Official Admissions Decisions Thread 2026

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How difficult/easy is it to gain admission to GDS for 9th?

Very competitive for all dc private schools.

It is academically rigorous along with Sidwell. Competitive with a lot of WLs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Congratulations!

Please consider that STA has the „Coordinate Program“ with all-girls National Cathedral School on the other side if the cathedral:
Orchestra
Athletics
Theater

Some electives
English in higher grades

Plus your sons preference

Our son joined STA in Form III (Grade 9) and loves the school.

All boys matters, e.g., at the chapel services, when boys talk to boys;
Coordinate matters e.g., at preason athletics camps, competitions with other schools, theater plays and musical & orchestra

Great perspective. Thank you. We're in DC and considering son's preference and our proximity, it is at the top. Landon's facilities are amazing and he loves the critters in the science classroom. They also have a bus, but I don't think there are any regular engagements with the girls school, except theater.

[Anonymous]

6th
Accepted: Field, WIS
WL: GDS, Sidwell

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Congratulations!

Please consider that STA has the „Coordinate Program“ with all-girls National Cathedral School on the other side if the cathedral:
Orchestra
Athletics
Theater

Some electives
English in higher grades

Plus your sons preference

Our son joined STA in Form III (Grade 9) and loves the school.

All boys matters, e.g., at the chapel services, when boys talk to boys;
Coordinate matters e.g., at preason athletics camps, competitions with other schools, theater plays and musical & orchestra

Great perspective. Thank you. We're in DC and considering son's preference and our proximity, it is at the top. Landon's facilities are amazing and he loves the critters in the science classroom. They also have a bus, but I don't think there are any regular engagements with the girls school, except theater.

In US Holton students can take some classes with Landon kids. Not sure which and I think they are before school starts now. Also Landon swims at Holton's pool.

[Anonymous]

How many spots are there for fifth grade at GDS next year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many spots are there for fifth grade at GDS next year?

It is not possible to know until after the admission cycle. This year, GDS seems to have quite a few spots for 5th but in single digits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A: NPS, St. Pat’s, WES
W: GDS, Maret
R: Sidwell

This is for PK4, except K for Maret.

Thinking of staying where we are and reapplying for K, otherwise likely between NPS and St. Pat’s.

Any school you reject now likely won’t admit you again, so make a decision with that in mind.

I don’t think this is always the case - kids change, needs change, etc. and schools understand this. I do think it’s important, though, (especially if you think you might be interested in the school in the future) to be gracious when declining. Send a note to the head of admissions telling them how difficult the decision was, that you really like the school and appreciate their time, etc.

I know a boy who declined a high school that his parents wanted him to attend and they insisted he write a letter to the admissions office thanking them and explaining why he was declining. He ended up disliking the school he chose and applied to transfer to the school he declined. They accepted him as a transfer in 10th. I don’t know why, of course, but the letter he sent when declining probably helped.

This! Especially if you have a sibling who may apply down the line.

[Anonymous]

For high school, what's the overall sense this year? Hard year similar to last year? Applications still way up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How come Bullis is never mentioned here??? Did everyone get in??? Just not enough traffic to merit mentions here??? ONE GC, very few SAES, not one mention of bullis, very few Landon. Why is that? All the same sh*t with you people

I don’t think anyone is biting their nails about Bullis admission. It is a 4th tier school, bordering on 5th tier. The tiers:

1st Tier:
Sidwell & GDS

2nd Tier:

Visi, Stoneridge, NCS, Prep, Gonzaga

3rd Tier:

St. John’s, St. Anselms Abbey, Madeira

4th Tier:

Bullis and the rest

Weird list.

Did you not read about the stuff that went on at GDS in the middle school? Ouch.
Bullis is better than the Tier 3 schools.

Potomac would be up there as well..

Almost certain most of the SJC, Visi, Prep and Gonzaga families we know wouldn’t attend Sidwell or GDS even on a full ride.

+100 That's us.

[Anonymous]

Any idea when waitlist will start to move. I understand the whole acceptance to yielding numbers thing. But every year kids get off the waitlist, so just curious when to expect movement if there is any??

[Anonymous]

When we applied for 6th we heard in the last days of the period where families have until they have to pay the deposit. IIRC one school called on Thursday afternoon and then another called on Friday afternoon. So if that's representative, figure end of next week and beyond.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any idea when waitlist will start to move. I understand the whole acceptance to yielding numbers thing. But every year kids get off the waitlist, so just curious when to expect movement if there is any??

It’s usually after deposits are due because then the school has a clear sense of its yield. When my DS was offered a spot from the waitlist a few years ago, they let us know within hours of when deposits were due.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any idea when waitlist will start to move. I understand the whole acceptance to yielding numbers thing. But every year kids get off the waitlist, so just curious when to expect movement if there is any??

It’s usually after deposits are due because then the school has a clear sense of its yield. When my DS was offered a spot from the waitlist a few years ago, they let us know within hours of when deposits were due.

We were in the same camp. It was brutal though. DS was accepted at Sidwell but waitlisted at GDS. Put a deposit down at Sidwell. Got a call the day after with an offer to move off the WL at GDS. GDS was our first choice and we took the spot but had to forfeit the Sidwell deposit. It was a tough call.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any idea when waitlist will start to move. I understand the whole acceptance to yielding numbers thing. But every year kids get off the waitlist, so just curious when to expect movement if there is any??

It’s usually after deposits are due because then the school has a clear sense of its yield. When my DS was offered a spot from the waitlist a few years ago, they let us know within hours of when deposits were due.

We were in the same camp. It was brutal though. DS was accepted at Sidwell but waitlisted at GDS. Put a deposit down at Sidwell. Got a call the day after with an offer to move off the WL at GDS. GDS was our first choice and we took the spot but had to forfeit the Sidwell deposit. It was a tough call.

Brutal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A: NPS, St. Pat’s, WES
W: GDS, Maret
R: Sidwell

This is for PK4, except K for Maret.

Thinking of staying where we are and reapplying for K, otherwise likely between NPS and St. Pat’s.

Any school you reject now likely won’t admit you again, so make a decision with that in mind.

Not true at all. We turned down 3 schools for middle and DS admitted to all for HS.