Sidwell - why don't many families in nw dc apply to sidwell, even though it is one of the top 2?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spot on. In my case, most of my neighbors are Bush conservatives and quite openly state that Sidwell is too progressive and not WASPy enough.

The Bush conservatives who flock to Beauvoir/NPS, I get. It's the families at the other end of the political spectrum who also flock there that I find a bit disingenous.

I find most "NW liberals" disingenuous.

[Anonymous]

This "no one gets in" thing is odd. I know two non-legacy families that got in who chose not to go to Sidwell, in part because of the sibling policy, and for one family, yes too liberal.

[Anonymous]

We went to an open house and were turned off by the lower school head's attitude, by the teachers and their seemingly rigid approach to learning / teaching, and the general feel of the place. Our child is happy at Beauvoir.

I know a lot of people who love Sidwell - it just didn't feel right for us, so why apply?

[Anonymous]

The lower school is a pain in the ass to get to if you live in the city. Sure, it's downtown Bethesda, but that's still a LONG way from cleveland park or even AU park for a daily commute, and then you have to drive all the way back into the city for work-- DURING RUSH HOUR!.

[Anonymous]

We are "the type" you reference in your post. Just found Sidwell very unappealing based on reputation/heresay. Had zero interest. Beauvoir, St Patrick's, NPS more our speed. Probably wont look at Sidwell for upper grades either. Did look at GDS and liked it but it was wrong learning environment for our child. We both voted for Clinton, Gore, Kerry, and Obama if that helps contribute to the paradigm and further, would prob be considered socially liberal on a left-right spectrum: Pro-choice, pro-legal same sex marriages, anti-Iraq war since beginning, pro-affirmative action or somehow leveling the playing field, pro- universal health care (at minimum for children), totally into the public library, green tea and environmentalism, but grew up in "Republican" households so tend to "look" rather conservative (or so people say). Think sports/athletics are really important as part of whole person development and think competition is healthy and realistic. I don't know if that helps at all but its us-as-private-school-parents-but -dis-interested-Sidwell-folks from NWDC in a nutshell.

[Anonymous]

We didn't apply because the prospect of several-to-12 years of Sidwell seemed too rigorous. Can I say that? Sometimes I think I might be the only NWDC parent who does -not- want a very challenging curriculum for her child.

Appropriately challenging, yes. But not burnt out by age 15. We personally know of a small group of Sidwell (and NCS) former students, lifers, who were counseled out.

[Anonymous]

A PP here, we also don't consider any school in DC a "top 2" anything as that is basically Exeter and Andover or maybe a few other NE preps. Sidwell's hype seems just too hyped amongst some DC-ers and it creates an unappealing and, dare I say, icky (good mature vocab word, right?) impression.

[Anonymous]

@23:59, sports are important but you favor NPS and St. Patricks?

@00:13, the only person labeling Sidwell as top two is the OP.

[Anonymous]

I suspect it is the location. The Sidwell lower school is not "too rigorous." The rigor starts up in middle school. Many DC families wait until that point to apply. Bythen you also have an idea of whether your child is suited to the rigor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The lower school is a pain in the ass to get to if you live in the city. Sure, it's downtown Bethesda, but that's still a LONG way from cleveland park or even AU park for a daily commute, and then you have to drive all the way back into the city for work-- DURING RUSH HOUR!.

There is a bus from the DC campus.

[Anonymous]

I just couldn't imagine that for my 4 year old.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, 19:34, I'm sure that you like to think of yourself as urbane, but "just a bit over the DC line in Bethesda" is still to burby for many of us....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, 19:34, I'm sure that you like to think of yourself as urbane, but "just a bit over the DC line in Bethesda" is still to burby for many of us....

At least it's not in Rockville.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just couldn't imagine that for my 4 year old.

So you drive for one year and then use the bus when s/he's in kindergarten. Not such a big deal really.

[Anonymous]

@23:59, sports are important but you favor NPS and St. Patricks?

Yes, as they are only through grades 6/8, and they both have very good exmissions at middle school age to the schools we are interested in that have both strong academics and strong athletics: Landon, Holton, STA and NCS and NE boarding schools. I know one of them also has strong exmissions to Sidwell but that is irrelevant to us. Also, the Phys Ed programs and teachers are really respectable, really good Gyms, playgrounds and its super easy to supplement athletics at the younger ages. (Stoddert, Headfirst, Next Level, private tennis/swim clubs, etc...)