Please Choose Private For the Right Reasons

[Anonymous]

I want to say this is a troll post, but knowing some Sidwell families I can’t be sure, TBH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve seen a recent influx of posts from parents looking for a "nice private alternative" to MCPS or DCPS because they want "rigorous academics" and "small classes." As someone who has been through the cycle with multiple kids at Sidwell and GDS, I feel compelled to say: You are fundamentally doing this wrong.

If your primary goal is just a heavy workload and high AP/IB participation, stay in the public system. The top-tier tracks in MoCo and DC are just as rigorous as anything you’ll find in an independent school. In fact, if you go the private route just to "avoid" public, you often end up paying $45k+ for facilities that are—let’s be honest—frequently dated or even inferior to what a well-funded public school offers. I’ve seen some of these smaller parochial campuses in the Olney/Sandy Spring area, and I’m baffled why anyone would pay tuition for a "campus" that looks like a 1970s office park when the local public has better labs and fields.

You don't send your LOs to the crown jewels of DC private to escape public school. You send them for a values-based, progressive experiential education. You go because you want your DS to be an out-of-the-box thinker who understands social justice and pluralism at a cellular level.

What makes Sidwell special isn't the math curriculum—it’s the intentionality. It’s the school-wide Iftar dinners, the student-led seders focused on sustainability, the niche global theater productions (the recent African folk tale was breathtaking), and the Quaker values.

There’s also a deeper "values" component we rarely talk about. If a parent is fleeing public school to find a "stifling" or narrow environment—like some of the "diploma mills" up-county (GC comes to mind)—it makes me wonder if they’re actually just trying to avoid the diversity and pluralism that makes the DC area great. If you aren't seeking the beauty of a truly progressive education, you’re just paying for a smaller, more homogeneous pond.

Choose a school for its mission, not because you’re afraid of the public school "boogeyman." Otherwise, you’re just paying a premium for a mediocre outlook.

Have you ever set foot in GC? If you are a Sidwell family why on earth are you commenting on GC? The two communities never cross paths and you're so absolutely WRONG. GC is extremely diverse and values driven.

This post screams TROLL with a personal vendetta. Go find a better hobby.

I know. I really wish this troll had better things to do. Clearly someone out there doesn't like private schools and had too much time on their hands.

- long time parent of kids in private school who doesn’t agree with OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve seen a recent influx of posts from parents looking for a "nice private alternative" to MCPS or DCPS because they want "rigorous academics" and "small classes." As someone who has been through the cycle with multiple kids at Sidwell and GDS, I feel compelled to say: You are fundamentally doing this wrong.

If your primary goal is just a heavy workload and high AP/IB participation, stay in the public system. The top-tier tracks in MoCo and DC are just as rigorous as anything you’ll find in an independent school. In fact, if you go the private route just to "avoid" public, you often end up paying $45k+ for facilities that are—let’s be honest—frequently dated or even inferior to what a well-funded public school offers. I’ve seen some of these smaller parochial campuses in the Olney/Sandy Spring area, and I’m baffled why anyone would pay tuition for a "campus" that looks like a 1970s office park when the local public has better labs and fields.

You don't send your LOs to the crown jewels of DC private to escape public school. You send them for a values-based, progressive experiential education. You go because you want your DS to be an out-of-the-box thinker who understands social justice and pluralism at a cellular level.

What makes Sidwell special isn't the math curriculum—it’s the intentionality. It’s the school-wide Iftar dinners, the student-led seders focused on sustainability, the niche global theater productions (the recent African folk tale was breathtaking), and the Quaker values.

There’s also a deeper "values" component we rarely talk about. If a parent is fleeing public school to find a "stifling" or narrow environment—like some of the "diploma mills" up-county (GC comes to mind)—it makes me wonder if they’re actually just trying to avoid the diversity and pluralism that makes the DC area great. If you aren't seeking the beauty of a truly progressive education, you’re just paying for a smaller, more homogeneous pond.

Choose a school for its mission, not because you’re afraid of the public school "boogeyman." Otherwise, you’re just paying a premium for a mediocre outlook.

Have you ever set foot in GC? If you are a Sidwell family why on earth are you commenting on GC? The two communities never cross paths and you're so absolutely WRONG. GC is extremely diverse and values driven.

This post screams TROLL with a personal vendetta. Go find a better hobby.

[Anonymous]

Look I disagree with the premise that we all live in a bubble and have no interactions with other private schools other than the one our kids attend (we all have family, friends and coworkers etc. With kids that go to other schools that we engage with)... but I genuinely haven't got a clue what GC is... can someone fill me in??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look I disagree with the premise that we all live in a bubble and have no interactions with other private schools other than the one our kids attend (we all have family, friends and coworkers etc. With kids that go to other schools that we engage with)... but I genuinely haven't got a clue what GC is... can someone fill me in??

Good Counsel high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look I disagree with the premise that we all live in a bubble and have no interactions with other private schools other than the one our kids attend (we all have family, friends and coworkers etc. With kids that go to other schools that we engage with)... but I genuinely haven't got a clue what GC is... can someone fill me in??

Good Counsel high school.

The HS that OP describes as “not diverse” but is very diverse.

[Anonymous]

TL;DR - "Choose Sidwell for your children if you value the mission, and want to rub elbows with the douchiest possible people at parent events."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look I disagree with the premise that we all live in a bubble and have no interactions with other private schools other than the one our kids attend (we all have family, friends and coworkers etc. With kids that go to other schools that we engage with)... but I genuinely haven't got a clue what GC is... can someone fill me in??

Good Counsel high school.

Thanks! I genuinely never would have gotten there 🤣

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:TL;DR - "Choose Sidwell for your children if you value the mission, and want to rub elbows with the douchiest possible people at parent events."

Right?! I'm the person who said the positioning of the school was a turnoff, but after I hit send, I was like would I be the parent OP thinks isn't there for the right reasons? 🤣 but that definitely seems to be the current vibe of parents who Sidwell currently attracts...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look I disagree with the premise that we all live in a bubble and have no interactions with other private schools other than the one our kids attend (we all have family, friends and coworkers etc. With kids that go to other schools that we engage with)... but I genuinely haven't got a clue what GC is... can someone fill me in??

Good Counsel high school.

The HS that OP describes as “not diverse” but is very diverse.

.


Maybe diverse in student body but it’s either jocks or upcounty parents who are terrified of what public school teaches. Sounds stiffling to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look I disagree with the premise that we all live in a bubble and have no interactions with other private schools other than the one our kids attend (we all have family, friends and coworkers etc. With kids that go to other schools that we engage with)... but I genuinely haven't got a clue what GC is... can someone fill me in??

Good Counsel high school.

The HS that OP describes as “not diverse” but is very diverse.

.


Maybe diverse in student body but it’s either jocks or upcounty parents who are terrified of what public school teaches. Sounds stiffling to me.

Or students who win national competitions in speech and debate, or who shine in their outstanding fine arts programs... Good Counsel (GC) is a big school with a lot to offer beyond these stereotypes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve seen a recent influx of posts from parents looking for a "nice private alternative" to MCPS or DCPS because they want "rigorous academics" and "small classes." As someone who has been through the cycle with multiple kids at Sidwell and GDS, I feel compelled to say: You are fundamentally doing this wrong.

If your primary goal is just a heavy workload and high AP/IB participation, stay in the public system. The top-tier tracks in MoCo and DC are just as rigorous as anything you’ll find in an independent school. In fact, if you go the private route just to "avoid" public, you often end up paying $45k+ for facilities that are—let’s be honest—frequently dated or even inferior to what a well-funded public school offers. I’ve seen some of these smaller parochial campuses in the Olney/Sandy Spring area, and I’m baffled why anyone would pay tuition for a "campus" that looks like a 1970s office park when the local public has better labs and fields.

You don't send your LOs to the crown jewels of DC private to escape public school. You send them for a values-based, progressive experiential education. You go because you want your DS to be an out-of-the-box thinker who understands social justice and pluralism at a cellular level.

What makes Sidwell special isn't the math curriculum—it’s the intentionality. It’s the school-wide Iftar dinners, the student-led seders focused on sustainability, the niche global theater productions (the recent African folk tale was breathtaking), and the Quaker values.

There’s also a deeper "values" component we rarely talk about. If a parent is fleeing public school to find a "stifling" or narrow environment—like some of the "diploma mills" up-county (GC comes to mind)—it makes me wonder if they’re actually just trying to avoid the diversity and pluralism that makes the DC area great. If you aren't seeking the beauty of a truly progressive education, you’re just paying for a smaller, more homogeneous pond.

Choose a school for its mission, not because you’re afraid of the public school "boogeyman." Otherwise, you’re just paying a premium for a mediocre outlook.

Yessssssss to all of this. 👏🏽👏🏽

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look I disagree with the premise that we all live in a bubble and have no interactions with other private schools other than the one our kids attend (we all have family, friends and coworkers etc. With kids that go to other schools that we engage with)... but I genuinely haven't got a clue what GC is... can someone fill me in??

Good Counsel high school.

The HS that OP describes as “not diverse” but is very diverse.

.


Maybe diverse in student body but it’s either jocks or upcounty parents who are terrified of what public school teaches. Sounds stiffling to me.

Or students who win national competitions in speech and debate, or who shine in their outstanding fine arts programs... Good Counsel (GC) is a big school with a lot to offer beyond these stereotypes.

All of it which can be found at public schools while you cannot replicate the incredible perspective of the privates worth paying for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look I disagree with the premise that we all live in a bubble and have no interactions with other private schools other than the one our kids attend (we all have family, friends and coworkers etc. With kids that go to other schools that we engage with)... but I genuinely haven't got a clue what GC is... can someone fill me in??

Good Counsel high school.

Thanks! I genuinely never would have gotten there 🤣

That's... unusual. There are only a handful of schools we identify by acronym and GC is one of them. I don't even live in DC or send my kids to DC area privates and I know them lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look I disagree with the premise that we all live in a bubble and have no interactions with other private schools other than the one our kids attend (we all have family, friends and coworkers etc. With kids that go to other schools that we engage with)... but I genuinely haven't got a clue what GC is... can someone fill me in??

Good Counsel high school.

The HS that OP describes as “not diverse” but is very diverse.

.


Maybe diverse in student body but it’s either jocks or upcounty parents who are terrified of what public school teaches. Sounds stiffling to me.

Or students who win national competitions in speech and debate, or who shine in their outstanding fine arts programs... Good Counsel (GC) is a big school with a lot to offer beyond these stereotypes.

It wasn’t worth the tuition to us. If you live close maybe. But not if you’re coming from outside the area.