need to decide GDS or Maret for 9th

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS if your kid is a strong student. More rigorous academically, and better college outcomes.

lol For 9th admission any student who is accepted at Maret and GDS is strong student. Move aside lifers the smart kids are coming!

More rigorous = more homework(ie busy work).

OP do not listen to pp.

We faced the same choice. Our kid was playing a high level travel sport and had another extracurricular she wanted to pursue. We asked about homework load. GDS proudly said 4 hours a night and weekends. Maret’s answer was much more reasonable - time during school to do homework, free periods to meet with teachers, homework not graded, no homework over breaks, etc. Kid takes a very challenging course load and has had a few late night(maybe 2-3 this fall). I believe that was caused by procrastination. Still has time for other activities and a social life.

Our kid really liked the class schedule(look in to that) and the online classes available through Malone Schools Online Network https://maloneschoolsonline.org/our-courses/

Also you only have 4 Thanksgiving in High School. Shame to waste them with a grumpy teenage studying or doing a paper. Maret gives the whole week off and it is nice.

GDS does not give homework over Thanksgiving or over breaks.

GDS also has time during school to do work and to meet with teacher (which is highly encouraged, even for kids doing great in the class)

GDS also has no after school requirements (Maret does) so that provides more time for a student to choose EC activities and/or to do homework

I’m not saying one is better than the other - we loved both during admissions for two separate kids - but given your points above I’m not sure you are up to speed on these dimensions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not challenging that the GDS admissions office said 4 hours of homework a night, but if your kid doing 4 hours of homework a night as a GDS freshman, sophomore or senior, something has gone wrong. Junior year definitely can be different, but it's still not 4 hours a night.

Agreed - my 9th grader doesn’t even average 2 hours per school day. From what I hear, the highest honors math series (more theoretical) tends to suck up time for others we know - but the extended math series with faster pace but less theory (middle track ) has been fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not challenging that the GDS admissions office said 4 hours of homework a night, but if your kid doing 4 hours of homework a night as a GDS freshman, sophomore or senior, something has gone wrong. Junior year definitely can be different, but it's still not 4 hours a night.

Agreed - my 9th grader doesn’t even average 2 hours per school day. From what I hear, the highest honors math series (more theoretical) tends to suck up time for others we know - but the extended math series with faster pace but less theory (middle track ) has been fine.

Ps I expect this to tick up to be more consistent (at least 2hr per school day) sophomore year - and certainly I know Junior year is always a heavy one

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have a GDS junior who I feel is getting very well prepared for the independence and responsibility of college. Homework starts out slowly in 9th and builds (no way it’s 4 hours a night in 9th even with honors math). The amount of homework will largely be based on the rigor of the classes students select. They do have a free period and community time to get some homework done at school. The homework isn’t busy work—it’s time consuming because it requires quite a bit of thought. GDS tends to emphasize content/ depth of ideas over writing mechanics precision on written assignments.

They do not have homework over breaks and do not allow major assignments or tests to be due within the first two days after a break.

GDS is a fun school—they definitely break up the academics with first Friday activities, minimester, themed dress up days for teams, random light moments during times with heavier work (ie cookie decorating, juice box day, petting zoo), performing arts, arts shows, etc.

Kids who do well at GDS tend to be those that have the executive management skills to be able to balance the lure of an open campus with the responsibility of classes and activities.
Also those who will approach a teacher when they need help (teachers are super supportive but students need to somewhat seek out this support vs have hand holding).

GDS is very well resourced in terms of course offerings, extracurriculars, family activities, etc. GDS is a school that some will need to grow into a bit, but due to the size and breadth of academics and activities I don’t think students grow out of it in the way they can at smaller schools.

This is a very good depiction of what we experience at GDS.

Op - I’d let your child decide. If they are in top classes it will be a lot of work at either school. And both schools offer regular level classes with lower workload.

A bigger difference is number of students in the grade. This could impact ability for a child to ‘find their people’ (or it may not - depends on the kid and cohort). It also impacts class choice - a smaller school will have fewer options. I know Maret has the online option to broaden course offerings but that takes jumping through hoops to align with the regular in person Maret schedule. This is not an issue at GDS where offering are part of regular school.

Another difference is required afterschool activities at Maret.

But if your child prefers one - let them go there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The homework is real. If you kid likes homework and is independent it is fine. This school is not for everyone. The kids that do "less" homework are the ones who have always been ahead in their classes and deep thinking and producing comes more easily. These are the kids that will continue to get into the top schools. Seriously it feels like some people are trying to fool themselves about their kids. It is a competitive school and if your kid tends to get stressed, have anxiety, on meds, has eating issues and doesn't do well with creating their own balance this will go with them into highschool. All these parents questioning it already know the answer they are just chasing a shiny object. The smart but not brilliant kids go to the same schools whether they are at Field, Burke, Maret, or public (though the public kids do get a bump). Bottom line if you are worried about stressing your kid out or the word pressure cooker scares you pay attention to that. I have one kid that said through. She had the right personality to make that happen. The other did not have that same easy outcome and I wish we didn't make that same choice for him.

Please. There is nothing at GDS that show the “brilliant” kids go there. What a load of BS. GDS has a newer building in upper northwest. That is the draw. The academics, teachers and students are average at best. GDS is not a big 3 or even a big 5. It is a little bit above the public school options in the area.

You clearly know nothing about GDS. The new building is the LMS. No one would choose the high school for its building.

Agreed that new building is LMS . But that said - I like the GDS US building and overall facilities better than Maret US (but this would not be a deciding factor for me - and I love both schools)

Congrats to OPs child in the choice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Beware of people posting around this time of year OP. There are desperate parents that want your spot and will do anything to try to convince you a school is a bad choice just on the off chance that it opens a spot for them. Get your information elsewhere.

This is an old tired DCUM narrative

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not challenging that the GDS admissions office said 4 hours of homework a night, but if your kid doing 4 hours of homework a night as a GDS freshman, sophomore or senior, something has gone wrong. Junior year definitely can be different, but it's still not 4 hours a night.

Agreed - my 9th grader doesn’t even average 2 hours per school day. From what I hear, the highest honors math series (more theoretical) tends to suck up time for others we know - but the extended math series with faster pace but less theory (middle track ) has been fine.

I don't know anything about Maret's math tracking, but one thing I like about GDS is their multiple math levels, not just honors or not, and the ability to choose different levels each year (at least between the two top levels) instead of being stuck on one level or the other based on 8th grade assessments (as was the case at Sidwell when I last looked).

[Anonymous]

Maret's math tracking is similar. There are 3 levels of each class and students can move up or down between levels as they feel comfortable year to year. You are not stuck on one track for all of high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not challenging that the GDS admissions office said 4 hours of homework a night, but if your kid doing 4 hours of homework a night as a GDS freshman, sophomore or senior, something has gone wrong. Junior year definitely can be different, but it's still not 4 hours a night.

Agreed - my 9th grader doesn’t even average 2 hours per school day. From what I hear, the highest honors math series (more theoretical) tends to suck up time for others we know - but the extended math series with faster pace but less theory (middle track ) has been fine.

I don't know anything about Maret's math tracking, but one thing I like about GDS is their multiple math levels, not just honors or not, and the ability to choose different levels each year (at least between the two top levels) instead of being stuck on one level or the other based on 8th grade assessments (as was the case at Sidwell when I last looked).

Not the case at Sidwell (and probably also not the case at Maret!) Honestly, these schools are all pretty similar, pick the one your kid likes best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Beware of people posting around this time of year OP. There are desperate parents that want your spot and will do anything to try to convince you a school is a bad choice just on the off chance that it opens a spot for them. Get your information elsewhere.

This is an old tired DCUM narrative

It's also true. Notice how these types of posts have ticked up as final decision day nears.

[Anonymous]

Which head of school is more competent ? Which one has better CV ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which head of school is more competent ? Which one has better CV ?

Yawn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which head of school is more competent ? Which one has better CV ?

Yawn.

Maybe because one of them has something to hide ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not challenging that the GDS admissions office said 4 hours of homework a night, but if your kid doing 4 hours of homework a night as a GDS freshman, sophomore or senior, something has gone wrong. Junior year definitely can be different, but it's still not 4 hours a night.

Agreed - my 9th grader doesn’t even average 2 hours per school day. From what I hear, the highest honors math series (more theoretical) tends to suck up time for others we know - but the extended math series with faster pace but less theory (middle track ) has been fine.

I don't know anything about Maret's math tracking, but one thing I like about GDS is their multiple math levels, not just honors or not, and the ability to choose different levels each year (at least between the two top levels) instead of being stuck on one level or the other based on 8th grade assessments (as was the case at Sidwell when I last looked).

Not the case at Sidwell (and probably also not the case at Maret!) Honestly, these schools are all pretty similar, pick the one your kid likes best.

At Sidwell the difference between theoretical and regular math track was huge. And any level below the regular track is essentially remedial. At gds the middle level is not regular, it is accelerated and is noted on transcript . (We have kids at both)

My memory of Maret’s math track is that it’s more like gds

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Beware of people posting around this time of year OP. There are desperate parents that want your spot and will do anything to try to convince you a school is a bad choice just on the off chance that it opens a spot for them. Get your information elsewhere.

This is an old tired DCUM narrative

It's also true. Notice how these types of posts have ticked up as final decision day nears.

It’s not true - I’m weighing in with experienced information and not in group that has an applicant for fall 25