Favorite All-Boys + All Girls Schools in Greater Washington DC

[Anonymous]

I have read a loatht about the Big 3 on these threads. But if you had to pick the best all-boys school and best all-girls schools in the DC, VA, MD areas -- would you necessarily pick NCS + STA since they're considered part of the Big 3? Or, are there other choices you prefer?

[Anonymous]

I prefer Holton Arms. We looked at both schools, applied at both and my DD got into both schools. We both liked Holton better! That is where she is and she loves it!

[Anonymous]

Georgetown Prep for All Boys and NCS for All Girls

[Anonymous]

MADEIRA - hands down.

[Anonymous]

What level is your daughter in -- LS, MS, US?

Anonymous wrote:I prefer Holton Arms. We looked at both schools, applied at both and my DD got into both schools. We both liked Holton better! That is where she is and she loves it!

[Anonymous]

For boys, I would go with Georgetown Prep because it has very good sports and academics. (STA is nice, but it seems a bit stuffy and pretentious.)

For girls, I would go with Holton--very solid academics. (NCS is nice too, but I have heard former NCS students complain that there is a "mean girls" feel to it.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For boys, I would go with Georgetown Prep because it has very good sports and academics. (STA is nice, but it seems a bit stuffy and pretentious.)

For girls, I would go with Holton--very solid academics. (NCS is nice too, but I have heard former NCS students complain that there is a "mean girls" feel to it.)

Don't let Prep fool you. The school is split for the most part: there are the great athletes who are there for sports, and there are the brainy kids who are there to make sure Prep upholds a relatively strong academic reputation. St. Albans has strong, academically motivated athletes.

[Anonymous]

This area has a wealth of great single-sex schools; it is trite and boring but really depends on the kid and on other attributes you want (secular v. religious ; Catholic v. Episcopalian; location; degree of emphasis on sports, arts, etc; coordinate program with sister/brother school or no). Let's not get tempted by this to start bashing other schools-- should be easy enough to say what school you like in a positive way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For boys, I would go with Georgetown Prep because it has very good sports and academics. (STA is nice, but it seems a bit stuffy and pretentious.)

For girls, I would go with Holton--very solid academics. (NCS is nice too, but I have heard former NCS students complain that there is a "mean girls" feel to it.)

Don't let Prep fool you. The school is split for the most part: there are the great athletes who are there for sports, and there are the brainy kids who are there to make sure Prep upholds a relatively strong academic reputation. St. Albans has strong, academically motivated athletes.

They don't need to fool anyone. People know the facts and the reality of Prep. It is outstanding academically and athletically, across the board, period. St. Albans is an outstanding school. But Prep has a better balance of the two than St. Albans. Your comment is sophomoric and ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

I started reading this Board a few months ago when I was researching a school to which my DS was applying. I am amazed that people continue to rehash the same old debates over and over again. Is it just that new people keep coming to the board, and think they are saying something for the first time, or are there really people out there who, month after month, year after year, have nothing better to do than to come here and post that "school x" is "the best," "hand down," "no question," etc., and then to bash somebody else's school because it's different? I could stop reading, of course, but then I'd miss the occasional gem of interesting information buried amidst the repetitive platitudes.

[Anonymous]

Hello! It is Gtown prep booster again:

"But Prep has a better balance of the two than St. Albans. Your comment is sophomoric and ridiculous."

The only ridiculous one is the person who has to push CONSTANTLY that prep is better than STA. Whatever lady. Not everyone believes you! Some people think STA is better, and yep I am one of them. Your view is Prep has a better balance between academics and athletics. I think that's sophomoric and you are sophomoric for calling someone else sophomoric.

To answer the question, I think STA is the best all around all boys school in the area. The academics are absolutely the best around, the twinning with NCS in certain classes and activities helps the boys to circulate with the fairer sex, sports are solid and required by all, and the moral compass of the school is solid.

[Anonymous]

Could you elaborate as to why? I'm not as familiar with Madeira, so I would appreciate the insight.

Anonymous wrote:MADEIRA - hands down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello! It is Gtown prep booster again:

"But Prep has a better balance of the two than St. Albans. Your comment is sophomoric and ridiculous."

The only ridiculous one is the person who has to push CONSTANTLY that prep is better than STA. Whatever lady. Not everyone believes you! Some people think STA is better, and yep I am one of them. Your view is Prep has a better balance between academics and athletics. I think that's sophomoric and you are sophomoric for calling someone else sophomoric.

To answer the question, I think STA is the best all around all boys school in the area. The academics are absolutely the best around, the twinning with NCS in certain classes and activities helps the boys to circulate with the fairer sex, sports are solid and required by all, and the moral compass of the school is solid.

Oh, no! Lookout! It is the return of the virtuous troll-slayer!

[Anonymous]

We are!! (boom! boom!)...St. Albans!! (boom! boom!)

[Anonymous]

St. Albans. Holton. Visitation.