Parents/Families at these schools...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who gives a shit what the families are like? You’re not going to school, your kid is. God private school people are weird.

For younger kids, or all kids, it matters what the priorities are of families. If the parents are super materialistic, it plays out in their kids. If they want to get their kids all the fancy things, that is important. If they allow alcohol with kids, that’s something you want to know.

Why is this different than public schools?

No one is saying it’s different than public school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who gives a shit what the families are like? You’re not going to school, your kid is. God private school people are weird.

Actually, it does matter. My DD was looking at all girls schools and often, the moms can drive who socializes with who and can influence the friend group. We visited three schools and found the following:

#1 - Lots of unemployed moms who hung around the school "volunteering" all of the time and basically, had their hand in all aspects of school activities, who their kid could socialize with, etc.

#2 - Most moms with great and impressive careers but also were members of country clubs and most socialization revolved only those families who were similarly situated.

#3 - Lots of educated moms with great careers - many of whom were wealthy but were still down to earth and welcoming to me and my kid. Volunteered at the school when asked but were otherwise very involved in their own personal lives/careers.

Guess which school we chose?

I see a lot of all your examples at NCS. I am definitely in #3 as are others moms I know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who gives a shit what the families are like? You’re not going to school, your kid is. God private school people are weird.

Actually, it does matter. My DD was looking at all girls schools and often, the moms can drive who socializes with who and can influence the friend group. We visited three schools and found the following:

#1 - Lots of unemployed moms who hung around the school "volunteering" all of the time and basically, had their hand in all aspects of school activities, who their kid could socialize with, etc.

#2 - Most moms with great and impressive careers but also were members of country clubs and most socialization revolved only those families who were similarly situated.

#3 - Lots of educated moms with great careers - many of whom were wealthy but were still down to earth and welcoming to me and my kid. Volunteered at the school when asked but were otherwise very involved in their own personal lives/careers.

Guess which school we chose?

I see a lot of all your examples at NCS. I am definitely in #3 as are others moms I know.

Sorry, I realize now that NCS is not in OP’s list

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually the parent community matters. You end up interacting with them and their children will end up engaging with yours ( or not if it’s cliquish and think your family does not fit etc.)

Why do you end up interacting with them? Why is it different than public school? Are you joining a social club or a school?

Yes, it's a network and a community troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you go to the admitted student events and open houses you will get a good sense.

Kinda true but we all as humans put on at least a bit of a show at first

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It would be nice to hear about the types of families at the following schools:

Stone Ridge


Sidwell


Maret


Bullis

Can you add GDS and SAES to the list?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually the parent community matters. You end up interacting with them and their children will end up engaging with yours ( or not if it’s cliquish and think your family does not fit etc.)

Why do you end up interacting with them? Why is it different than public school? Are you joining a social club or a school?

Why do public school parents troll these forums when they clearly do not understand the culture or community of a private school with only 50 kids in some grades? It matters. Parents are still involved in highschool and yes it matters. Some are nice and make it better and others make the experience worse. It matters and good to ask for specific schools and grades at those schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who gives a shit what the families are like? You’re not going to school, your kid is. God private school people are weird.

For younger kids, or all kids, it matters what the priorities are of families. If the parents are super materialistic, it plays out in their kids. If they want to get their kids all the fancy things, that is important. If they allow alcohol with kids, that’s something you want to know.

Why is this different than public schools?

For starters, people are rarely choosing between public schools. It’s not discussed as a basis for making a choice because most public school families don’t have a choice.

[Anonymous]

I can speak for Bullis only as that is where we have a high school son. Every family we have met is absolutely wonderful. People choose Bullis for many reasons, but the common thread is that they want their children to be happy. And with happiness comes learning. People are chill at Bullis. Varied backgrounds and experiences. Of course, the group runs from extremely wealthy to students receiving quite a bit of financial aid. But people don't flaunt it there. Couldn't say enough great things about the culture and spirit at Bullis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It would be nice to hear about the types of families at the following schools:

Stone Ridge - Mostly Catholic, white, wealthy but school is about 1/2 as much as top privates - most live in Maryland and NW DC. Parents tend to be conservative Catholics - tend to attend Blessed Sacrament or Little Flower, lots of families belong to Chevy, Congo or Columbia, more SAHMs


Sidwell - Diverse 55 percent POC according to website, lots of Jewish families, lot os wealthy families but also give about 1/4 some sort of financial aid, parents tend to be mostly liberal, not many belong to country clubs, more working moms


Maret - smaller, diverse, wealthy and has more international families than other 3, friend there described the vibe as Californiaish in a good way - down to earth, not many belong to country clubs - if they do maybe Congo, mix of working and SAHMs


Bullis

- diverse, wealthy, lots of Potomac families so lots of Jewish and Persian families, I know this school probably the least of the 4

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would be nice to hear about the types of families at the following schools:

Stone Ridge - Mostly Catholic, white, wealthy but school is about 1/2 as much as top privates - most live in Maryland and NW DC. Parents tend to be conservative Catholics - tend to attend Blessed Sacrament or Little Flower, lots of families belong to Chevy, Congo or Columbia, more SAHMs


Sidwell - Diverse 55 percent POC according to website, lots of Jewish families, lot os wealthy families but also give about 1/4 some sort of financial aid, parents tend to be mostly liberal, not many belong to country clubs, more working moms


Maret - smaller, diverse, wealthy and has more international families than other 3, friend there described the vibe as Californiaish in a good way - down to earth, not many belong to country clubs - if they do maybe Congo, mix of working and SAHMs


Bullis

- diverse, wealthy, lots of Potomac families so lots of Jewish and Persian families, I know this school probably the least of the 4

Stone Ridge - Mostly Catholic, white, wealthy but school is about 1/2 as much as top privates - most live in Maryland and NW DC. Parents tend to be conservative Catholics - tend to attend Blessed Sacrament or Little Flower, lots of families belong to Chevy, Congo or Columbia, more SAHMs


Sidwell - Diverse 55 percent POC according to website, lots of Jewish families, lot os wealthy families but also give about 1/4 some sort of financial aid, parents tend to be mostly liberal, not many belong to country clubs, more working moms


Maret - smaller, diverse, wealthy and has more international families than other 3, friend there described the vibe as Californiaish in a good way - down to earth, not many belong to country clubs - if they do maybe Congo, mix of working and SAHMs


Bullis
- diverse, wealthy, lots of Potomac families so lots of Jewish and Persian families, I know this school probably the least of the 4

[Anonymous]

It would be nice to hear about the types of families at the following schools:

Stone Ridge - Mostly Catholic, white, wealthy but school is about 1/2 as much as top privates - most live in Maryland and NW DC. Parents tend to be conservative Catholics - tend to attend Blessed Sacrament or Little Flower, lots of families belong to Chevy, Congo or Columbia, more SAHMs


Sidwell - Diverse 55 percent POC according to website, lots of Jewish families, lot os wealthy families but also give about 1/4 some sort of financial aid, parents tend to be mostly liberal, not many belong to country clubs, more working moms


Maret - smaller, diverse, wealthy and has more international families than other 3, friend there described the vibe as Californiaish in a good way - down to earth, not many belong to country clubs - if they do maybe Congo, mix of working and SAHMs


Bullis - diverse, wealthy, lots of Potomac families so lots of Jewish and Persian families, I know this school probably the least of the 4





Stone Ridge - Mostly Catholic, white, wealthy but school is about 1/2 as much as top privates - most live in Maryland and NW DC. Parents tend to be conservative Catholics - tend to attend Blessed Sacrament or Little Flower, lots of families belong to Chevy, Congo or Columbia, more SAHMs


Sidwell - Diverse 55 percent POC according to website, lots of Jewish families, lot os wealthy families but also give about 1/4 some sort of financial aid, parents tend to be mostly liberal, not many belong to country clubs, more working moms


Maret - smaller, diverse, wealthy and has more international families than other 3, friend there described the vibe as Californiaish in a good way - down to earth, not many belong to country clubs - if they do maybe Congo, mix of working and SAHMs


Bullis
- diverse, wealthy, lots of Potomac families so lots of Jewish and Persian families, I know this school probably the least of the 4

GDS -

SAES -

[Anonymous]

Stone Ridge - Mostly Catholic, white, wealthy but school is about 1/2 as much as top privates - most live in Maryland and NW DC. Parents tend to be conservative Catholics - tend to attend Blessed Sacrament or Little Flower, lots of families belong to Chevy, Congo or Columbia, more SAHMs


Sidwell - Diverse 55 percent POC according to website, lots of Jewish families, lot os wealthy families but also give about 1/4 some sort of financial aid, parents tend to be mostly liberal, not many belong to country clubs, more working moms


Maret - smaller, diverse, wealthy and has more international families than other 3, friend there described the vibe as Californiaish in a good way - down to earth, not many belong to country clubs - if they do maybe Congo, mix of working and SAHMs


Bullis
- diverse, wealthy, lots of Potomac families so lots of Jewish and Persian families, I know this school probably the least of the 4

GDS -

SAES -

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually the parent community matters. You end up interacting with them and their children will end up engaging with yours ( or not if it’s cliquish and think your family does not fit etc.)

Why do you end up interacting with them? Why is it different than public school? Are you joining a social club or a school?

Pretty much, yes. Private schools aim to be a large part of your family's community. Our private school (NYC, not DC) organizes potlucks for parents at the school and class parent cocktail parties at various parents' homes. The parent community is extremely important.

[Anonymous]

I think parent community matters, but I also think people need to realize that anyone who says they love everyone and haven't run into a jerky parent is either:

A) Not interacting enough with the community.

B) Not being honest.

No matter which school you choose, there will always be someone you turn your nose up at for a variety of reasons...they are snooty, they are the woke police, they are clickish, they brag too much, etc etc.

By and large, I enjoy most of the families I've encountered at Sidwell. Many of them are super interesting, educated, and do care about raising kind, global citizens. But are there some I avoid? Absolutely.