GDSS vs Sidwell

[Anonymous]

According to Google Sidwell is .7 miles from the Tenleytown metro. GDS is .4 miles from the same station.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:for me the big elephant in the room at GDS has to be the future of the constructuion project. It's going to re-define the school but there is also going to be serious disruption over a period of at least one or two years.

I don't worry about that. GDS has amazing leadership and an incredibly talented board with uber-accomplished backgrounds in law, business, real estate, tech, etc. They know what they are doing.

[Anonymous]

Pp. You have to be a troll or one of the most stereotypical posters ever.

[Anonymous]

Just a ruthless and not very talented self-promoter, I'm afraid. But she's for real and symptomatic of a larger problem.

[Anonymous]

^^ ???? Why such animosity? So when people defend the professionalism of the admissions team at Sidwell that is not stereotypical and self-promoting but a comment about GDS's leadership team is a kind of a sin?!

[Anonymous]

The GDS chip on the shoulder is growing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another parent here with both Sidwell and GDS high school grads within the past five years. The 3-11 11:05 post is pretty spot on. These are two really wonderful schools and the key is where your kid is most comfortable. GDS is more informal (teachers on first name basis) and it tends to draw many kids who are really into the arts (theater/music). The school proudly notes it has no football team but the musical/play/one acts are a really big deal. And they are. So are the regular events/cabarets where both students and faculty perform. Sidwell is more formal and has more detailed rules ( check out the handbook). It also tends to draw students who are more into sports as a rule (these are broad generalizations of course). And the weekly meeting and Quaker values have a significant impact (largely quite positive in my view) on the student experience. Both schools have amazing academics. Sidwell has a more advanced Chinese program including opportunities in China and more students who study abroad through SYA. Sidwell has a dining room for lunch but GDS does not. GDS has a better after-hours hang-out area for students (the forum) whereas at Sidwell the school shuts down earlier and sends the message that students should be at home with their families as part of a balanced life. GDS gives the students slightly more freedom and Sidwell more structure but both deliver an amazing education focused on critical thinking and analysis mostly in small-group discussion-based classes. Sidwell has slightly less grade inflation. You really cannot go wrong with these two schools. The key is: what is the best fit for your student?

This made me laugh. Thanks, PP.

+1 Aside from this not-so-subtle swipe at GDS (btw, the families at both schools would be virtually indistinguishable on paper), one big difference to consider is that GDS HS is metro-accessible. You have a good number of kids who come to school via metro. So, if you are considering transit options, this is a big plus.


PP 2:57, 12:52, 19:22 here. Not trying to be funny re Sidwell's message to go home and be with your family (although I do appreciate the irony). And certainly not trying to take a swipe at GDS -- I am a huge fan of both of these schools and feel grateful for the education and experience they gave my kids. Also not in any way suggesting that Sidwell has a lighter workload -- the workload is very challenging at both schools and, based on my experience with kids at both high schools, I don't think there is a material difference in that regard. More kids at GDS just hang around the school late and some do their homework in the forum. This is part of what gives GDS a slightly greater feel that the kids "own" the place. I don't think SFS has a similar late-evening hang-out venue.

On the college admissions debate, I agree that the Sidwell numbers this year mentioned in an earlier post are remarkable -- especially since they do not yet include regular admissions stats for most colleges. But I think only time will tell whether this reflects the strength of this particular class, the greater skill of the college counseling staff, or perhaps some other factor(s) -- or some combination of factors.

[Anonymous]

Sidwell is simply the best private school in the area. The only area private school on the same level as the NY privates. 10 Yale ED and many other Ivy leagued admits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell is simply the best private school in the area. The only area private school on the same level as the NY privates. 10 Yale ED and many other Ivy leagued admits.

Actually, according to multiple lists, St. Albans far outranks Sidwell, especially with regard to the percentage of HYP/MIT/STAN admits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:According to Google Sidwell is .7 miles from the Tenleytown metro. GDS is .4 miles from the same station.

and if you are a commuter, you know that the .3 matters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell is simply the best private school in the area. The only area private school on the same level as the NY privates. 10 Yale ED and many other Ivy leagued admits.

Jajaja.... The Sidwell version of the Harvard GDS poster?

[Anonymous]

Maybe the next President family will have a boy and we will see if they considers STA.....I doubt it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe the next President family will have a boy and we will see if they considers STA.....I doubt it.

Folks. These are all great schools. You're embarrassing yourselves. You wouldn't want your kids to squabble like this, would you? Grow up.

[Anonymous]

I'm a Sidwell parent. Love St. Albans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe the next President family will have a boy and we will see if they considers STA.....I doubt it.

Folks. These are all great schools. You're embarrassing yourselves. You wouldn't want your kids to squabble like this, would you? Grow up.

^^ This!