Name your "Big 3"

[Anonymous]

What I have learned from this thread: a school is a big three if (a) my kids go to it, or (b) the Obama kids go to it.

it's an interesting question. But not one that will be answered well when all the respondents have vested interests.

[Anonymous]

I think it's aspirational. I assumed it was where I wanted my kids to go. The Sidwell seems consitatently the most popular with GDS, STA, NCS and Holton moving around based on (I'm guessing) your religious, political and single sex v. co-ed education views.

[Anonymous]

I think that many people are answering in terms of where their child goes, or where they wish their child would go.

I wish my child had gone to Grace Episcopal Day School and that he went to St. Anselms now, I think those would be a great fit for him, but that doesn't mean I think it's "Big 3". To me "Big 3" means well big. Big school (lots of kids), big age range, big reputation (known widely), big curriculum (tries to do everything, sports, arts, academics etc . . . ), big applicant pool

I like the fact that GEDS is small, intimate, for a limited age group, has a neighborhood feel, accepts a wide range of kids, focuses on the things I think are most important, doesn't have an overwhelming feel to it. . . . That's what I wanted for him, and what made sense for our family. But other people want something different for their kid, they want the "big" experience. Nothing wrong with that.

So, I vote Sidwell, GDS, Cathedral Schools, with the addition of Potomac and Maret if you go to "Big 5".

[Anonymous]

We're focusing in the long-term on single-sex schools, which we believe are the best fit for our child. Our Big 3 are Holton, Stone Ridge and NCS. We'd be okay with coed maybe for the first few years, so you could add Potomac at least until first or second grade.

[Anonymous]

Holton, Sidwell, NCS

[Anonymous]

STA, Landon, Prep

[Anonymous]

Co-Ed: Sidwell; Maret; Potomac
Single Gender Men: STA, Landon, GP
Single Gender Women: Holton, NCS, Stone Ridge

[Anonymous]

For lower school: NPS, St. Pat's and Norwood
For upper school: St. Albans/NCS, Landon/Holton and Maret

[Anonymous]

Is this a trick question?

The big three are:

Harvard, Yale, Princeton.

[Anonymous]

STA
Holton
Maret

[Anonymous]

St. Albans
G'town Prep
Landon

[Anonymous]

Sidwell
Sidwell
Sidwell

[Anonymous]

Beauvoir
Sidwell
Maret

[Anonymous]

Sidwell
Maret
GDS

[Anonymous]

TJ