GDS v. Sidwell

[Anonymous]

We had kids at both high schools. Both are truly excellent. Academics are very demanding at both.

Sidwell is more formal with a student and parent manual that is far more detailed and filled with rules than anything I remember GDS having. The classroom environment is also slightly more formal (at GDS, for example, teachers go by first name; not so at Sidwell). The Quaker tradition has a pervasive impact at Sidwell, not just in the weekly meeting but in the values that are encouraged. We are not Quakers but appreciated these aspects of the school (and the weekly meeting was something our kid really valued). GDS has a more "artsy" and liberal/libertarian vibe.

I used to think Sidwell was better at sports and it seems like more of the kids there are "all-American" types who play at least one sport. But there are specific teams at GDS that are really good, so it depends on the sport (and this changes year to year). Sidwell has a football team (usually pretty bad), and I don't think GDS does. Otherwise I think the sports offered are roughly similar.

GDS makes a HUGE deal of musical theater and acting. GDS parents like to say that the annual musical is "our football team." The shows run longer and sell out. There is an all-night party after the last musical show where parents cook food and the students break down the (usually elaborate) set. In addition, GDS also has a lot more opportunities for performing (e.g. periodic talent nights where students and some teachers perform, singing groups). If your kids is into musical theater, GDS is much stronger than Sidwell in my view.

Both schools have some fabulous teachers. The Sidwell history department and the GDS English department are especially strong in this regard. If your kid wants to learn Chinese, Sidwell is probably a better choice (not sure GDS offers it, and in any event Sidwell has pretty impressive programs, including in the summer, in China).

Can't go wrong either way.

[Anonymous]

Sidwell is a much stronger institution and a better network.... gds is for nouveau Riche.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell is a much stronger institution and a better network.... gds is for nouveau Riche.

That's another way of saying that Sidwell appeals to old money families who have been sending their kids to private schools for generations and GDS appeals to families who wouldn't have been allowed to attend Sidwell several generations ago. Probably true, but not a compliment to Sidwell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell is a much stronger institution and a better network.... gds is for nouveau Riche.

That's another way of saying that Sidwell appeals to old money families who have been sending their kids to private schools for generations and GDS appeals to families who wouldn't have been allowed to attend Sidwell several generations ago. Probably true, but not a compliment to Sidwell.

Not true. GDS is people who want private for privates sake. Sidwell more nuanced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell is a much stronger institution and a better network.... gds is for nouveau Riche.

Sidwell has totally turned the tide on this. It’s filled with social climbers now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
We had kids at both high schools. Both are truly excellent. Academics are very demanding at both.

Sidwell is more formal with a student and parent manual that is far more detailed and filled with rules than anything I remember GDS having. The classroom environment is also slightly more formal (at GDS, for example, teachers go by first name; not so at Sidwell). The Quaker tradition has a pervasive impact at Sidwell, not just in the weekly meeting but in the values that are encouraged. We are not Quakers but appreciated these aspects of the school (and the weekly meeting was something our kid really valued). GDS has a more "artsy" and liberal/libertarian vibe.

I used to think Sidwell was better at sports and it seems like more of the kids there are "all-American" types who play at least one sport. But there are specific teams at GDS that are really good, so it depends on the sport (and this changes year to year). Sidwell has a football team (usually pretty bad), and I don't think GDS does. Otherwise I think the sports offered are roughly similar.

GDS makes a HUGE deal of musical theater and acting. GDS parents like to say that the annual musical is "our football team." The shows run longer and sell out. There is an all-night party after the last musical show where parents cook food and the students break down the (usually elaborate) set. In addition, GDS also has a lot more opportunities for performing (e.g. periodic talent nights where students and some teachers perform, singing groups). If your kids is into musical theater, GDS is much stronger than Sidwell in my view.

Both schools have some fabulous teachers. The Sidwell history department and the GDS English department are especially strong in this regard. If your kid wants to learn Chinese, Sidwell is probably a better choice (not sure GDS offers it, and in any event Sidwell has pretty impressive programs, including in the summer, in China).

Can't go wrong either way.

Thank you for taking the time to post this message (amid all the nasty dreck).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell is a much stronger institution and a better network.... gds is for nouveau Riche.

Sidwell has totally turned the tide on this. It’s filled with social climbers now.

Word.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
We had kids at both high schools. Both are truly excellent. Academics are very demanding at both.

Sidwell is more formal with a student and parent manual that is far more detailed and filled with rules than anything I remember GDS having. The classroom environment is also slightly more formal (at GDS, for example, teachers go by first name; not so at Sidwell). The Quaker tradition has a pervasive impact at Sidwell, not just in the weekly meeting but in the values that are encouraged. We are not Quakers but appreciated these aspects of the school (and the weekly meeting was something our kid really valued). GDS has a more "artsy" and liberal/libertarian vibe.

I used to think Sidwell was better at sports and it seems like more of the kids there are "all-American" types who play at least one sport. But there are specific teams at GDS that are really good, so it depends on the sport (and this changes year to year). Sidwell has a football team (usually pretty bad), and I don't think GDS does. Otherwise I think the sports offered are roughly similar.

GDS makes a HUGE deal of musical theater and acting. GDS parents like to say that the annual musical is "our football team." The shows run longer and sell out. There is an all-night party after the last musical show where parents cook food and the students break down the (usually elaborate) set. In addition, GDS also has a lot more opportunities for performing (e.g. periodic talent nights where students and some teachers perform, singing groups). If your kids is into musical theater, GDS is much stronger than Sidwell in my view.

Both schools have some fabulous teachers. The Sidwell history department and the GDS English department are especially strong in this regard. If your kid wants to learn Chinese, Sidwell is probably a better choice (not sure GDS offers it, and in any event Sidwell has pretty impressive programs, including in the summer, in China).

Can't go wrong either way.

Sidwell has all of these things - one acts, musical theater, regular dramatic theater, one-acts, orchestra, jazz ensamble and arts guild spontaneous Friday night performances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
We had kids at both high schools. Both are truly excellent. Academics are very demanding at both.

Sidwell is more formal with a student and parent manual that is far more detailed and filled with rules than anything I remember GDS having. The classroom environment is also slightly more formal (at GDS, for example, teachers go by first name; not so at Sidwell). The Quaker tradition has a pervasive impact at Sidwell, not just in the weekly meeting but in the values that are encouraged. We are not Quakers but appreciated these aspects of the school (and the weekly meeting was something our kid really valued). GDS has a more "artsy" and liberal/libertarian vibe.

I used to think Sidwell was better at sports and it seems like more of the kids there are "all-American" types who play at least one sport. But there are specific teams at GDS that are really good, so it depends on the sport (and this changes year to year). Sidwell has a football team (usually pretty bad), and I don't think GDS does. Otherwise I think the sports offered are roughly similar.

GDS makes a HUGE deal of musical theater and acting. GDS parents like to say that the annual musical is "our football team." The shows run longer and sell out. There is an all-night party after the last musical show where parents cook food and the students break down the (usually elaborate) set. In addition, GDS also has a lot more opportunities for performing (e.g. periodic talent nights where students and some teachers perform, singing groups). If your kids is into musical theater, GDS is much stronger than Sidwell in my view.

Both schools have some fabulous teachers. The Sidwell history department and the GDS English department are especially strong in this regard. If your kid wants to learn Chinese, Sidwell is probably a better choice (not sure GDS offers it, and in any event Sidwell has pretty impressive programs, including in the summer, in China).

Can't go wrong either way.

Thank you for taking the time to post this message (amid all the nasty dreck).

A useful post finally. Thank you, PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell is a much stronger institution and a better network.... gds is for nouveau Riche.

That's another way of saying that Sidwell appeals to old money families who have been sending their kids to private schools for generations and GDS appeals to families who wouldn't have been allowed to attend Sidwell several generations ago. Probably true, but not a compliment to Sidwell.

Not true. GDS is people who want private for privates sake. Sidwell more nuanced.

Not really. I find many humble - think civil servants -parents who sacrifice much to afford GdS. You may want to call them nouveau riche, but it’s mainly a reflection on you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell is a much stronger institution and a better network.... gds is for nouveau Riche.

That's another way of saying that Sidwell appeals to old money families who have been sending their kids to private schools for generations and GDS appeals to families who wouldn't have been allowed to attend Sidwell several generations ago. Probably true, but not a compliment to Sidwell.

Not true. GDS is people who want private for privates sake. Sidwell more nuanced.

Not really. I find many humble - think civil servants -parents who sacrifice much to afford GdS. You may want to call them nouveau riche, but it’s mainly a reflection on you.

LOL oh yes! The humble servants of GDS!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell is a much stronger institution and a better network.... gds is for nouveau Riche.

That's another way of saying that Sidwell appeals to old money families who have been sending their kids to private schools for generations and GDS appeals to families who wouldn't have been allowed to attend Sidwell several generations ago. Probably true, but not a compliment to Sidwell.

Not true. GDS is people who want private for privates sake. Sidwell more nuanced.

Not really. I find many humble - think civil servants -parents who sacrifice much to afford GdS. You may want to call them nouveau riche, but it’s mainly a reflection on you.

LOL oh yes! The humble servants of GDS!

I don't know if there are many government employee-only families at GDS. I know of families where one parent is a DOJ/AUSA lawyer (or a policy person in the former administration), but then the other parent is a more substantial breadwinner (tech entrepreneur, Big Law partner). Compared to Sidwell, GDS seems to attract a greater share of parents who are public intellectuals, noted authors and name columnists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
We had kids at both high schools. Both are truly excellent. Academics are very demanding at both.

Sidwell is more formal with a student and parent manual that is far more detailed and filled with rules than anything I remember GDS having. The classroom environment is also slightly more formal (at GDS, for example, teachers go by first name; not so at Sidwell). The Quaker tradition has a pervasive impact at Sidwell, not just in the weekly meeting but in the values that are encouraged. We are not Quakers but appreciated these aspects of the school (and the weekly meeting was something our kid really valued). GDS has a more "artsy" and liberal/libertarian vibe.

I used to think Sidwell was better at sports and it seems like more of the kids there are "all-American" types who play at least one sport. But there are specific teams at GDS that are really good, so it depends on the sport (and this changes year to year). Sidwell has a football team (usually pretty bad), and I don't think GDS does. Otherwise I think the sports offered are roughly similar.

GDS makes a HUGE deal of musical theater and acting. GDS parents like to say that the annual musical is "our football team." The shows run longer and sell out. There is an all-night party after the last musical show where parents cook food and the students break down the (usually elaborate) set. In addition, GDS also has a lot more opportunities for performing (e.g. periodic talent nights where students and some teachers perform, singing groups). If your kids is into musical theater, GDS is much stronger than Sidwell in my view.

Both schools have some fabulous teachers. The Sidwell history department and the GDS English department are especially strong in this regard. If your kid wants to learn Chinese, Sidwell is probably a better choice (not sure GDS offers it, and in any event Sidwell has pretty impressive programs, including in the summer, in China).

Can't go wrong either way.

Thank you for taking the time to post this message (amid all the nasty dreck).

A useful post finally. Thank you, PP.

Both schools are great, and there are subtle differences in focus that will help OP's kid to decide what is the better fit. Our DS chose GDS high school because of the more forthright progressive education approach. YMMV. Other kids we know chose Sidwell because of the more formal academic approach and sports.

[Anonymous]

To clarify one point above, both GDS and Sidwell offer Chinese. Chinese currently starts in 3rd grade at GDS and 4th at Sidwell.

[Anonymous]

Sidwell is way too rigid in Upper School.