GDS vs. Potomac for upper school

[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

[Anonymous]

Tenleytown is fine safety-wise. But if people are afraid of their teenagers being in a city - even a somewhat suburban part of a city - they can go to an exurban school, for sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tenleytown is fine safety-wise. But if people are afraid of their teenagers being in a city - even a somewhat suburban part of a city - they can go to an exurban school, for sure.

That is terrible if they are scared of their teen being in a part of a city where the median income is over 200K. Then they should really just stay in their suburn gated community for the rest of their life.

[Anonymous]

GDS has a very specific political vibe- make sure you know what you are signing for.

And make sure you u see stand what happens on the weekly day off…

[Anonymous]

We looked hard at both. Honestly they're a lot closer than this thread makes it seem. Different campuses, some structural differences, but the academics and where kids end up after are more similar than not. The culture war stuff on here doesn't really match what we heard talking to actual families at either place. Visit both, let your kid have a real say, and know you're picking between two good options.

[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.

Don’t make important decisions based on anonymous and inaccurate posts on a message board. We have experience at both schools and our family loves GDS.