What kind of student does well at Sidwell?
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Anonymous
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I'm the OP. Is it a welcoming place for newly transferring in 9th graders? How hard is it to "fit in" if you didn't start in elementary?
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Anonymous
| In recent years, I'd say 25-30 kids have come in as 9th-graders and they generally seem to make a smooth transition. |
Anonymous
| Thank you for sharing that. Very helpful. Out of curiosity, are you a current family? Would love any other insights you may have. |
Anonymous
| My DD entered in 9th and the transition was easy socially and academically, although it helped to know kids in the class from other activities, mostly club sports. There are 25 or so new kids, so while a minority, not insignificant. The kids that enter in 9th often tend to be academically at the top of the class, since their admission based on more relevant data than for lower school. There are a lot of activities at the beginning of 9th for community building (lots of community service etc). |
Anonymous
| How has your DD liked it so far? |
Anonymous
| New to this forum, but why does Sidwell seem to have a "for nerdy kids" reputation? Never heard this before? |
Anonymous
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Because the school has the rep of being the smart kid school.
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Anonymous
| Full of very smart and motivated kids. A full spectrum of very socially adept kids, kids focused on sports, arty/theater kids, as well as some but not many stereotypical math/science "nerds". What my DD found really pleasant was that being smart didn't end up labeling one as a nerd, or defining your social group, unlike public school. |
Anonymous
Maybe because there aren't lunkhead jerks at the school who, at other places, would boost their standing by labeling kids as nerds and thinking working hard at academics is uncool (with corresponding parents using the same label on anonymous forums)? |
Anonymous
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bump
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Anonymous
Have you been on the campus? |
Anonymous
Because they'd prefer to cultivate this reputation rather than be seen as a place for privileged rich kids. |
Anonymous
Oh, please. |
Anonymous
| Within the Sidwell community, the kids seem perfectly normal. There is a range of personalities. In most other schools, the kids would be considered nerds. That's why Sidwell is a perfect fit or nerdy smart kids who want to be among similar kids. I know STA and Holton alum who sent their DC to Sidwell because they knew they wouldn't fit at a more "normal" school. On the other hand, a promininent alum pulled his kids from Sidwell because they were athletes and very social. You have to know your child. |
Anonymous
It's all about FIT for your child regardless whether you/parent personally like/dislike the school. Why is this concept so hard to register with DCUM posters? |