Pros and cons of Sidwell Lower School

[Anonymous]

[Inspired by a thread on Norwood that has managed to stay civil (knock on wood).]

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately, DD did not get in but we were very impressed by the lower school.

We saw and spoke great teachers - they were enthusiastic and inspiring and smiled when they talked about their kids. A rich and varied rich curriculum, academic, of course, but also a social (volunteering) and personal development. Lovely facility. Small classes and campus. Most parents already so high on the social ladder, that there is so little social climbing and posturing just genuine interest in getting to know each other as parents and individuals not as careers.

Con: in Bethesda! and DD was waitlisted.

[Anonymous]

Pro: Unless your child is a tremendously bad fit, You Are In for one of the best high schools in the region.

More art, music, language and outdoor time than your local public elementary school, guaranteed.

No test prep (see above).



Con: Based on first-hand experience, I respectfully and completely disagree with this. In fact, I'd say at the Lower School (but not necessarily high school) level, the opposite is true - "... that there is so little social climbing and posturing just genuine interest in getting to know each other as parents and individuals not as careers."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Most parents already so high on the social ladder, that there is so little social climbing and posturing just genuine interest in getting to know each other as parents and individuals not as careers.

I am LOL at this description because in my experience the polar opposite is true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately, DD did not get in but we were very impressed by the lower school.

We saw and spoke great teachers - they were enthusiastic and inspiring and smiled when they talked about their kids. A rich and varied rich curriculum, academic, of course, but also a social (volunteering) and personal development. Lovely facility. Small classes and campus. Most parents already so high on the social ladder, that there is so little social climbing and posturing just genuine interest in getting to know each other as parents and individuals not as careers.

Con: in Bethesda! and DD was waitlisted.

This statement is hilarious. I have no idea whether it's true or not, since my kid doesn't go to Sidwell, but it says so much about the person who made it while saying absolutely nothing about Sidwell. What does "so high on the social ladder" mean? Most parents are Obama appointees? Most parents are loaded? Most parents live in big tacky houses and drive Bentleys? Most parents are old Washington families? Most parents appear in the Style section of the Post or on the Sunday morning talk shows every week?

[Anonymous]

OP, I don't think that this one is going to go well. Try again ina few weeks. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately, DD did not get in but we were very impressed by the lower school.

We saw and spoke great teachers - they were enthusiastic and inspiring and smiled when they talked about their kids. A rich and varied rich curriculum, academic, of course, but also a social (volunteering) and personal development. Lovely facility. Small classes and campus. Most parents already so high on the social ladder, that there is so little social climbing and posturing just genuine interest in getting to know each other as parents and individuals not as careers.

Con: in Bethesda! and DD was waitlisted.

This statement is hilarious. I have no idea whether it's true or not, since my kid doesn't go to Sidwell, but it says so much about the person who made it while saying absolutely nothing about Sidwell. What does "so high on the social ladder" mean? Most parents are Obama appointees? Most parents are loaded? Most parents live in big tacky houses and drive Bentleys? Most parents are old Washington families? Most parents appear in the Style section of the Post or on the Sunday morning talk shows every week?

I admit I phrased it badly (possibly even very badly!). What I am trying to say is that most parents at Sidwell are not openingly behaving in the cringe-inducing social climbing that is unfortunately all too frequent an occurence in many social settings in Washington. Including in some schools - to see some parents suck up to other parents at back to school night is just uh.

[Anonymous]

I like your calibration!