Gay Friendly Private Schools?

[Anonymous]

Re: NCS/STA - There have been a couple of gay/lesbian parents at Beauvoir, but they haven't gone on to NCS/STA. I haven't heard of any others there either. I will note, though, that the National Cathedral in general is supportive of LBGT rights and employs several of said people (though I don't know of any presently in the schools).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My partner and I have a son who will be entering K in 2009-2010. We are beginning to survey the private school scene in the DC area. We know a number of similarly situated families at GDS. We will certainly apply there, but want to expand our search to include many of the other schools often mentioned here. So, any feedback on the reaction we might get from staff and families at places like Sidwell, Beauvoir, Maret, etc. would be appreciated.

I don't know if I'm answering this--haven't used the forum before. Sheridan School is very gay-friendly, not just in its admissions, but in the overall accepting culture of the school. A few of the teachers are gay also.

[Anonymous]

Lowell

[Anonymous]

Many schools are trying to increase same-gender parents in their school communities. It's not easy to do because GDS and Lowell have traditionally been the schools of choice. I know several families who chose GDS/Lowell over other independent schools because they didn't want to have to pave the way somewhere else or have their child feel different. The fact is, though, that many smaller independent schools would like to have your family and would be very receptive to your guidance. In some ways, you will be breaking down barriers by showing that there are many schools that value diversity - not just GDS and Lowell.

[Anonymous]

NCRC for preschool. lots of gay families there now.
gds, maret, green acres seem to be the most pro-active about welcoming gay families.

that being said, the numbers are still pretty small.

[Anonymous]

My child's class at Lowell had multiple two-mom families. No two-dad families in his class, though there are some in the school. Overall, the school is extraordinarily inclusive in terms of familty structure: two-moms, two-dads, single moms, single dads, and "traditional" families. Kids from traditional families learn at an early age that there are all kinds of families, and are likewise extremely tolerant. For those looking for a progressive education, it's also an outstanding school. If you're thinking about starting pre-K or K now, seventh and eighth grades should be operating by the time it's relevant for your child. If your child is a little older, the school's outplacement record for seventh grade is exceptionally good: GDS, Sidwell, Maret, Landon, Bullis, Field, etc.

[Anonymous]

The fact that you need to ask for references for "Gay Friendly Private Schools" makes me livid. Every school, public or private should be "gay friendly". Most of all they should be "child friendly" and understand that children need acceptance whatever their background - two moms, two dads, one mom and no dad, one dad and no mom.

I am not gay/lesbian myself, but have gay neighbor dads with two children in our elementary school and after the first month of figuring out what the situation was so that we didn't make a fool of ourselves asking where so and so's mother was, they merged into the whole elementary school parenting experience, and are very supportive our school programs. From what I have observed, I am the room Mom for one of their children, the adjustment of having two dads was not any more remarked upon by the other children than a divorced parenting arrangement.

It makes me very sad that this is still a consideration for Gay and Lesbian parents.

[Anonymous]

Lowell

[Anonymous]

Capitol Hill Day School. Every kind of family grouping is represented and welcomed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Capitol Hill Day School. Every kind of family grouping is represented and welcomed.

Shhhh.

Capitol Hill Day School is THE undiscovered treasure of the DC private school scene.

[Anonymous]

Oh, Pleease, take your self-promotion elsewhere. The school sucks.

[Anonymous]

How do you decide what is gay friendly and what is not? I am in a hetero couple, so we never asked our current school about those numbers. Yet one of the traditions in the school bugs me. They have a special "daddy visiting day" at school. I am not sure how to raise this to them, but it seems so obvious to me this is something that is bound to raise issues for all sorts of "non-traditional" families, including single moms. Maybe they would tell me it works just fine and they have had it come up before, but it just seems so glaring to me.

[Anonymous]

Norwood? This bothers me, too. Maybe this is a good thing to bring up in meetings with the head of school or lower/middle school principal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you decide what is gay friendly and what is not? I am in a hetero couple, so we never asked our current school about those numbers. Yet one of the traditions in the school bugs me. They have a special "daddy visiting day" at school. I am not sure how to raise this to them, but it seems so obvious to me this is something that is bound to raise issues for all sorts of "non-traditional" families, including single moms. Maybe they would tell me it works just fine and they have had it come up before, but it just seems so glaring to me.

Aidan Montessori has a "Special Persons Day" - which is a nice solution and is inclusive of grandparents and family friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh, Pleease, take your self-promotion elsewhere. The school sucks.

Wow! Here I was just innocently searching my kids' schools and I ran across this! I'd love to know what leads you to be so bitter about Capitol Hill Day. Both my kids went there from Pre-K through 8th, then to Maret, and the oldest is now at Dartmouth. Having them start at a warm, unpretentious, diverse, creative, and academically rich school like CHDS is something my husband and I continue to be grateful for, and for reasons we never could have anticipated when we were first looking at schools as young parents. Capitol Hill Day School, quite simply, had them thrilled with learning very early on, and grew gradually more academically rigorous so that, by SSAT time, they were well-positioned for high school applications. And meanwhile, they were developing in an atmosphere that was (we all four NOW realize) not quite as competitive and socially precocious as your typical middle school's. From my vantage point now, that was truly priceless. Sure, the facilities are not palatial, but my kids learned something that every parent looking at schools ought to remember -- great art, great thinking, great relationships can be found anywhere, not just in spiffy new spaces.