GDS class sizes by grade

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In only a couple of years, GDS's class sizes will all be back to normal. Yeah, this year was brutal for new applicants, and we were very lucky that our daughter was admitted. My understanding is that, particularly for unhooked 9th graders, it was a very difficult year. As the larger classes graduate, though, everything will even out.

Yes, siblings were very lucky this year.

[Anonymous]

It's interesting. They will graduate 132 seniors so get 132 spots (plus any attrition to lower grades).
Then from this 132 they will need 45 spots between new 15 new PK students and 30 new K students.
That leaves 77 spots across the other grades to replicate this years's numbers.
If you move up each of year's classes and enlarge them to the level of the current next class (so make the current 6th grade the size of the current 7th grade) that is 77 spots.

So with this logic you basically have

PK/K 15
K 30
1st - 1
2nd - 5
3rd - 2
4th - 9
5th - 14
6th - 7
7th - 0
8th - 7
9th - 32
10th - 0
11th - 0
12th - 0
=77

With an additional 10 spots to add across all grades. Plus spots gained from attrition. Plus overage to allow for kids to turn down acceptances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting. They will graduate 132 seniors so get 132 spots (plus any attrition to lower grades).
Then from this 132 they will need 45 spots between new 15 new PK students and 30 new K students.
That leaves 77 spots across the other grades to replicate this years's numbers.
If you move up each of year's classes and enlarge them to the level of the current next class (so make the current 6th grade the size of the current 7th grade) that is 77 spots.

So with this logic you basically have

PK/K 15
K 30
1st - 1
2nd - 5
3rd - 2
4th - 9
5th - 14
6th - 7
7th - 0
8th - 7
9th - 32
10th - 0
11th - 0
12th - 0
=77

With an additional 10 spots to add across all grades. Plus spots gained from attrition. Plus overage to allow for kids to turn down acceptances.

There's no rule that says that they have to have a full size K if spots are still tight. And 8th grade isn't usually an expansion year.

But I agree with your larger point that admissions will be close to normal this year.

[Anonymous]

The issue with GDS for most families I know who applied was their complete lack of transparency regarding the fact that they had almost no spots for unhooked applicants. So - they took everyone’s money for no good reason other than to line their own pockets. And they wasted the time of stressed out parents and kids. GDS seems content to be insular with its legacy families. Be honest about that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s PK/K? I thought that program stopped a few years ago, thankfully.

I'm confused by this as well. I thought GDS had a pre-k class and a kindergarten class. PK/K doesn't make any sense.

they have a prek/k class combined of prekers and kindergarteners

This is no longer accurate. The PK/K combined classes ended in 2020. There are two kindergarten classes and just one PK class now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In only a couple of years, GDS's class sizes will all be back to normal. Yeah, this year was brutal for new applicants, and we were very lucky that our daughter was admitted. My understanding is that, particularly for unhooked 9th graders, it was a very difficult year. As the larger classes graduate, though, everything will even out.

Yes, siblings were very lucky this year.

Siblings are very lucky every year. They fill the class with siblings first and then any leftover spots go to others. The 9th grade class is an odd one because the sibling percentage is really high as compared to the others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The issue with GDS for most families I know who applied was their complete lack of transparency regarding the fact that they had almost no spots for unhooked applicants. So - they took everyone’s money for no good reason other than to line their own pockets. And they wasted the time of stressed out parents and kids. GDS seems content to be insular with its legacy families. Be honest about that.

I don't think they knew until the admissions process had started. It was unfortunate.

[Anonymous]

The admissions rep said about 40 9th grade spots for next year. Actual number of spots will depend on the number of sibling and faculty kids applying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The admissions rep said about 40 9th grade spots for next year. Actual number of spots will depend on the number of sibling and faculty kids applying.

That’s what they said last year, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The admissions rep said about 40 9th grade spots for next year. Actual number of spots will depend on the number of sibling and faculty kids applying.

That’s what they said last year, too.

Well, at least they are consistent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In only a couple of years, GDS's class sizes will all be back to normal. Yeah, this year was brutal for new applicants, and we were very lucky that our daughter was admitted. My understanding is that, particularly for unhooked 9th graders, it was a very difficult year. As the larger classes graduate, though, everything will even out.

Yes, siblings were very lucky this year.

Siblings are very lucky every year. They fill the class with siblings first and then any leftover spots go to others. The 9th grade class is an odd one because the sibling percentage is really high as compared to the others.

and new faculty kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In only a couple of years, GDS's class sizes will all be back to normal. Yeah, this year was brutal for new applicants, and we were very lucky that our daughter was admitted. My understanding is that, particularly for unhooked 9th graders, it was a very difficult year. As the larger classes graduate, though, everything will even out.

Yes, siblings were very lucky this year.

Siblings are very lucky every year. They fill the class with siblings first and then any leftover spots go to others. The 9th grade class is an odd one because the sibling percentage is really high as compared to the others.

and new faculty kids.

And athletes at 9th entry (ps. they do recruit but dont discuss it). Also VIP kids (kids of cabinet members etc)