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need to decide GDS or Maret for 9th
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Anonymous
| I'm not challenging that the GDS admissions office said 4 hours of homework a night, but if your kid doing 4 hours of homework a night as a GDS freshman, sophomore or senior, something has gone wrong. Junior year definitely can be different, but it's still not 4 hours a night. |
Anonymous
| The homework is real. If you kid likes homework and is independent it is fine. This school is not for everyone. The kids that do "less" homework are the ones who have always been ahead in their classes and deep thinking and producing comes more easily. These are the kids that will continue to get into the top schools. Seriously it feels like some people are trying to fool themselves about their kids. It is a competitive school and if your kid tends to get stressed, have anxiety, on meds, has eating issues and doesn't do well with creating their own balance this will go with them into highschool. All these parents questioning it already know the answer they are just chasing a shiny object. The smart but not brilliant kids go to the same schools whether they are at Field, Burke, Maret, or public (though the public kids do get a bump). Bottom line if you are worried about stressing your kid out or the word pressure cooker scares you pay attention to that. I have one kid that said through. She had the right personality to make that happen. The other did not have that same easy outcome and I wish we didn't make that same choice for him. |
Anonymous
| Nope, we know kids there who are middle if the pack and don’t stress about homework. They just don’t spend the time on it and their grades reflect that. |
Anonymous
They seemed very proud of it. The HOS was standing next to the admissions person who said it and nodded in agreement. I think they were using it as a way to discourage kids from attending. Though many of the parent were excited. I think they get enough applicants that they just do not care. |
Anonymous
Please. There is nothing at GDS that show the “brilliant” kids go there. What a load of BS. GDS has a newer building in upper northwest. That is the draw. The academics, teachers and students are average at best. GDS is not a big 3 or even a big 5. It is a little bit above the public school options in the area. |
Anonymous
| Was this at the new student acceptance night? |
Anonymous
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Is Field still an option? Burke?
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Anonymous
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Have a GDS junior who I feel is getting very well prepared for the independence and responsibility of college. Homework starts out slowly in 9th and builds (no way it’s 4 hours a night in 9th even with honors math). The amount of homework will largely be based on the rigor of the classes students select. They do have a free period and community time to get some homework done at school. The homework isn’t busy work—it’s time consuming because it requires quite a bit of thought. GDS tends to emphasize content/ depth of ideas over writing mechanics precision on written assignments.
They do not have homework over breaks and do not allow major assignments or tests to be due within the first two days after a break. GDS is a fun school—they definitely break up the academics with first Friday activities, minimester, themed dress up days for teams, random light moments during times with heavier work (ie cookie decorating, juice box day, petting zoo), performing arts, arts shows, etc. Kids who do well at GDS tend to be those that have the executive management skills to be able to balance the lure of an open campus with the responsibility of classes and activities. Also those who will approach a teacher when they need help (teachers are super supportive but students need to somewhat seek out this support vs have hand holding). GDS is very well resourced in terms of course offerings, extracurriculars, family activities, etc. GDS is a school that some will need to grow into a bit, but due to the size and breadth of academics and activities I don’t think students grow out of it in the way they can at smaller schools. |
Anonymous
You clearly know nothing about GDS. The new building is the LMS. No one would choose the high school for its building. |
Anonymous
That was also five years ago, no? |
Anonymous
| Beware of people posting around this time of year OP. There are desperate parents that want your spot and will do anything to try to convince you a school is a bad choice just on the off chance that it opens a spot for them. Get your information elsewhere. |
Anonymous
| Worth pointing out that about 40-45 new kids start at gds in 9th. As few as 7 or 8 at Maret (more if they have counseled out kids). |
Anonymous
People like you get on this forum and make things up. Maret takes 25-30 new students in 9th. Why are you even commenting? Maret is very transparent on how many are accepted per grade: https://www.maret.org/admission |
Anonymous
One note about these small schools taking small #. Socially, expect at least a full year for your kid to feel part of the class. The old and new don't always mix unless a sport is involved. It can be lonely as it was for mine. 2 years in and it is started to gel. |
Anonymous
| The two most unhappy stressed out kids I know go to GDS. |