Approx GPA range of Top 25% at SFS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Class of 2022 was app 3.7

Interesting. That’s a lot of students.

I had a 2022 graduate there. I think it was lower, maybe 3.5 But since then and current DC, I think top 25% is higher.

I had a '22 grad and I cannot imagine it was that low. If that is the case, my kid was top 10% which I highly doubt.

[Anonymous]

Grade deflation from top students who are taking hardest classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've had 3 kids here.
I've finally come to the realization that these Big3 schools are NOT good for STEM kids. At all.
Not because they don't teach STEM well (I happen to think they do) but because the English and History courses are only taught at one level (and it's really high!) (unlike the math and science courses).
If you have an English teacher who only gives 1 or 3 A's out of a section of 15 kids (which is not unusual), it's really hard to get those As. And chances are, there will be a few kids in your kids' classes who live and breathe to write and who are REALLY good at it. There are the As.

So these schools (Sidwell, NCS, STA, etc) are really not a good fit for STEM kids but are a good fit for "humanities kids" because the humanities kids do well in the challenging humanities classes and then take the lower track of math and science classes. Meanwhile the STEM kids are stuck taking high level classes in all disciplines.

I’m confused, you don’t want your kids taking challenging classes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Grade deflation from top students who are taking hardest classes.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Grade deflation from top students who are taking hardest classes.

What does this mean?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've had 3 kids here.
I've finally come to the realization that these Big3 schools are NOT good for STEM kids. At all.
Not because they don't teach STEM well (I happen to think they do) but because the English and History courses are only taught at one level (and it's really high!) (unlike the math and science courses).
If you have an English teacher who only gives 1 or 3 A's out of a section of 15 kids (which is not unusual), it's really hard to get those As. And chances are, there will be a few kids in your kids' classes who live and breathe to write and who are REALLY good at it. There are the As.

So these schools (Sidwell, NCS, STA, etc) are really not a good fit for STEM kids but are a good fit for "humanities kids" because the humanities kids do well in the challenging humanities classes and then take the lower track of math and science classes. Meanwhile the STEM kids are stuck taking high level classes in all disciplines.

I’m confused, you don’t want your kids taking challenging classes?

Not every kid needs to be in the top level of every class. Not every student needs to take AP physics and at Big3, not all do. But there is only one level of English and it is higher than AP level by junior year. So there is no choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've had 3 kids here.
I've finally come to the realization that these Big3 schools are NOT good for STEM kids. At all.
Not because they don't teach STEM well (I happen to think they do) but because the English and History courses are only taught at one level (and it's really high!) (unlike the math and science courses).
If you have an English teacher who only gives 1 or 3 A's out of a section of 15 kids (which is not unusual), it's really hard to get those As. And chances are, there will be a few kids in your kids' classes who live and breathe to write and who are REALLY good at it. There are the As.

So these schools (Sidwell, NCS, STA, etc) are really not a good fit for STEM kids but are a good fit for "humanities kids" because the humanities kids do well in the challenging humanities classes and then take the lower track of math and science classes. Meanwhile the STEM kids are stuck taking high level classes in all disciplines.

Agreed that if you want the least challenging path to good grades, stick with public school.

But I’d disagree that Big3 schools are not a good fit for STEM kids. Basis Independent McLean is a great example of a big3 that’s great for STEM kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've had 3 kids here.
I've finally come to the realization that these Big3 schools are NOT good for STEM kids. At all.
Not because they don't teach STEM well (I happen to think they do) but because the English and History courses are only taught at one level (and it's really high!) (unlike the math and science courses).
If you have an English teacher who only gives 1 or 3 A's out of a section of 15 kids (which is not unusual), it's really hard to get those As. And chances are, there will be a few kids in your kids' classes who live and breathe to write and who are REALLY good at it. There are the As.

So these schools (Sidwell, NCS, STA, etc) are really not a good fit for STEM kids but are a good fit for "humanities kids" because the humanities kids do well in the challenging humanities classes and then take the lower track of math and science classes. Meanwhile the STEM kids are stuck taking high level classes in all disciplines.

Agreed that if you want the least challenging path to good grades, stick with public school.

But I’d disagree that Big3 schools are not a good fit for STEM kids. Basis Independent McLean is a great example of a big3 that’s great for STEM kids.

Interesting perspective. I have a humanities strong kid at one now and in some ways feels challenging bc they don’t get credit for having a range of high level classes as the stem kids do

[Anonymous]

Public school will be easier to maintain a high GPA-and with Top 20 colleges currently obsessed with DEI, less and less private school kids are going to get their spots. One exception might be the SLAC’s-they still want and need the full pay private school kids. So, kind of depends what you are hoping for for college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've had 3 kids here.
I've finally come to the realization that these Big3 schools are NOT good for STEM kids. At all.
Not because they don't teach STEM well (I happen to think they do) but because the English and History courses are only taught at one level (and it's really high!) (unlike the math and science courses).
If you have an English teacher who only gives 1 or 3 A's out of a section of 15 kids (which is not unusual), it's really hard to get those As. And chances are, there will be a few kids in your kids' classes who live and breathe to write and who are REALLY good at it. There are the As.

So these schools (Sidwell, NCS, STA, etc) are really not a good fit for STEM kids but are a good fit for "humanities kids" because the humanities kids do well in the challenging humanities classes and then take the lower track of math and science classes. Meanwhile the STEM kids are stuck taking high level classes in all disciplines.

I’m confused, you don’t want your kids taking challenging classes?

Not every kid needs to be in the top level of every class. Not every student needs to take AP physics and at Big3, not all do. But there is only one level of English and it is higher than AP level by junior year. So there is no choice.

Because.. humanities are simple? Literally like 95% memorization and simply being able to read…?

There’s a reason why there is one track for humanities and multiple for math.

Because unless you have a disability humanities is straightforward and easy and simple. Meanwhile math is challenging.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Public school will be easier to maintain a high GPA-and with Top 20 colleges currently obsessed with DEI, less and less private school kids are going to get their spots. One exception might be the SLAC’s-they still want and need the full pay private school kids. So, kind of depends what you are hoping for for college.

That’s certainly the fervent wish of public school parents, like you. Please mind your public school (general population) business. You have bigger issues to worry about, concerning your children’s education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've had 3 kids here.
I've finally come to the realization that these Big3 schools are NOT good for STEM kids. At all.
Not because they don't teach STEM well (I happen to think they do) but because the English and History courses are only taught at one level (and it's really high!) (unlike the math and science courses).
If you have an English teacher who only gives 1 or 3 A's out of a section of 15 kids (which is not unusual), it's really hard to get those As. And chances are, there will be a few kids in your kids' classes who live and breathe to write and who are REALLY good at it. There are the As.

So these schools (Sidwell, NCS, STA, etc) are really not a good fit for STEM kids but are a good fit for "humanities kids" because the humanities kids do well in the challenging humanities classes and then take the lower track of math and science classes. Meanwhile the STEM kids are stuck taking high level classes in all disciplines.

I’m confused, you don’t want your kids taking challenging classes?

Not every kid needs to be in the top level of every class. Not every student needs to take AP physics and at Big3, not all do. But there is only one level of English and it is higher than AP level by junior year. So there is no choice.

Because.. humanities are simple? Literally like 95% memorization and simply being able to read…?

There’s a reason why there is one track for humanities and multiple for math.

Because unless you have a disability humanities is straightforward and easy and simple. Meanwhile math is challenging.

huh? Is this a joke? Math is straightforward. There is a right and a wrong.
Humanities at SFS and similar are all writing (essay exams and papers) and writing is subjective. This is how only a few kids get As.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've had 3 kids here.
I've finally come to the realization that these Big3 schools are NOT good for STEM kids. At all.
Not because they don't teach STEM well (I happen to think they do) but because the English and History courses are only taught at one level (and it's really high!) (unlike the math and science courses).
If you have an English teacher who only gives 1 or 3 A's out of a section of 15 kids (which is not unusual), it's really hard to get those As. And chances are, there will be a few kids in your kids' classes who live and breathe to write and who are REALLY good at it. There are the As.

So these schools (Sidwell, NCS, STA, etc) are really not a good fit for STEM kids but are a good fit for "humanities kids" because the humanities kids do well in the challenging humanities classes and then take the lower track of math and science classes. Meanwhile the STEM kids are stuck taking high level classes in all disciplines.

Agreed that if you want the least challenging path to good grades, stick with public school.

But I’d disagree that Big3 schools are not a good fit for STEM kids. Basis Independent McLean is a great example of a big3 that’s great for STEM kids.

psst: "Big" in DCUM is meant to indicate the social standing of a school, not academic standing. Several schools are academically stronger, but not good for social climbing, so they don't get the 'Big' label around here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've had 3 kids here.
I've finally come to the realization that these Big3 schools are NOT good for STEM kids. At all.
Not because they don't teach STEM well (I happen to think they do) but because the English and History courses are only taught at one level (and it's really high!) (unlike the math and science courses).
If you have an English teacher who only gives 1 or 3 A's out of a section of 15 kids (which is not unusual), it's really hard to get those As. And chances are, there will be a few kids in your kids' classes who live and breathe to write and who are REALLY good at it. There are the As.

So these schools (Sidwell, NCS, STA, etc) are really not a good fit for STEM kids but are a good fit for "humanities kids" because the humanities kids do well in the challenging humanities classes and then take the lower track of math and science classes. Meanwhile the STEM kids are stuck taking high level classes in all disciplines.

I’m confused, you don’t want your kids taking challenging classes?

Not every kid needs to be in the top level of every class. Not every student needs to take AP physics and at Big3, not all do. But there is only one level of English and it is higher than AP level by junior year. So there is no choice.

Because.. humanities are simple? Literally like 95% memorization and simply being able to read…?

There’s a reason why there is one track for humanities and multiple for math.

Because unless you have a disability humanities is straightforward and easy and simple. Meanwhile math is challenging.

This is an uneducated post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:unless you have a disability humanities is straightforward and easy and simple

https://hbr.org/2011/08/steve-jobss-ultimate-lesson-fo

This is why Steve Jobs turned Apple into what it is today, and you're a failure.