GDS vs. Maret - cultural and curricular differences?

[Anonymous]

Maret family here. Agree with both 16:19 and 23:03.

There is a lot of personal attention for each student, and report cards are detailed, with an "effort grade" and a letter grade. There is some talk of changing/eliminating the effort grade in the near future. Parent conferences are disorganized with parents assigned blocks to go visit each teacher.

I agree with 23:03 - specifically about the sciences and math. Having multiple kids going through/having gone through Maret, we noticed the material covered did vary slightly year to year in the same class with the same teacher. For example, one DC's year, the class was very focused and everyone seemed to be similar so the class moved quickly. Another DC's class was a little more varied, and it took them longer to get through some topics and in the end, they didn't cover quite as much- eventually the students that continued on the path did catch up, the following year.

We have family who went to GDS (US) as well, and when the kids and us parents compare notes, we find the biggest differences to be advanced course offerings ( there seem to be more at GDS) and nurturing ( Maret teachers seem to be more nurturing than GDS). Both schools are progressive and to the left of the spectrum. Interestingly our oldest Maret grad went to a smaller college, and the GDS grad cousin went to a larger university.

IMHO, if your DC is a motivated kid who would benefit from a very small school and lots of personalized attention/tailored learning, then Maret will be a great fit. If your DC is someone who might benefit from a bigger pond and doesn't need a lot of personalized attention, GDS may be a better fit.

These are both good choices and OP I don't think you can go wrong with either. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maret family here. Agree with both 16:19 and 23:03.

There is a lot of personal attention for each student, and report cards are detailed, with an "effort grade" and a letter grade. There is some talk of changing/eliminating the effort grade in the near future. Parent conferences are disorganized with parents assigned blocks to go visit each teacher.

I agree with 23:03 - specifically about the sciences and math. Having multiple kids going through/having gone through Maret, we noticed the material covered did vary slightly year to year in the same class with the same teacher. For example, one DC's year, the class was very focused and everyone seemed to be similar so the class moved quickly. Another DC's class was a little more varied, and it took them longer to get through some topics and in the end, they didn't cover quite as much- eventually the students that continued on the path did catch up, the following year.

We have family who went to GDS (US) as well, and when the kids and us parents compare notes, we find the biggest differences to be advanced course offerings ( there seem to be more at GDS) and nurturing ( Maret teachers seem to be more nurturing than GDS). Both schools are progressive and to the left of the spectrum. Interestingly our oldest Maret grad went to a smaller college, and the GDS grad cousin went to a larger university.

IMHO, if your DC is a motivated kid who would benefit from a very small school and lots of personalized attention/tailored learning, then Maret will be a great fit. If your DC is someone who might benefit from a bigger pond and doesn't need a lot of personalized attention, GDS may be a better fit.

These are both good choices and OP I don't think you can go wrong with either. Good luck!

Not a PP on this thread, but this is a very informative post. Thank you.

Going off of the bolded statement, either of these two schools is going to be more supportive than a much larger private, or especially public that may have more students in the freshman class than the entire student bodies of Maret and GDS combined. However, it does seem like there may be a difference between GDS and Maret regarding support. Could you expand or know of different examples from both? Much appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Can anyone speak to the science and math curricula at the schools? Clearly both schools are very strong in arts, drama, music.

[Anonymous]

Is anyone still trying to choose between these two? What criteria are you using to choose?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone speak to the science and math curricula at the schools? Clearly both schools are very strong in arts, drama, music.

Math and drama considered stronger at GDS. Maret stronger in sports, and has a football team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do not have kids at either school, but we toured both with our middle schooler this year.

Maret seemed very small, and had all the kids (K-12) on the same small campus. I guess I liked how GDS had the high school kids on a separate campus (but I know that will change in the future.)

When GDS consolidates its campus, it may feel even tighter than Maret's. It's too bad that GDS wants to develop commercially the Wisconsin parcel. If it were used for some school-related needs, it might take some pressure off the Safeway site which will feel very crowded when built out.

[Anonymous]

No shortage of personal attention at GDS. And same kind of semester report cards as Maret

[Anonymous]

HS science and math at GDS are very strong. DC and friends are science kids and they're finding themselves well-prepared for college at rigorous schools (e.g. MIT, Harvey Mudd, Chicago).

[Anonymous]

Oh and there are enough course offerings at GDS that a STEM kid can go STEM-crazy Senior year (when English 12 is the only real requirement left).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HS science and math at GDS are very strong. DC and friends are science kids and they're finding themselves well-prepared for college at rigorous schools (e.g. MIT, Harvey Mudd, Chicago).

The top math students at GDS take AP Calculus AB/BC combined in 11th grade, allowing them to pursue university-level mathematics offerings in the 12th grade, such as Calculus-Based Probability and Statistics, Advanced Linear Algebra, Multivariable Calculus, or a Seminar in Advanced Topics in Mathematics formatted to address students greater needs and talents. As far as I know those are some of the most advanced math offerings at any of the DC private schools. The talented science students at GDS can similarly work their way through AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics, AP Computer Science, as well as advanced electives such as Quantum Physics.

But the beauty of GDS is that its community and offering consist of many students with different talents, strengths, interests, and abilities. The school is rich in Arts offerings and electives, and advanced classes in English and Writing, college-type seminar courses in History, Humanities, Language, and the Social Sciences. Not every student wants to, or needs to pursue the most rigorous classes in any one area. I think that GDS does an excellent job in allowing students to find their own paths, serving a very diversely-talented student body, and recognizing that there are multiple paths open to the different students -- sometimes to very same goals (e.g., top colleges), sometimes not.

[Anonymous]

The logistics of the schedule/ requirements and limited class offerings would not make it easy ( or even possible) for Maret seniors to go "STEM crazy." The MSON seminars are not always offered, as a previous poster touched on.

If you have a STEM kid at Maret, it requires some planning to get the prerequisites completed in the early years so that he/she can be eligible to take the few advanced math/science classes in their junior and senior years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Got into GDS and Maret at 9th. Chose Maret. GDS seemed too disorganized and kind of frumpy. Clear focus on kids at the tip top but the next level of kids seemed to be ignored, and I mean that GDS admissions/parent open house for admits indicated that certain things are reserved for top students. My kid would actually be closer to top i suspect but it was off putting. Maret seemed like a community that is inclusive and as a small school it needs to allow a lot of flexibility in participating in activities -- sports, theater, music, debate, model UN etc.

Congratulations on being admitted to both schools and on selecting Maret. I am sorry that you got the wrong impression of GDS at the open house. I am a GDS parent, as well as a parent at other top private schools, so I can compare and speak to this a bit. As I posted above, Georgetown Day School is a community of many students with very different talents, strengths, interests, and abilities. Yes the school is very strong in its advanced math and science courses and electives. But it is also rich in the Arts, Music, and Theater, in English and Writing, college-type seminar courses in History, Humanities, Language, and the Social Sciences. GDS, more so than any of the other private schools my children have attended, does not put its students on the same road. GDS encourages its students to make independent decisions and to forge their own path that is true to who they are. Not every student wants to, or clearly needs to, pursue the most rigorous classes in any one area. The school does an excellent job in serving a very diversely-talented student body, and GDS recognizes that there are multiple paths open to its students -- sometimes to very same goals (e.g., top colleges can be entered by being an awarded writer, a strong mathematician, or a talented actor and director), and sometimes to very different ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HS science and math at GDS are very strong. DC and friends are science kids and they're finding themselves well-prepared for college at rigorous schools (e.g. MIT, Harvey Mudd, Chicago).

The top math students at GDS take AP Calculus AB/BC combined in 11th grade, allowing them to pursue university-level mathematics offerings in the 12th grade, such as Calculus-Based Probability and Statistics, Advanced Linear Algebra, Multivariable Calculus, or a Seminar in Advanced Topics in Mathematics formatted to address students greater needs and talents. As far as I know those are some of the most advanced math offerings at any of the DC private schools. The talented science students at GDS can similarly work their way through AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics, AP Computer Science, as well as advanced electives such as Quantum Physics.

But the beauty of GDS is that its community and offering consist of many students with different talents, strengths, interests, and abilities. The school is rich in Arts offerings and electives, and advanced classes in English and Writing, college-type seminar courses in History, Humanities, Language, and the Social Sciences. Not every student wants to, or needs to pursue the most rigorous classes in any one area. I think that GDS does an excellent job in allowing students to find their own paths, serving a very diversely-talented student body, and recognizing that there are multiple paths open to the different students -- sometimes to very same goals (e.g., top colleges), sometimes not.

+1 This is exactly right. A truly intense academic experience, whether in STEM or the arts, is available, but no pressure from the school to follow any path---and as a parent of a high schooler, I am always impressed by the very upbeat and supportive vibe of the school. Our DS takes the metro and arrives at least a half-hour early to school each day because he is just so excited to go (I really couldn't make it up---he truly can't wait for school to start each day).

The curriculum for PK-12 is available here on the GDS website: https://gds.myschoolapp.com/ftpimages/416/download/download_1957055.pdf In addition to the courses mentioned above, there's everything from the STEMy Waves and Optics and Game Theory to the Artsy/Humanities courses like Cultural Anthropology, Literature of Outsiders, Dance for Musical Theater I and II, and Directing for the Stage. As a parent, it's the school I wish I could have gone to, but now we just have to be happy seeing our child completely enjoy it.


TEM

[Anonymous]

Lit and arts are strong at GDS, but history is not.

[Anonymous]

I cannot imagine that Maret - a school of incredible quality so dedicated to the growth of each individual - would allow the academic ambitions of its students to be thwarted due to the school's small size. If Maret doesn't offer a class and a student cannot take it through MSON, I would think that the school would arrange for the student to take a course at a local university.

Can any Maret parents speak to this?