Big 3, Big 5??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Big 3 has always been Sidwell, GDS and STA/NCS. If you’re not including STA/NCS as one school system then NCS falls off that list.

GDS was not even created as a school when the Big 3 schools began. It has always been STA, NCS, and Sidwell. Always. NCS/STA are NOT the same school. Different institutions, different boards, different finances, etc... Only 30 percent of families have kids in both schools.

As said GDS was not even in existence as a school when the Big 3 term began.

When did the Big 3 term begin? And when do you think GDS was founded?

Do you have access to a computer? GDS was founded in 1945 - many years after established schools were founded and tiered. Still a great school but to answer op it is not and was never the Big 3 or top 3 schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Big 3 has always been Sidwell, GDS and STA/NCS. If you’re not including STA/NCS as one school system then NCS falls off that list.

GDS was not even created as a school when the Big 3 schools began. It has always been STA, NCS, and Sidwell. Always. NCS/STA are NOT the same school. Different institutions, different boards, different finances, etc... Only 30 percent of families have kids in both schools.

As said GDS was not even in existence as a school when the Big 3 term began.

Huh???
What are you talking about? GDS was created in 1945. The "big 3" is a term created on DCUM. DCUM has not even been around for 30 years.

You think DCUM created the idea of top tier schools? Top tier and Big 3 or top 3 school terms have been around for a long time. Regardless - GDS was never in the Big 3 grouping on DCUM regardless of when the term was created. Still a good school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Big 3 has always been Sidwell, GDS and STA/NCS. If you’re not including STA/NCS as one school system then NCS falls off that list.

GDS was not even created as a school when the Big 3 schools began. It has always been STA, NCS, and Sidwell. Always. NCS/STA are NOT the same school. Different institutions, different boards, different finances, etc... Only 30 percent of families have kids in both schools.

As said GDS was not even in existence as a school when the Big 3 term began.

Huh???
What are you talking about? GDS was created in 1945. The "big 3" is a term created on DCUM. DCUM has not even been around for 30 years.

No but Big 3 school and top tier have been around for over a hundred years and the top tier has always been Sidwell and Cathedral schools. Ask anyone that grew up in this area. GDS came into the picture much later as did Potomac.

Yes, they have been around a long time, but they were never called big 3 or big anything. The big 3 term started on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Big 3 has always been Sidwell, GDS and STA/NCS. If you’re not including STA/NCS as one school system then NCS falls off that list.

GDS was not even created as a school when the Big 3 schools began. It has always been STA, NCS, and Sidwell. Always. NCS/STA are NOT the same school. Different institutions, different boards, different finances, etc... Only 30 percent of families have kids in both schools.

As said GDS was not even in existence as a school when the Big 3 term began.

Huh???
What are you talking about? GDS was created in 1945. The "big 3" is a term created on DCUM. DCUM has not even been around for 30 years.

You think DCUM created the idea of top tier schools? Top tier and Big 3 or top 3 school terms have been around for a long time. Regardless - GDS was never in the Big 3 grouping on DCUM regardless of when the term was created. Still a good school.

Yes, the term big 3 was created on DCUM.
Sidwell, NCS and STA have been around a long time but no one, I mean no one ever called them big 3 or big anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Big 3 has always been Sidwell, GDS and STA/NCS. If you’re not including STA/NCS as one school system then NCS falls off that list.

GDS was not even created as a school when the Big 3 schools began. It has always been STA, NCS, and Sidwell. Always. NCS/STA are NOT the same school. Different institutions, different boards, different finances, etc... Only 30 percent of families have kids in both schools.

As said GDS was not even in existence as a school when the Big 3 term began.

Huh???
What are you talking about? GDS was created in 1945. The "big 3" is a term created on DCUM. DCUM has not even been around for 30 years.

You think DCUM created the idea of top tier schools? Top tier and Big 3 or top 3 school terms have been around for a long time. Regardless - GDS was never in the Big 3 grouping on DCUM regardless of when the term was created. Still a good school.

"Big 3" is different than "top tier." "Big 3" is a uniquely DCUM term as applied to DC private schools. I'd say today, Big 3 refers to Sidwell, STA, and GDS-- or I'd at least concede that that was a very valid position. NCS is a good school, but these days is not as coveted as the others.
Twenty years ago, the private school landscape was so different. Look at St. Johns--it was a last hope military-type Catholic boys school for kids who got kicked out of Prep back then, but you'd hardly call it that now. GDS used to be very, very alternative, hippie, school for kids of writers, artists, and civil rights activists. It's far more mainstream now and highly regarded even among white-shoe lawyer-type families.

[Anonymous]

I went to elite NE prep school and was admitted attended H/Y/P/S. I heard of Sidwell and STA before college, but never knew about NCS or GDS until I met graduates from those schools in college (about the same # of GDS and STA/NCS combined). If we’re being honest, for people outside DMV, almost all these schools are the same in prestige. The exception is Sidwell because three presidents’ kids went there in modern history. (And yes, I have a DC who was admitted to Sidwell and these other schools and did not choose Sidwell.)

People who try to distinguish between Big 3 or Big 5 by date of founding are just reaching. Episcopal High school was founded in 1839. Nobody pretends that Episcopal is clearly better than STA.

Can’t we all just agree that Sidwell, cathedral schools, GDS and Potomac (and others) provide an excellent education, have similar matriculations, and have far more qualified applicants than spots?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can’t we all just agree that Sidwell, cathedral schools, GDS and Potomac (and others) provide an excellent education, have similar matriculations, and have far more qualified applicants than spots?

I will happily agree with that, but many on DCUM just like to disagree with anything anyone posts.

[Anonymous]

When I was at PEA, StA was the only DC school which was ever mentioned there. The others were totally off the radar. I have no skin in this diacussion, since PEA is not local.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to elite NE prep school and was admitted attended H/Y/P/S. I heard of Sidwell and STA before college, but never knew about NCS or GDS until I met graduates from those schools in college (about the same # of GDS and STA/NCS combined). If we’re being honest, for people outside DMV, almost all these schools are the same in prestige. The exception is Sidwell because three presidents’ kids went there in modern history. (And yes, I have a DC who was admitted to Sidwell and these other schools and did not choose Sidwell.)

People who try to distinguish between Big 3 or Big 5 by date of founding are just reaching. Episcopal High school was founded in 1839. Nobody pretends that Episcopal is clearly better than STA.

Can’t we all just agree that Sidwell, cathedral schools, GDS and Potomac (and others) provide an excellent education, have similar matriculations, and have far more qualified applicants than spots?

Why do Potomac parents always try to insert the school into this discussion?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to elite NE prep school and was admitted attended H/Y/P/S. I heard of Sidwell and STA before college, but never knew about NCS or GDS until I met graduates from those schools in college (about the same # of GDS and STA/NCS combined). If we’re being honest, for people outside DMV, almost all these schools are the same in prestige. The exception is Sidwell because three presidents’ kids went there in modern history. (And yes, I have a DC who was admitted to Sidwell and these other schools and did not choose Sidwell.)

People who try to distinguish between Big 3 or Big 5 by date of founding are just reaching. Episcopal High school was founded in 1839. Nobody pretends that Episcopal is clearly better than STA.

Can’t we all just agree that Sidwell, cathedral schools, GDS and Potomac (and others) provide an excellent education, have similar matriculations, and have far more qualified applicants than spots?

Why do Potomac parents always try to insert the school into this discussion?

I wrote the earlier post and don’t have a kid at Potomac. I just think it’s a good school from my research during applications for multiple kids. I’m sure there are others that are great too….My point is that DCUM posters keep trying to distinguish these schools, and I am sorry, but the rest of the world outside this bubble sees them as pretty much all the same.
—signed a parent at a “big” whatever

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Big 3 has always been Sidwell, GDS and STA/NCS. If you’re not including STA/NCS as one school system then NCS falls off that list.

GDS was not even created as a school when the Big 3 schools began. It has always been STA, NCS, and Sidwell. Always. NCS/STA are NOT the same school. Different institutions, different boards, different finances, etc... Only 30 percent of families have kids in both schools.

As said GDS was not even in existence as a school when the Big 3 term began.

Thank you. I love these threads.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to elite NE prep school and was admitted attended H/Y/P/S. I heard of Sidwell and STA before college, but never knew about NCS or GDS until I met graduates from those schools in college (about the same # of GDS and STA/NCS combined). If we’re being honest, for people outside DMV, almost all these schools are the same in prestige. The exception is Sidwell because three presidents’ kids went there in modern history. (And yes, I have a DC who was admitted to Sidwell and these other schools and did not choose Sidwell.)

People who try to distinguish between Big 3 or Big 5 by date of founding are just reaching. Episcopal High school was founded in 1839. Nobody pretends that Episcopal is clearly better than STA.

Can’t we all just agree that Sidwell, cathedral schools, GDS and Potomac (and others) provide an excellent education, have similar matriculations, and have far more qualified applicants than spots?

Why do Potomac parents always try to insert the school into this discussion?

I wrote the earlier post and don’t have a kid at Potomac. I just think it’s a good school from my research during applications for multiple kids. I’m sure there are others that are great too….My point is that DCUM posters keep trying to distinguish these schools, and I am sorry, but the rest of the world outside this bubble sees them as pretty much all the same.
—signed a parent at a “big” whatever

Why wouldn’t you care? If you’re paying $55k per year, I’d rather know I’m getting the best

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Big 3 has always been Sidwell, GDS and STA/NCS. If you’re not including STA/NCS as one school system then NCS falls off that list.

GDS was not even created as a school when the Big 3 schools began. It has always been STA, NCS, and Sidwell. Always. NCS/STA are NOT the same school. Different institutions, different boards, different finances, etc... Only 30 percent of families have kids in both schools.

As said GDS was not even in existence as a school when the Big 3 term began.

Huh???
What are you talking about? GDS was created in 1945. The "big 3" is a term created on DCUM. DCUM has not even been around for 30 years.

You think DCUM created the idea of top tier schools? Top tier and Big 3 or top 3 school terms have been around for a long time. Regardless - GDS was never in the Big 3 grouping on DCUM regardless of when the term was created. Still a good school.

"Big 3" is different than "top tier." "Big 3" is a uniquely DCUM term as applied to DC private schools. I'd say today, Big 3 refers to Sidwell, STA, and GDS-- or I'd at least concede that that was a very valid position. NCS is a good school, but these days is not as coveted as the others.
Twenty years ago, the private school landscape was so different. Look at St. Johns--it was a last hope military-type Catholic boys school for kids who got kicked out of Prep back then, but you'd hardly call it that now. GDS used to be very, very alternative, hippie, school for kids of writers, artists, and civil rights activists. It's far more mainstream now and highly regarded even among white-shoe lawyer-type families.

I think you are miscalculating the interest in GDS. We did not look at GDS and most of our friends did not either. It was not on our radar.

Top tier and Big 3 schools are one in the same. Different terms same meaning so to answer op’s question the Big 3 have always been
STA. NCS, and Sidwell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Big 3 has always been Sidwell, GDS and STA/NCS. If you’re not including STA/NCS as one school system then NCS falls off that list.

GDS was not even created as a school when the Big 3 schools began. It has always been STA, NCS, and Sidwell. Always. NCS/STA are NOT the same school. Different institutions, different boards, different finances, etc... Only 30 percent of families have kids in both schools.

As said GDS was not even in existence as a school when the Big 3 term began.

Huh???
What are you talking about? GDS was created in 1945. The "big 3" is a term created on DCUM. DCUM has not even been around for 30 years.

You think DCUM created the idea of top tier schools? Top tier and Big 3 or top 3 school terms have been around for a long time. Regardless - GDS was never in the Big 3 grouping on DCUM regardless of when the term was created. Still a good school.

"Big 3" is different than "top tier." "Big 3" is a uniquely DCUM term as applied to DC private schools. I'd say today, Big 3 refers to Sidwell, STA, and GDS-- or I'd at least concede that that was a very valid position. NCS is a good school, but these days is not as coveted as the others.
Twenty years ago, the private school landscape was so different. Look at St. Johns--it was a last hope military-type Catholic boys school for kids who got kicked out of Prep back then, but you'd hardly call it that now. GDS used to be very, very alternative, hippie, school for kids of writers, artists, and civil rights activists. It's far more mainstream now and highly regarded even among white-shoe lawyer-type families.

I think you are miscalculating the interest in GDS. We did not look at GDS and most of our friends did not either. It was not on our radar.

Top tier and Big 3 schools are one in the same. Different terms same meaning so to answer op’s question the Big 3 have always been
STA. NCS, and Sidwell.

I can guess your demographic by this statement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Big 3 has always been Sidwell, GDS and STA/NCS. If you’re not including STA/NCS as one school system then NCS falls off that list.

GDS was not even created as a school when the Big 3 schools began. It has always been STA, NCS, and Sidwell. Always. NCS/STA are NOT the same school. Different institutions, different boards, different finances, etc... Only 30 percent of families have kids in both schools.

As said GDS was not even in existence as a school when the Big 3 term began.

Huh???
What are you talking about? GDS was created in 1945. The "big 3" is a term created on DCUM. DCUM has not even been around for 30 years.

You think DCUM created the idea of top tier schools? Top tier and Big 3 or top 3 school terms have been around for a long time. Regardless - GDS was never in the Big 3 grouping on DCUM regardless of when the term was created. Still a good school.

Agreed, top tier/top 3 has been around as a concept far longer than DCUM. Maybe it wasn't called "big" at that time, but it's not a concept invented by DCUM. Source, I went to a top 3 and knew it was a top 3 at the time, long before DCUM. And agreed GDS has never been top 3 although is still good.