Racial/Socioeconomic diversity at Sidwell versus Beauvoir?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:While I realize that the level of diversity in a school is not important to you, it is important to some of us--which is why OP started this thread and why some anonymous people are inflating stats in a misguided effort to promote their school. It's actually pretty straightforward--OP specifically asked which school has more racial and socioeconomic diversity. Both schools address these issues in writing on their official websites--40% racial diversity at Sidwell and 30% racial diversity at Beauvoir. Sidwell gives away $5.4 million per year to needy families, Beauvoir gives away $1 million per year to needy families. While Sidwell and Beauvoir are both lovely schools, the answer to OP's question is: Sidwell clearly has more racial and socioeconomic diversity.

Anonymous wrote:It doesn't seem like the difference between 30% and 42% is really that significant. In a class of 21 children, that's 6 vs. 9 children. Not a huge difference either way. Not worth arguing about.

On the financial aid amounts that you cite, that Sidwell give $5.4M of FA each year and Beauvoir gives $1M, I don't know whether your numbers are accurate, but you need to consider that Sidwell is K-12 but Beauvoir is K-3 with a lot fewer students.

[Anonymous]

I was at the Beauvoir event. Paula did use the number 42% and I would take that as the correct number.
I believe the event is held during the day so that parents can see the kids in the classrooms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It doesn't seem like the difference between 30% and 42% is really that significant. In a class of 21 children, that's 6 vs. 9 children. Not a huge difference either way. Not worth arguing about.

actually it is a huge difference - nearly 50% more minorities with 42 vs. 30. And I've got to think that 42% feels a lot different than 30%. Think of it the other way. 30% is a heck of a lot different than 18% which is when the 12 % goes the other direction. And even using your example - 9 children out of 21 is significantly different than 6 out of 21 if you are one of the 6 or the 9.

[Anonymous]

Sidwell - think rich Bethesda lawyers. Beauvoir - think rich upper NW lawyers. All the same.

[Anonymous]

Sidwell gives away $5.4 million per year to needy families, Beauvoir gives away $1 million per year to needy families.

Compare Sidwell's $5.4 million to either St. Alban's + Beauvoir's grants to needy families OR NCS + Beauvoir's grants .... and then we'll have a conversation.

[Anonymous]

I am the OP. Thank you all for your input. One of the reasons we asked is that we (like many here) couldn't attend the in-school events to get another look. At the play dates that our son had, Sidwell had 2 (two) children who were not white, the vast (I mean, very vast) majority of parents at the session while the kids have the playdate were white as well. Must have just been a fluke on that day.

[Anonymous]

OP specifically asked for a comparison between Sidwell and Beauvoir, because those are the schools where her DC has been admitted. Considering how many schools are being forced to cut back on FA due to the economy, I think Sidwell should be commended for its generosity.

Anonymous wrote:

Sidwell gives away $5.4 million per year to needy families, Beauvoir gives away $1 million per year to needy families.

Compare Sidwell's $5.4 million to either St. Alban's + Beauvoir's grants to needy families OR NCS + Beauvoir's grants .... and then we'll have a conversation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am the OP. Thank you all for your input. One of the reasons we asked is that we (like many here) couldn't attend the in-school events to get another look. At the play dates that our son had, Sidwell had 2 (two) children who were not white, the vast (I mean, very vast) majority of parents at the session while the kids have the playdate were white as well. Must have just been a fluke on that day.

7:12 from page one again. What you saw at the play date is definitely not reflective of the school as a whole. Glad to have helped. Good luck with your decisions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP specifically asked for a comparison between Sidwell and Beauvoir, because those are the schools where her DC has been admitted. Considering how many schools are being forced to cut back on FA due to the economy, I think Sidwell should be commended for its generosity.

Anonymous wrote:

Sidwell gives away $5.4 million per year to needy families, Beauvoir gives away $1 million per year to needy families.

Compare Sidwell's $5.4 million to either St. Alban's + Beauvoir's grants to needy families OR NCS + Beauvoir's grants .... and then we'll have a conversation.

PPs have rightly pointed out that the comparison between Beauvoir and Sidwell is not fairly made in total dollars given annually as FA unless one accounts for the larger size of Sidwell's K-12 student body as compared with Beauvoir's K-3 student body. A per-child average would be more useful.

[Anonymous]

4:55 Your day must have been unusual, or maybe mine was, but I was struck at the incredible level of diversity. It actually freaked me out a bit because we are not diverse in any way according to the admissions process and so I noted that there was a Chinese family, an Indian family, a few Caribbean families, a gay family, a number of AA families, etc. It was a giant amalgam. Obviously these were only the people applying, not accepted, but at the new parents night it was also very diverse. At the Beauvoir playdate everyone was white, but at the new parents meeting there was a mix of people, which was nice to see.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PPs have rightly pointed out that the comparison between Beauvoir and Sidwell is not fairly made in total dollars given annually as FA unless one accounts for the larger size of Sidwell's K-12 student body as compared with Beauvoir's K-3 student body. A per-child average would be more useful.

Beavoir has about 390 kids; Sidwell has about 1100. Financial aid/child is about $2560 at Beauvoir and about $4910 at Sidwell.

[Anonymous]

Based on numbers posted previously in this thread, that is.

[Anonymous]

I second 10.55. There was a visually obvious and substantive extent of "diversity" both at the play date and the parents meet at Sidwell. To the greatest extent, I thought it was AA families, with a few African, East Asian and South Asian families on top of that.

[Anonymous]

Not sure what the OP is seeking in regards to economic diversity. There are hardly any families at either who receive substantial FA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure what the OP is seeking in regards to economic diversity. There are hardly any families at either who receive substantial FA.

Are you just trolling for controversy? See below analysis from page 2 of this thread. Average assistance award of over $21,000 for 23% of students.

Anonymous wrote:

Sidwell wrote:For the 2009-2010 school year, 1,109 students (560 boys and 549 girls) are enrolled. Forty percent of the student body are students of color. Twenty-three percent of the student body receive $5.4 million of need-based financial assistance.

Wow, if you do the math, this is pretty amazing. This means that 255 students are receiving an average need-based assistance award of over $21,000. But for fundraising by the school, that means for the other 854 students not receiving aid, $6,300 (21%) of each student's tuition is going toward financial aid. Pretty amazing.