GDS, Lowell, Sheridan

[Anonymous]

Would a public really compare to Sheridan or Lowell? Seems to me they are radically different

[Anonymous]

Public is free and OP said she needed financial aid. Most of the private schools aren't equipped to give a lot of FA in these times. I just didn't want OP to set herself up for big disappointment if she didn't get the $$ from anyone that she thought she might get.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sheridan is the best in the earlier years-- you can peel off to GDS in 5th or 6th and beyond. Their k-4 is excellent. Kids in both and happy with both but Sheridan really develops a strong character and lots of differentiation so your kid can shine. Academics is sharper also in these grades.

You could in theory but I can't think of a single kid who's left Sheridan in 5th grade for gds in the past several years. Or 6th. That's really not how it happens in practice.

I know one kid who left Sheridan after 5th in the last few years. There aren't many who leave then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have been wait listed for GDS. Has anyone heard from GDS?

I didn't realize we had such young participants on this board.

[Anonymous]

NP here -- OP should with her gut. If you go with Lowell or Sheridan, there is certainly no guarantee your child will get into GDS or anywhere else in particular. I don't believe they even take 10 kids in a year from either of those or any other single feeder school, and there are certainly more students than that in each grade. That said, who cares? If OP decides she likes the smaller schools better for younger grades, then that's what you do -- elementary school is about many things, but it should not be about an insurance policy for a high school that may or may not be the right fit in 9 years. OP can lose a job or relocate, a child could turn out to have learning disabilities discovered later or be brilliant -- especially in math/science -- and need a specialized magnet school. Bottom line -- these are all great schools. Do what seems to work best for your family and child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lowell has more than one class per grade and so if there is any type of issues between kids they can be placed in separate classes (our dc and another child were such good friends they got a little unfocused in the same class). That swayed us to Lowell over Sheridan. And I really liked the more laid back attitude of Lowell. Kids in DC metro area don't get to be kids long enough (IMO) and we've been really happy with how Lowell really encourages kids to be kids and allows for wide streaks of individuality. Also, if youconsider "diversity" to actually mean "African American", Lowell is much more diverse than Sheridan.

Fixed that for you. Sheridan's student body is really diverse, including a lot of categories you won't see by glancing at a photograph in a brochure. I do believe Lowell has a larger portion of AA students, which is understandably a draw to some prospective parents.

[Anonymous]

We are at Sheridan while we like the school, telling that it is very diverse is a stretch. A few AA students, very few European students (World Bank etc.), very few Asian kids, mostly adopted, but that's it. More than half of the kids are from liberal Jewish families, the rest is from liberal WASP families.

[Anonymous]

On academics, Sheridan accelerates from 3rd grade. K-2 are mostly about confidence and community building. Judged by the results (placement record), this concept works well.

[Anonymous]

GDS easier to get into for HS than MS, simply a numbers game (huge entry for HS, I think about 35-40 kids, much smaller for 6th or 7th). So if at Lowell or Sheridan and all is going well, would stay through 8th than go to the appropriate HS, whether GDS or another.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are at Sheridan while we like the school, telling that it is very diverse is a stretch. A few AA students, very few European students (World Bank etc.), very few Asian kids, mostly adopted, but that's it. More than half of the kids are from liberal Jewish families, the rest is from liberal WASP families.

About 35% of Sheridan students are non-white.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are at Sheridan while we like the school, telling that it is very diverse is a stretch. A few AA students, very few European students (World Bank etc.), very few Asian kids, mostly adopted, but that's it. More than half of the kids are from liberal Jewish families, the rest is from liberal WASP families.

About 35% of Sheridan students are non-white.

That's not consistent with what we observe. I suspect this counts everyone with a Mexican or Spanish grandmother as hispanic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are at Sheridan while we like the school, telling that it is very diverse is a stretch. A few AA students, very few European students (World Bank etc.), very few Asian kids, mostly adopted, but that's it. More than half of the kids are from liberal Jewish families, the rest is from liberal WASP families.

About 35% of Sheridan students are non-white.

That's not consistent with what we observe. I suspect this counts everyone with a Mexican or Spanish grandmother as hispanic.

as does every single private school in DC, every public school too and the US government.

[Anonymous]

Speaking of diversity....Sheridan is completely unable to handle a child with any sort of physical disability. The building is all stairs and we know at least one family who has left the school because of this. Is thus the case with many of the privates in the area?

[Anonymous]

GDS has elevators and my DDs on crutches were able to use them as required. Can easily enter the school from car or sidewalk without any steps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are at Sheridan while we like the school, telling that it is very diverse is a stretch. A few AA students, very few European students (World Bank etc.), very few Asian kids, mostly adopted, but that's it. More than half of the kids are from liberal Jewish families, the rest is from liberal WASP families.

About 35% of Sheridan students are non-white.

That's not consistent with what we observe. I suspect this counts everyone with a Mexican or Spanish grandmother as hispanic.

as does every single private school in DC, every public school too and the US government.

Fair enough. But this means diversity is a code word, neatly separated from reality. Everyone likes and invites diversity up to the exactly point where thye are confronted with it.