Can a 97% percentile kid get in Sidwell for K??

[Anonymous]

There are a lot of applicant to pre-K and K at Sidwell and I'm not sure if the admissions process is entirely fair. DC scored way over 99% on WPPSI but were wait-listed for pre-K at Sidwell (and never got off the WL). Fortunately, DC was accepted at two other "Big 3" schools and we are very happy with DC's school.

[Anonymous]

No admissions process is entirely about scores, and no admissions process is entirely fair. There's no evidence that Sidwell's process is any less fair than the processes at other area schools.

[Anonymous]

We know so many 99 percentile wppsi kids who applied to Sidwell and did not get in, or get on the wl, and we have heard of some less-than-99 percentile kids get in. So I would say that the wppsi is not going to tell you anything about this child's chances of getting in.

[Anonymous]

In other respects, applying to Sidwell is a lot like applying to college, though.

Except, that unlike the usual college path, there are multiple opportunities to apply to Sidwell Friends and other schools. SFS has small pre-K and K classes so the odds are tough. Although school admission counselors at that stage try in some objective fashion to evaluate the applicants, it might come down to the outgoing, energetic kid who stands out over the shy one. Sidwell Friends expands its classes several times and there are multple admission points as kids get older. And it becomes more about the child, as kids build more of an academic record. Many kids are later offered admission after not having gotten in at a younger age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

In other respects, applying to Sidwell is a lot like applying to college, though.

Except, that unlike the usual college path, there are multiple opportunities to apply to Sidwell Friends and other schools. SFS has small pre-K and K classes so the odds are tough. Although school admission counselors at that stage try in some objective fashion to evaluate the applicants, it might come down to the outgoing, energetic kid who stands out over the shy one. Sidwell Friends expands its classes several times and there are multple admission points as kids get older. And it becomes more about the child, as kids build more of an academic record. Many kids are later offered admission after not having gotten in at a younger age.

I know this is true and you mean well. But speaking as a parent who has just been through the college application process, the thought of applying multiple times to a college or private school makes me shudder!

[Anonymous]

What is this "parent essay"? We didn't have to complete one. Are you just talking about the short answer worksheet that asks you about your kid? How is it a surprise that you have to describe your kid?