St Albans vs Sidwell

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You conveniently left out the fact that Al Gore’s son graduated from Sidwell, and his grandson currently attends Sidwell.

Yeah, Sidwell must be a miserable place. All of these wealthy and powerful people must have no choice but to keep sending their children to Sidwell.

And you conveniently left out the fact that Gore's son was expelled from STA.

Lol—are you new here? I’m certain there are no official STA records that say he was expelled. Counseled out/told STA isn’t a good fit? Almost certainly.

As a pp mentioned, he was STILL admitted to and graduated from Harvard…because of his last name. I’m not condoning this, but let’s not be naïve about how money and privilege work.

Back to the original comparison made upthread. Among DMV privates, Sidwell is unmatched when it comes to where Presidents and VPs send their children and grandchildren. Even Donald Rumsfeld’s daughter graduated from Sidwell!

You can't be serious!? No, I have lived in DC for 35 plus years. Yes. Official records. He had been suspended from St. Albans School for smoking marijuana at a school dance in 1996, and his father had called leading news outlets and convinced them not to publish the story, it has been reported.

https://www.medindia.net/news/former-us-vice-president-al-gores-son-continues-to-be-dogged-by-drug-abuse-problem-23081-1.htm

You have no idea what his official records say. I’m 100% certain they don’t say expelled. People “voluntarily” leave jobs so their records don’t say terminated. Do you honestly believe the Gore’s weren’t offered that curtesy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't speak to Sidwell, as I have one child in STA and another in another DC private that is considered on par with Sidwell, so I can speak to that perspective. The schools really are night and day... anyone telling you that they are similar and probably only speaking in huge generalities. We are so happy with STA but I think it fits my child well. Kids that do well there are already self-motivated, like to compete, have another skill (chorus, sports, etc). But with all that competition they also really do nurture the boys and have so many amazing traditions. It's a true prep school. Other schools with their commitment to inclusivity and higher staff turnover don't seem to have a true culture to them. My kid likes the school but it's just not the same. It's the way I felt about my public HS. Enjoyable but the school was not a big part of my childhood. Just a place to go and learn and play sports but not a school spirit within me. It's just a place to get an education. STA is more "all-in" if you will...

There is no DC private that is considered on par with Sidwell.

STA is, and, academically, so is NCS.

NP. No DC private’s national reputation is on par with Sidwell’s reputation. None.

Most DC natives would disagree with this. STA has traditionally been the city’s premier private school (going back generations). Whether or not that has changed is probably up for debate.

Nothing to do with reputation, but its campus is absolutely stunning.

I see STA’s PR department is working overtime on MLK’s birthday!
No dear, most DC natives, from EVERY ward, have heard of Sidwell (the Obama effect). Many haven’t heard of STA. Sidwell’s local and national reputation eclipses STA’s. This is not up for debate.

Btw, Sidwell is 25 years older than STA. it was and continues to be the city’s premier private school before anyone laid the first brick for the rest of DC’s independent schools.

[Anonymous]

Honestly who cares. Both schools are largely unattainable for most people, also wouldn’t be a good fit for most due to their rigor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The "no overlap" thing is not true in our case either. I have kids at both NCS and STA and they have friends at Sidwell.

None of these high schoolers have a ton of time to hang out with kids from other schools. Heck, they don't have time to hang out with kids from their own schools. But there is no hostility. They mix just fine. Many of them grew up going to feeder schools together, their parents are friends, etc.

Typical DCUM is spreading drama and untruths.

No one said there is any hostility. They are just not in the same social circles. That’s true in our case for two kids.

My kids hang out with other kids a lot on the weekends. That is strange and a bit sad that yours do not. They should be - they are teens!

This. They just are not in the same social world. Different social groups.

I would have to agree with this post. NCS and STA US students. NCS girl and STA boy are very social with their school. They both have played travel sports since they were young. Ny kids hand with Landon, Stone Ridge, a couple Bulis and W school kids. They have never hung with Sidwell kids. Ever. I'm not saying SFS kids are bad, but they have never been any social interaction (that I am aware of) between our kids and their friends with Sidwell. It's odd.

It’s not odd. Your kids are just not as sociable as you think they are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't speak to Sidwell, as I have one child in STA and another in another DC private that is considered on par with Sidwell, so I can speak to that perspective. The schools really are night and day... anyone telling you that they are similar and probably only speaking in huge generalities. We are so happy with STA but I think it fits my child well. Kids that do well there are already self-motivated, like to compete, have another skill (chorus, sports, etc). But with all that competition they also really do nurture the boys and have so many amazing traditions. It's a true prep school. Other schools with their commitment to inclusivity and higher staff turnover don't seem to have a true culture to them. My kid likes the school but it's just not the same. It's the way I felt about my public HS. Enjoyable but the school was not a big part of my childhood. Just a place to go and learn and play sports but not a school spirit within me. It's just a place to get an education. STA is more "all-in" if you will...

There is no DC private that is considered on par with Sidwell.

STA is, and, academically, so is NCS.

NP. No DC private’s national reputation is on par with Sidwell’s reputation. None.

Most DC natives would disagree with this. STA has traditionally been the city’s premier private school (going back generations). Whether or not that has changed is probably up for debate.

Nothing to do with reputation, but its campus is absolutely stunning.

I see STA’s PR department is working overtime on MLK’s birthday!
No dear, most DC natives, from EVERY ward, have heard of Sidwell (the Obama effect). Many haven’t heard of STA. Sidwell’s local and national reputation eclipses STA’s. This is not up for debate.

Btw, Sidwell is 25 years older than STA. it was and continues to be the city’s premier private school before anyone laid the first brick for the rest of DC’s independent schools.

+1. STA admissions team is here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You conveniently left out the fact that Al Gore’s son graduated from Sidwell, and his grandson currently attends Sidwell.

Yeah, Sidwell must be a miserable place. All of these wealthy and powerful people must have no choice but to keep sending their children to Sidwell.

And you conveniently left out the fact that Gore's son was expelled from STA.

Lol—are you new here? I’m certain there are no official STA records that say he was expelled. Counseled out/told STA isn’t a good fit? Almost certainly.

As a pp mentioned, he was STILL admitted to and graduated from Harvard…because of his last name. I’m not condoning this, but let’s not be naïve about how money and privilege work.

Back to the original comparison made upthread. Among DMV privates, Sidwell is unmatched when it comes to where Presidents and VPs send their children and grandchildren. Even Donald Rumsfeld’s daughter graduated from Sidwell!

He went to Sidwell after STA because the secret service infratstructure was already in place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You conveniently left out the fact that Al Gore’s son graduated from Sidwell, and his grandson currently attends Sidwell.

Yeah, Sidwell must be a miserable place. All of these wealthy and powerful people must have no choice but to keep sending their children to Sidwell.

And you conveniently left out the fact that Gore's son was expelled from STA.

Lol—are you new here? I’m certain there are no official STA records that say he was expelled. Counseled out/told STA isn’t a good fit? Almost certainly.

As a pp mentioned, he was STILL admitted to and graduated from Harvard…because of his last name. I’m not condoning this, but let’s not be naïve about how money and privilege work.

Back to the original comparison made upthread. Among DMV privates, Sidwell is unmatched when it comes to where Presidents and VPs send their children and grandchildren. Even Donald Rumsfeld’s daughter graduated from Sidwell!

He went to Sidwell at that point because the Sexret Service infrastructure was already in place.

[Anonymous]

I can’t imagine sending a child to either one of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can’t imagine sending a child to either one of them.

You couldn’t imagine it because you know your child wouldn’t be admitted to either school, and you can’t afford the tuition anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t imagine sending a child to either one of them.

You couldn’t imagine it because you know your child wouldn’t be admitted to either school, and you can’t afford the tuition anyway.

Really mean. Was that necessary?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t imagine sending a child to either one of them.

You couldn’t imagine it because you know your child wouldn’t be admitted to either school, and you can’t afford the tuition anyway.

Thanks for proving my point.

[Anonymous]

The reason why more presidential and vice presidential children have attended Sidwell is because the Secret Service found it easier to secure..

Sidwell may be better known because of the Obama girls but that doesn’t make it a better school. It’s cruising on its reputation. It has serious issues including a weak college counseling office. STA has its issues, too, but it is overall a better run school with stronger teachers in the Upper School.

I say that as a parent with kids at both schools. Sidwell needs to get its administrative act together and the HOS needs to stop with the blatant favoritism for politically connected families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The reason why more presidential and vice presidential children have attended Sidwell is because the Secret Service found it easier to secure..

Sidwell may be better known because of the Obama girls but that doesn’t make it a better school. It’s cruising on its reputation. It has serious issues including a weak college counseling office. STA has its issues, too, but it is overall a better run school with stronger teachers in the Upper School.

I say that as a parent with kids at both schools. Sidwell needs to get its administrative act together and the HOS needs to stop with the blatant favoritism for politically connected families.

This is true. STA’s campus is more much porous since it is on the Cathedral Close. When Gore’s son was there, multiple entrances into the various campus buildings were unlocked throughout the day and into the evening. The 90s was a different era however, in terms of security. Public schools back then, like Wilson and B-CC, were just as permeable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which school for a bright boy? We care about diversity

what does this mean exactly?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t imagine sending a child to either one of them.

You couldn’t imagine it because you know your child wouldn’t be admitted to either school, and you can’t afford the tuition anyway.

Really mean. Was that necessary?

No, but the insult that prompted it was unnecessary, as well. Typical DCUM.