Which School Has the Bigger Perception Problem - Landon or Sidwell?

[Anonymous]

Yawn

[Anonymous]

Yes, if anyone points out the issues surrounding Sidwell and Landon, they MUST be doing it out of jealousy and/or because their kid got rejected.

Right.

[Anonymous]

Sidwell and Landon are very different schools, each with its own strengths and weaknesses, and, consequently each will appeal to some families and not so much to others. I doubt there's a lot of overlap in the applicant pools between the two schools. For this reason, I've found the Landon v. Sidwell bashing on this thread and others just plain wierd. It's much more likely that you'll find a rivalry -- one hopes it will be friendly -- between schools that are similar -- e.g., Georgetown Prep and Landon or GDS and Sidwell.

So, who's fueling the Sidwell/Landon rivalry (which I think exists only on DCUM)? My guess is it's the Landon student who was "counseled out" of Sidwell a couple of years back, and whose dad took a nasty parting shot at Sidwell sports. Sad that the parents have not found a more positive way for their family to move on.

[Anonymous]

I don't have a kid at Sidwell or Landon. They are both fine for the audiences they target and are certainly 2 different places. Landon gets just as many kids into Ivies thanks to athletic recruitment than Sidwell does for academics.

[Anonymous]

right

sidwell has no athletes in top tier schools
landon has no smart kids/artists/musicians get into top tier schools on non athletic merits

the world is black and white

[Anonymous]

PP 14:29 And what a great addition to the school he turned out to be!!! LOL

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't apply my daughter to either of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell and Landon are very different schools, each with its own strengths and weaknesses, and, consequently each will appeal to some families and not so much to others. I doubt there's a lot of overlap in the applicant pools between the two schools. For this reason, I've found the Landon v. Sidwell bashing on this thread and others just plain wierd. It's much more likely that you'll find a rivalry -- one hopes it will be friendly -- between schools that are similar -- e.g., Georgetown Prep and Landon or GDS and Sidwell.

So, who's fueling the Sidwell/Landon rivalry (which I think exists only on DCUM)? My guess is it's the Landon student who was "counseled out" of Sidwell a couple of years back, and whose dad took a nasty parting shot at Sidwell sports. Sad that the parents have not found a more positive way for their family to move on.

Now you're being very presumptuous and mean, dragging in real people including kids. Back off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:right

sidwell has no athletes in top tier schools
landon has no smart kids/artists/musicians get into top tier schools on non athletic merits

the world is black and white

Excellent post.

[Anonymous]

I have kids and nieces and nephews at both schools. And the OP has no idea what he/she is talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't apply my daughter to either of them.

Considering Landon is an all-boys school, that's probably a good call.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't apply my daughter to either of them.

Considering Landon is an all-boys school, that's probably a good call.

I think you missed the point, 17:21.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Supporters of Maret/GDS, people who have been rejected by Sidwell and those are resentful of its "liberal elite" status are most likely to revel in Sidwell bashing.

Prep boosters and those who resent Landon's "elite athletic" status are most likely to revel in their bashing.

In both cases, its about jealousy.

Oh please. I think its the opposite actually. People to whom neither school appeals can not understand why some people proclaim that [insert school] is the best thing going and no other school compares. Both schools have narrow focuses and both have major downsides. That said, both have very strong attributes as well. I do think these are two of the most divisive private schools in Washington with some of the most obnoxious student and parent bodies. I suppose THAT is why BOTH have a perception problem.

[Anonymous]

Apparently 2 years ago some new family moving into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue perceived Sidwell positively enough to send their two daughters there . . .

I wasn't on DCUM at that time--has the sniping at Sidwell gotten more aggressive since the matriculation of those Chicago transplants? Or has the whole independent schools board gotten nastier? Or has it always been this way?

[Anonymous]

Even the kids I know at Sidwell think they're all spoiled. My sense is that the current upperclassman were the ones accepted in the Chelsea days - ie the families who were most able to and interested in pulling strings to get in. Now they're feeling their oats and being PITAs with stuff like the poem and just generally jerkiness. Now the Obama matriculation is leading to another generation of "aren't we so specials" that we'll see fully bloom over the next 10-15 years.

My oldest will be applying to Ks next year, and having grown up here I have cousin or siblings who went to all of these schools - STA, Holton, Sidwell, St Pats, Landon, Beauvoir, and GDS. DH and I will look at about 8 schools, but not at Sidwell. We just aren't interested in being part of that community.