What schools were not what you expected when you visited them in person?

[Anonymous]

We are a mixed-race family of nobodies who applied for upper elementary, coming from public school. The ADs at Maret and Holton were very warm and friendly. The NCS AD was also very friendly but it felt slightly less personal. GDS’s AD was likewise friendly and personable. The Sidwell AD was cordial but came off kind of slick and a bit fake, and my spouse was turned off by the self-congratulatory vibe of the place. I like the PP who juxtaposed the enforced silent reflection with logo-decorated cookies. (Maybe they should have offered homemade oatmeal cookies made with Quaker oats.). I’m sure it’s hard to personally connect in a genuine way with each applicant family, year after year, and I didn’t view the AD as necessarily indicative of how the rest of the school would be for our DDs, but the ADs who seemed the most genuine were definitely a positive factor in our final decision.

[Anonymous]

ADs certainly play a big role in how a school is perceived, but I’d like to put out there that the perception is not always accurate. DH and I did not connect well with Sidwell AD, and we were similarly turned off by the self-satisfied smugness of some of the parents we encountered during the admissions process.

DC’s experience with the other kids and teachers was very different. We were reluctant but went ahead figuring we could change schools if things didn’t work out. DC has thrived there and loves it.

[Anonymous]

Weighing in on cookies. We did not see Sidwell logo cookies at any of our visits, I did see Maret logo cookies, no food at all at GDS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Weighing in on cookies. We did not see Sidwell logo cookies at any of our visits, I did see Maret logo cookies, no food at all at GDS.

I am not a Sidwell parent but I don’t see anything wrong with them offering logo cookies. I think it’s a cute idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I said NCS has made progress but that it’s reputation as a pressure cooker with mean girls still lingered. Private school parents are probably more aware of that reputation than those from public.

NP. I hesitate in getting involved in this back and forth, except to say that our family is new to NCS this year, and it's been a relief to find that the "pressure cooker" and "mean girls" reputation seems, based on our personal experience so far, not to be based in fact. It's been nothing like that for our DD or us. We really like the AD at NCS, and we're glad we trusted our gut.

That said, I hate seeing contentious responses between independent school parents. We don't have a son, so we never vetted STA, but having also looked closely at Sidwell, GDS, Holton and Maret, I'm fairly confident that they're all great environments as well (and I'm sure STA is too).

I think there's a tendency in these threads to want to find big cultural differences in these schools when, in reality, they all tend to have a lot in common. We should all be thankful to have so many great institutions nearby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I said NCS has made progress but that it’s reputation as a pressure cooker with mean girls still lingered. Private school parents are probably more aware of that reputation than those from public.

NP. I hesitate in getting involved in this back and forth, except to say that our family is new to NCS this year, and it's been a relief to find that the "pressure cooker" and "mean girls" reputation seems, based on our personal experience so far, not to be based in fact. It's been nothing like that for our DD or us. We really like the AD at NCS, and we're glad we trusted our gut.

That said, I hate seeing contentious responses between independent school parents. We don't have a son, so we never vetted STA, but having also looked closely at Sidwell, GDS, Holton and Maret, I'm fairly confident that they're all great environments as well (and I'm sure STA is too).

I think there's a tendency in these threads to want to find big cultural differences in these schools when, in reality, they all tend to have a lot in common. We should all be thankful to have so many great institutions nearby.

So much truth here. I think a lot of parents (us too!) agonize over making the right decisions for our kids. When we make a decision, we feel the need to justify it. Sad that, when some justify, they can't stop at the positives about the place they chose. Lots feel the need to go further and justify the decision by saying negative things about the schools they didn't choose or didn't get into. Of course some places don't end up working out for every family, but that's different than a lot of what is said on this forum.

There was probably more than one good place for your child. It's ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I said NCS has made progress but that it’s reputation as a pressure cooker with mean girls still lingered. Private school parents are probably more aware of that reputation than those from public.

NP. I hesitate in getting involved in this back and forth, except to say that our family is new to NCS this year, and it's been a relief to find that the "pressure cooker" and "mean girls" reputation seems, based on our personal experience so far, not to be based in fact. It's been nothing like that for our DD or us. We really like the AD at NCS, and we're glad we trusted our gut.

That said, I hate seeing contentious responses between independent school parents. We don't have a son, so we never vetted STA, but having also looked closely at Sidwell, GDS, Holton and Maret, I'm fairly confident that they're all great environments as well (and I'm sure STA is too).

I think there's a tendency in these threads to want to find big cultural differences in these schools when, in reality, they all tend to have a lot in common. We should all be thankful to have so many great institutions nearby.

+100

[Anonymous]

As another person mentioned, Holy Cross School is warm and welcoming. Both of my children went there from preK thru 8th and had great experiences. Both admitted to top high schools. Inclusive and diverse community, top academics, great leadership.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I said NCS has made progress but that it’s reputation as a pressure cooker with mean girls still lingered. Private school parents are probably more aware of that reputation than those from public.

NP. I hesitate in getting involved in this back and forth, except to say that our family is new to NCS this year, and it's been a relief to find that the "pressure cooker" and "mean girls" reputation seems, based on our personal experience so far, not to be based in fact. It's been nothing like that for our DD or us. We really like the AD at NCS, and we're glad we trusted our gut.

That said, I hate seeing contentious responses between independent school parents. We don't have a son, so we never vetted STA, but having also looked closely at Sidwell, GDS, Holton and Maret, I'm fairly confident that they're all great environments as well (and I'm sure STA is too).

I think there's a tendency in these threads to want to find big cultural differences in these schools when, in reality, they all tend to have a lot in common. We should all be thankful to have so many great institutions nearby.

So much truth here. I think a lot of parents (us too!) agonize over making the right decisions for our kids. When we make a decision, we feel the need to justify it. Sad that, when some justify, they can't stop at the positives about the place they chose. Lots feel the need to go further and justify the decision by saying negative things about the schools they didn't choose or didn't get into. Of course some places don't end up working out for every family, but that's different than a lot of what is said on this forum.

There was probably more than one good place for your child. It's ok.

Great comment. In some decisions, all the options are good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I said NCS has made progress but that it’s reputation as a pressure cooker with mean girls still lingered. Private school parents are probably more aware of that reputation than those from public.

NP. I hesitate in getting involved in this back and forth, except to say that our family is new to NCS this year, and it's been a relief to find that the "pressure cooker" and "mean girls" reputation seems, based on our personal experience so far, not to be based in fact. It's been nothing like that for our DD or us. We really like the AD at NCS, and we're glad we trusted our gut.

That said, I hate seeing contentious responses between independent school parents. We don't have a son, so we never vetted STA, but having also looked closely at Sidwell, GDS, Holton and Maret, I'm fairly confident that they're all great environments as well (and I'm sure STA is too).

I think there's a tendency in these threads to want to find big cultural differences in these schools when, in reality, they all tend to have a lot in common. We should all be thankful to have so many great institutions nearby.

We knew girls, in the last 5 years, whose classes had terrible troubles and strife at NCS. Several girls left for other schools. We knew these girls well (from teav sports teams) and they were great girls. So, things do happen. Maybe just depends on the class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WOW! I was thinking of touring Sidwell for next year but “dark lower school classrooms”, no thank you.

Kids did not look happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WOW! I was thinking of touring Sidwell for next year but “dark lower school classrooms”, no thank you.

Kids did not look happy.

How does "dark lower school classrooms" become a thing in a building that is less than 10 years old that is nothing but windows?

Only on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WOW! I was thinking of touring Sidwell for next year but “dark lower school classrooms”, no thank you.

Kids did not look happy.

This last point would be what would concern me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WOW! I was thinking of touring Sidwell for next year but “dark lower school classrooms”, no thank you.

Kids did not look happy.

How does "dark lower school classrooms" become a thing in a building that is less than 10 years old that is nothing but windows?

Only on DCUM.

Are you getting mixed up with the middle school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WOW! I was thinking of touring Sidwell for next year but “dark lower school classrooms”, no thank you.

Kids did not look happy.

How does "dark lower school classrooms" become a thing in a building that is less than 10 years old that is nothing but windows?

Only on DCUM.

Are you getting mixed up with the middle school?

The Lower School building is newer than the Middle School building.