Landon vs. Georgetown Prep Upper School

[Anonymous]

Our family applied DS to Landon, Georgetown Prep, and two other Big 3 schools for freshmen year and he got accepted to three of them and wait listed in one. After a lengthy discussion with DS and DH last night, we narrowed our options down to Landon and Georgetown Prep. However, they both seem pretty equal in our eyes. DS is a solid student who will probably end up taking three to four honor courses freshmen year. He is also a solid athlete in soccer and track. Can anyone who is familiar with both of these programs help answer some pending questions:
1. What is the difference between Landon's teaching style and GP's?
2. Which school has a more diverse and welcoming social dynamics of children?
3. Does any school have more of a connection with its sister school, Holton/Visitation?
I really appreciate all of the answers and hopefully it'll clear up our decision. Anyways, thanks again, cheers.

[Anonymous]

Landon in Freshman Year only has honors classes in Math, Science, Spanish, French and Latin. You need to be recommended for honors classes.

There is a freshman soccer team. Freshman can try out for jv but only a few kids make it every year.

The biggest difference is that Landon has a student teacher coach model. Many of Landon's Upper School teachers also coach.The Varsity Soccer Coach teaches AP History. The Upper School Track Coach is the 9th & 10 wth grade dean. This gives the kids and the teachers a very different way to interact. The teachers really know the whole kid, not just as a student.

As far as diversity, there is a range of kids. it is non denominational so there is no religious aspect of inclusion or exclusion.

Landon does have an ambassador program where each new student is assigned a student and family in their class to help them navigate the school and become familiar with kids int he class. Numerous events are planned bet. June and Sept to help integrate new students.


As far as the Holton connection, there is a fall event for 9th graders planned with Holton as well as joint community service activities for all grade. There are mixers with Holton as well as other schools that the boys are invited to. Many boys have sisters who go to Landon so many of the boys end up meeting Holton girls.


They are both good schools. I think it comes down to whether you feel comfortable with the religious aspect of GP.

Good Luck.

[Anonymous]

Where does your child feel most comfortable? That should be a large part of your decision.

[Anonymous]

Track and soccer is not celebrated at Landon, which clearly emphasizes contact sports. I'd also be wary of the Landon's reputation which (fair or not) has undeniably taken a real beating over the past 18 months. Not sure it will recover by the time your DS graduates in four years.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the all of the answers so far. DS has 2-3 friends at both Landon and GP, so comfort zone will probably be the same. Reputation wise, my family and I don't take "news" into account. We have been to Landon enough times and have spoken to enough Landon families to feel comfortable with the whole community. Also, even if the reputation has taken a hit, it seems as if it is not hurting their college matriculation, i've heard they already have kids who are set to go to Princeton, Yale, UPenn. However, it's tricky because DH and I personally like GP and its religious component but DS seems to be turned off by the religious component. That might end up being the deciding component. We'll probably end up making our decision in upcoming weeks. Again, thank you for the replies and we certainly would love to learn more answers to the questions we posed as a family. Cheers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the all of the answers so far. DS has 2-3 friends at both Landon and GP, so comfort zone will probably be the same. Reputation wise, my family and I don't take "news" into account. We have been to Landon enough times and have spoken to enough Landon families to feel comfortable with the whole community. Also, even if the reputation has taken a hit, it seems as if it is not hurting their college matriculation, i've heard they already have kids who are set to go to Princeton, Yale, UPenn. However, it's tricky because DH and I personally like GP and its religious component but DS seems to be turned off by the religious component. That might end up being the deciding component. We'll probably end up making our decision in upcoming weeks. Again, thank you for the replies and we certainly would love to learn more answers to the questions we posed as a family. Cheers.

I don't know which school is the best choice for your DS and while it's admirable that your family doesn't get caught up in all the hoopla, unfortunately others (outsiders) do care and it might end up hurting your kid. Still, I'd let your son decide, as it sounds like a toss up as far as you and DH are concerned.

[Anonymous]

Doesn't prep have the superior athletic facilities? As a parochial school, is prep cheaper? Don't a majority of the kids from Prep and Landon who go to extremely selective colleges get in based on sports?

[Anonymous]

prep is $29,500 landon is $31,000 -- not a lot of daylight on tuition. not true about only jocks making it to selective schools from prep or landon.

[Anonymous]

For me, faith would be the deciding factor. If you are Catholic then Prep may be closer to your values.

[Anonymous]

21:28: certainly, $1,500 isn't a lot of money, considering the total costs. But, I didn't think every kid got in to the IVy's or high profile schools on athletics, but it was my understanding that MOST of the kids got to thei schools through sports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Doesn't prep have the superior athletic facilities? As a parochial school, is prep cheaper? Don't a majority of the kids from Prep and Landon who go to extremely selective colleges get in based on sports?

Good grief. After the first sentence, every word in your post is ignorant. First, Prep is not a parochial school (which would mean that it is run by a parish). Prep is Jesuit, and exists outside the parochial system. It is comparable in price to Landon. Second, a very small percentage of students are recruited to play sports at elite colleges. I went to Prep, didn't even play a varsity sport (much less get recruited), and went to Duke. My brother went to Landon, didn't play a varsity sport, and went to Carnegie Mellon. There were of course a few athletes recruited to play sports in the Ivy League or equivalent schools, but most students were like us. Both schools are elite academic schools, not jock factories.

To the original poster, here is how my parents decided to send one son to Prep and the other to Landon 25 years ago. Prep was stronger in classic liberal arts. It fit me. Landon was stronger in science, arts and music. It fit my brother. Are those statements true today? I have no idea, but you can find out. Talk to teachers; talk to students. Chances are one will fit your son better than the other. Whatever you do, ignore the posters on this board and go with your instinct.

[Anonymous]

Both are great schools with their strengths and weaknesses. If the OP says that her DS is into the non-religious aspect, wouldn't you want to decide for Landon because you don't want to put your child into an environment if it isn't in his comfort level. Either way, both schools are competitive in terms of academics and athletics. Not much of a difference between the two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doesn't prep have the superior athletic facilities? As a parochial school, is prep cheaper? Don't a majority of the kids from Prep and Landon who go to extremely selective colleges get in based on sports?

Good grief. After the first sentence, every word in your post is ignorant. First, Prep is not a parochial school (which would mean that it is run by a parish). Prep is Jesuit, and exists outside the parochial system. It is comparable in price to Landon. Second, a very small percentage of students are recruited to play sports at elite colleges. I went to Prep, didn't even play a varsity sport (much less get recruited), and went to Duke. My brother went to Landon, didn't play a varsity sport, and went to Carnegie Mellon. There were of course a few athletes recruited to play sports in the Ivy League or equivalent schools, but most students were like us. Both schools are elite academic schools, not jock factories.

To the original poster, here is how my parents decided to send one son to Prep and the other to Landon 25 years ago. Prep was stronger in classic liberal arts. It fit me. Landon was stronger in science, arts and music. It fit my brother. Are those statements true today? I have no idea, but you can find out. Talk to teachers; talk to students. Chances are one will fit your son better than the other. Whatever you do, ignore the posters on this board and go with your instinct.

All I can say to that post, well said.

[Anonymous]

coming from a Prep alum who graduated over 20 years ago... very well said.

[Anonymous]

Wow. You guys are kinda sensitive.

Was the anger and insecurity of your response a left over emotion from not making a varsity team?