fewer spots available for next year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS should plan to have a typical sized 9th grade class (whatever that number was pre-covid) because you need the athletes and the super smart kids and connected kids to ensure college placement / reputation says strong. Obviously you plan for much higher yield and accept fewer students and make more use of the waitlist.

For the other grades you accept siblings and any stand outs / children of DC royalty that you need to accept and that's it. Maybe a few extras to make sure you have at least 12 in pre-k and 2 small kindergarten classes. You can always back fill the classes in future years.

This makes the most sense. When (if) they are granted a waiver to enlarge the school they can fill in the younger years classes.

They won’t be granted another waiver. The ANC is extremely pissed off.

Haha... Thus was /s correct.

What is the ANC going to do? Vote with Great Weight to make them move?

And there is the attitude that makes caps and thresholds necessary. Some members of the school community cannot abide by the agreement without being forced to do so.

The ANC can advise the city that the school does not appear to be satisfying the Trip Cap or Trip Threshold conditions it agreed to and should not be entitled to any automatic increase in its enrollment. The city gives a lot of weight to what the ANC says.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find this incredibly distressing. Why are schools so bent on maximising applications when they have so little space?

maximizing applications = more exclusive-seeming school that can be more selective about who they grant admission

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The city probably cut them some slack over Covid. But now things are getting back to normal, including full-time in-person school with GDS parents and family staff dropping kids off all over the surrounding neighborhood in violation of the school’s agreement, they are requiring the school to comply

It’s not normal or business as usual. Applicants multiplied, acceptance yields spiked and open private schools in the dmv blew out their numbers.

We were shocked how various communities here handled Covid and didn’t put children first, but here we go again. More of the same. What a community.

We have families in other states that had significantly more hours per week of in person school than here those days, in public and private schools. Parents working remotely even subbed in various classes. Can do attitude and made it happen.

Here people were zooming in to teach kids a couple hours a day and staying home. Politicians trying to shut any type of school down.

So If I'm a neighbor I'm supposed to tolerate hundreds more cars whizzing by my front door and turning around in my driveway each day "for the children?" Children who are paying $50K for school and certainly were about the least impacted by the pandemic of any in DC?

Sure. No thank you.

There are many communities, cities, states and countries that would prioritize children’s development and education over a 20 minute rush hour.
Everyone in the world who lives near a school or office district or college or sports arena or whatever, successfully deals with this.

Only the truly selfish would keep more kids out of school so they can look out their window and not see kids arriving or departing school twice a day. That’s a special kind of special.

Nobody is keeping kids out of school. The school (GDS) is requiring people to follow the transportation plan and its agreement with the neighborhood re. where to drive, park, pick-up, etc. Some people couldn't be bothered.

[Anonymous]

I didn't read through every comment, but I think there are ~119-121 seniors at GDS this year. Minus 50 that gives you about 80 spots. It would be a shame if they took spots away from 9th grade. The 8th graders need to see new faces and it would change the dynamic if the new students were in a clear minority. Part of what makes the HS great is the large influx of new students.

As a former parent, I can assure you that the administration did their very best to minimize traffic and congestion for neighbors and followed all the rules and sent constant reminders and communications. It's not like they sent out official notices and then whispered to parents to go block a driveway. They can do but so much. Anyone who's going to respond that it's private school parents or GDS parents, stop, and go drive away Deal or Wilson or think about what you did last week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't read through every comment, but I think there are ~119-121 seniors at GDS this year. Minus 50 that gives you about 80 spots. It would be a shame if they took spots away from 9th grade. The 8th graders need to see new faces and it would change the dynamic if the new students were in a clear minority. Part of what makes the HS great is the large influx of new students.

As a former parent, I can assure you that the administration did their very best to minimize traffic and congestion for neighbors and followed all the rules and sent constant reminders and communications. It's not like they sent out official notices and then whispered to parents to go block a driveway. They can do but so much. Anyone who's going to respond that it's private school parents or GDS parents, stop, and go drive away Deal or Wilson or think about what you did last week.

Perhaps they need to do something beyond sending reminders? Just a thought. I'll go back to thinking about what I did last week, thanks for the gentle reminder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The city probably cut them some slack over Covid. But now things are getting back to normal, including full-time in-person school with GDS parents and family staff dropping kids off all over the surrounding neighborhood in violation of the school’s agreement, they are requiring the school to comply

It’s not normal or business as usual. Applicants multiplied, acceptance yields spiked and open private schools in the dmv blew out their numbers.

We were shocked how various communities here handled Covid and didn’t put children first, but here we go again. More of the same. What a community.

We have families in other states that had significantly more hours per week of in person school than here those days, in public and private schools. Parents working remotely even subbed in various classes. Can do attitude and made it happen.

Here people were zooming in to teach kids a couple hours a day and staying home. Politicians trying to shut any type of school down.

So If I'm a neighbor I'm supposed to tolerate hundreds more cars whizzing by my front door and turning around in my driveway each day "for the children?" Children who are paying $50K for school and certainly were about the least impacted by the pandemic of any in DC?

Sure. No thank you.

There are many communities, cities, states and countries that would prioritize children’s development and education over a 20 minute rush hour.
Everyone in the world who lives near a school or office district or college or sports arena or whatever, successfully deals with this.

Only the truly selfish would keep more kids out of school so they can look out their window and not see kids arriving or departing school twice a day. That’s a special kind of special.

What is wrong with you?? GDS is an elite private school for ppl who think they’re better than the community. Learn to not be so much of a snowflake. We don’t care about seeing cars. We care about cars that block our driveways, make us late to take our kids to school and are so self absorbed they think trivial things like no parking zones and red lights don’t apply to them.

Dude, what is wrong with you.?.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't read through every comment, but I think there are ~119-121 seniors at GDS this year. Minus 50 that gives you about 80 spots. It would be a shame if they took spots away from 9th grade. The 8th graders need to see new faces and it would change the dynamic if the new students were in a clear minority. Part of what makes the HS great is the large influx of new students.

As a former parent, I can assure you that the administration did their very best to minimize traffic and congestion for neighbors and followed all the rules and sent constant reminders and communications. It's not like they sent out official notices and then whispered to parents to go block a driveway. They can do but so much. Anyone who's going to respond that it's private school parents or GDS parents, stop, and go drive away Deal or Wilson or think about what you did last week.

Perhaps they need to do something beyond sending reminders? Just a thought. I'll go back to thinking about what I did last week, thanks for the gentle reminder.

They could try it in multiple languages for all the au pairs and nanny drivers.

And is it true one cannot park on busy river road at all if going in to the school? That’s a major commuting artery.

[Anonymous]

I walk my DCPS elementary school kid along River Road each morning and then home again. Several times a week I watch cars entering and exiting GDS from River Road in ways that put pedestrians in danger and/or block the traffic on River Road. This is why the ANCs are so rigid about their relationships with private schools in their neighborhoods: it has a real impact on our safety. More students = more cars impacting our neighborhoods. FWIW, I also have a child in private school outside of our neighborhood and our school is very diligent about warning parents not to violate our agreements with the ANC and sending security guards out to enforce during drop off and pickup. Private schools are a part of their geographic community and they need to act like it!

[Anonymous]

Applying family asking a question, though based on this thread, it seems we sadly don't have to worry about it. What are the rules for drop-off and pick-up? We live in Chevy Chase and were planning to drop our DC off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I walk my DCPS elementary school kid along River Road each morning and then home again. Several times a week I watch cars entering and exiting GDS from River Road in ways that put pedestrians in danger and/or block the traffic on River Road. This is why the ANCs are so rigid about their relationships with private schools in their neighborhoods: it has a real impact on our safety. More students = more cars impacting our neighborhoods. FWIW, I also have a child in private school outside of our neighborhood and our school is very diligent about warning parents not to violate our agreements with the ANC and sending security guards out to enforce during drop off and pickup. Private schools are a part of their geographic community and they need to act like it!

Driving in or out of a driveway or parking garage is not against any law at any school.

[Anonymous]

Love to hear your thoughts on all the double parked FedEx and ups trucks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I walk my DCPS elementary school kid along River Road each morning and then home again. Several times a week I watch cars entering and exiting GDS from River Road in ways that put pedestrians in danger and/or block the traffic on River Road. This is why the ANCs are so rigid about their relationships with private schools in their neighborhoods: it has a real impact on our safety. More students = more cars impacting our neighborhoods. FWIW, I also have a child in private school outside of our neighborhood and our school is very diligent about warning parents not to violate our agreements with the ANC and sending security guards out to enforce during drop off and pickup. Private schools are a part of their geographic community and they need to act like it!

Driving in or out of a driveway or parking garage is not against any law at any school.

Going to the jail is the only thing that stops you from being a jerk?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Applying family asking a question, though based on this thread, it seems we sadly don't have to worry about it. What are the rules for drop-off and pick-up? We live in Chevy Chase and were planning to drop our DC off.

There is a map at the link: https://www.gds.org/community/hopper-transportation-program

You can't use the purple streets for any reason, you can't drop off / pick up on the orange streets.

The link also notes:
With exceptions for students in Pre-K–1st grade and those with a physical disability, all students arriving by car must be part of a carpool or must arrive at school before 7:30 a.m. (and, if in Pre-K–8th grade, participate in the Early Grasshopper Program) or after 9:00 a.m.

They run a shuttle bus to lots of neighborhoods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Applying family asking a question, though based on this thread, it seems we sadly don't have to worry about it. What are the rules for drop-off and pick-up? We live in Chevy Chase and were planning to drop our DC off.

If you have only one child and they are above 1st grade, then you will need to send them by bus, carpool, or drop off before 7:30. GDS sends weekly reminders about the rules we need to abide by and has staff issuing warnings, which I have seen myself. Link below offers some information including a map that clearly indicates where drop off can and cannot happen. It is frustrating that many members of our GDS community seem to violate the agreements we've all made about transportation. I do believe that the school is doing more this year than I've ever seen to get it under control.

https://www.gds.org/community/hopper-transportation-program

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS should plan to have a typical sized 9th grade class (whatever that number was pre-covid) because you need the athletes and the super smart kids and connected kids to ensure college placement / reputation says strong. Obviously you plan for much higher yield and accept fewer students and make more use of the waitlist.

For the other grades you accept siblings and any stand outs / children of DC royalty that you need to accept and that's it. Maybe a few extras to make sure you have at least 12 in pre-k and 2 small kindergarten classes. You can always back fill the classes in future years.

This makes the most sense. When (if) they are granted a waiver to enlarge the school they can fill in the younger years classes.

They won’t be granted another waiver. The ANC is extremely pissed off.

Haha... Thus was /s correct.

What is the ANC going to do? Vote with Great Weight to make them move?

And there is the attitude that makes caps and thresholds necessary. Some members of the school community cannot abide by the agreement without being forced to do so.

The ANC can advise the city that the school does not appear to be satisfying the Trip Cap or Trip Threshold conditions it agreed to and should not be entitled to any automatic increase in its enrollment. The city gives a lot of weight to what the ANC says.

The city does not care for a minute about what the ANC thinks. But it is charming you think it does.