When did GDS become so well regarded?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Burke is the new GDS. As GDS gets snootier and more uptight, the kinds of families who once sent their kids to GDS (academics, journalists, NGO types, ex-pats) not send their kids to Burke. Which may mean that Burke is doomed to go the way of GDS. (progressive/alternative school becomes hyper competitive and uptight).

This is exactly why our family and several others we know from three local K-8 are applying to Burke and not GDS. Here’s hoping the path predicted above is not the experience of those at Burke now. The Burke HOS and board seem committed to avoiding that, but who knows how well they can stick to their principals when they find the school in greater demand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On the Jewish thing, I'm not from this area, so I don't know about GDS. But I do remember when I was applying for colleges, a lot of college guides said that Brandeis had a diversity issue, because it was 2/3 Jewish. But I was also interested in Georgetown, which was not only even more Catholic, but at the time had a huge % from Catholic prep schools. Not a peep in the guides about Georgetown not being diverse.

Oh G-d.

You don't get stats, do you.

Hint: show me a school in Israel that is 2/3 Catholic

I get statistics perfectly well. That it's more *unusual* to have a 2/3 Jewish school than an 80% Catholic school in a country that 2% Jewish and 25% Catholic is undoubtedly true. That the Jewish school has a *diversity* problem but the Catholic school does not implies that Jews are inherently undiverse, but Catholics are not.

So, you get stats but you choose to ignore them.

That makes you, what, a willful moron?

You seem to either not understand that 80% is greater than 66%, or, in the alternative, what the word "diversity" means. And I'm the moron?

DP: But wouldn't the actual difference be that Georgetown specifically says that it is a Catholic school, such that the guides would need to point out that you will find a lot of Catholics there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On the Jewish thing, I'm not from this area, so I don't know about GDS. But I do remember when I was applying for colleges, a lot of college guides said that Brandeis had a diversity issue, because it was 2/3 Jewish. But I was also interested in Georgetown, which was not only even more Catholic, but at the time had a huge % from Catholic prep schools. Not a peep in the guides about Georgetown not being diverse.

Oh G-d.

You don't get stats, do you.

Hint: show me a school in Israel that is 2/3 Catholic

I get statistics perfectly well. That it's more *unusual* to have a 2/3 Jewish school than an 80% Catholic school in a country that 2% Jewish and 25% Catholic is undoubtedly true. That the Jewish school has a *diversity* problem but the Catholic school does not implies that Jews are inherently undiverse, but Catholics are not.

So, you get stats but you choose to ignore them.

That makes you, what, a willful moron?

You seem to either not understand that 80% is greater than 66%, or, in the alternative, what the word "diversity" means. And I'm the moron?

DP: But wouldn't the actual difference be that Georgetown specifically says that it is a Catholic school, such that the guides would need to point out that you will find a lot of Catholics there?

I was expecting the guides to point out, that "as a Catholic school, the students are, not surprisingly overwhelmingly Catholic." That would in fact be a difference from Brandeis, which is "Jewish-sponsored," but not Jewish. But nope. Not a peep of acknowledgement that Georgetown being both overwhelmingly Catholic and dominated by kids from Catholic prep schools. Which is why I got the sense that the writers (some of whom were Jewish) believed that there is something about a school having mostly Jewish students that automatically excludes it from the elite. (Not to mention that schools with more like a third Jewish students at the time, like Tulane and Wash U, were disparagingly referred to as "Jewlane" and "Wash. Jew.")

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On the Jewish thing, I'm not from this area, so I don't know about GDS. But I do remember when I was applying for colleges, a lot of college guides said that Brandeis had a diversity issue, because it was 2/3 Jewish. But I was also interested in Georgetown, which was not only even more Catholic, but at the time had a huge % from Catholic prep schools. Not a peep in the guides about Georgetown not being diverse.

Oh G-d.

You don't get stats, do you.

Hint: show me a school in Israel that is 2/3 Catholic

I get statistics perfectly well. That it's more *unusual* to have a 2/3 Jewish school than an 80% Catholic school in a country that 2% Jewish and 25% Catholic is undoubtedly true. That the Jewish school has a *diversity* problem but the Catholic school does not implies that Jews are inherently undiverse, but Catholics are not.

So, you get stats but you choose to ignore them.

That makes you, what, a willful moron?

You seem to either not understand that 80% is greater than 66%, or, in the alternative, what the word "diversity" means. And I'm the moron?

DP: But wouldn't the actual difference be that Georgetown specifically says that it is a Catholic school, such that the guides would need to point out that you will find a lot of Catholics there?

I was expecting the guides to point out, that "as a Catholic school, the students are, not surprisingly overwhelmingly Catholic." That would in fact be a difference from Brandeis, which is "Jewish-sponsored," but not Jewish. But nope. Not a peep of acknowledgement that Georgetown being both overwhelmingly Catholic and dominated by kids from Catholic prep schools. Which is why I got the sense that the writers (some of whom were Jewish) believed that there is something about a school having mostly Jewish students that automatically excludes it from the elite. (Not to mention that schools with more like a third Jewish students at the time, like Tulane and Wash U, were disparagingly referred to as "Jewlane" and "Wash. Jew.")

And BTW, you can see a similar dynamic right now with Asian-Americans, with people deriding private schools that have attracted more Asian students like Basis, and with the Ivies unwilling to admit more than 20% Asians because somehow, even though "Asians" come from a wide range of different countries and cultures, having "too many" Asians would make the schools non-diverse and less elite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On the Jewish thing, I'm not from this area, so I don't know about GDS. But I do remember when I was applying for colleges, a lot of college guides said that Brandeis had a diversity issue, because it was 2/3 Jewish. But I was also interested in Georgetown, which was not only even more Catholic, but at the time had a huge % from Catholic prep schools. Not a peep in the guides about Georgetown not being diverse.

Oh G-d.

You don't get stats, do you.

Hint: show me a school in Israel that is 2/3 Catholic

I get statistics perfectly well. That it's more *unusual* to have a 2/3 Jewish school than an 80% Catholic school in a country that 2% Jewish and 25% Catholic is undoubtedly true. That the Jewish school has a *diversity* problem but the Catholic school does not implies that Jews are inherently undiverse, but Catholics are not.

So, you get stats but you choose to ignore them.

That makes you, what, a willful moron?

You seem to either not understand that 80% is greater than 66%, or, in the alternative, what the word "diversity" means. And I'm the moron?

DP: But wouldn't the actual difference be that Georgetown specifically says that it is a Catholic school, such that the guides would need to point out that you will find a lot of Catholics there?

I was expecting the guides to point out, that "as a Catholic school, the students are, not surprisingly overwhelmingly Catholic." That would in fact be a difference from Brandeis, which is "Jewish-sponsored," but not Jewish. But nope. Not a peep of acknowledgement that Georgetown being both overwhelmingly Catholic and dominated by kids from Catholic prep schools. Which is why I got the sense that the writers (some of whom were Jewish) believed that there is something about a school having mostly Jewish students that automatically excludes it from the elite. (Not to mention that schools with more like a third Jewish students at the time, like Tulane and Wash U, were disparagingly referred to as "Jewlane" and "Wash. Jew.")

You have some serious mental issues. Talk to a pro, not to dcum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On the Jewish thing, I'm not from this area, so I don't know about GDS. But I do remember when I was applying for colleges, a lot of college guides said that Brandeis had a diversity issue, because it was 2/3 Jewish. But I was also interested in Georgetown, which was not only even more Catholic, but at the time had a huge % from Catholic prep schools. Not a peep in the guides about Georgetown not being diverse.

Oh G-d.

You don't get stats, do you.

Hint: show me a school in Israel that is 2/3 Catholic

I get statistics perfectly well. That it's more *unusual* to have a 2/3 Jewish school than an 80% Catholic school in a country that 2% Jewish and 25% Catholic is undoubtedly true. That the Jewish school has a *diversity* problem but the Catholic school does not implies that Jews are inherently undiverse, but Catholics are not.

So, you get stats but you choose to ignore them.

That makes you, what, a willful moron?

You seem to either not understand that 80% is greater than 66%, or, in the alternative, what the word "diversity" means. And I'm the moron?

DP: But wouldn't the actual difference be that Georgetown specifically says that it is a Catholic school, such that the guides would need to point out that you will find a lot of Catholics there?

I was expecting the guides to point out, that "as a Catholic school, the students are, not surprisingly overwhelmingly Catholic." That would in fact be a difference from Brandeis, which is "Jewish-sponsored," but not Jewish. But nope. Not a peep of acknowledgement that Georgetown being both overwhelmingly Catholic and dominated by kids from Catholic prep schools. Which is why I got the sense that the writers (some of whom were Jewish) believed that there is something about a school having mostly Jewish students that automatically excludes it from the elite. (Not to mention that schools with more like a third Jewish students at the time, like Tulane and Wash U, were disparagingly referred to as "Jewlane" and "Wash. Jew.")

You have some serious mental issues. Talk to a pro, not to dcum.

It's been decades since I said, "I know you are but what am I," but when talking to someone who acts like a six-year-old, that seems like the proper response, so: I know you are, but what am I?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On the Jewish thing, I'm not from this area, so I don't know about GDS. But I do remember when I was applying for colleges, a lot of college guides said that Brandeis had a diversity issue, because it was 2/3 Jewish. But I was also interested in Georgetown, which was not only even more Catholic, but at the time had a huge % from Catholic prep schools. Not a peep in the guides about Georgetown not being diverse.

Oh G-d.

You don't get stats, do you.

Hint: show me a school in Israel that is 2/3 Catholic

I get statistics perfectly well. That it's more *unusual* to have a 2/3 Jewish school than an 80% Catholic school in a country that 2% Jewish and 25% Catholic is undoubtedly true. That the Jewish school has a *diversity* problem but the Catholic school does not implies that Jews are inherently undiverse, but Catholics are not.

So, you get stats but you choose to ignore them.

That makes you, what, a willful moron?

You seem to either not understand that 80% is greater than 66%, or, in the alternative, what the word "diversity" means. And I'm the moron?

DP: But wouldn't the actual difference be that Georgetown specifically says that it is a Catholic school, such that the guides would need to point out that you will find a lot of Catholics there?

I was expecting the guides to point out, that "as a Catholic school, the students are, not surprisingly overwhelmingly Catholic." That would in fact be a difference from Brandeis, which is "Jewish-sponsored," but not Jewish. But nope. Not a peep of acknowledgement that Georgetown being both overwhelmingly Catholic and dominated by kids from Catholic prep schools. Which is why I got the sense that the writers (some of whom were Jewish) believed that there is something about a school having mostly Jewish students that automatically excludes it from the elite. (Not to mention that schools with more like a third Jewish students at the time, like Tulane and Wash U, were disparagingly referred to as "Jewlane" and "Wash. Jew.")

You have some serious mental issues. Talk to a pro, not to dcum.

It's been decades since I said, "I know you are but what am I," but when talking to someone who acts like a six-year-old, that seems like the proper response, so: I know you are, but what am I?

You are obviosly the Pope, who, having been touched by the Obamas' decision to send their kids to GDS, decided to do the same.

Be well, Pope. And remember to take your meds.

[Anonymous]

To answer the original question, GDS became very highly regarded at least three decades ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been on DCUM too long, but the original “Big 3” was Sidwell, NCS and STA. Back when my oldest was applying to high schools, about 8-9 years ago, Maret was sometimes included in the Big 3 when the Cathedral schools were lumped together. But GDS was an also-ran.

The Obamas also toured Maret, FWIW. There were some comments at the time that the school looked too much like a southern plantation, although DCUM had a (rather crazed) Maret booster who kept insisting that the Obamas had definitely chosen Maret, and this led to a pretty funny thread around the same time as the “what were you doing when your kid got into private school” thread. Ah, the golden years on DCUM. But I don’t pretend to know what Michelle actually thought about Maret.

IMO, GDS rose in perception when a lot of Obama appointees, encouraged by Holder, sent their kids there. The prominent-parent connection may possibly also explain recent Ivy results, but I don’t pretend to know that, either.

Anyway, watch for it all to change in another 10 years when a new President sends her kids to maybe St. Anselms or Stone Ridge (think Jackie O). Pretty sure the only constant will be that the Cathedral Schools remain near the top, because they’ve educated the so-called elite longer than anyone else, including Sidwell.

We moved into DC a few years ago, and no one recommended us looking into GDS. It was Sidwell, Cathedral schools, Maret, WIS if we wanted bilingual.

Perhaps GDS cornered the second-level Dem staffer market for a while -- except, why don't they just go a public?

"Second-level Dem staffer"?! Tell that to Congressman and Constitutional Law Professor Jamie Raskin, Class of 79.

https://www.gds.org/page/news-detail?pk=1075228

Never heard of him (or her).

Not sure what Raskin’s own education looked like, but he doesn’t seem to be sending his kids to GDS. At least one of Raskin’s kids went to a MoCo magnet with mine. They hosted a pre-prom pot-luck dinner and seemed very nice when I dropped off my contribution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been on DCUM too long, but the original “Big 3” was Sidwell, NCS and STA. Back when my oldest was applying to high schools, about 8-9 years ago, Maret was sometimes included in the Big 3 when the Cathedral schools were lumped together. But GDS was an also-ran.

The Obamas also toured Maret, FWIW. There were some comments at the time that the school looked too much like a southern plantation, although DCUM had a (rather crazed) Maret booster who kept insisting that the Obamas had definitely chosen Maret, and this led to a pretty funny thread around the same time as the “what were you doing when your kid got into private school” thread. Ah, the golden years on DCUM. But I don’t pretend to know what Michelle actually thought about Maret.

IMO, GDS rose in perception when a lot of Obama appointees, encouraged by Holder, sent their kids there. The prominent-parent connection may possibly also explain recent Ivy results, but I don’t pretend to know that, either.

Anyway, watch for it all to change in another 10 years when a new President sends her kids to maybe St. Anselms or Stone Ridge (think Jackie O). Pretty sure the only constant will be that the Cathedral Schools remain near the top, because they’ve educated the so-called elite longer than anyone else, including Sidwell.

We moved into DC a few years ago, and no one recommended us looking into GDS. It was Sidwell, Cathedral schools, Maret, WIS if we wanted bilingual.

Perhaps GDS cornered the second-level Dem staffer market for a while -- except, why don't they just go a public?

"Second-level Dem staffer"?! Tell that to Congressman and Constitutional Law Professor Jamie Raskin, Class of 79.

https://www.gds.org/page/news-detail?pk=1075228

Never heard of him (or her).

Not sure what Raskin’s own education looked like, but he doesn’t seem to be sending his kids to GDS. At least one of Raskin’s kids went to a MoCo magnet with mine. They hosted a pre-prom pot-luck dinner and seemed very nice when I dropped off my contribution.

Oh Lordy.

Not the Obamas.

Not the Pope.

Not Jamie.

Who oh who sends their snowflakes to GDS?

Maybe Shakira?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been on DCUM too long, but the original “Big 3” was Sidwell, NCS and STA. Back when my oldest was applying to high schools, about 8-9 years ago, Maret was sometimes included in the Big 3 when the Cathedral schools were lumped together. But GDS was an also-ran.

The Obamas also toured Maret, FWIW. There were some comments at the time that the school looked too much like a southern plantation, although DCUM had a (rather crazed) Maret booster who kept insisting that the Obamas had definitely chosen Maret, and this led to a pretty funny thread around the same time as the “what were you doing when your kid got into private school” thread. Ah, the golden years on DCUM. But I don’t pretend to know what Michelle actually thought about Maret.

IMO, GDS rose in perception when a lot of Obama appointees, encouraged by Holder, sent their kids there. The prominent-parent connection may possibly also explain recent Ivy results, but I don’t pretend to know that, either.

Anyway, watch for it all to change in another 10 years when a new President sends her kids to maybe St. Anselms or Stone Ridge (think Jackie O). Pretty sure the only constant will be that the Cathedral Schools remain near the top, because they’ve educated the so-called elite longer than anyone else, including Sidwell.

We moved into DC a few years ago, and no one recommended us looking into GDS. It was Sidwell, Cathedral schools, Maret, WIS if we wanted bilingual.

Perhaps GDS cornered the second-level Dem staffer market for a while -- except, why don't they just go a public?

"Second-level Dem staffer"?! Tell that to Congressman and Constitutional Law Professor Jamie Raskin, Class of 79.

https://www.gds.org/page/news-detail?pk=1075228

Never heard of him (or her).

Not sure what Raskin’s own education looked like, but he doesn’t seem to be sending his kids to GDS. At least one of Raskin’s kids went to a MoCo magnet with mine. They hosted a pre-prom pot-luck dinner and seemed very nice when I dropped off my contribution.

Oh Lordy.

Not the Obamas.

Not the Pope.

Not Jamie.

Who oh who sends their snowflakes to GDS?

Maybe Shakira?

Eric Holder was on the board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been on DCUM too long, but the original “Big 3” was Sidwell, NCS and STA. Back when my oldest was applying to high schools, about 8-9 years ago, Maret was sometimes included in the Big 3 when the Cathedral schools were lumped together. But GDS was an also-ran.

The Obamas also toured Maret, FWIW. There were some comments at the time that the school looked too much like a southern plantation, although DCUM had a (rather crazed) Maret booster who kept insisting that the Obamas had definitely chosen Maret, and this led to a pretty funny thread around the same time as the “what were you doing when your kid got into private school” thread. Ah, the golden years on DCUM. But I don’t pretend to know what Michelle actually thought about Maret.

IMO, GDS rose in perception when a lot of Obama appointees, encouraged by Holder, sent their kids there. The prominent-parent connection may possibly also explain recent Ivy results, but I don’t pretend to know that, either.

Anyway, watch for it all to change in another 10 years when a new President sends her kids to maybe St. Anselms or Stone Ridge (think Jackie O). Pretty sure the only constant will be that the Cathedral Schools remain near the top, because they’ve educated the so-called elite longer than anyone else, including Sidwell.

We moved into DC a few years ago, and no one recommended us looking into GDS. It was Sidwell, Cathedral schools, Maret, WIS if we wanted bilingual.

Perhaps GDS cornered the second-level Dem staffer market for a while -- except, why don't they just go a public?

"Second-level Dem staffer"?! Tell that to Congressman and Constitutional Law Professor Jamie Raskin, Class of 79.

https://www.gds.org/page/news-detail?pk=1075228

Never heard of him (or her).

Not sure what Raskin’s own education looked like, but he doesn’t seem to be sending his kids to GDS. At least one of Raskin’s kids went to a MoCo magnet with mine. They hosted a pre-prom pot-luck dinner and seemed very nice when I dropped off my contribution.

Oh Lordy.

Not the Obamas.

Not the Pope.

Not Jamie.

Who oh who sends their snowflakes to GDS?

Maybe Shakira?

Ha ha, you are a riot. And also wrong.

Per Wikipedia, “The school has educated the children of several high-ranking government officials, including Justice Thurgood Marshall, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, United States Attorney General Eric Holder, Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, Texas Senator Phil Gramm, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, Florida Congressman Kendrick Meek, Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin, and Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu.”

[Anonymous]

“You are wrong about this characterization, esp. the elitism and privilege assertion. The essence of GDS remains the same as before, academic excellence, social justice and leading change. Look no further than parents who have chosen GDS to educate their children: federal judges, law professors, progressive lawmakers, influential writers, public intellectuals, high level policy experts, nonprofit leaders, ethicists. They care deeply about equity and justice and the unique community of learning and service that is GDS.”

The school was lobbying to close off a public street just so it could have the campus that it wanted. If this isn’t elitism, I’m not sure what is.

And how many nuevo riche NoVA tech folks were/are on the board or making big donations to the renovation?

[Anonymous]

Oh Lordy, our uberCensor Jeff has arrived to delete multiple posts that somehow threaten some delicate GDS snowflakes.

Best luck with your awesome awesome school! G-d bless social justice and free speech -- even that you are censoring out!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“You are wrong about this characterization, esp. the elitism and privilege assertion. The essence of GDS remains the same as before, academic excellence, social justice and leading change. Look no further than parents who have chosen GDS to educate their children: federal judges, law professors, progressive lawmakers, influential writers, public intellectuals, high level policy experts, nonprofit leaders, ethicists. They care deeply about equity and justice and the unique community of learning and service that is GDS.”

The school was lobbying to close off a public street just so it could have the campus that it wanted. If this isn’t elitism, I’m not sure what is.

And how many nuevo riche NoVA tech folks were/are on the board or making big donations to the renovation?

I think it was physical safety around cars and young children crossing across the campus.