When did GDS become so well regarded?

[Anonymous]

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

Yep. And many Ivy admits/ grads. You can call the school all the names you want but that just shows your ignorance

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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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.”

That’s a pretty thin list relative to the long lists of the great and the good at some other area private schools. And the list is wrong about Raskin, at least. Jamie’s own site at jamieraskin.com/education says he volunteered at his kids’ schools in Takoma Park and Silver Spring. That would mean the public elementary and middle schools in Takoma Park, and Blair with its two magnets in Silver Spring for high school. Further googling says the Blair student newspaper.

(I have nothing against GDS, but it’s so easy trolling their boosters.)

[Anonymous]

OP here - I started this thread on a lark (Perhaps you might call me a troll.) and haven't been back in a while. Look at you all go...

[Anonymous]

The Wikipedia entry is misleading. Raskin himself graduated from GDS.

Regardless, some people are happy with GDS and others aren’t for any number of reasons.

[Anonymous]

Raskin Raskin Raskin!

So nice to see all her family show up here for support

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Raskin Raskin Raskin!

So nice to see all her family show up here for support

Jamie Raskin is a “he.”

[Anonymous]

Whoosh!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Raskin Raskin Raskin!

So nice to see all her family show up here for support

Jamie Raskin is a “he.”

Raskin Raskin Raskin!

So nice to see all his family show up here for support.

WTF is he?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Raskin Raskin Raskin!

So nice to see all her family show up here for support

Jamie Raskin is a “he.”

Raskin Raskin Raskin!

So nice to see all his family show up here for support.

WTF is he?

A Constitutional law professor, commentator, public intellectual, and in recent years the Member of Congress for Montgomery County.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up here in the 80s and it was considered a school where kids went that didn't "get in" - things have changed - what happened and when?

Not sure but what I will say that, after our DD got into Sidwell, Beauvoir, and GDS for Kindergarten we spent a lot of time visiting all the schools, classes in session, and speaking with multiple parents from each school. We also spent a lot of time ensuring private school was the right direction by doing the same with our local public school option (one that we will continue to examine periodically). Tough decision, but GDS’ came out top based on cirriculum, down-to-earth culture and positive feeling. We wanted a school where academics were tops but a good, positive growth attitude was really important and were lucky to have a good set of choices to choose from. The new LS/MS campus that will be ready next year was also a draw as was the location which was convenient for our family. It really comes down to your personal preference and fit so spend as much time as you need to on your decision. Also - ignore all these posts about religion etc - all of these schools are diverse enough in every dimension for having a balanced group of friends and perspectives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up here in the 80s and it was considered a school where kids went that didn't "get in" - things have changed - what happened and when?

Not sure but what I will say that, after our DD got into Sidwell, Beauvoir, and GDS for Kindergarten we spent a lot of time visiting all the schools, classes in session, and speaking with multiple parents from each school. We also spent a lot of time ensuring private school was the right direction by doing the same with our local public school option (one that we will continue to examine periodically). Tough decision, but GDS’ came out top based on cirriculum, down-to-earth culture and positive feeling. We wanted a school where academics were tops but a good, positive growth attitude was really important and were lucky to have a good set of choices to choose from. The new LS/MS campus that will be ready next year was also a draw as was the location which was convenient for our family. It really comes down to your personal preference and fit so spend as much time as you need to on your decision. Also - ignore all these posts about religion etc - all of these schools are diverse enough in every dimension for having a balanced group of friends and perspectives.

You’ve seriously lost touch with reality. -GDS alumna who loves GDS but omfg

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up here in the 80s and it was considered a school where kids went that didn't "get in" - things have changed - what happened and when?

Not sure but what I will say that, after our DD got into Sidwell, Beauvoir, and GDS for Kindergarten we spent a lot of time visiting all the schools, classes in session, and speaking with multiple parents from each school. We also spent a lot of time ensuring private school was the right direction by doing the same with our local public school option (one that we will continue to examine periodically). Tough decision, but GDS’ came out top based on cirriculum, down-to-earth culture and positive feeling. We wanted a school where academics were tops but a good, positive growth attitude was really important and were lucky to have a good set of choices to choose from. The new LS/MS campus that will be ready next year was also a draw as was the location which was convenient for our family. It really comes down to your personal preference and fit so spend as much time as you need to on your decision. Also - ignore all these posts about religion etc - all of these schools are diverse enough in every dimension for having a balanced group of friends and perspectives.

This. And the new LMS consolidated campus in Wisconsin Heights is going to be amazing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up here in the 80s and it was considered a school where kids went that didn't "get in" - things have changed - what happened and when?

Not sure but what I will say that, after our DD got into Sidwell, Beauvoir, and GDS for Kindergarten we spent a lot of time visiting all the schools, classes in session, and speaking with multiple parents from each school. We also spent a lot of time ensuring private school was the right direction by doing the same with our local public school option (one that we will continue to examine periodically). Tough decision, but GDS’ came out top based on cirriculum, down-to-earth culture and positive feeling. We wanted a school where academics were tops but a good, positive growth attitude was really important and were lucky to have a good set of choices to choose from. The new LS/MS campus that will be ready next year was also a draw as was the location which was convenient for our family. It really comes down to your personal preference and fit so spend as much time as you need to on your decision. Also - ignore all these posts about religion etc - all of these schools are diverse enough in every dimension for having a balanced group of friends and perspectives.

You’ve seriously lost touch with reality. -GDS alumna who loves GDS but omfg

It's not clear to me what GDS alumna PP is alluding to. Pls specify your thoughts on religion at the school or friend groups or the school itself.

[Anonymous]

Then you lack reading comprehension.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Then you lack reading comprehension.

Clearly didn’t go to GDS.