Sidwell or GDS and why

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it still true that GDS has no cafeteria and kids are on their own for lunch?
I know for a fact that sidwell has a great cafeteria kids have lunch included in tuition

Dcum consistently thinks that this is a big deal, but as a GDS parent, it hasn't been a problem at all. DS makes and brings his lunch and eats with his friends in the building.

[Anonymous]

Re no lunch, for 60k a year it just feels silly.

[Anonymous]

Lunch is included in tuition at DC’s school but my picky eater packs and eats their own lunch 9 times out of 10. I’d be just as happy if the school did what GDS does. Or made lunch an optional add-on so families could choose whether to pay for it or not.

[Anonymous]

Sidwell is also roughly $4k more per year than GDS for high school. That difference would fund UberEats for the entire year if lunch was your biggest concern.

[Anonymous]

Most kids only get into one or the other so many don’t have a choice between the two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most kids only get into one or the other so many don’t have a choice between the two.

What I've seen is that the top candidates get into multiple schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GDS: draws:

social justice (roots, philosophy)
top-notch education
critical thinking

Sidwell: draws:

Quaker background
top-notch education

they both foster critical thinking

The schools have very different "vibes"

Sidwell presents as more of a traditional school and GDS presents as more of a "progressive" school. Both are great, but different students and families will be attracted to one over the other on a visit and research.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:we like GDS bc it seems more friendly and happy. They try to mix joy with intense academics. That's the high school though. they both seem to have lovely elementary schools. I don't know much about Sidwell middle school but hard to imagine it does as little to prepare its kids for high school as is the case at GDS.

Then why comment? I could make the exact same statement as you, but reverse the school names. Our kids have really enjoyed Sidwell and were well prepared for high school and what came since. They are/were lifers so went to all of the divisions and were well prepared by the Middle School faculty and curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell is also roughly $4k more per year than GDS for high school. That difference would fund UberEats for the entire year if lunch was your biggest concern.

Maybe, but who would want their kid eating from Uber Eats 5 days a week for four years?

The Sidwell daily lunch is very good, healthy and an enjoyable and important part of the day for the school community. They have a new chef this year that the kids really like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:we like GDS bc it seems more friendly and happy. They try to mix joy with intense academics. That's the high school though. they both seem to have lovely elementary schools. I don't know much about Sidwell middle school but hard to imagine it does as little to prepare its kids for high school as is the case at GDS.

So you like GDS but think the middle school does a poor job of preparing kids for HS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These seem like the 2 very top private co-ed high schools in DC. What drives families and kids themselves to one versus the other, for high school?

Both schools are great and pretty similar. Sidwell is more competitive and has better college placement and GDS is less of a pressure cooker with very good college results.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell is also roughly $4k more per year than GDS for high school. That difference would fund UberEats for the entire year if lunch was your biggest concern.

Maybe, but who would want their kid eating from Uber Eats 5 days a week for four years?

The Sidwell daily lunch is very good, healthy and an enjoyable and important part of the day for the school community. They have a new chef this year that the kids really like.

Most GDS HS kids pack a lunch and eat out or get delivery occasionally--no one is getting uber eats everyday.

I have a senior now and am glad my kid has become completely responsible for figuring out his lunch everyday. If he wants to eat out, he pays. Would a cafeteria be easier? Yes, but the independence of the open campus has taught him some solid life skills too (responsibility, planning, accountability, etc). Kind of good to learn in HS prior to college where no one will make sure students go to class on time, etc.

If someone is truly selecting a HS based off cafeteria lunch, I believe Potomac and Holton are known for having the best cafeterias.

[Anonymous]

If logistics matter to you, GDS has a solid bus system that you only pay for when students use it. $2/am; $6/pm. It's good for 9th/10th before they can drive themselves.

[Anonymous]

They are both great schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If logistics matter to you, GDS has a solid bus system that you only pay for when students use it. $2/am; $6/pm. It's good for 9th/10th before they can drive themselves.

Even in 11th and 12 grade most kids aren't driving themselves because there's no parking.