GDS college enrolmments

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell has had remarkably strong college results last year and this year---but far the best of the Big3 school plus Maret. Last year they got almost 50% of the class into top25 schools (not even including liberal arts colleges). My own child was at one of the Cathedral schools and they had nowhere near this success. Clearly GDS is not having it this year.

I don't know if an exceptionally connected cohort at Sidwell, a strong reputation or grades that are slightly bumped up. My guess is that's a combo of all 3. On the last point, if you grade to a class average of a 3.7 you're going to have much better results across all kids than if you grade to a 3.5. Some of the other privates are still grading to something like a 3.5 (like it's still 1998). I imagine Sidwell has adjusted upwards as college results have become more difficult and this is why they're doing better across the board.

I do think Sidwell's parents are some of the most elite and well-connected parents in the community in DC. Imagine a kid can be connected to research in top science labs in JHU or UMD, imagine kids whose grandparents run some of the best newspapers, imagine kids whose parents are top surgeon or top medical doctors, imagine kids whose parents are JHU or Georgetown professors who can arrange fieldwork to publish papers in high schools.

Agreed. But your examples aren't even the type of connections that really move the needle. When a school like Sidwell gets kids in on parental connections they're parents who are CEOs of major companies (including fortune 500 ones), household names in journalism, etc. The regular "top surgeons or medical doctors" aren't moving the needle (I know because that is my field).

This year's GDS class is a lot of regular, DC professional class people. The parents and families I know are just normal people. The infamous year that GDS got "8 into Harvard' or whatever it was, the 5 kids we knew in that group were Harvard legacies AND their parents were extraordinarily successful in their respective fields. Total thought leaders, household name types.

When you don't have a cohort of these high flying families in a graduating class, the kids who end up at top schools tend to be the top 15-20% and that's about it. Plus of course the athletes but it seems to be a pretty down year for that all around for the DC privates (not many top recruits).

I thought GDS parents are also ultra-rich and powerful. I am actually happy that it is less so.

Some are but this quotient varies by year. There is always a cohort of "regular people" (i.e. professionals but not ultra rich and powerful as you put it). Many come from Deal and other DCPS and MCPS schools.

I thought they want to recruit fork dcps mcps for metric in academics . But this back fired as less powerful families are involved? Sorry I know this logic is ridiculous but the powerful getting into ivies are also ridiculous

100%. My child attended another Big3 in recent years in a grade that was highly academic but unconnected (i.e. lots of smart kids from DMV publics in this grade but not a lot of money or connections) and they had poor college results relative to other years. These schools grade so that only a handful end up with top grades. If the other kids aren't connected, these (the top academic kids) are often the only kids who get into top schools. It's the little known or acknowledged reality.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like getting into ivies is more about rich and powerful families than about which school you attend

[Anonymous]

Enrolmments?? Are you serious? Whoever started this topic needs to go back to kindergarten.

Plus have you looked at 2025 class and 2024?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell has had remarkably strong college results last year and this year---but far the best of the Big3 school plus Maret. Last year they got almost 50% of the class into top25 schools (not even including liberal arts colleges). My own child was at one of the Cathedral schools and they had nowhere near this success. Clearly GDS is not having it this year.

I don't know if an exceptionally connected cohort at Sidwell, a strong reputation or grades that are slightly bumped up. My guess is that's a combo of all 3. On the last point, if you grade to a class average of a 3.7 you're going to have much better results across all kids than if you grade to a 3.5. Some of the other privates are still grading to something like a 3.5 (like it's still 1998). I imagine Sidwell has adjusted upwards as college results have become more difficult and this is why they're doing better across the board.

If you want to believe that Sidwell is adjusting grades upward, even to a slight degree, my kids would like a word with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell has had remarkably strong college results last year and this year---but far the best of the Big3 school plus Maret. Last year they got almost 50% of the class into top25 schools (not even including liberal arts colleges). My own child was at one of the Cathedral schools and they had nowhere near this success. Clearly GDS is not having it this year.

I don't know if an exceptionally connected cohort at Sidwell, a strong reputation or grades that are slightly bumped up. My guess is that's a combo of all 3. On the last point, if you grade to a class average of a 3.7 you're going to have much better results across all kids than if you grade to a 3.5. Some of the other privates are still grading to something like a 3.5 (like it's still 1998). I imagine Sidwell has adjusted upwards as college results have become more difficult and this is why they're doing better across the board.

If you want to believe that Sidwell is adjusting grades upward, even to a slight degree, my kids would like a word with you.

Then then tons of top25 colleges are taking kids with low GPAs? Is the average GPA a 3.5 like the other Big3 schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell has had remarkably strong college results last year and this year---but far the best of the Big3 school plus Maret. Last year they got almost 50% of the class into top25 schools (not even including liberal arts colleges). My own child was at one of the Cathedral schools and they had nowhere near this success. Clearly GDS is not having it this year.

I don't know if an exceptionally connected cohort at Sidwell, a strong reputation or grades that are slightly bumped up. My guess is that's a combo of all 3. On the last point, if you grade to a class average of a 3.7 you're going to have much better results across all kids than if you grade to a 3.5. Some of the other privates are still grading to something like a 3.5 (like it's still 1998). I imagine Sidwell has adjusted upwards as college results have become more difficult and this is why they're doing better across the board.

If you want to believe that Sidwell is adjusting grades upward, even to a slight degree, my kids would like a word with you.

+100. According to Sidwell’s CCO, two students in the past four years have graduated with a cumulative 4.00 GPA–TWO! Meanwhile, DMV publics are handing out 4.00’s like candy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Enrolmments?? Are you serious? Whoever started this topic needs to go back to kindergarten.

Plus have you looked at 2025 class and 2024?

Sorry typo. No need to insults. Admissions.

[Anonymous]

Right?! Idk who is claiming that private schools inflate grades (and I'm not a Sidwell parent so how would I know over there), but historically private schools are not known for grade inflation. Instead, they rely on having a deeper relationship with the schools they regularly send applications to which enables the harsher grading to be seen in a more respectful light given how much public schools grade inflate. My husband (who went to public school) and I actually have a little inside joke that when I think something is failing he goes "awwww not by public school standards".

I think it is silly when people think the point of private school is to only get kids into the Ivy's, but maybe that is just me. I do think private schools undoubtedly grease the college admissions wheels for their students and judging a school based on how many students get into 8 singular schools in a given year is very short sighted. I know for myself, I didn't even apply to any Ivy League schools, not because they were "out of reach", but because I didn't want to go to school in the North Eastern climate and aimed for California and southern schools. One of my classmates did go unhooked to Harvard and not a perfect student, but I didn't really see it as all that special at the time... I think that truly was the best thing about private schools in hindsight, it made your aspirations feel achievable and approachable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Right?! Idk who is claiming that private schools inflate grades (and I'm not a Sidwell parent so how would I know over there), but historically private schools are not known for grade inflation. Instead, they rely on having a deeper relationship with the schools they regularly send applications to which enables the harsher grading to be seen in a more respectful light given how much public schools grade inflate. My husband (who went to public school) and I actually have a little inside joke that when I think something is failing he goes "awwww not by public school standards".

I think it is silly when people think the point of private school is to only get kids into the Ivy's, but maybe that is just me. I do think private schools undoubtedly grease the college admissions wheels for their students and judging a school based on how many students get into 8 singular schools in a given year is very short sighted. I know for myself, I didn't even apply to any Ivy League schools, not because they were "out of reach", but because I didn't want to go to school in the North Eastern climate and aimed for California and southern schools. One of my classmates did go unhooked to Harvard and not a perfect student, but I didn't really see it as all that special at the time... I think that truly was the best thing about private schools in hindsight, it made your aspirations feel achievable and approachable.

But it doesn’t have to be just the ivies, including all top 20 it is still worse than Sidwell

[Anonymous]

Guys go back to 2024 and 2025 then complain. This is a nothing burger.

[Anonymous]

What’s the Instagram link?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Guys go back to 2024 and 2025 then complain. This is a nothing burger.

What is that supposed to mean? Sidwell’s college placement was better than GDS’ in 2025 as well. I haven’t bothered to look at 2024, so I don’t know how that year compares.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What’s the Instagram link?

Just search, too easy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell has had remarkably strong college results last year and this year---but far the best of the Big3 school plus Maret. Last year they got almost 50% of the class into top25 schools (not even including liberal arts colleges). My own child was at one of the Cathedral schools and they had nowhere near this success. Clearly GDS is not having it this year.

I don't know if an exceptionally connected cohort at Sidwell, a strong reputation or grades that are slightly bumped up. My guess is that's a combo of all 3. On the last point, if you grade to a class average of a 3.7 you're going to have much better results across all kids than if you grade to a 3.5. Some of the other privates are still grading to something like a 3.5 (like it's still 1998). I imagine Sidwell has adjusted upwards as college results have become more difficult and this is why they're doing better across the board.

If you want to believe that Sidwell is adjusting grades upward, even to a slight degree, my kids would like a word with you.

Then then tons of top25 colleges are taking kids with low GPAs? Is the average GPA a 3.5 like the other Big3 schools?

Who knows. It’s not a parlor game. Worry about your own kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Guys go back to 2024 and 2025 then complain. This is a nothing burger.

What is that supposed to mean? Sidwell’s college placement was better than GDS’ in 2025 as well. I haven’t bothered to look at 2024, so I don’t know how that year compares.

Nobody cares about Sidwell college or any other school. It is you and your grades that will get you to a top school or what not. DCUM Needs to enforce 18+ rule to participate in these discussions. Why are we discussing this nonsense to start with. Jeez!