, then get back to me.
Anonymous wrote:Instead of big 3/5, what is the big 15?! You can’t add or take away schools, only rearrange them. Don’t even think about adding BIM. Sister and brother schools go together.
Criteria: prestige, merit, matriculation, tradition, rivalries, notability, alums, etc.
1. Sidwell
2. NCS and STA
3. GDS
4. Maret
5. Potomac
6. Holton and Landon
7. Bullis
8. Maderia
9. WIS
10. SR and GP
11. SJC
12. Episcopal
13. St Andrews
14. St Stephens St Agnes
15. Visi and Gonzaga
This is the list of 15! Some rearranging could be made with the actual ranking numbers but these are the top 15.
1. STA
2. Sidwell
3. NCS
4. GDS
5. Maret
6. Holton
7. Madiera
8. Potomac
9. Landon
10. Gonzaga
11. Prep
12. St. Johns
13. Bullis
14. St. Anselms
15. St Stephens St Agnes
next 3 would be:
16. Episcopal
17. WIS
18. Field
If Sidwell isn’t #1, then the list is incorrect. I’m not a Sidwell parent (my children attend Catholic independents), but I live in DC and I’m very familiar with how these institutions are perceived.
Prestige depends on the circle you are in. For the old money establishment types STA/NCS for sure are the top.
For more progressive types and less establishment club types - Sidwell or Maret
Newer money more progressive would consider GDS the top
NP. I heard about Sidwell, before moving to DC, when I still lived in LA. If you’re immersed in the world of elite private school education, you’ve probably heard of Sidwell and know it’s considered to be a great school. New money, old money, progressive, regressive—if they care about private school education, they’ve probably heard of Sidwell. That’s much less true of the Cathedral schools.
If we’re basing this on name recognition, you have to put Dematha back on the list. If it’s name recognition outside of DC, the big 3 are Dematha, Sidwell and Gonzaga (in no particular order). If we’re basing this debate on academics, all of the privates in dc have stellar academics and trade teachers so comparing on that alone is silly.
I had never heard of Dematha or Gonzaga before moving to DC because I don’t follow sports closely. Even now, I have no idea where in Maryland the school is located (I know it’s PG, though). I don’t hear much about Gonzaga, unless it’s sports related (specifically, the recent grad who will be drafted by the NFL soon). The reputation ranking of academic institutions, whether it’s high school or college, is based on the ACADEMIC reputation of the school.
Dematha and Gonzaga are not known as academic or intellectual powerhouses. And you’re definitely overstating their national recognition in sports.
People only know about Sidwell b/c of presidents kids tbh. Similarly, St Andrews would’ve never been on any of these lists pre Trump. If we want to look at college acceptances, TJ is the best school in VA and Blair is the best school in MD. I guess Sidwell can be the best school in DC (I’m not as familiar with their public’s) but it wouldn’t hold a candle to TJ or Blair, or even Poolesville for that matter.
What is a Poolesville? Get out of here PP.
Google it. You sound like a fool.
You are the fool. Just the fact that I had to look up the school says enough. "Sidwell wouldn't hold a candle to Poolesville." Do you have their senior insta page or prior year matriculation results ? I would like to see how Sidwell students compare to the Poolesville scholars you speak of!
Once again—Google it. You’ll find lots of information and national rankings to answer all of your questions. Goes to show that people on this forum are incapable of ranking schools based on academics.
We are ranking PRIVATE schools. Did you read the title of this forum?
I did, and it’s a pity that the fan favorite Sidwell is less well known and worse at sports than Dematha, has less notable alumni than Gonzaga, and worse college outcomes than public schools. But hey, whatever you have to tell yourself to make the 60k feel worth it…
Who are Gonzaga’s notable alumni?
Who are Sidwell’s?
First Gonzaga vs Potomac now Gonzaga vs Sidwell. These Gonzaga parents have lost it. You need a reality check ASAP.
This forum needs a reality check. No one is using any real objective metrics to rank any of these schools and it’s full of bias. There is no objective metric that makes Sidwell #1 but for some reason we’re all supposed to accept it as gospel. It doesn’t have the best campus/facilities, price, college outcomes, alumni or sports. People throw these rankings around with no real rigor.
No. I agree with OP. You just have to accept that it is #1, if you get it you do and if you don't, oh well. Maybe some schools are better sports wise but notability, merit, academic and tradition everyone collectively puts Sidwell as #1(besides some STA parents). It's like Harvard, when someone thinks of an Ivy, they think Harvard first. Yale's(think-Maret, STA, Bullis, Potomac, SJC and Gonzaga's) entire sports division could dominate Harvards(Sidwell) or Penn's( think- NCS, GDS, Holton, SR, Madeira, STA's, even the fan favorite BIM's) academic curriculum could be more challenging; regardless, if you are from America or are international, you know Harvard. If you know DC privates, you know Sidwell. Simple as that.
+1, as a new NYC parent who moved to the area and wanted private education, everyone mentioned Sidwell first.
We also moved from NYC and everyone who was anyone both in NYC and here mentioned the Cathedral schools hands down - both dem and republicans told us those were the most elite and prestigious. Sidwell appeals to a certain type.
No, that didn’t happen. You’re trying way too hard. You need to let go of this one-sided competition you’re having with Sidwell, in your mind.
You’re making me think the Cathedral schools (specifically, STA) appeal to a certain type—undercover Trumpers who are a bit unhinged. I can hear your dog whistles.
It did happen. No one said Sidwell is not a good school. You are having a fight with other posters all day. I have barely commented on this ridiculous back and forth that you are engaging in with Gonzaga. I stand by what I said - we were pointed to Cathedral schools by everyone we met here and also those we knew in NY.
No, it didn’t happen.
Btw, you constantly jump in with comments about STA or the Cathedral schools when Sidwell is mentioned. Let it go, Trumper.
It did happen and still does!
No, it didn’t happen.
Definitely not a Trumper. We are actually big Biden supporters!
No, you’re definitely an undercover Trumper.
Shocking that your ego is tied to what others think. Just be happy with your school but I’m not going to lie and say it was recommended to us - because it was not.
This is not about ego, it’s just common sense. No one is recommending the best schools in DC, without mentioning Sidwell (unless they’re a Trumper).
Anonymous wrote:It is entertaining to see Gonzaga poster get under y’all’s skin. That’s what I come back for.
Same here! Although pretty sure the Potomac booster needed therapy before the thread was started.
Right, not the Gonzaga booster who kept replying trying to make Gonzaga happen. Only the Potomac poster is crazy. Classic response to deflect/insult when you have no facts support your arguments. I guess the Gonzaga parents are as intellectually weak as their kids.
Anonymous wrote:That won't be true for many families at other, less-costly private schools.
It's cute that you think families going to "less-costly private schools" aren't also extremely privileged relative to the rest of the general population.
There's no gotcha here. Of course the majority of us with kids at private schools probably have some level of privilege. Where did I say otherwise? Oh, that's right, I didn't. It's true of many of the parents who send kids to certain public schools, as well.
I'm simply pointing out that there is a continuum among private-school parents just like any other group. Many of us have to budget very carefully and give up other things to send our kids to private schools. We were more limited in the schools we applied to due to cost. And it will be the same for college. We are grateful to be able to do what we can, but our choices here are not unlimited.
And it by no means speaks to the academic abilities or worthiness of our kids and the schools that they attend. Or to the academic abilities or worthiness of kids in public schools and the schools they attend, for that matter. But keep deluding yourself.
I know you hate measurable metrics like college admissions. Here are the college profiles page for Gonzaga and Potomac. Potomac has better ACT, SAT, and AP exam results. But please keep telling me how much better it is.
Gonzaga is a school that caters to students of all academic levels. There is no way it will generate high average ACT and SAT scores. But among the top students, you can be assured, there are plenty close to perfect SAT and ACT scores. The year my son was there, there were four merit scholars and twelve commended scholars. Schools don't generate great standardized test scores. Kids who have the means to prep and take advantage of it are what makes that happen. But you can continue to delude yourself that somehow your school was the reason for those scores.
Okay so you admitted that Gonzaga is less academically rigorous and easier to get into. Potomac aClass of 2023 had 9 National Merit Semi-finalists and Class of 2022 National Merit Commended Students was 25. What the h3ll metrics are you using to say Gonzaga is better. It’s just getting ridiculous at this point. So far, I think we have Gonzaga is better because it has a soup kitchen?
DP and they did not say Gonzaga is less academically rigorous. They said their are different levels. I'm sure their top students in the top level classes could easily compete with the kids at Potomac. And they will have other life skills the kids in their little bubble at Potomac won't have.
Anonymous wrote:It is entertaining to see Gonzaga poster get under y’all’s skin. That’s what I come back for.
Same here! Although pretty sure the Potomac booster needed therapy before the thread was started.
Right, not the Gonzaga booster who kept replying trying to make Gonzaga happen. Only the Potomac poster is crazy. Classic response to deflect/insult when you have no facts support your arguments. I guess the Gonzaga parents are as intellectually weak as their kids.
There are multiple people responding. The craziness is your inability to see the value in anything except standardized test scores and college admissions. You are caught in very old-school, snobby ways of thinking about worth and value. You are willfully ignoring the FACTS about how many things besides just the school you go to impact things like standardized test scores and college admissions. Talk about intellectually weak!
Anonymous wrote:That won't be true for many families at other, less-costly private schools.
It's cute that you think families going to "less-costly private schools" aren't also extremely privileged relative to the rest of the general population.
There's no gotcha here. Of course the majority of us with kids at private schools probably have some level of privilege. Where did I say otherwise? Oh, that's right, I didn't. It's true of many of the parents who send kids to certain public schools, as well.
I'm simply pointing out that there is a continuum among private-school parents just like any other group. Many of us have to budget very carefully and give up other things to send our kids to private schools. We were more limited in the schools we applied to due to cost. And it will be the same for college. We are grateful to be able to do what we can, but our choices here are not unlimited.
And it by no means speaks to the academic abilities or worthiness of our kids and the schools that they attend. Or to the academic abilities or worthiness of kids in public schools and the schools they attend, for that matter. But keep deluding yourself.
I know you hate measurable metrics like college admissions. Here are the college profiles page for Gonzaga and Potomac. Potomac has better ACT, SAT, and AP exam results. But please keep telling me how much better it is.
I don't hate measurable metrics. I hate when snobs attribute worth to metrics that is not based on anything other than their desperate need to feel superior.
The whole argument that using college acceptances as the best way to judge academic rigor and quality at one school versus another is flawed. There are too many other factors that contribute to why each student is accepted to particular schools. Unless everyone is applying to all the same schools, you can't make these judgments. Unless you take into account things like family wealth, you can't make these judgments.
When you have a useful metric or additional data to support your snobby assertions, then get back to me.
why does Potomac have significantly better results with their students getting 4s and 5s on the AP exams?
Anonymous wrote:It is entertaining to see Gonzaga poster get under y’all’s skin. That’s what I come back for.
Same here! Although pretty sure the Potomac booster needed therapy before the thread was started.
Right, not the Gonzaga booster who kept replying trying to make Gonzaga happen. Only the Potomac poster is crazy. Classic response to deflect/insult when you have no facts support your arguments. I guess the Gonzaga parents are as intellectually weak as their kids.
PP. Snipe away but have no relationship with ANY of these schools. Just entertained. Excuse me, getting more popcorn. Keep going though.
Anonymous wrote:It is entertaining to see Gonzaga poster get under y’all’s skin. That’s what I come back for.
Same here! Although pretty sure the Potomac booster needed therapy before the thread was started.
Right, not the Gonzaga booster who kept replying trying to make Gonzaga happen. Only the Potomac poster is crazy. Classic response to deflect/insult when you have no facts support your arguments. I guess the Gonzaga parents are as intellectually weak as their kids.
There are multiple people responding. The craziness is your inability to see the value in anything except standardized test scores and college admissions. You are caught in very old-school, snobby ways of thinking about worth and value. You are willfully ignoring the FACTS about how many things besides just the school you go to impact things like standardized test scores and college admissions. Talk about intellectually weak!
Anonymous wrote:That won't be true for many families at other, less-costly private schools.
It's cute that you think families going to "less-costly private schools" aren't also extremely privileged relative to the rest of the general population.
There's no gotcha here. Of course the majority of us with kids at private schools probably have some level of privilege. Where did I say otherwise? Oh, that's right, I didn't. It's true of many of the parents who send kids to certain public schools, as well.
I'm simply pointing out that there is a continuum among private-school parents just like any other group. Many of us have to budget very carefully and give up other things to send our kids to private schools. We were more limited in the schools we applied to due to cost. And it will be the same for college. We are grateful to be able to do what we can, but our choices here are not unlimited.
And it by no means speaks to the academic abilities or worthiness of our kids and the schools that they attend. Or to the academic abilities or worthiness of kids in public schools and the schools they attend, for that matter. But keep deluding yourself.
I know you hate measurable metrics like college admissions. Here are the college profiles page for Gonzaga and Potomac. Potomac has better ACT, SAT, and AP exam results. But please keep telling me how much better it is.
I don't hate measurable metrics. I hate when snobs attribute worth to metrics that is not based on anything other than their desperate need to feel superior.
The whole argument that using college acceptances as the best way to judge academic rigor and quality at one school versus another is flawed. There are too many other factors that contribute to why each student is accepted to particular schools. Unless everyone is applying to all the same schools, you can't make these judgments. Unless you take into account things like family wealth, you can't make these judgments.
When you have a useful metric or additional data to support your snobby assertions, then get back to me.
PP also gave academic non college related stats. Maybe you should actually read the links.
Anonymous wrote:It is entertaining to see Gonzaga poster get under y’all’s skin. That’s what I come back for.
Same here! Although pretty sure the Potomac booster needed therapy before the thread was started.
Right, not the Gonzaga booster who kept replying trying to make Gonzaga happen. Only the Potomac poster is crazy. Classic response to deflect/insult when you have no facts support your arguments. I guess the Gonzaga parents are as intellectually weak as their kids.
There are multiple people responding. The craziness is your inability to see the value in anything except standardized test scores and college admissions. You are caught in very old-school, snobby ways of thinking about worth and value. You are willfully ignoring the FACTS about how many things besides just the school you go to impact things like standardized test scores and college admissions. Talk about intellectually weak!
Anonymous wrote:It is entertaining to see Gonzaga poster get under y’all’s skin. That’s what I come back for.
Same here! Although pretty sure the Potomac booster needed therapy before the thread was started.
Right, not the Gonzaga booster who kept replying trying to make Gonzaga happen. Only the Potomac poster is crazy. Classic response to deflect/insult when you have no facts support your arguments. I guess the Gonzaga parents are as intellectually weak as their kids.
There are multiple people responding. The craziness is your inability to see the value in anything except standardized test scores and college admissions. You are caught in very old-school, snobby ways of thinking about worth and value. You are willfully ignoring the FACTS about how many things besides just the school you go to impact things like standardized test scores and college admissions. Talk about intellectually weak!
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