Please Choose Private For the Right Reasons

[Anonymous]

What makes you the private school police?

No one needs to explain themselves to why they are sending their kids to private school.

I have kids in both public and private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve seen a recent influx of posts from parents looking for a "nice private alternative" to MCPS or DCPS because they want "rigorous academics" and "small classes." As someone who has been through the cycle with multiple kids at Sidwell and GDS, I feel compelled to say: You are fundamentally doing this wrong.

If your primary goal is just a heavy workload and high AP/IB participation, stay in the public system. The top-tier tracks in MoCo and DC are just as rigorous as anything you’ll find in an independent school. In fact, if you go the private route just to "avoid" public, you often end up paying $45k+ for facilities that are—let’s be honest—frequently dated or even inferior to what a well-funded public school offers. I’ve seen some of these smaller parochial campuses in the Olney/Sandy Spring area, and I’m baffled why anyone would pay tuition for a "campus" that looks like a 1970s office park when the local public has better labs and fields.

You don't send your LOs to the crown jewels of DC private to escape public school. You send them for a values-based, progressive experiential education. You go because you want your DS to be an out-of-the-box thinker who understands social justice and pluralism at a cellular level.

What makes Sidwell special isn't the math curriculum—it’s the intentionality. It’s the school-wide Iftar dinners, the student-led seders focused on sustainability, the niche global theater productions (the recent African folk tale was breathtaking), and the Quaker values.

There’s also a deeper "values" component we rarely talk about. If a parent is fleeing public school to find a "stifling" or narrow environment—like some of the "diploma mills" up-county (GC comes to mind)—it makes me wonder if they’re actually just trying to avoid the diversity and pluralism that makes the DC area great. If you aren't seeking the beauty of a truly progressive education, you’re just paying for a smaller, more homogeneous pond.

Choose a school for its mission, not because you’re afraid of the public school "boogeyman." Otherwise, you’re just paying a premium for a mediocre outlook.

Have you ever set foot in GC? If you are a Sidwell family why on earth are you commenting on GC? The two communities never cross paths and you're so absolutely WRONG. GC is extremely diverse and values driven.

This post screams TROLL with a personal vendetta. Go find a better hobby.

+1 - troll post with a whiff of AI

ChatGPT isn’t this bad at writing

The dashes are a clear tell. This is 100% AI

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What makes you the private school police?

No one needs to explain themselves to why they are sending their kids to private school.

I have kids in both public and private.

No one is the private school police but let’s be honest, we have a lot of parents panic and go to private for the wrong reasons

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve seen a recent influx of posts from parents looking for a "nice private alternative" to MCPS or DCPS because they want "rigorous academics" and "small classes." As someone who has been through the cycle with multiple kids at Sidwell and GDS, I feel compelled to say: You are fundamentally doing this wrong.

If your primary goal is just a heavy workload and high AP/IB participation, stay in the public system. The top-tier tracks in MoCo and DC are just as rigorous as anything you’ll find in an independent school. In fact, if you go the private route just to "avoid" public, you often end up paying $45k+ for facilities that are—let’s be honest—frequently dated or even inferior to what a well-funded public school offers. I’ve seen some of these smaller parochial campuses in the Olney/Sandy Spring area, and I’m baffled why anyone would pay tuition for a "campus" that looks like a 1970s office park when the local public has better labs and fields.

You don't send your LOs to the crown jewels of DC private to escape public school. You send them for a values-based, progressive experiential education. You go because you want your DS to be an out-of-the-box thinker who understands social justice and pluralism at a cellular level.

What makes Sidwell special isn't the math curriculum—it’s the intentionality. It’s the school-wide Iftar dinners, the student-led seders focused on sustainability, the niche global theater productions (the recent African folk tale was breathtaking), and the Quaker values.

There’s also a deeper "values" component we rarely talk about. If a parent is fleeing public school to find a "stifling" or narrow environment—like some of the "diploma mills" up-county (GC comes to mind)—it makes me wonder if they’re actually just trying to avoid the diversity and pluralism that makes the DC area great. If you aren't seeking the beauty of a truly progressive education, you’re just paying for a smaller, more homogeneous pond.

Choose a school for its mission, not because you’re afraid of the public school "boogeyman." Otherwise, you’re just paying a premium for a mediocre outlook.

I can assure you that the reasons you list for choosing Sidwell have nothing to do with why my kids are there.

Same here. Things one of the weirdest OP posts I’ve read on here in a long while. Maybe it’s some garbage in, garbage out AI gen’d post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve seen a recent influx of posts from parents looking for a "nice private alternative" to MCPS or DCPS because they want "rigorous academics" and "small classes." As someone who has been through the cycle with multiple kids at Sidwell and GDS, I feel compelled to say: You are fundamentally doing this wrong.

If your primary goal is just a heavy workload and high AP/IB participation, stay in the public system. The top-tier tracks in MoCo and DC are just as rigorous as anything you’ll find in an independent school. In fact, if you go the private route just to "avoid" public, you often end up paying $45k+ for facilities that are—let’s be honest—frequently dated or even inferior to what a well-funded public school offers. I’ve seen some of these smaller parochial campuses in the Olney/Sandy Spring area, and I’m baffled why anyone would pay tuition for a "campus" that looks like a 1970s office park when the local public has better labs and fields.

You don't send your LOs to the crown jewels of DC private to escape public school. You send them for a values-based, progressive experiential education. You go because you want your DS to be an out-of-the-box thinker who understands social justice and pluralism at a cellular level.

What makes Sidwell special isn't the math curriculum—it’s the intentionality. It’s the school-wide Iftar dinners, the student-led seders focused on sustainability, the niche global theater productions (the recent African folk tale was breathtaking), and the Quaker values.

There’s also a deeper "values" component we rarely talk about. If a parent is fleeing public school to find a "stifling" or narrow environment—like some of the "diploma mills" up-county (GC comes to mind)—it makes me wonder if they’re actually just trying to avoid the diversity and pluralism that makes the DC area great. If you aren't seeking the beauty of a truly progressive education, you’re just paying for a smaller, more homogeneous pond.

Choose a school for its mission, not because you’re afraid of the public school "boogeyman." Otherwise, you’re just paying a premium for a mediocre outlook.

I can assure you that the reasons you list for choosing Sidwell have nothing to do with why my kids are there.

Same here. Things one of the weirdest OP posts I’ve read on here in a long while. Maybe it’s some garbage in, garbage out AI gen’d post.

It’s a very out there post but having some grace is also something we should do. It’s a tough environment out there for everyone…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve seen a recent influx of posts from parents looking for a "nice private alternative" to MCPS or DCPS because they want "rigorous academics" and "small classes." As someone who has been through the cycle with multiple kids at Sidwell and GDS, I feel compelled to say: You are fundamentally doing this wrong.

If your primary goal is just a heavy workload and high AP/IB participation, stay in the public system. The top-tier tracks in MoCo and DC are just as rigorous as anything you’ll find in an independent school. In fact, if you go the private route just to "avoid" public, you often end up paying $45k+ for facilities that are—let’s be honest—frequently dated or even inferior to what a well-funded public school offers. I’ve seen some of these smaller parochial campuses in the Olney/Sandy Spring area, and I’m baffled why anyone would pay tuition for a "campus" that looks like a 1970s office park when the local public has better labs and fields.

You don't send your LOs to the crown jewels of DC private to escape public school. You send them for a values-based, progressive experiential education. You go because you want your DS to be an out-of-the-box thinker who understands social justice and pluralism at a cellular level.

What makes Sidwell special isn't the math curriculum—it’s the intentionality. It’s the school-wide Iftar dinners, the student-led seders focused on sustainability, the niche global theater productions (the recent African folk tale was breathtaking), and the Quaker values.

There’s also a deeper "values" component we rarely talk about. If a parent is fleeing public school to find a "stifling" or narrow environment—like some of the "diploma mills" up-county (GC comes to mind)—it makes me wonder if they’re actually just trying to avoid the diversity and pluralism that makes the DC area great. If you aren't seeking the beauty of a truly progressive education, you’re just paying for a smaller, more homogeneous pond.

Choose a school for its mission, not because you’re afraid of the public school "boogeyman." Otherwise, you’re just paying a premium for a mediocre outlook.

Have you ever set foot in GC? If you are a Sidwell family why on earth are you commenting on GC? The two communities never cross paths and you're so absolutely WRONG. GC is extremely diverse and values driven.

This post screams TROLL with a personal vendetta. Go find a better hobby.

+1 - troll post with a whiff of AI

ChatGPT isn’t this bad at writing

The dashes are a clear tell. This is 100% AI

Omg I love an em-dash, but you're right! They use them waaaaaaaay more than a normal person outside of a corporate setting. Makes me feel better of my unpunctuated rambles... at least you know they are the free thought of a human mind... but a little — does a lot to clean them up at work 🤣

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve seen a recent influx of posts from parents looking for a "nice private alternative" to MCPS or DCPS because they want "rigorous academics" and "small classes." As someone who has been through the cycle with multiple kids at Sidwell and GDS, I feel compelled to say: You are fundamentally doing this wrong.

If your primary goal is just a heavy workload and high AP/IB participation, stay in the public system. The top-tier tracks in MoCo and DC are just as rigorous as anything you’ll find in an independent school. In fact, if you go the private route just to "avoid" public, you often end up paying $45k+ for facilities that are—let’s be honest—frequently dated or even inferior to what a well-funded public school offers. I’ve seen some of these smaller parochial campuses in the Olney/Sandy Spring area, and I’m baffled why anyone would pay tuition for a "campus" that looks like a 1970s office park when the local public has better labs and fields.

You don't send your LOs to the crown jewels of DC private to escape public school. You send them for a values-based, progressive experiential education. You go because you want your DS to be an out-of-the-box thinker who understands social justice and pluralism at a cellular level.

What makes Sidwell special isn't the math curriculum—it’s the intentionality. It’s the school-wide Iftar dinners, the student-led seders focused on sustainability, the niche global theater productions (the recent African folk tale was breathtaking), and the Quaker values.

There’s also a deeper "values" component we rarely talk about. If a parent is fleeing public school to find a "stifling" or narrow environment—like some of the "diploma mills" up-county (GC comes to mind)—it makes me wonder if they’re actually just trying to avoid the diversity and pluralism that makes the DC area great. If you aren't seeking the beauty of a truly progressive education, you’re just paying for a smaller, more homogeneous pond.

Choose a school for its mission, not because you’re afraid of the public school "boogeyman." Otherwise, you’re just paying a premium for a mediocre outlook.

I can assure you that the reasons you list for choosing Sidwell have nothing to do with why my kids are there.

Same here. Things one of the weirdest OP posts I’ve read on here in a long while. Maybe it’s some garbage in, garbage out AI gen’d post.

It’s a very out there post but having some grace is also something we should do. It’s a tough environment out there for everyone…

Grace about what? We aren’t doing brain surgery….talking about where to send our kids for school

[Anonymous]

I don’t know, but this post is good as it shows how some of these parents think. My kid goes to a small parochial school and whenever a parent who has kids at Sidwell, etc asks me where they go to school, their interest immediately drops when I tell them where. While I have seen first hand their ears perk up and get so interested when they hear the others like NCS, GDS, etc. it’s just such a big part of their identity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know, but this post is good as it shows how some of these parents think. My kid goes to a small parochial school and whenever a parent who has kids at Sidwell, etc asks me where they go to school, their interest immediately drops when I tell them where. While I have seen first hand their ears perk up and get so interested when they hear the others like NCS, GDS, etc. it’s just such a big part of their identity.

And when parents say their kids go to an “elite” school, do you show any interest or just annoyance and disgust? This logic goes both ways

[Anonymous]

lol this is an interesting thread. I guess it’s a good question…will most parents send their kids to Sidwell if they get in without any kind of visit and due diligence? Is that enough? I think so honestly…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know, but this post is good as it shows how some of these parents think. My kid goes to a small parochial school and whenever a parent who has kids at Sidwell, etc asks me where they go to school, their interest immediately drops when I tell them where. While I have seen first hand their ears perk up and get so interested when they hear the others like NCS, GDS, etc. it’s just such a big part of their identity.

And when parents say their kids go to an “elite” school, do you show any interest or just annoyance and disgust? This logic goes both ways

If you are actually going to use the word "elite" when telling me where your kid goes to school then no, I'm not going to show interest. Do you now need a tissue?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know, but this post is good as it shows how some of these parents think. My kid goes to a small parochial school and whenever a parent who has kids at Sidwell, etc asks me where they go to school, their interest immediately drops when I tell them where. While I have seen first hand their ears perk up and get so interested when they hear the others like NCS, GDS, etc. it’s just such a big part of their identity.

And when parents say their kids go to an “elite” school, do you show any interest or just annoyance and disgust? This logic goes both ways

Aww. Is this like elite fragility?

[Anonymous]

There's no way something this bad was written by AI. I think OP's kid got waitlisted at Sidwell, so now she's trying to discourage the families who got accepted to give up their seats so her kid can get in.

You really need to chill out and recalibrate OP. Seriously, there are lots of good schools in this area and I'm sure your child will be happy at whichever one sends your family an offer of acceptance. The lengths some people will go to...sigh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:TL;DR - "Choose Sidwell for your children if you value the mission, and want to rub elbows with the douchiest possible people at parent events."

Lol yep

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:???

We’re sending our kids to catholic school for a variety of reasons, including the fact that mcps has dramatically declined.

From what I’ve heard from alums as well as current families, Sidwell and GDS are both overrated.

PS - Nobody from upper MoCo is schlepping their kids downtown for high school unless there’s a very compelling reason (e.g., athletic scholarship at a sporty school that will likely lead to NIL money and a free ride at a good college).

We can all agree that OP is insane but let’s not go crazy and call Sidwell overrated. College stats say otherwise. If you live in Rockville / Gaithersburg / Olney even and you get into Sidwell and another school in your area, you are doing your kids a big disservice by not going to Sidwell because it’s “ overrated”.

Eh, it’s mostly transplants who put Sidwell on a pedestal. Locals who attended area privates know what Sidwell is really like: a mix of Rich kids who aren’t academically inclined (and tend to have access to a lot of drugs and alcohol) and socially awkward but bright kids from decent families. It’s fine. It’s actually a lot like most other area privates. But it’s not anything to obsess over.

Like every school, just because a select few make it into top schools doesn’t mean anything when it comes to your kid. Those same kids would make it into the same top schools had they attended any area school.

Anyway, a lot of us pick certain schools for very specific reasons or religious reasons. And I promise you that most of us couldn’t care less about that Big 3 label Dcumlandia throes around. Again, you transplants are really entertaining.

You' re forgetting the Quaker values, African performance and intentionality