FAQ: What is the "Big 3"? (or "Big 5", or "Big 10", etc)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When someone posts about the "Big X," he/she is usually referring to schools which are considered the "top tier". People will debate at length about how many schools are "Big X" schools (the "Big 3", the "Big 5," or the "Big 10.") There really is no way to rank any of the schools definitively. Some posters only consider the schools based in the District of Columbia in their definition, others include schools in Maryland and Virginia. Some only include schools that are K-12, while others include the schools that only go from K-8.

Some posters on this board believe that others try to promulgate a narrow "Big X" definition... like saying the "Big 3"... as a way to set apart their particular school from others in the area. The problem with this, on an anonymous board, is that there is no way to know whether there is true consensus about who the "Big 3" really is (or whether there are just a few vocal boosters who are advocating for their particular school. Is it the Cathedral Schools, Sidwell Friends, and GDS? Or perhaps Sidwell, Maret, and Holton. Or perhaps Potomac, Sidwell, and Cathedral. Or maybe for lower school it's Norwood, Langley, and Beauvoir? Or maybe for athletic inclined families it's Landon, Georgetown Prep, and SSSAS. You can see where this can lead.

In defining the "top tier", posters often point to outside publications that have tried to rank schools. These include:

The Washington Examiner - http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/40314672.html
Worth Magazine http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/43718.page#295235 and
The Wall St Journal http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/info-COLLEGE0711-sort.html

These 3rd party rankings are good evidence that it's hard to limit the number of schools that should be considered top tier. Each of these "rankings" would lead to a different interpretation of which schools really should be considered the "Big 3".

In addition, many posters will argue that certain public schools belong in the Big X discussion, particularly given that a school like Thomas Jefferson in Virginia has been ranked by US News and World Report as the #1 public high school in the nation http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/high-scho...ool-is-best-in-the-nation.html

The point that many posters usually end up making in these discussions/arguments is that the "best" school is really a subjective matter - and the best fit for one family might not be the best fit for another.

It's probably a good idea to avoid all of these "Big X" terms whenever you can, because they really gets some people upset and can quickly lead a discussion thread off-topic with debates about terminology and rankings. It's often best just to refer to specific schools by name, or to refer generically to "top tier schools" or something similar. If you search the DCUM archive, you can easily find a dozen threads with people fighting about these terms and their implications.

Are you kidding? The big three are HOLTON, SIDWELL, AND NCS

Say what? Holton?!!!!
NCS and Sidwell, yes. Holton, eh.. not a chance.

[Anonymous]

Holton, Sidwell and NCS if you have a girl for sure! For a boy, St. Albans, Sidwell, and GDS. PP it is obvious you do not have a clue!

[Anonymous]

Potomac, Potomac, Potomac

[Anonymous]

NOT

[Anonymous]

NCS/ Potomac/ Sidwell

[Anonymous]

Forbes.com makes nary a mention of any DC area prep school.

http://www.forbes.com/2010/04/29/best-prep-schools-2010-opinions-private-education_land.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Forbes.com makes nary a mention of any DC area prep school.

http://www.forbes.com/2010/04/29/best-prep-schools-2010-opinions-private-education_land.html

So whataya gonna do? Send em to Connecticut?

[Anonymous]

Guess if you're one of the people who jones for HYP then...yes.

[Anonymous]

Forbes also said Westpoint was the best value for college. Just an interesting sidenote.

PS. Potomac? weaksauce.

[Anonymous]

"PS Potomac? weaksauce."

Can someone please explain? I can accept that you think your school is better but what's the knock against Potomac?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"PS Potomac? weaksauce."

Can someone please explain? I can accept that you think your school is better but what's the knock against Potomac?

Nothing - they're just trying to stir things up. Potomac is an excellent school and one of the best. "Sidwell in the suburbs"

[Anonymous]

Top 3, Top 5, Top 10? Wherever your kid goes. Have to justify the tuition somehow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Forbes.com makes nary a mention of any DC area prep school.

http://www.forbes.com/2010/04/29/best-prep-schools-2010-opinions-private-education_land.html

So whataya gonna do? Send em to Connecticut?

It's no surprise that NYC-based Forbes favors the old, northeast prep schools. Here we are in Washington, DC -- not a world-class city, just a company town.

[Anonymous]

Big3: St.A/NCS, GDS, and Sidwell, of course!

[Anonymous]

Potomac is a very good school but (word of mouth about) outplacements suggests it does not compete with STA/NCS or Sidwell or GDS. If there are hard facts about outplacements from Potomac that anyone knows, please post. Holton, same deal. Excellent school, but not quite on par with NCS