GDS v. Sidwell

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell is way too rigid in Upper School.

When every hiccup is reported in the media and on these boards, I can understand why.

[Anonymous]

Facts are stubborn things. All the more reason they should strive to listen and respond to parent concerns rather than bury their heads in the sand.

[Anonymous]

Student hiccups, not adminstration/faculty hiccups.

Imagine any little thing a student did in the 1970's or 80's except being amplified on social media.

This goes for any school, but particularly Sidwell since everything that happens there always seems to be a focus of discussion on this website, on Washingtonian and elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Facts are stubborn things. All the more reason they should strive to listen and respond to parent concerns rather than bury their heads in the sand.

There's a waiting list out the door of 99th percentile, full-pay students ready to take your kid's place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Agree with this--especially by HS, kids know which school feels better. GDS was an easy call for DD bc it happened to have a combination of academics/arts/extracurriculars that matched her interests perfectly. For some of her friends, that was Sidwell. Fit is everything.

[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.

Ditto the complements to the post.

[Anonymous]

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

So GDS has a fuller Chinese offering that does Sidwell. This is interesting, because Sidwell has long boasted about its program. Is this another instance in which the Sidwell reality does not match the hype or where GDS has surpassed Sidwell in an area where the latter was perceived to have a competitive advantage?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

So GDS has a fuller Chinese offering that does Sidwell. This is interesting, because Sidwell has long boasted about its program. Is this another instance in which the Sidwell reality does not match the hype or where GDS has surpassed Sidwell in an area where the latter was perceived to have a competitive advantage?

Neither. Starting one year earlier does not amount to a better program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

So GDS has a fuller Chinese offering that does Sidwell. This is interesting, because Sidwell has long boasted about its program. Is this another instance in which the Sidwell reality does not match the hype or where GDS has surpassed Sidwell in an area where the latter was perceived to have a competitive advantage?

If you think the curriculum for one year of Chinese in 3rd grade makes a material difference to a high school student...

[Anonymous]

Neither has a competitive advantage. Both are good programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Agree with this--especially by HS, kids know which school feels better. GDS was an easy call for DD bc it happened to have a combination of academics/arts/extracurriculars that matched her interests perfectly. For some of her friends, that was Sidwell. Fit is everything.

This times a trillion bazillion. Preach. Truth.

[Anonymous]

The new season of Narcos should focus on GDS and Sidwell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

So GDS has a fuller Chinese offering that does Sidwell. This is interesting, because Sidwell has long boasted about its program. Is this another instance in which the Sidwell reality does not match the hype or where GDS has surpassed Sidwell in an area where the latter was perceived to have a competitive advantage?

Neither. Starting one year earlier does not amount to a better program.

Right. Teachers are more important!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The new season of Narcos should focus on GDS and Sidwell.

Narcos NW DC.

[Anonymous]

As someone who has nothing to do with either school, you all come off as a bunch of elitist snobs who are out of touch with reality. I do know families at both of these schools and they are down to earth and chill. You are all giving these schools a really bad look. I’m just here for the Bravoesque drama