Wasn't Impressed with Maret - What's So Great About It?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree that there are strong social cliques there. I think the school is too small. My DD turned down an offer of admission there to go to SIdwell, and I think it was a good choice. All these private schools are relatively small, but I think the social environments are healthier at the slightly larger ones.

I am OP and it seemed that way to me too. Pretty small.

[Anonymous]

Don't try to compare Maret to Sidwell, St Albans or GDS.

1. Compare it with Field, Burke, St Andrews (further away).
2. It does have a rich but not as smart rep but you'll find a good mix of kids.
3. It is more laid back then a few schools and very small socially.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't try to compare Maret to Sidwell, St Albans or GDS.

1. Compare it with Field, Burke, St Andrews (further away).
2. It does have a rich but not as smart rep but you'll find a good mix of kids.
3. It is more laid back then a few schools and very small socially.

How is it considered not as smart? The kids are going to the same colleges as GDS kids every year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't try to compare Maret to Sidwell, St Albans or GDS.

1. Compare it with Field, Burke, St Andrews (further away).
2. It does have a rich but not as smart rep but you'll find a good mix of kids.
3. It is more laid back then a few schools and very small socially.

How is it considered not as smart? The kids are going to the same colleges as GDS kids every year.

It's just. Not. And everybody knows it.

[Anonymous]

Most kids of yours are not getting into any school anyway. If you are well connected, you would not be posting here.

[Anonymous]

Homeschool OP. No one wants your kind..PIA Parents.

[Anonymous]

I'm guessing part of what makes it great is it doesn't have these judgmental DCUM posters dominating the parent committees.

SRS though, Maret is a wonderful school with an atmosphere that lies between Sidwell and GDS. I've also known families who've had kids at both Maret and NCS/STA — I've seen a bit of overlap with the latter schools at Sidwell, but I'm not sure you'll get much of it at GDS. And some aspects of a school that one family loves will turn another off — I knew a Maret family who wouldn't apply their kids to GDS because all the adults go by their first names, and families and Sidwell/GDS who wouldn't have liked Maret's insular vibe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't try to compare Maret to Sidwell, St Albans or GDS.

1. Compare it with Field, Burke, St Andrews (further away).
2. It does have a rich but not as smart rep but you'll find a good mix of kids.
3. It is more laid back then a few schools and very small socially.

How is it considered not as smart? The kids are going to the same colleges as GDS kids every year.

It's just. Not. And everybody knows it.

Then it's pretty sad that GDS kids are so much smarter but going to inferior or similar colleges as Maret kids. $52k for tuition that doesn't provide lunch and going to similar colleges as a $46k school with lunch every day. 😂

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It seemed very lefty (and we consider ourselves liberal) and had kind of a "let the kids do what they want" kind of vibe to it. It wasn't structured enough for our liking. And I feel like loud and domineering kids could easily run that school and set the tone and quieter kids would get drowned out. Can anyone share some insight?

No dog in this fight (I know happy families there with very nice kids, but our kids didn't apply and they go elsewhere), but here's my advice. Don't go. If it doesn't seem like a good fit for your family, then go elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

I thought OP was going to mention that advanced math classes are only offered online - that really struck me as unfortunate given the $50K+ price tag. This means that there aren't enough kids doing advanced math for even a small class and/or Maret isn't willing to invest in an in-person tutor for the few kids who might be capable of multi-variable calc or linear algebra.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most kids of yours are not getting into any school anyway. If you are well connected, you would not be posting here.

This is true. You're not getting into Maret unless you're URM, super connected or ridiculously wealthy. The rest of us don't have to worry about what Maret is or isn't.
Move right along.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought OP was going to mention that advanced math classes are only offered online - that really struck me as unfortunate given the $50K+ price tag. This means that there aren't enough kids doing advanced math for even a small class and/or Maret isn't willing to invest in an in-person tutor for the few kids who might be capable of multi-variable calc or linear algebra.

FYI from a Sidwell parent - even though Sidwell has Linear Algebra in their curriculum guide, they only teach it if they have enough demand. Same is true for some of their other high level courses. So if this is your criteria - be careful. It seems like at least Maret's solution guarantees there will be a class for you to take. I personally like the extra offerings Maret has online. It allows for some interesting extra courses and it shows they are committed to providing options for a variety of students. I know very smart students who go/went to Maret who find the academic challenge they need and go on to great schools. The obvious move here is don't apply if you didn't like it. There are plenty of schools. And to be honest, if you don't like it, your chances are even slimmer to be accepted - it's not an easy admit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought OP was going to mention that advanced math classes are only offered online - that really struck me as unfortunate given the $50K+ price tag. This means that there aren't enough kids doing advanced math for even a small class and/or Maret isn't willing to invest in an in-person tutor for the few kids who might be capable of multi-variable calc or linear algebra.

FYI from a Sidwell parent - even though Sidwell has Linear Algebra in their curriculum guide, they only teach it if they have enough demand. Same is true for some of their other high level courses. So if this is your criteria - be careful. It seems like at least Maret's solution guarantees there will be a class for you to take. I personally like the extra offerings Maret has online. It allows for some interesting extra courses and it shows they are committed to providing options for a variety of students. I know very smart students who go/went to Maret who find the academic challenge they need and go on to great schools. The obvious move here is don't apply if you didn't like it. There are plenty of schools. And to be honest, if you don't like it, your chances are even slimmer to be accepted - it's not an easy admit.

Same at NCS and STA. There are a ton of courses listed in the catalogue but each year they only teach the ones that they have demand for. E.g for English electives they'll ask for course requests in the spring and have 15 English electives listed. Each kid will list their top 3 choices. In the end they'll teach the ones that they have the most interest in (or that faculty have an interest in teaching).

I don't think this should come to a surprise to anyone who has thought through the logistics--these schools have college-level course catalogues but only 75-125 kids in a grade. They can't possibly offer every course every year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Through the 1980's, it was the place you sent your kid when they couldn't get into anywhere else, and Bullis was too far away. The demand for private schools was and is so strong, that it attracted a lot of money and VIPs who donated and made it what it is today. It is much better than it was then. But it never had a "lefty vibe" - that was always GDS.

Accurate. I taught at Maret in the '80s and the students were kids who couldn't deal with the structure at NCS-STA. A lot of them were *very* bright, but the school in general was chaotic with an everybody-do-your-own-thing vibe. I actually had a lot of students who went on to impressive academic and artistic accomplishments in college and beyond, but Maret itself was kind of a nightmare to teach in because there was no backup from the administration on anything.

That was in the era of the old headmaster, however, who ran the place as his personal domain with predictable consequences.

[Anonymous]

Different children are different. Different schools are different. Apply to schools which seem like a good fit for your family and your DC.