Fact versus Fiction re: GDS

[Anonymous]

We are applying to a number of K-12 schools in the area, including GDS. Without in-person visits, interviews, etc., it's tough to get a sense about the "vibe" of all the schools. I've read back through the forum and the comments about GDS seem to be the most spirited. If you believe everything on the boards (which I don't), it's characterized as either A) a crazy, overly woke school that only cares about creating social justice activists, thereby depriving their students of a decent education, or B) the greatest school on the planet with no problems in the past, present or future. Can parents with current students at the school tell me about their experiences (good or bad). The curriculum and books listed on the website don't look outlandish, so where does this vitriol come from? Are kids generally happy there? Is it one of the "pressure cooker" schools? Will a child be happy if they aren't really into the performing arts? Reasonable feedback appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Usually the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

[Anonymous]

Many Extraordinarily wealthy families. Some very entitled, spoiled and obnoxious children. Also, some great kids as well. It just may take some time to find them.

Yes, the school leans strongly to the left but the academics are top notch.

[Anonymous]

It is a place that looks chill on the outside but is a meat grinder on the inside. Academically and socially.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are applying to a number of K-12 schools in the area, including GDS. Without in-person visits, interviews, etc., it's tough to get a sense about the "vibe" of all the schools. I've read back through the forum and the comments about GDS seem to be the most spirited. If you believe everything on the boards (which I don't), it's characterized as either A) a crazy, overly woke school that only cares about creating social justice activists, thereby depriving their students of a decent education, or B) the greatest school on the planet with no problems in the past, present or future. Can parents with current students at the school tell me about their experiences (good or bad). The curriculum and books listed on the website don't look outlandish, so where does this vitriol come from? Are kids generally happy there? Is it one of the "pressure cooker" schools? Will a child be happy if they aren't really into the performing arts? Reasonable feedback appreciated.

We toured a few years back. “Leans strongly left” is correct if not understated based on our tour. We didn’t apply for that reason, but everything else seemed great, if not ideal. The school has shot up in rankings and prestige in the last 20 years. It wasn’t in the same league as the cathedral schools and several others in the area before that. Probably why many don’t like that it is highly regarded now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many Extraordinarily wealthy families. Some very entitled, spoiled and obnoxious children. Also, some great kids as well. It just may take some time to find them.

Yes, the school leans strongly to the left but the academics are top notch.

Upper school only rep above.

[Anonymous]

OP here, are the lower and middle schools subpar, or just not as rigorous? We are applying for lower school.

[Anonymous]

The wholeness is a gloss over the fact that it’s a schools of massively rich people who are conflicted by their money in really strange ways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The wholeness is a gloss over the fact that it’s a schools of massively rich people who are conflicted by their money in really strange ways.

+1. Lots of Bethesda Guilt.

[Anonymous]

Why are they not allowing tours? All of the VA privates are allowing tours

[Anonymous]

Of course there are massively rich families at GDS, but they’re nowhere close to the majority, who are closer to your run of the mill 1 to 2 percenters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are they not allowing tours? All of the VA privates are allowing tours

And doing in-person student visits/playdates

[Anonymous]

You do realize that VA and DC schools are subject to different sets of rules?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The wholeness is a gloss over the fact that it’s a schools of massively rich people who are conflicted by their money in really strange ways.

+1 And a smattering of scholarship kids and no one in between.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are they not allowing tours? All of the VA privates are allowing tours

They’re not Virginians. And they were closed longer than any other school.