do you think it is fair for maryland and virginia people to be taking up spots

[Anonymous]

We hear every year how hard it is to get into these schools yet people only apply to one or two. I don't get it especially when there are no options for public schools. We applied to several to increase our chances. It was time consuming going to all tours, play dates and interviews but we knew we only had one shot at it so we went for it

[Anonymous]

Is Sidwell's lower school in MD?

[Anonymous]

It's in Edgemoor, just off Arlington (pretty much behind the library and Bethesday Elementary).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think DC families should be preferred. Let's face it, public school is just not an option here.

I guess - come to think of it - it would be nice if we could have a preference. Although, a lot of families I have met from MD work in the district - so the school is actually convenient for them with commuting and all......

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hard to say what is fair, based on how these decisions are handed down.

Re location, the same could likely be said of the DC parents and kids coming up north to Sidwell, located right my neighborhood in lovely downtown Bethesda!

Actually, no. The point of the previous post is that DC parent do not have nearly as many options for local public schools in particular nor as many private schools. Maryland and Virginia have literally dozens of spot free fo the taking at public schools that are comparable to the best privates, i.e., Langley, Whitman, Churchill and so on.

I have one public school option. It's fine. That said, some of us do however want more art, more music, more phys. activity, and oh yes, did I mention class size under 26 children!??!!

[Anonymous]

I think this is ridiculous.

If you don't work for the DC government there is no one forcing you to live in the district. It's a choice.

I am sick of the bitching and moaning-

[Anonymous]

As with state universities preference should only be given for local applicants if the school is public! Does Harvard give (or should it give) perference to people applying from MA? NOOO - why should private elementary schools.

If you live in DC instead of fleeing the system (or try to and complain about being rejected) why not work to make the schools better. The middle class kids will do well wherever they go. Hey, having more of them in the public school system would even help the poorer kids.

As for arts/music/etc - use some of the $30k/year that you will be saving on private school to pay for some nice extra-extracurriculars!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We hear every year how hard it is to get into these schools yet people only apply to one or two. I don't get it especially when there are no options for public schools. We applied to several to increase our chances. It was time consuming going to all tours, play dates and interviews but we knew we only had one shot at it so we went for it

That's not the case with everyone. We applied to 8, yes 8 schools. We are now faced with 3 rejections, 2 waitlists (one of which is probably fake) 1 school that isn't admitting any new students and have 2 more that have yet to respond. We live in DC, have a nice child, good scores and if these remaining two schools come back with rejections/waitlist, we will have no options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hard to say what is fair, based on how these decisions are handed down.

Re location, the same could likely be said of the DC parents and kids coming up north to Sidwell, located right my neighborhood in lovely downtown Bethesda!

Actually, no. The point of the previous post is that DC parent do not have nearly as many options for local public schools in particular nor as many private schools. Maryland and Virginia have literally dozens of spot free fo the taking at public schools that are comparable to the best privates, i.e., Langley, Whitman, Churchill and so on.

I have one public school option. It's fine. That said, some of us do however want more art, more music, more phys. activity, and oh yes, did I mention class size under 26 children!??!!

And how many schools do you think those of us in the suburbs have? We have one school -- it is called our neighborhood school. If we want more options we have to apply and fork out the big bucks like the rest of you. Don't you think we all want more art, more music, more phsyical activity and smaller class sizes? Do you really think we are all different?

If you don't like the choices you have, then move. Do what the rest of us do -- we look for homes/neighborhoods with schools which are good and where we can afford. We make sacrifices such as long commutes, but it does not make any of us better than those who choose to live in DC. Nor does choosing to live in DC make you a better person than those of us who live in the surrounding areas.

[Anonymous]

Your option would then be public school!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your option would then be public school!

My public school is frightening - therefore, not an option.

[Anonymous]

To the PP- I am sorry that your public school is frightening and not an option. But, you must have known this when you moved into your house... You took a risk...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hard to say what is fair, based on how these decisions are handed down.

Re location, the same could likely be said of the DC parents and kids coming up north to Sidwell, located right my neighborhood in lovely downtown Bethesda!

Actually, no. The point of the previous post is that DC parent do not have nearly as many options for local public schools in particular nor as many private schools. Maryland and Virginia have literally dozens of spot free fo the taking at public schools that are comparable to the best privates, i.e., Langley, Whitman, Churchill and so on.

I have one public school option. It's fine. That said, some of us do however want more art, more music, more phys. activity, and oh yes, did I mention class size under 26 children!??!!

And how many schools do you think those of us in the suburbs have? We have one school -- it is called our neighborhood school. If we want more options we have to apply and fork out the big bucks like the rest of you. Don't you think we all want more art, more music, more phsyical activity and smaller class sizes? Do you really think we are all different?

If you don't like the choices you have, then move. Do what the rest of us do -- we look for homes/neighborhoods with schools which are good and where we can afford. We make sacrifices such as long commutes, but it does not make any of us better than those who choose to live in DC. Nor does choosing to live in DC make you a better person than those of us who live in the surrounding areas.

Yikes. I should have been more specific. I DO live in MD and was refering to my one suburban school option, but was seeking private school spot to gain items described during the school day.

[Anonymous]

OP, I realize you are frustrated and I'm sorry about that. However, I think it's entirely fair for MD and VA children to "take up spots" in private schools located in the District. Private schools are not neighborhood schools. They are not public schools.

[Anonymous]

wouldn't it be nice if private schools gave some sort of preference to kids/ families that live closest to them, as a transportation/ environmental consideration? I happen to live very near a top independent school in DC and I do get a bit steamed from time to time watching all of the SUV-tanks from MD and VA crowd our neighborhood streets....