Sidwell Basketball Article

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most private school parents don't give a hoot about Ivy schools and National Merit Scholars.

People on this board overly represent the Type A parent that need this type of notch in their belt to feel good about their kids (and the money they spend).

Not so much for most of us who are just looking for a place for our kids to enjoy learning and go on to do what they want in life.

Jesuit education is more about being a good citizen that the almighty dollar.

The poster I was responding to said this: "I have met several students and I am no more more impressed by them than any other Private school kid. I think it is all hype. They do not disclose any information about scores or college placements so basically everyone is going off of the high profile of the parents of the students and not the actual achievements of the students."

That is why I responded with the number of National Merit kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a reason why Gonzaga is the most popular school in the DC area. Its a good academic school but its also the largest school. Its over 1,000 boys - roughly 250 boys per grade. Because of its sheer size, it has the luxury of having some brilliant academic kids but also has the ability to admit every year some borderline student athletes who most likely could not get into the IAC schools or MAC schools.

Gonzaga is a great school but its college placement list is nothing to brag about base on the number of kids graduating in a given class. (i.e. sending 10 kids to an Ivy league school when you have a class of 250 students compared to a school like STA who can send 12 out of the 80 boys to an Ivy league school is much more impressive)

Exactly. Gonzaga has more applicants because:

1) Gonzaga has more slots per class available (250 are available each year to freshmen, there are never even a quarter of that many available for high school slots at Sidwell)
2) Gonzaga is more affordable, and therefore a more realistic option
3) Gonzaga is much easier to gain admission to, and therefore, again, is a more realistic option

All else equal, if you could afford it and your kid could get in, Sidwell again is the top choice among Washington's private schools.

[Anonymous]

Sidwell is not at the top. You are living in the 80s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1 There are multiple schools on my list above Sidwell.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren't there any white kids at Maret who were rejected by Sidwell? Doesn't seem like much of an indictment.

Of the 10 basketball players, only 2 (the two white players) were there before high school. So there's no way the white students could have been rejected by Sidwell. That's the only reason for the black/white gap in reported rejections here.

It's clear that Sidwell, all else equal, is the preferred choice among DC private schools. So it's not surprising that many of Maret's recruited athletes applied to, and were rejected by, Sidwell. Being recruited doesn't get you into Sidwell.

Not true. For boys, schools like Gonzaga and STA are just as popular, if not more so. Especially for those boys who have an interest in athletics.

It's a personal choice. It's not right for everyone. For example, lacrosse or football players would be much more likely to go to Gonzaga or STA, which are both excellent schools. But I think the admissions numbers support the hypothesis that, if one were to do a revealed preference ranking of area parents' choices for private schools, Sidwell would be far and away the top choice.

Wrong. If you are looking at applications, Gonzaga (which I have no affiliation with) is far and away the most popular private school in the area, even though it is single sex. The school had well over 1,000 application for about 250 spots last year.

This is stupid. Who gets more applications, Penn State or Harvard?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Wrong. If you are looking at applications, Gonzaga (which I have no affiliation with) is far and away the most popular private school in the area, even though it is single sex. The school had well over 1,000 application for about 250 spots last year.

I would recommend that you look up what a revealed preference ranking is.

I'm not saying it's your first choice, but, all else equal, Sidwell is the top choice locally.

NP here, and an economist. The Gonzaga numbers somebody provided above above give a pretty clear indication about a preference for Gonzaga, unless you can provide Sidwell figures that exceed the Gonzaga numbers. If you're trying to make some sort of point about revealed preference as measured by total money spent by parents (Sidwell is way more expensive than Gonzaga), then you need to remember that utility is maximized subject to a budget constraint, and Sidwell is not in most families' budgets.

I've seen some admissions numbers.

In general, the DC independent co-ed schools outstrip the all-boys' schools in application numbers. Schools such as St. Albans/NCS are pretty candid that their yield (percentage of those accepted who come to the school) is higher for lower school applicants than for upper school -- the reason is that the typical parent allows a 9th grade applicant more input into the process than a 4th grade applicant, and by 9th grade a fair amount of kids do not want the single-sex option. This may be different for the Catholic schools, as there are no co-ed options in DC proper, and perhaps the parents seeking a Catholic education retain more control over the process?

Gonzaga's numbers as reported here (4 applicants for every one slot) are quite good, but the most recent numbers I've seen -- and it was a couple of years ago, so I suppose it could have changed (although it's hard for me to imagine fewer applications with the presidents' kids attending) -- had about 14 students applying for every one slot at Sidwell (this included all age levels, so pre-K, K, all the way up to applications for 9th grade). Sidwell had significantly more applications than any of the other local schools.

(I can't give a link because it was something I saw, and I'm cool with people not believing my post, given anonymity and lack of documentation. For what it's worth, however, that's what the data I saw reflected.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Wrong. If you are looking at applications, Gonzaga (which I have no affiliation with) is far and away the most popular private school in the area, even though it is single sex. The school had well over 1,000 application for about 250 spots last year.

I would recommend that you look up what a revealed preference ranking is.

I'm not saying it's your first choice, but, all else equal, Sidwell is the top choice locally.

NP here, and an economist. The Gonzaga numbers somebody provided above above give a pretty clear indication about a preference for Gonzaga, unless you can provide Sidwell figures that exceed the Gonzaga numbers. If you're trying to make some sort of point about revealed preference as measured by total money spent by parents (Sidwell is way more expensive than Gonzaga), then you need to remember that utility is maximized subject to a budget constraint, and Sidwell is not in most families' budgets.

I've seen some admissions numbers.

In general, the DC independent co-ed schools outstrip the all-boys' schools in application numbers. Schools such as St. Albans/NCS are pretty candid that their yield (percentage of those accepted who come to the school) is higher for lower school applicants than for upper school -- the reason is that the typical parent allows a 9th grade applicant more input into the process than a 4th grade applicant, and by 9th grade a fair amount of kids do not want the single-sex option. This may be different for the Catholic schools, as there are no co-ed options in DC proper, and perhaps the parents seeking a Catholic education retain more control over the process?

Gonzaga's numbers as reported here (4 applicants for every one slot) are quite good, but the most recent numbers I've seen -- and it was a couple of years ago, so I suppose it could have changed (although it's hard for me to imagine fewer applications with the presidents' kids attending) -- had about 14 students applying for every one slot at Sidwell (this included all age levels, so pre-K, K, all the way up to applications for 9th grade). Sidwell had significantly more applications than any of the other local schools.

(I can't give a link because it was something I saw, and I'm cool with people not believing my post, given anonymity and lack of documentation. For what it's worth, however, that's what the data I saw reflected.)

To add on to this -- if Gonzaga has 1000 applicants for ninth grade, that is more than Sidwell has for ninth grade, although Sidwell had more total applicants for all grades combined (pre-K through 12). The odds of admission overall at Sidwell was about 1 in 14 -- I think for 9th grade it was more like 1 in 8 or 1 in 9.

[Anonymous]

Maybe it's just me -- applying my DS to a few schools, neither of them being Sidwell nor Gonzaga.

But can someone please explain why on Earth it matters which school has a more competitive admissions process?

And by the way, good luck to all applying to either, or both. They're obviously both very fine schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe it's just me -- applying my DS to a few schools, neither of them being Sidwell nor Gonzaga.

But can someone please explain why on Earth it matters which school has a more competitive admissions process?

And by the way, good luck to all applying to either, or both. They're obviously both very fine schools.

I don't think it really matters. Some would say, however, that a more competitive admissions process produces a more competitive and stronger student body. I think that's fleshed out in some of Sidwell's National Merit numbers (the only numbers that they release).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe it's just me -- applying my DS to a few schools, neither of them being Sidwell nor Gonzaga.

But can someone please explain why on Earth it matters which school has a more competitive admissions process?

And by the way, good luck to all applying to either, or both. They're obviously both very fine schools.

Somebody stated that everybody wants to go to Sidwell as their first choice and then everybody ends up going somewhere else because they don't get accepted or can't afford it.

The idea is crazy - but somebody said they preferred Gonzaga and then the conversation turned into statistics.

So many schools but this site is obsessed with Sidwell.


- signed never considered Sidwell

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Wrong. If you are looking at applications, Gonzaga (which I have no affiliation with) is far and away the most popular private school in the area, even though it is single sex. The school had well over 1,000 application for about 250 spots last year.

I would recommend that you look up what a revealed preference ranking is.

I'm not saying it's your first choice, but, all else equal, Sidwell is the top choice locally.

NP here, and an economist. The Gonzaga numbers somebody provided above above give a pretty clear indication about a preference for Gonzaga, unless you can provide Sidwell figures that exceed the Gonzaga numbers. If you're trying to make some sort of point about revealed preference as measured by total money spent by parents (Sidwell is way more expensive than Gonzaga), then you need to remember that utility is maximized subject to a budget constraint, and Sidwell is not in most families' budgets.

I've seen some admissions numbers.

In general, the DC independent co-ed schools outstrip the all-boys' schools in application numbers. Schools such as St. Albans/NCS are pretty candid that their yield (percentage of those accepted who come to the school) is higher for lower school applicants than for upper school -- the reason is that the typical parent allows a 9th grade applicant more input into the process than a 4th grade applicant, and by 9th grade a fair amount of kids do not want the single-sex option. This may be different for the Catholic schools, as there are no co-ed options in DC proper, and perhaps the parents seeking a Catholic education retain more control over the process?

Gonzaga's numbers as reported here (4 applicants for every one slot) are quite good, but the most recent numbers I've seen -- and it was a couple of years ago, so I suppose it could have changed (although it's hard for me to imagine fewer applications with the presidents' kids attending) -- had about 14 students applying for every one slot at Sidwell (this included all age levels, so pre-K, K, all the way up to applications for 9th grade). Sidwell had significantly more applications than any of the other local schools.

(I can't give a link because it was something I saw, and I'm cool with people not believing my post, given anonymity and lack of documentation. For what it's worth, however, that's what the data I saw reflected.)

That's the other thing, whether it affected your preference or not, Sidwell definitely, at an aggregate level, became more desirable when the Obama's enrolled their children there. I think this was reflected in their numbers. Whether this added any real cache or not, it made the admissions process more competitive and seemingly would improve the quality of the student body, since the school has more applicants to pick from.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe it's just me -- applying my DS to a few schools, neither of them being Sidwell nor Gonzaga.

But can someone please explain why on Earth it matters which school has a more competitive admissions process?

And by the way, good luck to all applying to either, or both. They're obviously both very fine schools.

Somebody stated that everybody wants to go to Sidwell as their first choice and then everybody ends up going somewhere else because they don't get accepted or can't afford it.

The idea is crazy - but somebody said they preferred Gonzaga and then the conversation turned into statistics.

So many schools but this site is obsessed with Sidwell.


- signed never considered Sidwell

I don't believe that's what the OP said. I think the point is that if you polled parents, and all else was equal (i.e. money was no barrier to entry and admission was guaranteed for their one student), Sidwell would end up as the #1 choice. It wouldn't be unanimous, it probably wouldn't even be a majority. But a plurality would choose Sidwell. I think the co-ed/religious factor would prevent places like NCS and STA from being particularly close competitors, even when considering the preferences of each gender's parents in isolation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe it's just me -- applying my DS to a few schools, neither of them being Sidwell nor Gonzaga.

But can someone please explain why on Earth it matters which school has a more competitive admissions process?

And by the way, good luck to all applying to either, or both. They're obviously both very fine schools.

Somebody stated that everybody wants to go to Sidwell as their first choice and then everybody ends up going somewhere else because they don't get accepted or can't afford it.

The idea is crazy - but somebody said they preferred Gonzaga and then the conversation turned into statistics.

So many schools but this site is obsessed with Sidwell.


- signed never considered Sidwell

I don't believe that's what the OP said. I think the point is that if you polled parents, and all else was equal (i.e. money was no barrier to entry and admission was guaranteed for their one student), Sidwell would end up as the #1 choice. It wouldn't be unanimous, it probably wouldn't even be a majority. But a plurality would choose Sidwell. I think the co-ed/religious factor would prevent places like NCS and STA from being particularly close competitors, even when considering the preferences of each gender's parents in isolation.

And many of us think it would not be # 1. Not because we dislike Sidwell but because we prefer something else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe it's just me -- applying my DS to a few schools, neither of them being Sidwell nor Gonzaga.

But can someone please explain why on Earth it matters which school has a more competitive admissions process?

And by the way, good luck to all applying to either, or both. They're obviously both very fine schools.

Somebody stated that everybody wants to go to Sidwell as their first choice and then everybody ends up going somewhere else because they don't get accepted or can't afford it.

The idea is crazy - but somebody said they preferred Gonzaga and then the conversation turned into statistics.

So many schools but this site is obsessed with Sidwell.


- signed never considered Sidwell

I don't believe that's what the OP said. I think the point is that if you polled parents, and all else was equal (i.e. money was no barrier to entry and admission was guaranteed for their one student), Sidwell would end up as the #1 choice. It wouldn't be unanimous, it probably wouldn't even be a majority. But a plurality would choose Sidwell. I think the co-ed/religious factor would prevent places like NCS and STA from being particularly close competitors, even when considering the preferences of each gender's parents in isolation.

And many of us think it would not be # 1. Not because we dislike Sidwell but because we prefer something else.

Again, that's your personal choice. No one school is everyone's #1 choice. Your preference has nothing to do with what a plurality would pick though. Who do you really think would be #1 in a poll like the one I proposed?

[Anonymous]

On the numbers, Sidwell comes out top in this area in selectiveness and yield. The continuing viability of single sex schools in this area, as well as the strong presence of Catholic schools, perhaps does indicate that it is the "plurality top choice" as opposed to the "majority top choice." I'm not sure why any of this is really controversial, though, other than that the mention of Sidwell gets 'em goin' every time.

[Anonymous]

Sidwell is a very fine school. We chose Holton over Sidwell for our DD and have never regretted it.

It's plain silly to think that Sidwell is the first choice for everyone - though it may be a/the top choice among coed schools.