2025 Admission Results

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do people know what their letters of recommendation were like? Our school would not let us see them, have others had different experiences?

DP here. I did not see the LORs, but my child's teacher said hers was "enthusiastic" and wished her success in the process. Another recommender (a coach) said they were l honored to be asked to write a letter and any school would be lucky to have my kid given their intelligence and hard work. We feel fortunate to have adults who know and support our kid so much!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are people so keen on Holton? I don't have a daughter, but anecdotally I've not great things about it. I thought NCS was the better school if you are looking for an all-girl school? Is HA like the conversative counterpart to NCS? I guess I don't understand why it would be the only school that someone is looking at?

NCS and Holton are on-par with each other, although DCUM might have you think otherwise. The largest difference is that NCS is religious and Holton is secular. NCS has a very strong emphasis on writing, Holton has a stronger science program.
I personally found the music curriculum to be stronger at Holton too. And I feel NCS is a tad more conservative than Holton (I think Holton is somewhere in the middle of the spectrum).
All small differences, but for those of us that live in MD and don't need to commute into DC, Holton is a great choice.
And with the current state of MCPS schools, lots of us are looking to go private.

Both great schools but NCS is in the top tier of schools along with STA and Sidwell. Holton is the next tier. NCS is more nationally known and prestigious - affiliation with the Cathedral etc..

While that may have been the case years ago, the times have changed. Fewer families aim to get into NCS, more choose Holton or even Stone Ridge over NCS. NCS just doesn’t have the same appeal that it once did. Proximity to the Cathedral is their huge selling point, but it not a convincing point to many people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do people know what their letters of recommendation were like? Our school would not let us see them, have others had different experiences?

You should be able to get an idea based on feedback you’ve received from teachers during conferences and asking for feedback. If you’re unsure what type of LOR your child got then I’d guess you’re not very involved.

I was simply asking if others had actually seen the LORs, no need for bizarre accusations! Yes, kid and I received similar info about my kid’s LORs. I just took these kind remarks with a pinch of salt because I imagine everyone hears this. But maybe not! (Kid into all of his schools for 9th so they must have been good)

[Anonymous]

H

[Anonymous]

Has anyone got off Sidwell or GDS waitlist for this year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone got off Sidwell or GDS waitlist for this year?

Yes, from both but at the end we decided to go public.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone got off waitlist?

[Anonymous]

What grade?

[Anonymous]

I was wondering if the waitlist moves for pk and k at Sidwell and gds?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone got off Sidwell or GDS waitlist for this year?

Yes, from GDS for 5th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Waitpooled at Holton for sixth grade and feeling incredibly disappointed. Do we know if anyone was actually rejected or is everyone just respectfully placed in the waitpool?

They do reject. My DD was rejected several years ago, but I have no idea about the size and movement of their waitpool. Did you apply/get in anywhere else?

I am sorry to hear that. Reapply for 7th. It's an expansion year. The lower school applications were up 60% this year and 6th is the last year of lower school at Holton so not a big expansion year. They let in a lot of girls for 7th!

Actually, this incoming 6th is doubling in size... the grade has been 1/2 size since 3-5th. There should be movement for 6th but it was a competitive year at HAS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are people so keen on Holton? I don't have a daughter, but anecdotally I've not great things about it. I thought NCS was the better school if you are looking for an all-girl school? Is HA like the conversative counterpart to NCS? I guess I don't understand why it would be the only school that someone is looking at?

NCS and Holton are on-par with each other, although DCUM might have you think otherwise. The largest difference is that NCS is religious and Holton is secular. NCS has a very strong emphasis on writing, Holton has a stronger science program.
I personally found the music curriculum to be stronger at Holton too. And I feel NCS is a tad more conservative than Holton (I think Holton is somewhere in the middle of the spectrum).
All small differences, but for those of us that live in MD and don't need to commute into DC, Holton is a great choice.
And with the current state of MCPS schools, lots of us are looking to go private.

Holton has plenty of students who live near NCS and do not choose it because they prefer Holton over NCS too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone got off Sidwell or GDS waitlist for this year?

What grade? Or are you asking across all grades?

[Anonymous]

My son was accepted to Flint Hill for 9th grade. We are thrilled and will be attending.

[Anonymous]

We are also heading to Flint Hill. My daughter loved it when she visited and is excited to go!