GDS or Maret?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's difficult to imagine a more rigorous school than GDS. When I assessed GDS against another biggie a couple of years ago, there was a huge discrepancy between school #1 and GDS. Of 100 seniors, school #1 (not Maret, but one which is mentioned often in these posts as having a huge national reputation) had 7 seniors who were either national merit finalists or semifinalists. Not bad, but no big deal, surprisingly. GDS that same year, with its 100 grads, had 35. GDS doesn't tout these numbers, but they happen again and again. GDS is doing something right. We chose GDS.

I think Maret is a great school (small, intimate), but would never describe it as academically rigorous... plus, I have heard numerous complaints from friends that the small size limits advanced AP and college level classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's difficult to imagine a more rigorous school than GDS. When I assessed GDS against another biggie a couple of years ago, there was a huge discrepancy between school #1 and GDS. Of 100 seniors, school #1 (not Maret, but one which is mentioned often in these posts as having a huge national reputation) had 7 seniors who were either national merit finalists or semifinalists. Not bad, but no big deal, surprisingly. GDS that same year, with its 100 grads, had 35. GDS doesn't tout these numbers, but they happen again and again. GDS is doing something right. We chose GDS.

I think Maret is a great school (small, intimate), but would never describe it as academically rigorous... plus, I have heard numerous complaints from friends that the small size limits advanced AP and college level classes.

I don't think Maret is a great school... I think its an okay school... its nothing special other than its size... seems to have a way-over-inflated sense of itself

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's difficult to imagine a more rigorous school than GDS. When I assessed GDS against another biggie a couple of years ago, there was a huge discrepancy between school #1 and GDS. Of 100 seniors, school #1 (not Maret, but one which is mentioned often in these posts as having a huge national reputation) had 7 seniors who were either national merit finalists or semifinalists. Not bad, but no big deal, surprisingly. GDS that same year, with its 100 grads, had 35. GDS doesn't tout these numbers, but they happen again and again. GDS is doing something right. We chose GDS.

I think Maret is a great school (small, intimate), but would never describe it as academically rigorous... plus, I have heard numerous complaints from friends that the small size limits advanced AP and college level classes.

I don't think Maret is a great school... I think its an okay school... its nothing special other than its size... seems to have a way-over-inflated sense of itself

To the PP, completely agree. Good school but nothing special. I'd choose GDS!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's difficult to imagine a more rigorous school than GDS. When I assessed GDS against another biggie a couple of years ago, there was a huge discrepancy between school #1 and GDS. Of 100 seniors, school #1 (not Maret, but one which is mentioned often in these posts as having a huge national reputation) had 7 seniors who were either national merit finalists or semifinalists. Not bad, but no big deal, surprisingly. GDS that same year, with its 100 grads, had 35. GDS doesn't tout these numbers, but they happen again and again. GDS is doing something right. We chose GDS.

I think Maret is a great school (small, intimate), but would never describe it as academically rigorous... plus, I have heard numerous complaints from friends that the small size limits advanced AP and college level classes.

I don't think Maret is a great school... I think its an okay school... its nothing special other than its size... seems to have a way-over-inflated sense of itself

To the PP, completely agree. Good school but nothing special. I'd choose GDS!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's difficult to imagine a more rigorous school than GDS. When I assessed GDS against another biggie a couple of years ago, there was a huge discrepancy between school #1 and GDS. Of 100 seniors, school #1 (not Maret, but one which is mentioned often in these posts as having a huge national reputation) had 7 seniors who were either national merit finalists or semifinalists. Not bad, but no big deal, surprisingly. GDS that same year, with its 100 grads, had 35. GDS doesn't tout these numbers, but they happen again and again. GDS is doing something right. We chose GDS.

I think Maret is a great school (small, intimate), but would never describe it as academically rigorous... plus, I have heard numerous complaints from friends that the small size limits advanced AP and college level classes.

I don't think Maret is a great school... I think its an okay school... its nothing special other than its size... seems to have a way-over-inflated sense of itself

To the PP, completely agree. Good school but nothing special. I'd choose GDS!

Woops! Sorry, so much for my first post!! I posted nothing

GDS gets it right -- great academics, great kids, amazing staff and faculty... 110% committed to your child... feel so blessed to have our children at the school. They are both so different, but GDS has done an amazing job with both our children both in terms of challenging them acaemically, but supporting them also socially and emotionally. Truly a special place. Go Hoppers!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's difficult to imagine a more rigorous school than GDS. When I assessed GDS against another biggie a couple of years ago, there was a huge discrepancy between school #1 and GDS. Of 100 seniors, school #1 (not Maret, but one which is mentioned often in these posts as having a huge national reputation) had 7 seniors who were either national merit finalists or semifinalists. Not bad, but no big deal, surprisingly. GDS that same year, with its 100 grads, had 35. GDS doesn't tout these numbers, but they happen again and again. GDS is doing something right. We chose GDS.

I think Maret is a great school (small, intimate), but would never describe it as academically rigorous... plus, I have heard numerous complaints from friends that the small size limits advanced AP and college level classes.

What a bunch of malarkey. If you look at the curriculum guide to Maret you will see the depth of the curriculum, including the humanities and science electives that are offered for students in their junior and senior years. Maret has AP classes as well as coursework that isn't labeled 'AP' because that limits what can be taught. Kids consistently score 5s on AP exams across the board. If you don't have a child there, how can you possibly describe Maret (well, any school for that matter) as anything?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's difficult to imagine a more rigorous school than GDS. When I assessed GDS against another biggie a couple of years ago, there was a huge discrepancy between school #1 and GDS. Of 100 seniors, school #1 (not Maret, but one which is mentioned often in these posts as having a huge national reputation) had 7 seniors who were either national merit finalists or semifinalists. Not bad, but no big deal, surprisingly. GDS that same year, with its 100 grads, had 35. GDS doesn't tout these numbers, but they happen again and again. GDS is doing something right. We chose GDS.

This is a very dangerous place to go for information about schools! I don't know what statistics this person refers to, but finalist, semifinalist, and commended all mean different things in national merit lingo. And it is vital to remember that schools with relatively large graduating classes (GDS had 115 last year, for example, Sidwell a bit more) would be expected to have more awards than Maret, which graduated 74 last year. According to the POST, however, both GDS and Maret had 3 National Merit semifinalists in the Class of 2008. And I do know that Maret had 25 students who were either finalists, semifinalists, or commended -- don't know about GDS.

This forum really only proves one thing: that people tend to love whatever school they pick, and that all these schools are so good it's easy to make a case for any of them. Anyone serious about really differentiating among them ought to go straight to the schools themselves. And, no, I'm not a board member or AD -- just a someone who hates to see parents waste their time sifting through rumors and stereotypes and bad information.

[Anonymous]

My daughter graduated from Maret with 4's and mostly 5's on 6 AP's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The answer is: The one you like better.

You haven't given us any background information that would enable someone to give you good advice. Do you know what kind of school you like? Progressive? traditional? Small? Large? Single campus? K-12? Religious? What kind of personality does your child have?

There is no one "right" or "best" school for everyone. While I'm sure most feel that GDS and Maret are both good schools, they might not be appropriate for your child or for your family. I think the same holds true for all schools, be it GDS or Maret or Beauvoir or Sidwell or St Patricks or WIS, etc.....

This is the most intelligent post in the entire thread. Somebody asked above how you would know if it is the right fit for your kid and family.

For us, we toured the schools and looked at the curriculum all the way through. People tend to have a visceral reaction to GDS. They either love it or hate it. We made our list of schools to which we applied based on our "gut" reaction. Some of the research you do on the school's website, looking at upper level curriculum, touring the school, etc., helps inform that gut feeling. Think about your family and what you want for your child. You are the consumer here. What do you want in a school? Your answers may vary depending on which of your kids you are focused on at that particular time.

We considered both of these schools but attend neither. In one case, we did not apply, and, in the other, we were waitlisted. Fortunately, we got into our second choice school and our DC is very, very happy there. We are now looking at the school we thought was all wrong for one kid for another kid. That's all you can do as a parent - inform yourself, listen to your gut, and try to make thoughtful decisions for each child. Then the admissions process chips fall where they do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's difficult to imagine a more rigorous school than GDS. When I assessed GDS against another biggie a couple of years ago, there was a huge discrepancy between school #1 and GDS. Of 100 seniors, school #1 (not Maret, but one which is mentioned often in these posts as having a huge national reputation) had 7 seniors who were either national merit finalists or semifinalists. Not bad, but no big deal, surprisingly. GDS that same year, with its 100 grads, had 35. GDS doesn't tout these numbers, but they happen again and again. GDS is doing something right. We chose GDS.

I think Maret is a great school (small, intimate), but would never describe it as academically rigorous... plus, I have heard numerous complaints from friends that the small size limits advanced AP and college level classes.

What a bunch of malarkey. If you look at the curriculum guide to Maret you will see the depth of the curriculum, including the humanities and science electives that are offered for students in their junior and senior years. Maret has AP classes as well as coursework that isn't labeled 'AP' because that limits what can be taught. Kids consistently score 5s on AP exams across the board. If you don't have a child there, how can you possibly describe Maret (well, any school for that matter) as anything?

My sister and her husband have two kids at Maret both in the upper school and they have noted that the course offerings seem to be much less diverse and numerous than those offered at Sidwell, GDS, NCS etc. They wish their were more upper level courses and AP/AP-like classes, but are okay with the limited curriculum because they like the smaller size.

[Anonymous]

My sister and her husband have two kids at Maret both in the upper school and they have noted that the course offerings seem to be much less diverse and numerous than those offered at Sidwell, GDS, NCS etc. They wish their were more upper level courses and AP/AP-like classes, but are okay with the limited curriculum because they like the smaller size.

PP -- thanks for coming to my defense!! It just seems like a matter of numbers... if your graduating class has 50% fewer kids, you are going to have 50% fewer classes (or thereabouts). Not a knock on Maret... the trade-off for a small school may be worth it... just a trade off that's all.

[Anonymous]

How about both? Maret for lower and middle; GDS for high school!

[Anonymous]

Maret's upper school humanities choices include: Shakespeare; Comparative Literature (spanish); Style&Literature; AfroAmerican Lit; Creative Writing; American Lit; Contemporary American Lit; British Lit; World Lit; Psychological Themes in Literature; Transformation of europe; Race/Gender/Language and Power; Hisry of Philosophy;Global Women's Literature;Globilization and the Modern World;Ecnomics of Scarcity, Society and Choice; Children's Lit;Environmental Lit and Philosophy; Origins of Religion; 20th Century Europe; Civil Liberties; Asia and the West; History of War; US History; Colonialism and Post Colonialism; History and Theory of Nonviolence; Comparative Religion; Contemporary American History and Politics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maret's upper school humanities choices include: Shakespeare; Comparative Literature (spanish); Style&Literature; AfroAmerican Lit; Creative Writing; American Lit; Contemporary American Lit; British Lit; World Lit; Psychological Themes in Literature; Transformation of europe; Race/Gender/Language and Power; Hisry of Philosophy;Global Women's Literature;Globilization and the Modern World;Ecnomics of Scarcity, Society and Choice; Children's Lit;Environmental Lit and Philosophy; Origins of Religion; 20th Century Europe; Civil Liberties; Asia and the West; History of War; US History; Colonialism and Post Colonialism; History and Theory of Nonviolence; Comparative Religion; Contemporary American History and Politics.

Thank you... it is still pails in comparison to Sidwell, NCS, GDS etc.... just a product of its small size...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's difficult to imagine a more rigorous school than GDS. When I assessed GDS against another biggie a couple of years ago, there was a huge discrepancy between school #1 and GDS. Of 100 seniors, school #1 (not Maret, but one which is mentioned often in these posts as having a huge national reputation) had 7 seniors who were either national merit finalists or semifinalists. Not bad, but no big deal, surprisingly. GDS that same year, with its 100 grads, had 35. GDS doesn't tout these numbers, but they happen again and again. GDS is doing something right. We chose GDS.

I think Maret is a great school (small, intimate), but would never describe it as academically rigorous... plus, I have heard numerous complaints from friends that the small size limits advanced AP and college level classes.

I don't think Maret is a great school... I think its an okay school... its nothing special other than its size... seems to have a way-over-inflated sense of itself

To the PP, completely agree. Good school but nothing special. I'd choose GDS!

GDS! For people who don't get what it's all about, it's really too bad... an amazing, AMAZING place... caters to all types of kids, makes/allows them to be themselves and teaches kids how to be confident, well-adjusted individuals, critical thinkers and problem solvers... not to mention GDS is never self-satisfiedd... always pushing to do more, be even better... just a great school

Woops! Sorry, so much for my first post!! I posted nothing

GDS gets it right -- great academics, great kids, amazing staff and faculty... 110% committed to your child... feel so blessed to have our children at the school. They are both so different, but GDS has done an amazing job with both our children both in terms of challenging them acaemically, but supporting them also socially and emotionally. Truly a special place. Go Hoppers!