GDS versus Holton

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another LS parent here and I LOVE that the middle school at Holton doesn’t start until 7th. It let kids be kids for longer and the 6th graders really feel like leaders of the lower school. There’s no pressure to grow up too quickly.

Every year there are new girls and they seem to integrate really well. There are all kinds of girls at Holton it’s a range of interests. My DD has lovely friends and in general we really like the other parents in her grade.

I know Holton is getting a bad wrap in certain circles lately for not being progressive enough but candidly we are fine with that. Parents can teach what they want to their kids at home and school can be for learning (and we are liberals). I would personally feel uncomfortable with all the virtue signaling that GDS seems to be constantly doing.

Does anyone know if kids in lower school in Holton, 4-6th grade, mostly use Chromebooks for homework? Do kids still write essays or math on paper?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another LS parent here and I LOVE that the middle school at Holton doesn’t start until 7th. It let kids be kids for longer and the 6th graders really feel like leaders of the lower school. There’s no pressure to grow up too quickly.

Every year there are new girls and they seem to integrate really well. There are all kinds of girls at Holton it’s a range of interests. My DD has lovely friends and in general we really like the other parents in her grade.

I know Holton is getting a bad wrap in certain circles lately for not being progressive enough but candidly we are fine with that. Parents can teach what they want to their kids at home and school can be for learning (and we are liberals). I would personally feel uncomfortable with all the virtue signaling that GDS seems to be constantly doing.

Does anyone know if kids in lower school in Holton, 4-6th grade, mostly use Chromebooks for homework? Do kids still write essays or math on paper?

Several years ago, it was a mix of both. This would be a good question to ask current parents and teachers at the accepted student event

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another LS parent here and I LOVE that the middle school at Holton doesn’t start until 7th. It let kids be kids for longer and the 6th graders really feel like leaders of the lower school. There’s no pressure to grow up too quickly.

Every year there are new girls and they seem to integrate really well. There are all kinds of girls at Holton it’s a range of interests. My DD has lovely friends and in general we really like the other parents in her grade.

I know Holton is getting a bad wrap in certain circles lately for not being progressive enough but candidly we are fine with that. Parents can teach what they want to their kids at home and school can be for learning (and we are liberals). I would personally feel uncomfortable with all the virtue signaling that GDS seems to be constantly doing.

Does anyone know if kids in lower school in Holton, 4-6th grade, mostly use Chromebooks for homework? Do kids still write essays or math on paper?

I don’t remember about LS, but my 9th grader has all her math homework on paper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another LS parent here and I LOVE that the middle school at Holton doesn’t start until 7th. It let kids be kids for longer and the 6th graders really feel like leaders of the lower school. There’s no pressure to grow up too quickly.

Every year there are new girls and they seem to integrate really well. There are all kinds of girls at Holton it’s a range of interests. My DD has lovely friends and in general we really like the other parents in her grade.

I know Holton is getting a bad wrap in certain circles lately for not being progressive enough but candidly we are fine with that. Parents can teach what they want to their kids at home and school can be for learning (and we are liberals). I would personally feel uncomfortable with all the virtue signaling that GDS seems to be constantly doing.

Does anyone know if kids in lower school in Holton, 4-6th grade, mostly use Chromebooks for homework? Do kids still write essays or math on paper?

I don’t remember about LS, but my 9th grader has all her math homework on paper.

That is very important. Math needs to be learned on pencil and paper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another LS parent here and I LOVE that the middle school at Holton doesn’t start until 7th. It let kids be kids for longer and the 6th graders really feel like leaders of the lower school. There’s no pressure to grow up too quickly.

Every year there are new girls and they seem to integrate really well. There are all kinds of girls at Holton it’s a range of interests. My DD has lovely friends and in general we really like the other parents in her grade.

I know Holton is getting a bad wrap in certain circles lately for not being progressive enough but candidly we are fine with that. Parents can teach what they want to their kids at home and school can be for learning (and we are liberals). I would personally feel uncomfortable with all the virtue signaling that GDS seems to be constantly doing.

Does anyone know if kids in lower school in Holton, 4-6th grade, mostly use Chromebooks for homework? Do kids still write essays or math on paper?

Homework is a mix but almost all the class work my lower schooler does is by hand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I’ve also had kids at both schools, in the grades you are looking at.

This has been discussed ad nauseam on this board but Holton has really changed in the past several years. A lot of amazing faculty have left, the school is enrolling a lot more girls so the classes aren’t as close. The school is actively catering to a certain type of wealth/class/culture that values sports over academics.

I think if your family belongs to a country club and regularly associates in high income circles, you’ll feel very comfortable at Holton. If you don’t, you (and your daughter) might feel very out of place.

I know the Holton army will come after me for this post (as they always do) but I’m always hoping that families for whom 60k is a financial stretch, don’t commit to a school that caters to the needs of the uber wealthy.

We are a prospective family and this is exactly what I worry about at Holton. I absolutely got the uber wealthy country club vibe, and although I’m sure there are plenty of outliers, we know this isn’t our scene.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I’ve also had kids at both schools, in the grades you are looking at.

This has been discussed ad nauseam on this board but Holton has really changed in the past several years. A lot of amazing faculty have left, the school is enrolling a lot more girls so the classes aren’t as close. The school is actively catering to a certain type of wealth/class/culture that values sports over academics.

I think if your family belongs to a country club and regularly associates in high income circles, you’ll feel very comfortable at Holton. If you don’t, you (and your daughter) might feel very out of place.

I know the Holton army will come after me for this post (as they always do) but I’m always hoping that families for whom 60k is a financial stretch, don’t commit to a school that caters to the needs of the uber wealthy.

We are a prospective family and this is exactly what I worry about at Holton. I absolutely got the uber wealthy country club vibe, and although I’m sure there are plenty of outliers, we know this isn’t our scene.

In terms of rich families I don’t see much difference between GDS and Holton. Given the cost of tuition, the majority are upper class famiiies. So far my experience in Holton in terms of academics, sports, and diversity has been fantastic. I am a middle class parent of a 6th grader at Holton.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I’ve also had kids at both schools, in the grades you are looking at.

This has been discussed ad nauseam on this board but Holton has really changed in the past several years. A lot of amazing faculty have left, the school is enrolling a lot more girls so the classes aren’t as close. The school is actively catering to a certain type of wealth/class/culture that values sports over academics.

I think if your family belongs to a country club and regularly associates in high income circles, you’ll feel very comfortable at Holton. If you don’t, you (and your daughter) might feel very out of place.

I know the Holton army will come after me for this post (as they always do) but I’m always hoping that families for whom 60k is a financial stretch, don’t commit to a school that caters to the needs of the uber wealthy.

We are a prospective family and this is exactly what I worry about at Holton. I absolutely got the uber wealthy country club vibe, and although I’m sure there are plenty of outliers, we know this isn’t our scene.

Unfortunately, this tracks with the people I know that recently sent their kids there, a lot of trust fund/nepo babies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I’ve also had kids at both schools, in the grades you are looking at.

This has been discussed ad nauseam on this board but Holton has really changed in the past several years. A lot of amazing faculty have left, the school is enrolling a lot more girls so the classes aren’t as close. The school is actively catering to a certain type of wealth/class/culture that values sports over academics.

I think if your family belongs to a country club and regularly associates in high income circles, you’ll feel very comfortable at Holton. If you don’t, you (and your daughter) might feel very out of place.

I know the Holton army will come after me for this post (as they always do) but I’m always hoping that families for whom 60k is a financial stretch, don’t commit to a school that caters to the needs of the uber wealthy.

We are a prospective family and this is exactly what I worry about at Holton. I absolutely got the uber wealthy country club vibe, and although I’m sure there are plenty of outliers, we know this isn’t our scene.

Unfortunately, this tracks with the people I know that recently sent their kids there, a lot of trust fund/nepo babies.

These two schools are quite different. Not just one is co Ed. Seems educational appraises are different. If you reject one, it didn’t work out for later years, can you still apply for another one?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I’ve also had kids at both schools, in the grades you are looking at.

This has been discussed ad nauseam on this board but Holton has really changed in the past several years. A lot of amazing faculty have left, the school is enrolling a lot more girls so the classes aren’t as close. The school is actively catering to a certain type of wealth/class/culture that values sports over academics.

I think if your family belongs to a country club and regularly associates in high income circles, you’ll feel very comfortable at Holton. If you don’t, you (and your daughter) might feel very out of place.

I know the Holton army will come after me for this post (as they always do) but I’m always hoping that families for whom 60k is a financial stretch, don’t commit to a school that caters to the needs of the uber wealthy.

We are a prospective family and this is exactly what I worry about at Holton. I absolutely got the uber wealthy country club vibe, and although I’m sure there are plenty of outliers, we know this isn’t our scene.

In terms of rich families I don’t see much difference between GDS and Holton. Given the cost of tuition, the majority are upper class famiiies. So far my experience in Holton in terms of academics, sports, and diversity has been fantastic. I am a middle class parent of a 6th grader at Holton.

I’ve had kids at both schools. GDS has more class/wealth diversity and doesn’t appear to favor wealthy families. Holton admin is increasingly catering to the ultra-wealthy. This means that your concerns as a non-ultra wealthy parent are not heard from the admin. This is shift from the past Holton admin.

Also re racial diversity, they ask the non-white kids to do all the admissions events but the actual classes are far less diverse, especially the new admits in the past several years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I’ve also had kids at both schools, in the grades you are looking at.

This has been discussed ad nauseam on this board but Holton has really changed in the past several years. A lot of amazing faculty have left, the school is enrolling a lot more girls so the classes aren’t as close. The school is actively catering to a certain type of wealth/class/culture that values sports over academics.

I think if your family belongs to a country club and regularly associates in high income circles, you’ll feel very comfortable at Holton. If you don’t, you (and your daughter) might feel very out of place.

I know the Holton army will come after me for this post (as they always do) but I’m always hoping that families for whom 60k is a financial stretch, don’t commit to a school that caters to the needs of the uber wealthy.

We are a prospective family and this is exactly what I worry about at Holton. I absolutely got the uber wealthy country club vibe, and although I’m sure there are plenty of outliers, we know this isn’t our scene.

In terms of rich families I don’t see much difference between GDS and Holton. Given the cost of tuition, the majority are upper class famiiies. So far my experience in Holton in terms of academics, sports, and diversity has been fantastic. I am a middle class parent of a 6th grader at Holton.

I’ve had kids at both schools. GDS has more class/wealth diversity and doesn’t appear to favor wealthy families. Holton admin is increasingly catering to the ultra-wealthy. This means that your concerns as a non-ultra wealthy parent are not heard from the admin. This is shift from the past Holton admin.

Also re racial diversity, they ask the non-white kids to do all the admissions events but the actual classes are far less diverse, especially the new admits in the past several years.

I feel all schools ask non white students to do admission events.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I’ve also had kids at both schools, in the grades you are looking at.

This has been discussed ad nauseam on this board but Holton has really changed in the past several years. A lot of amazing faculty have left, the school is enrolling a lot more girls so the classes aren’t as close. The school is actively catering to a certain type of wealth/class/culture that values sports over academics.

I think if your family belongs to a country club and regularly associates in high income circles, you’ll feel very comfortable at Holton. If you don’t, you (and your daughter) might feel very out of place.

I know the Holton army will come after me for this post (as they always do) but I’m always hoping that families for whom 60k is a financial stretch, don’t commit to a school that caters to the needs of the uber wealthy.

We are a prospective family and this is exactly what I worry about at Holton. I absolutely got the uber wealthy country club vibe, and although I’m sure there are plenty of outliers, we know this isn’t our scene.

In terms of rich families I don’t see much difference between GDS and Holton. Given the cost of tuition, the majority are upper class famiiies. So far my experience in Holton in terms of academics, sports, and diversity has been fantastic. I am a middle class parent of a 6th grader at Holton.

I’ve had kids at both schools. GDS has more class/wealth diversity and doesn’t appear to favor wealthy families. Holton admin is increasingly catering to the ultra-wealthy. This means that your concerns as a non-ultra wealthy parent are not heard from the admin. This is shift from the past Holton admin.

Also re racial diversity, they ask the non-white kids to do all the admissions events but the actual classes are far less diverse, especially the new admits in the past several years.

The statement about catering increasingly to the ultra-wealthy resonates with me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I’ve also had kids at both schools, in the grades you are looking at.

This has been discussed ad nauseam on this board but Holton has really changed in the past several years. A lot of amazing faculty have left, the school is enrolling a lot more girls so the classes aren’t as close. The school is actively catering to a certain type of wealth/class/culture that values sports over academics.

I think if your family belongs to a country club and regularly associates in high income circles, you’ll feel very comfortable at Holton. If you don’t, you (and your daughter) might feel very out of place.

I know the Holton army will come after me for this post (as they always do) but I’m always hoping that families for whom 60k is a financial stretch, don’t commit to a school that caters to the needs of the uber wealthy.

We are a prospective family and this is exactly what I worry about at Holton. I absolutely got the uber wealthy country club vibe, and although I’m sure there are plenty of outliers, we know this isn’t our scene.

In terms of rich families I don’t see much difference between GDS and Holton. Given the cost of tuition, the majority are upper class famiiies. So far my experience in Holton in terms of academics, sports, and diversity has been fantastic. I am a middle class parent of a 6th grader at Holton.

I’ve had kids at both schools. GDS has more class/wealth diversity and doesn’t appear to favor wealthy families. Holton admin is increasingly catering to the ultra-wealthy. This means that your concerns as a non-ultra wealthy parent are not heard from the admin. This is shift from the past Holton admin.

Also re racial diversity, they ask the non-white kids to do all the admissions events but the actual classes are far less diverse, especially the new admits in the past several years.

What is your experience with middle schools at these two?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I’ve also had kids at both schools, in the grades you are looking at.

This has been discussed ad nauseam on this board but Holton has really changed in the past several years. A lot of amazing faculty have left, the school is enrolling a lot more girls so the classes aren’t as close. The school is actively catering to a certain type of wealth/class/culture that values sports over academics.

I think if your family belongs to a country club and regularly associates in high income circles, you’ll feel very comfortable at Holton. If you don’t, you (and your daughter) might feel very out of place.

I know the Holton army will come after me for this post (as they always do) but I’m always hoping that families for whom 60k is a financial stretch, don’t commit to a school that caters to the needs of the uber wealthy.

We are a prospective family and this is exactly what I worry about at Holton. I absolutely got the uber wealthy country club vibe, and although I’m sure there are plenty of outliers, we know this isn’t our scene.

In terms of rich families I don’t see much difference between GDS and Holton. Given the cost of tuition, the majority are upper class famiiies. So far my experience in Holton in terms of academics, sports, and diversity has been fantastic. I am a middle class parent of a 6th grader at Holton.

I’ve had kids at both schools. GDS has more class/wealth diversity and doesn’t appear to favor wealthy families. Holton admin is increasingly catering to the ultra-wealthy. This means that your concerns as a non-ultra wealthy parent are not heard from the admin. This is shift from the past Holton admin.

Also re racial diversity, they ask the non-white kids to do all the admissions events but the actual classes are far less diverse, especially the new admits in the past several years.

The statement about catering increasingly to the ultra-wealthy resonates with me.

I'd say this is clearly true of top administrators and board members but not the school as a whole. Unfortunately there are serious ramifications when decisions are made to please a wealthy donor, regardless of what is right for students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I’ve also had kids at both schools, in the grades you are looking at.

This has been discussed ad nauseam on this board but Holton has really changed in the past several years. A lot of amazing faculty have left, the school is enrolling a lot more girls so the classes aren’t as close. The school is actively catering to a certain type of wealth/class/culture that values sports over academics.

I think if your family belongs to a country club and regularly associates in high income circles, you’ll feel very comfortable at Holton. If you don’t, you (and your daughter) might feel very out of place.

I know the Holton army will come after me for this post (as they always do) but I’m always hoping that families for whom 60k is a financial stretch, don’t commit to a school that caters to the needs of the uber wealthy.

We are a prospective family and this is exactly what I worry about at Holton. I absolutely got the uber wealthy country club vibe, and although I’m sure there are plenty of outliers, we know this isn’t our scene.

Unfortunately, this tracks with the people I know that recently sent their kids there, a lot of trust fund/nepo babies.

There are trust fund/nepo babies at all of these schools because they can easily afford the tuition. There are also lots of families that are well to-do but not oozing money.
I have been able to find “our people” pretty easily and they are all pretty normal parents who do not belong to clubs. It’s not like how much money you make is a topic of conversation that ever comes up at school events!