Sidwell Report Cards Just Came Out…

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Does anyone happen to know (for real) the GPA cutoff for Top Quarter of the rising senior class?

I heard it was 3.75ish.

What about the top 10%?

Around 3.9

So, that’s about 12 to 13 students out of ~125. That’s pretty tough.

And then there are the kids who get a little lower than that but who have taken the advanced math track. Many have lower GPAs largely due to Math III and Math IV first semester grades, with no bump at Sidwell for the advanced track (only available in math and science). So you can be in the top 10% for GPA, but if you aren't in the higher track classes you may not really be reflected/recommended as top 10% in the school's recommendations as the need to account for the higher track grades. This year only 8 seniors completed Math IV and they all did very well in college admissions even with come lower math grades over the years. They make up a number of the high ranked college spots. Three of the eight are going to Harvard. I wish the school were a bit more transparent on this so kids really had a better idea where they are comparatively, not to encourage competition among them but because we keep being told colleges compare you to other kids at your school.

Sure but the 3 kids going to Harvard all had 3.95+

How do you know that? Did you see all 3 of their transcripts? Of course you didn’t.

Btw, there are 4 students going to Harvard this year.

The fourth is an athletic recruit. The other 3 definitely had at least a 3.95. I know this for certain. It sounds like you are just coping.

What I know for certain is that you didn’t see those 3 students’ transcripts. It sounds like you are just lying.

Believe whatever you want. It still won’t change the fact that these students maintained ridiculously high GPAs while still taking the advanced math track.

High GPAs? Sure. All of those students having >3.95 GPA? Absolutely not!
At least you admitted you made up the GPA nonsense. It’s simply not true.

Firstly, me saying they ‘had ridiculously high GPAs’ does not equate to me saying that they had lower than a 3.95. Your logic is flawed and you are misinterpreting my claim to fit your own narrative. My child knows these 3 children personally, and can attest that their GPAs were in fact that high.

However, it seems you’ve already made up your mind on this situation, and nothing I say will change what you believe, which is fine. Arguing with someone who isn’t interested in learning the truth is not worth my time.

You and your child don’t know the truth. Once again: unless you/your child actually saw each student’s transcript, all you know is what you were told.

However, I agree with you on one thing. This discussion is fruitless. You will never convince me that all 3 of those students had 3.95+ GPAs. Time to move on.

[Anonymous]

Do you two ever wonder why you spend so much time thinking about other people’s grades? It’s not something most of us do.

In a few years, you’ll have some distance and perspective and you may ask yourselves this question.

But for now, you two should really have coffee; you have a lot in common.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone happen to know (for real) the GPA cutoff for Top Quarter of the rising senior class?

I heard it was 3.75ish.

What about the top 10%?

Around 3.9

So, that’s about 12 to 13 students out of ~125. That’s pretty tough.

And then there are the kids who get a little lower than that but who have taken the advanced math track. Many have lower GPAs largely due to Math III and Math IV first semester grades, with no bump at Sidwell for the advanced track (only available in math and science). So you can be in the top 10% for GPA, but if you aren't in the higher track classes you may not really be reflected/recommended as top 10% in the school's recommendations as the need to account for the higher track grades. This year only 8 seniors completed Math IV and they all did very well in college admissions even with come lower math grades over the years. They make up a number of the high ranked college spots. Three of the eight are going to Harvard. I wish the school were a bit more transparent on this so kids really had a better idea where they are comparatively, not to encourage competition among them but because we keep being told colleges compare you to other kids at your school.

Sure but the 3 kids going to Harvard all had 3.95+

How do you know that? Did you see all 3 of their transcripts? Of course you didn’t.

Btw, there are 4 students going to Harvard this year.

The fourth is an athletic recruit. The other 3 definitely had at least a 3.95. I know this for certain. It sounds like you are just coping.

Narrator: The athletic recruit also had a high GPA.

Just because someone is an athlete doesn't mean their full application is any "less" than a non-athlete.

Stop making assumptions.

[Anonymous]

Just a note, as a SFS parent, this board does NOT reflect the craziness of most parents at the school. Yes, there are handful of super type-A, gunner people (as at any school) but, in my experience, this certainly is not representative of the school. It's embarrassing that a handful of parents have these discussions on an anonymous board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just a note, as a SFS parent, this board does NOT reflect the craziness of most parents at the school. Yes, there are handful of super type-A, gunner people (as at any school) but, in my experience, this certainly is not representative of the school. It's embarrassing that a handful of parents have these discussions on an anonymous board.

I agree that there are nice parents. But it is also 100% true that this is not a discussion or question you could ask other SFS parents. It's a weird place that way. And some people that are perfectly nice day to day are digging in hard behind the scenes (purposely not divulging).

There is usually close to zero exposure on "institutional knowledge" for families that were new in 9th (from other parents and from CCO). Maybe that sort of info is more accessible if you were rising MS family, but probably only if you know a fellow parent whose older child(ren) already graduated and they happen to be willing to share and are trust-worthy. And of course, you finally know the real story once your child has fully gone through admissions.

By knowledge, I mean - full story on college chances for unhooked high stats kids, how grades/rigor impact this, which colleges are particularly un-friendly (or friendly) to SFS applicants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just a note, as a SFS parent, this board does NOT reflect the craziness of most parents at the school. Yes, there are handful of super type-A, gunner people (as at any school) but, in my experience, this certainly is not representative of the school. It's embarrassing that a handful of parents have these discussions on an anonymous board.

Actually, it does more than you think or would like to think. People cover it up well but it’s there. It’s nuts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just a note, as a SFS parent, this board does NOT reflect the craziness of most parents at the school. Yes, there are handful of super type-A, gunner people (as at any school) but, in my experience, this certainly is not representative of the school. It's embarrassing that a handful of parents have these discussions on an anonymous board.

Actually, it does more than you think or would like to think. People cover it up well but it’s there. It’s nuts.

PP you are responding to. That has not been my experience at all. I have three kids, one who has graduated and two who are in the US. I don't think the parents are any more nuts than at any other DC independent school. Regardless of people's experiences, airing this on a public forum is just embarrassing. Just talk to parents at the school who have older kids!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just a note, as a SFS parent, this board does NOT reflect the craziness of most parents at the school. Yes, there are handful of super type-A, gunner people (as at any school) but, in my experience, this certainly is not representative of the school. It's embarrassing that a handful of parents have these discussions on an anonymous board.

Actually, it does more than you think or would like to think. People cover it up well but it’s there. It’s nuts.

PP you are responding to. That has not been my experience at all. I have three kids, one who has graduated and two who are in the US. I don't think the parents are any more nuts than at any other DC independent school. Regardless of people's experiences, airing this on a public forum is just embarrassing. Just talk to parents at the school who have older kids!

IME at three schools, they are no more nuts than parents at other schools like Sidwell. But, yeah, many of them are bat-shyte, particularly when it comes to college admissions. You probably are too close to see it.

[Anonymous]

Hey, the average grade at Harvard is an A minus. Does anyone with a teaspoon of brains think all these students are brilliant subject matter experts? These grades are meaningless ... more to do with social politics than academic worth!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just a note, as a SFS parent, this board does NOT reflect the craziness of most parents at the school. Yes, there are handful of super type-A, gunner people (as at any school) but, in my experience, this certainly is not representative of the school. It's embarrassing that a handful of parents have these discussions on an anonymous board.

The Sidwell parents I know are super competitive about everything. I think it does represent most.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just a note, as a SFS parent, this board does NOT reflect the craziness of most parents at the school. Yes, there are handful of super type-A, gunner people (as at any school) but, in my experience, this certainly is not representative of the school. It's embarrassing that a handful of parents have these discussions on an anonymous board.

The Sidwell parents I know are super competitive about everything. I think it does represent most.

+100. Super competitive! Including the seemingly “low key” ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just a note, as a SFS parent, this board does NOT reflect the craziness of most parents at the school. Yes, there are handful of super type-A, gunner people (as at any school) but, in my experience, this certainly is not representative of the school. It's embarrassing that a handful of parents have these discussions on an anonymous board.

The Sidwell parents I know are super competitive about everything. I think it does represent most.

+100. Super competitive! Including the seemingly “low key” ones.

12:59 weighing in - yes- there are parents who are competitive and hide it - seemingly aware of their craziness - but I think also hiding their cards to get any advantage they think they can. But, there are regular nice parents too. Unfortunately, since you never know who's crazy and not - even nice parents don't talk much about substantive matters related to school or college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just a note, as a SFS parent, this board does NOT reflect the craziness of most parents at the school. Yes, there are handful of super type-A, gunner people (as at any school) but, in my experience, this certainly is not representative of the school. It's embarrassing that a handful of parents have these discussions on an anonymous board.

The Sidwell parents I know are super competitive about everything. I think it does represent most.

I'm not a Sidwell parent, but I don't know why the fact that there are competitive parents there is either surprising or necessarily negative. There's a type of school for everyone. If by "competitive" you mean that they value achievement, then of course they are, or else why would they send their kids to a school such as Sidwell. These are not the type of parents who would be totally fine if their their kids end up partying at a relaxed/average LAC, pulling a B- GPA. There's a type of parent and a type of kid who is gunning for the Ivy League and the Ivy League is full of such kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just a note, as a SFS parent, this board does NOT reflect the craziness of most parents at the school. Yes, there are handful of super type-A, gunner people (as at any school) but, in my experience, this certainly is not representative of the school. It's embarrassing that a handful of parents have these discussions on an anonymous board.

The Sidwell parents I know are super competitive about everything. I think it does represent most.

I'm not a Sidwell parent, but I don't know why the fact that there are competitive parents there is either surprising or necessarily negative. There's a type of school for everyone. If by "competitive" you mean that they value achievement, then of course they are, or else why would they send their kids to a school such as Sidwell. These are not the type of parents who would be totally fine if their their kids end up partying at a relaxed/average LAC, pulling a B- GPA. There's a type of parent and a type of kid who is gunning for the Ivy League and the Ivy League is full of such kids.

Many Sidwell students attend such schools - and you are right - often the parents aren't happy about it, having expected better. This is the kind of competitive we mean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just a note, as a SFS parent, this board does NOT reflect the craziness of most parents at the school. Yes, there are handful of super type-A, gunner people (as at any school) but, in my experience, this certainly is not representative of the school. It's embarrassing that a handful of parents have these discussions on an anonymous board.

The Sidwell parents I know are super competitive about everything. I think it does represent most.

I'm not a Sidwell parent, but I don't know why the fact that there are competitive parents there is either surprising or necessarily negative. There's a type of school for everyone. If by "competitive" you mean that they value achievement, then of course they are, or else why would they send their kids to a school such as Sidwell. These are not the type of parents who would be totally fine if their their kids end up partying at a relaxed/average LAC, pulling a B- GPA. There's a type of parent and a type of kid who is gunning for the Ivy League and the Ivy League is full of such kids.

Plenty of run-of-the-mill competitive A types. And many OTT nutso types.