Big 3, Big 5??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to elite NE prep school and was admitted attended H/Y/P/S. I heard of Sidwell and STA before college, but never knew about NCS or GDS until I met graduates from those schools in college (about the same # of GDS and STA/NCS combined). If we’re being honest, for people outside DMV, almost all these schools are the same in prestige. The exception is Sidwell because three presidents’ kids went there in modern history. (And yes, I have a DC who was admitted to Sidwell and these other schools and did not choose Sidwell.)

People who try to distinguish between Big 3 or Big 5 by date of founding are just reaching. Episcopal High school was founded in 1839. Nobody pretends that Episcopal is clearly better than STA.

Can’t we all just agree that Sidwell, cathedral schools, GDS and Potomac (and others) provide an excellent education, have similar matriculations, and have far more qualified applicants than spots?

Before Sidwell, STA and NCS were the schools of choice for presidential/vice presidential kids. To my marginally-inside understanding (read: this could be completely incorrect but was the word in these circles at the time), Chelsea Clinton couldn't go to NCS because the Gores were already there and that would have created security issues, so they chose Sidwell instead. Then the Obamas also chose Sidwell. It's not a huge sample size. The children of the Gores, Quayles, Bush I, and more were at NCS and STA before similarly situated kids went to Sidwell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to elite NE prep school and was admitted attended H/Y/P/S. I heard of Sidwell and STA before college, but never knew about NCS or GDS until I met graduates from those schools in college (about the same # of GDS and STA/NCS combined). If we’re being honest, for people outside DMV, almost all these schools are the same in prestige. The exception is Sidwell because three presidents’ kids went there in modern history. (And yes, I have a DC who was admitted to Sidwell and these other schools and did not choose Sidwell.)

People who try to distinguish between Big 3 or Big 5 by date of founding are just reaching. Episcopal High school was founded in 1839. Nobody pretends that Episcopal is clearly better than STA.

Can’t we all just agree that Sidwell, cathedral schools, GDS and Potomac (and others) provide an excellent education, have similar matriculations, and have far more qualified applicants than spots?

Before Sidwell, STA and NCS were the schools of choice for presidential/vice presidential kids. To my marginally-inside understanding (read: this could be completely incorrect but was the word in these circles at the time), Chelsea Clinton couldn't go to NCS because the Gores were already there and that would have created security issues, so they chose Sidwell instead. Then the Obamas also chose Sidwell. It's not a huge sample size. The children of the Gores, Quayles, Bush I, and more were at NCS and STA before similarly situated kids went to Sidwell.

True. George Bush was on governing board at NCS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to elite NE prep school and was admitted attended H/Y/P/S. I heard of Sidwell and STA before college, but never knew about NCS or GDS until I met graduates from those schools in college (about the same # of GDS and STA/NCS combined). If we’re being honest, for people outside DMV, almost all these schools are the same in prestige. The exception is Sidwell because three presidents’ kids went there in modern history. (And yes, I have a DC who was admitted to Sidwell and these other schools and did not choose Sidwell.)

People who try to distinguish between Big 3 or Big 5 by date of founding are just reaching. Episcopal High school was founded in 1839. Nobody pretends that Episcopal is clearly better than STA.

Can’t we all just agree that Sidwell, cathedral schools, GDS and Potomac (and others) provide an excellent education, have similar matriculations, and have far more qualified applicants than spots?

Before Sidwell, STA and NCS were the schools of choice for presidential/vice presidential kids. To my marginally-inside understanding (read: this could be completely incorrect but was the word in these circles at the time), Chelsea Clinton couldn't go to NCS because the Gores were already there and that would have created security issues, so they chose Sidwell instead. Then the Obamas also chose Sidwell. It's not a huge sample size. The children of the Gores, Quayles, Bush I, and more were at NCS and STA before similarly situated kids went to Sidwell.

True. George Bush was on governing board at NCS.

Also Al Gore attended STA as well as a Bush son. Gore daughters attended NCS and as said Bush on board at NCS and involved in Cathedral schools. It was actually always the Cathedral schools for the children of high level office holders until Clintons sent to Sidwell. Prior to 90's for almost a 100 years it was the Cathedral schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to elite NE prep school and was admitted attended H/Y/P/S. I heard of Sidwell and STA before college, but never knew about NCS or GDS until I met graduates from those schools in college (about the same # of GDS and STA/NCS combined). If we’re being honest, for people outside DMV, almost all these schools are the same in prestige. The exception is Sidwell because three presidents’ kids went there in modern history. (And yes, I have a DC who was admitted to Sidwell and these other schools and did not choose Sidwell.)

People who try to distinguish between Big 3 or Big 5 by date of founding are just reaching. Episcopal High school was founded in 1839. Nobody pretends that Episcopal is clearly better than STA.

Can’t we all just agree that Sidwell, cathedral schools, GDS and Potomac (and others) provide an excellent education, have similar matriculations, and have far more qualified applicants than spots?

Before Sidwell, STA and NCS were the schools of choice for presidential/vice presidential kids. To my marginally-inside understanding (read: this could be completely incorrect but was the word in these circles at the time), Chelsea Clinton couldn't go to NCS because the Gores were already there and that would have created security issues, so they chose Sidwell instead. Then the Obamas also chose Sidwell. It's not a huge sample size. The children of the Gores, Quayles, Bush I, and more were at NCS and STA before similarly situated kids went to Sidwell.

True. George Bush was on governing board at NCS.

Also Al Gore attended STA as well as a Bush son. Gore daughters attended NCS and as said Bush on board at NCS and involved in Cathedral schools. It was actually always the Cathedral schools for the children of high level office holders until Clintons sent to Sidwell. Prior to 90's for almost a 100 years it was the Cathedral schools.

PP here - I am incorrect. Forgot about Nixon's daughters they also attended Sidwell and Gore's son originally attended STA as Al Gore did then transferred to Sidwell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Big 3 has always been Sidwell, GDS and STA/NCS. If you’re not including STA/NCS as one school system then NCS falls off that list.

GDS was not even created as a school when the Big 3 schools began. It has always been STA, NCS, and Sidwell. Always. NCS/STA are NOT the same school. Different institutions, different boards, different finances, etc... Only 30 percent of families have kids in both schools.

As said GDS was not even in existence as a school when the Big 3 term began.

Huh???
What are you talking about? GDS was created in 1945. The "big 3" is a term created on DCUM. DCUM has not even been around for 30 years.

No but Big 3 school and top tier have been around for over a hundred years and the top tier has always been Sidwell and Cathedral schools. Ask anyone that grew up in this area. GDS came into the picture much later as did Potomac.

Yes, they have been around a long time, but they were never called big 3 or big anything. The big 3 term started on DCUM.

There’s literally a Wikipedia article about the term “big 3” and its use to describe HYP dating back 100+ years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to elite NE prep school and was admitted attended H/Y/P/S. I heard of Sidwell and STA before college, but never knew about NCS or GDS until I met graduates from those schools in college (about the same # of GDS and STA/NCS combined). If we’re being honest, for people outside DMV, almost all these schools are the same in prestige. The exception is Sidwell because three presidents’ kids went there in modern history. (And yes, I have a DC who was admitted to Sidwell and these other schools and did not choose Sidwell.)

People who try to distinguish between Big 3 or Big 5 by date of founding are just reaching. Episcopal High school was founded in 1839. Nobody pretends that Episcopal is clearly better than STA.

Can’t we all just agree that Sidwell, cathedral schools, GDS and Potomac (and others) provide an excellent education, have similar matriculations, and have far more qualified applicants than spots?

Before Sidwell, STA and NCS were the schools of choice for presidential/vice presidential kids. To my marginally-inside understanding (read: this could be completely incorrect but was the word in these circles at the time), Chelsea Clinton couldn't go to NCS because the Gores were already there and that would have created security issues, so they chose Sidwell instead. Then the Obamas also chose Sidwell. It's not a huge sample size. The children of the Gores, Quayles, Bush I, and more were at NCS and STA before similarly situated kids went to Sidwell.

True. George Bush was on governing board at NCS.

Also Al Gore attended STA as well as a Bush son. Gore daughters attended NCS and as said Bush on board at NCS and involved in Cathedral schools. It was actually always the Cathedral schools for the children of high level office holders until Clintons sent to Sidwell. Prior to 90's for almost a 100 years it was the Cathedral schools.

PP here - I am incorrect. Forgot about Nixon's daughters they also attended Sidwell and Gore's son originally attended STA as Al Gore did then transferred to Sidwell.

His transfer was not due to Sidwell being preferred over STA. I don't want to say more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to elite NE prep school and was admitted attended H/Y/P/S. I heard of Sidwell and STA before college, but never knew about NCS or GDS until I met graduates from those schools in college (about the same # of GDS and STA/NCS combined). If we’re being honest, for people outside DMV, almost all these schools are the same in prestige. The exception is Sidwell because three presidents’ kids went there in modern history. (And yes, I have a DC who was admitted to Sidwell and these other schools and did not choose Sidwell.)

People who try to distinguish between Big 3 or Big 5 by date of founding are just reaching. Episcopal High school was founded in 1839. Nobody pretends that Episcopal is clearly better than STA.

Can’t we all just agree that Sidwell, cathedral schools, GDS and Potomac (and others) provide an excellent education, have similar matriculations, and have far more qualified applicants than spots?

Before Sidwell, STA and NCS were the schools of choice for presidential/vice presidential kids. To my marginally-inside understanding (read: this could be completely incorrect but was the word in these circles at the time), Chelsea Clinton couldn't go to NCS because the Gores were already there and that would have created security issues, so they chose Sidwell instead. Then the Obamas also chose Sidwell. It's not a huge sample size. The children of the Gores, Quayles, Bush I, and more were at NCS and STA before similarly situated kids went to Sidwell.

True. George Bush was on governing board at NCS.

Also Al Gore attended STA as well as a Bush son. Gore daughters attended NCS and as said Bush on board at NCS and involved in Cathedral schools. It was actually always the Cathedral schools for the children of high level office holders until Clintons sent to Sidwell. Prior to 90's for almost a 100 years it was the Cathedral schools.

Lies.

Presidents and VPs (parents and grandparents) of Sidwell Friends students include:

1. Theodore Roosevelt, 29th President of the United States
2. Richard Nixon, 37th President of the United States
3. Bill Clinton, 42nd President of the United States
4. Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States
5. Al Gore, 45th Vice President of the United States (his grandchild currently attends Sidwell)
6. Joe Biden, 46th and current President of the United States AND 47th Vice President of the United States

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to elite NE prep school and was admitted attended H/Y/P/S. I heard of Sidwell and STA before college, but never knew about NCS or GDS until I met graduates from those schools in college (about the same # of GDS and STA/NCS combined). If we’re being honest, for people outside DMV, almost all these schools are the same in prestige. The exception is Sidwell because three presidents’ kids went there in modern history. (And yes, I have a DC who was admitted to Sidwell and these other schools and did not choose Sidwell.)

People who try to distinguish between Big 3 or Big 5 by date of founding are just reaching. Episcopal High school was founded in 1839. Nobody pretends that Episcopal is clearly better than STA.

Can’t we all just agree that Sidwell, cathedral schools, GDS and Potomac (and others) provide an excellent education, have similar matriculations, and have far more qualified applicants than spots?

Before Sidwell, STA and NCS were the schools of choice for presidential/vice presidential kids. To my marginally-inside understanding (read: this could be completely incorrect but was the word in these circles at the time), Chelsea Clinton couldn't go to NCS because the Gores were already there and that would have created security issues, so they chose Sidwell instead. Then the Obamas also chose Sidwell. It's not a huge sample size. The children of the Gores, Quayles, Bush I, and more were at NCS and STA before similarly situated kids went to Sidwell.

True. George Bush was on governing board at NCS.

Also Al Gore attended STA as well as a Bush son. Gore daughters attended NCS and as said Bush on board at NCS and involved in Cathedral schools. It was actually always the Cathedral schools for the children of high level office holders until Clintons sent to Sidwell. Prior to 90's for almost a 100 years it was the Cathedral schools.

Lies.

Presidents and VPs (parents and grandparents) of Sidwell Friends students include:

1. Theodore Roosevelt, 29th President of the United States
2. Richard Nixon, 37th President of the United States
3. Bill Clinton, 42nd President of the United States
4. Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States
5. Al Gore, 45th Vice President of the United States (his grandchild currently attends Sidwell)
6. Joe Biden, 46th and current President of the United States AND 47th Vice President of the United States

"Lies"? That's a bit much. The PP you're accusing of lying already correct him/herself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to elite NE prep school and was admitted attended H/Y/P/S. I heard of Sidwell and STA before college, but never knew about NCS or GDS until I met graduates from those schools in college (about the same # of GDS and STA/NCS combined). If we’re being honest, for people outside DMV, almost all these schools are the same in prestige. The exception is Sidwell because three presidents’ kids went there in modern history. (And yes, I have a DC who was admitted to Sidwell and these other schools and did not choose Sidwell.)

People who try to distinguish between Big 3 or Big 5 by date of founding are just reaching. Episcopal High school was founded in 1839. Nobody pretends that Episcopal is clearly better than STA.

Can’t we all just agree that Sidwell, cathedral schools, GDS and Potomac (and others) provide an excellent education, have similar matriculations, and have far more qualified applicants than spots?

Before Sidwell, STA and NCS were the schools of choice for presidential/vice presidential kids. To my marginally-inside understanding (read: this could be completely incorrect but was the word in these circles at the time), Chelsea Clinton couldn't go to NCS because the Gores were already there and that would have created security issues, so they chose Sidwell instead. Then the Obamas also chose Sidwell. It's not a huge sample size. The children of the Gores, Quayles, Bush I, and more were at NCS and STA before similarly situated kids went to Sidwell.

True. George Bush was on governing board at NCS.

Also Al Gore attended STA as well as a Bush son. Gore daughters attended NCS and as said Bush on board at NCS and involved in Cathedral schools. It was actually always the Cathedral schools for the children of high level office holders until Clintons sent to Sidwell. Prior to 90's for almost a 100 years it was the Cathedral schools.

Lies.

Presidents and VPs (parents and grandparents) of Sidwell Friends students include:

1. Theodore Roosevelt, 29th President of the United States
2. Richard Nixon, 37th President of the United States
3. Bill Clinton, 42nd President of the United States
4. Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States
5. Al Gore, 45th Vice President of the United States (his grandchild currently attends Sidwell)
6. Joe Biden, 46th and current President of the United States AND 47th Vice President of the United States

"Lies"? That's a bit much. The PP you're accusing of lying already correct him/herself.

No, they didn’t correct themselves. The PP I responded to said the following:
“It was actually always the Cathedral schools for the children of high level office holders until Clintons sent to Sidwell. Prior to 90's for almost a 100 years it was the Cathedral schools.”

If they were alive, Roosevelt and Nixon would disagree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to elite NE prep school and was admitted attended H/Y/P/S. I heard of Sidwell and STA before college, but never knew about NCS or GDS until I met graduates from those schools in college (about the same # of GDS and STA/NCS combined). If we’re being honest, for people outside DMV, almost all these schools are the same in prestige. The exception is Sidwell because three presidents’ kids went there in modern history. (And yes, I have a DC who was admitted to Sidwell and these other schools and did not choose Sidwell.)

People who try to distinguish between Big 3 or Big 5 by date of founding are just reaching. Episcopal High school was founded in 1839. Nobody pretends that Episcopal is clearly better than STA.

Can’t we all just agree that Sidwell, cathedral schools, GDS and Potomac (and others) provide an excellent education, have similar matriculations, and have far more qualified applicants than spots?

Before Sidwell, STA and NCS were the schools of choice for presidential/vice presidential kids. To my marginally-inside understanding (read: this could be completely incorrect but was the word in these circles at the time), Chelsea Clinton couldn't go to NCS because the Gores were already there and that would have created security issues, so they chose Sidwell instead. Then the Obamas also chose Sidwell. It's not a huge sample size. The children of the Gores, Quayles, Bush I, and more were at NCS and STA before similarly situated kids went to Sidwell.

True. George Bush was on governing board at NCS.

Also Al Gore attended STA as well as a Bush son. Gore daughters attended NCS and as said Bush on board at NCS and involved in Cathedral schools. It was actually always the Cathedral schools for the children of high level office holders until Clintons sent to Sidwell. Prior to 90's for almost a 100 years it was the Cathedral schools.

Lies.

Presidents and VPs (parents and grandparents) of Sidwell Friends students include:

1. Theodore Roosevelt, 29th President of the United States
2. Richard Nixon, 37th President of the United States
3. Bill Clinton, 42nd President of the United States
4. Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States
5. Al Gore, 45th Vice President of the United States (his grandchild currently attends Sidwell)
6. Joe Biden, 46th and current President of the United States AND 47th Vice President of the United States

"Lies"? That's a bit much. The PP you're accusing of lying already correct him/herself.

No, they didn’t correct themselves. The PP I responded to said the following:
“It was actually always the Cathedral schools for the children of high level office holders until Clintons sent to Sidwell. Prior to 90's for almost a 100 years it was the Cathedral schools.”

If they were alive, Roosevelt and Nixon would disagree.

Then you missed PP's next post, starting with "PP here."

[Anonymous]

Office holders were not elected or picked for their smart kids or their ability to choose a school for their children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Office holders were not elected or picked for their smart kids or their ability to choose a school for their children.

And yet their kids, regardless of their independent credentials, have their pick of all the possible schools in the area. So where they selected is relevant to a discussion of top 3 or top 5 schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Big 3 has always been Sidwell, GDS and STA/NCS. If you’re not including STA/NCS as one school system then NCS falls off that list.

GDS was not even created as a school when the Big 3 schools began. It has always been STA, NCS, and Sidwell. Always. NCS/STA are NOT the same school. Different institutions, different boards, different finances, etc... Only 30 percent of families have kids in both schools.

As said GDS was not even in existence as a school when the Big 3 term began.

Huh???
What are you talking about? GDS was created in 1945. The "big 3" is a term created on DCUM. DCUM has not even been around for 30 years.

No but Big 3 school and top tier have been around for over a hundred years and the top tier has always been Sidwell and Cathedral schools. Ask anyone that grew up in this area. GDS came into the picture much later as did Potomac.

Yes, they have been around a long time, but they were never called big 3 or big anything. The big 3 term started on DCUM.

There’s literally a Wikipedia article about the term “big 3” and its use to describe HYP dating back 100+ years ago.

But we are not talking about HYP here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Big 3 has always been Sidwell, GDS and STA/NCS. If you’re not including STA/NCS as one school system then NCS falls off that list.

GDS was not even created as a school when the Big 3 schools began. It has always been STA, NCS, and Sidwell. Always. NCS/STA are NOT the same school. Different institutions, different boards, different finances, etc... Only 30 percent of families have kids in both schools.

As said GDS was not even in existence as a school when the Big 3 term began.

Huh???
What are you talking about? GDS was created in 1945. The "big 3" is a term created on DCUM. DCUM has not even been around for 30 years.

You think DCUM created the idea of top tier schools? Top tier and Big 3 or top 3 school terms have been around for a long time. Regardless - GDS was never in the Big 3 grouping on DCUM regardless of when the term was created. Still a good school.

"Big 3" is different than "top tier." "Big 3" is a uniquely DCUM term as applied to DC private schools. I'd say today, Big 3 refers to Sidwell, STA, and GDS-- or I'd at least concede that that was a very valid position. NCS is a good school, but these days is not as coveted as the others.
Twenty years ago, the private school landscape was so different. Look at St. Johns--it was a last hope military-type Catholic boys school for kids who got kicked out of Prep back then, but you'd hardly call it that now. GDS used to be very, very alternative, hippie, school for kids of writers, artists, and civil rights activists. It's far more mainstream now and highly regarded even among white-shoe lawyer-type families.

I think you are miscalculating the interest in GDS. We did not look at GDS and most of our friends did not either. It was not on our radar.

Top tier and Big 3 schools are one in the same. Different terms same meaning so to answer op’s question the Big 3 have always been
STA. NCS, and Sidwell.

Nope

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to elite NE prep school and was admitted attended H/Y/P/S. I heard of Sidwell and STA before college, but never knew about NCS or GDS until I met graduates from those schools in college (about the same # of GDS and STA/NCS combined). If we’re being honest, for people outside DMV, almost all these schools are the same in prestige. The exception is Sidwell because three presidents’ kids went there in modern history. (And yes, I have a DC who was admitted to Sidwell and these other schools and did not choose Sidwell.)

People who try to distinguish between Big 3 or Big 5 by date of founding are just reaching. Episcopal High school was founded in 1839. Nobody pretends that Episcopal is clearly better than STA.

Can’t we all just agree that Sidwell, cathedral schools, GDS and Potomac (and others) provide an excellent education, have similar matriculations, and have far more qualified applicants than spots?

Before Sidwell, STA and NCS were the schools of choice for presidential/vice presidential kids. To my marginally-inside understanding (read: this could be completely incorrect but was the word in these circles at the time), Chelsea Clinton couldn't go to NCS because the Gores were already there and that would have created security issues, so they chose Sidwell instead. Then the Obamas also chose Sidwell. It's not a huge sample size. The children of the Gores, Quayles, Bush I, and more were at NCS and STA before similarly situated kids went to Sidwell.

True. George Bush was on governing board at NCS.

Also Al Gore attended STA as well as a Bush son. Gore daughters attended NCS and as said Bush on board at NCS and involved in Cathedral schools. It was actually always the Cathedral schools for the children of high level office holders until Clintons sent to Sidwell. Prior to 90's for almost a 100 years it was the Cathedral schools.

Lies.

Presidents and VPs (parents and grandparents) of Sidwell Friends students include:

1. Theodore Roosevelt, 29th President of the United States
2. Richard Nixon, 37th President of the United States
3. Bill Clinton, 42nd President of the United States
4. Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States
5. Al Gore, 45th Vice President of the United States (his grandchild currently attends Sidwell)
6. Joe Biden, 46th and current President of the United States AND 47th Vice President of the United States

Omission of Nixons daughters was already corrected. Relax. Seriously you are too invested in this.

BTW President Franklin Roosevelt's eldest son attended St. Albans and Al Gore and several Bush family members and the Marriotts and so many more....Gore daughters attended NCS.