Is there a feeder school for Georgetown Prep?

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the feedback.

[Anonymous]

Most definitely Mater Dei. Almost a 100% of the Mater Dei graduating class wants to go to Prep and most in fact get in and go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most definitely Mater Dei. Almost a 100% of the Mater Dei graduating class wants to go to Prep and most in fact get in and go.

I thought STA or Landon would also be on the wish list of the Mater Dei families.

[Anonymous]

would mater dei alumns stand any chance of getting into STA? from other posts sounds like the answer is definitely no.

which has a better rep -- landon or prep?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:would mater dei alumns stand any chance of getting into STA? from other posts sounds like the answer is definitely no.

which has a better rep -- landon or prep?

Not sure I understand the reference. Both STA/Mater Dei seem to place sports next to godliness. Both seem to buy into the Lord of the Flies mentality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:would mater dei alumns stand any chance of getting into STA? from other posts sounds like the answer is definitely no.

which has a better rep -- landon or prep?

apples and oranges - one is Catholic (Prep) one is Waspy (Landon).

[Anonymous]

But in terms of academics, are they considered equals?

[Anonymous]

They are no stronger that the surrounding public schools. Maryland has fewer private high schools with great reputations b/c the publics are so good.
I knew someone who was ranked very high in his senior class at Prep. The whole neighborhood, who knew him from when he was in public elementary school said that if he were in public school, there is no way that he would have been so highly ranked due to tougher competition.
I think Landon has the edge academically.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:would mater dei alumns stand any chance of getting into STA? from other posts sounds like the answer is definitely no.

which has a better rep -- landon or prep?

apples and oranges - one is Catholic (Prep) one is Waspy (Landon).

It's more like Granny Smiths to Red Delicious. They are actually quite similar - both are high testosterone jock schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are no stronger that the surrounding public schools. Maryland has fewer private high schools with great reputations b/c the publics are so good.
I knew someone who was ranked very high in his senior class at Prep. The whole neighborhood, who knew him from when he was in public elementary school said that if he were in public school, there is no way that he would have been so highly ranked due to tougher competition.
I think Landon has the edge academically.

Thanks for the information. Could I ask where you kids are/where?

This raises a issue I have been wondering about. I understand why people who live in DC are so anxious to get into the prestigious private schools. But is it your sense that parents in Bethesda/Potomac (Whitman/Churchill) school districts are less likely to send their kids to private school (taking the affordability issue off the table). Both schools were ranked in the top 25 in the country recently (I believe). I understand the class size issue, but what exactly is the difference. I saw some stats that the MoCo class size for middle school is about 23; less for elementary school.

I am sure I can find a discussion of this issue somewhere on this site, but all the posts are overwhelming. I am just starting this process; my DS turns 3 in a few days.

What do you think? Thanks for all you help.

[Anonymous]

I wrote the thread on "private schools should do better", you might want to take a peek at that in this forum. I am sending my child to a traditional, non-Catholic, private elementary school in MC. The classes will be a lot smaller in this particular private school, and that matters most in the early years. The larger classes in high school have not been shown to make a difference in the long run. The MC parents know how competitive the public high schools are, and are usually happy. I personally went to one of the top MC public high schools and was very much challenged. The difference that I saw was that my friends in private school ( some at Landon and Prep) experienced more personal one on one with their teachers, FWIW. Some kids actually dislike that in teen years and want more privacy to do their work, which you get in public school.
My only reservation about the public elementary school was class size. Otherwise, it seems to be the same as private.
My opinion, don't waste money on private high school if you live in south/west MC.
Hope that helps.

[Anonymous]

Thanks. Mind if I ask (1) what private elementary school you are sending you kids to. and (2) what high school you went to.

Again, thanks much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wrote the thread on "private schools should do better", you might want to take a peek at that in this forum. I am sending my child to a traditional, non-Catholic, private elementary school in MC. The classes will be a lot smaller in this particular private school, and that matters most in the early years. The larger classes in high school have not been shown to make a difference in the long run. The MC parents know how competitive the public high schools are, and are usually happy. I personally went to one of the top MC public high schools and was very much challenged. The difference that I saw was that my friends in private school ( some at Landon and Prep) experienced more personal one on one with their teachers, FWIW. Some kids actually dislike that in teen years and want more privacy to do their work, which you get in public school.
My only reservation about the public elementary school was class size. Otherwise, it seems to be the same as private.
My opinion, don't waste money on private high school if you live in south/west MC.
Hope that helps.

You sound very grounded and dispense good advice.

I fear that in reality, once you get on the private school treadmill, it really is hard to get off. Your DC (as will your entire family, presumably) will have made friends, gotten well-settled into a routine, and basically carved out a life within the school and extended community. A transition could be tough. I also wonder whether after experiencing some of the better things that private schools have to offer, mainly the small class size, but all those other touches found in a more intimate setting, that leaving it could result in quite a bit of culture schock. At least that's how we feel.

Good luck. Check in in a few years. We'd love to hear how it turned out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks. Mind if I ask (1) what private elementary school you are sending you kids to. and (2) what high school you went to.

Again, thanks much.

Whitman, wont get too specific about DS school since the parents are ALWAYS on DCUM.
But it is not Landon or Prep.

[Anonymous]

I know people who went to all these boys' schools, and my son attends one of them as well. From what I can tell, Mater Dei is a feeder to Georgetown Prep. But both these schools (especially Mater Dei) are very Catholic, so there's some self-selection there. Also VERY sports oriented. Landon is big on sports too, as is St. Albans, but I think they are both stronger academically, and Landon has a great music program.