GDS vs. Potomac for upper school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't actually think these schools are in the same league (though I'm sure Potomac boosters would disagree).

I agree.

-a parent with kids at a different school

[Anonymous]

Several of the recent posts feed the caricatures. Absolutely same league. Great academics and educational outcomes at both if you seriously investigate. Maybe there is old thinking on this board that feeds an antiquated view that GDS is a superior “DC” school, but in the here and now, these schools are competitors for talented kids and their parents. Both strike me as only mildly suburban, city-fringe (this isn’t the School Without Walls, it’s NW and McLean) and both schools take advantage of their proximity to the city. Maybe the growing economic heft of NoVa contributed to a closer alignment over time—dunno, but it’s truly where we’re at. Both great. Both competing for top talent. Both have excellent outcomes and sharp, eloquent, confident kids graduating.

[Anonymous]

This

Potomac has lunch

[Anonymous]

Reasons why we chose GDS over Potomac this cycle from talking to current Potomac parents :
- Long criticized math program at Potomac; most k-8 kids are required to retake geometry
- Conservative parents vs more left of center at GDS
- More flexible curriculum: able to go up and down levels of class from year to year
- No required after school sports
- More diversity at GDS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Several of the recent posts feed the caricatures. Absolutely same league. Great academics and educational outcomes at both if you seriously investigate. Maybe there is old thinking on this board that feeds an antiquated view that GDS is a superior “DC” school, but in the here and now, these schools are competitors for talented kids and their parents. Both strike me as only mildly suburban, city-fringe (this isn’t the School Without Walls, it’s NW and McLean) and both schools take advantage of their proximity to the city. Maybe the growing economic heft of NoVa contributed to a closer alignment over time—dunno, but it’s truly where we’re at. Both great. Both competing for top talent. Both have excellent outcomes and sharp, eloquent, confident kids graduating.

No matter how much money Potomac funnels into its facilities, its education can't measure up to the DC privates, sorry. I feel like Potomac has no clear ethos, while Sidwell/GDS/STA/NCS have unique identities and visions. I'm not "old" either -- just someone in their 20s who was born and bred in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reasons why we chose GDS over Potomac this cycle from talking to current Potomac parents :
- Long criticized math program at Potomac; most k-8 kids are required to retake geometry
- Conservative parents vs more left of center at GDS
- More flexible curriculum: able to go up and down levels of class from year to year
- No required after school sports
- More diversity at GDS

Those experienced with Potomac, how to proactively address this geometry issue that the kids don’t have to repeat it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reasons why we chose GDS over Potomac this cycle from talking to current Potomac parents :
- Long criticized math program at Potomac; most k-8 kids are required to retake geometry
- Conservative parents vs more left of center at GDS
- More flexible curriculum: able to go up and down levels of class from year to year
- No required after school sports
- More diversity at GDS

Those experienced with Potomac, how to proactively address this geometry issue that the kids don’t have to repeat it?

If they pass the placement exam they don’t repeat the course. Based on how many students leave the honors program, they are more likely to err on the side of placing a child in a higher level.

[Anonymous]

What’s everyone deciding today!

[Anonymous]

Hmmmmm,

GDS has zero campus and green space. It’s basically 2 office buildings with some turf fields. Also not in the safest location. If your white, be prepared for assembly after assembly about your white privilege and how your an oppressor. No thanks. You can see post after post on this forum. About parents having enough of that. We had friends whose child is graduating this year.


Academics at GDS are good. But not enough to overcome the above items for us. We chose another DC school over GDS last year…


Again, look at the old posts here from the past 2 years and make your own conclusion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hmmmmm,

GDS has zero campus and green space. It’s basically 2 office buildings with some turf fields. Also not in the safest location. If your white, be prepared for assembly after assembly about your white privilege and how your an oppressor. No thanks. You can see post after post on this forum. About parents having enough of that. We had friends whose child is graduating this year.


Academics at GDS are good. But not enough to overcome the above items for us. We chose another DC school over GDS last year…


Again, look at the old posts here from the past 2 years and make your own conclusion.

Yak, for this above comment from a Potomac parent I will avoid Potomac for all costs. Racists and narrow minded!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hmmmmm,

GDS has zero campus and green space. It’s basically 2 office buildings with some turf fields. Also not in the safest location. If your white, be prepared for assembly after assembly about your white privilege and how your an oppressor. No thanks. You can see post after post on this forum. About parents having enough of that. We had friends whose child is graduating this year.


Academics at GDS are good. But not enough to overcome the above items for us. We chose another DC school over GDS last year…


Again, look at the old posts here from the past 2 years and make your own conclusion.

Not the safest location? I don't know what you're talking about, but if you think DC is by definition unsafe, then GDS isn't a good fit for you.

[Anonymous]

Moderation. Looking at curriculum, you can see that GDS’s focus in its English and History departments trends more toward reactionary politics of the further left variety, but that could just be a product of the advocacy they encourage their students to undertake. Potomac does not seem particularly right wing—plenty of people are drawn to the academics, the green space, and the absence of religion in the classroom. Plenty to make progressives happy in that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Moderation. Looking at curriculum, you can see that GDS’s focus in its English and History departments trends more toward reactionary politics of the further left variety, but that could just be a product of the advocacy they encourage their students to undertake. Potomac does not seem particularly right wing—plenty of people are drawn to the academics, the green space, and the absence of religion in the classroom. Plenty to make progressives happy in that.

Yes, that is the unfortunate part of GDS. But the green space is in the middle of a suburb. That alone will bring more preppy traditional atmosphere. It really depends on the kids. Growing up in a communist country, I learned most history by reading and that helped me with critical thinking as I do no believe the textbooks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hmmmmm,

GDS has zero campus and green space. It’s basically 2 office buildings with some turf fields. Also not in the safest location. If your white, be prepared for assembly after assembly about your white privilege and how your an oppressor. No thanks. You can see post after post on this forum. About parents having enough of that. We had friends whose child is graduating this year.


Academics at GDS are good. But not enough to overcome the above items for us. We chose another DC school over GDS last year…


Again, look at the old posts here from the past 2 years and make your own conclusion.

Yak, for this above comment from a Potomac parent I will avoid Potomac for all costs. Racists and narrow minded!

It sure you can make that conclusion. Poster said another DC area school….Im sure they would have said something nice about Potomac if it was their school.

[Anonymous]

I mean,

Not sure you can make that conclusion. Etc