GDS, Lowell, Sheridan

[Anonymous]

Academics important, ease of transitioning into private for Junior High and beyond, availability of financial aid, stability. Curious where less bullying & drugs happens too. We will apply next year for incoming K and preK.

[Anonymous]

Easier to get into the smaller school then GDS.

[Anonymous]

no drugs at Lowell...doubt there are any at either of the others at that age.

[Anonymous]

A vote here for Sheridan. We chose it over Lowell for K, though we also really were impressed with Lowell. We have not seen any issues with bullying and in fact, in the case of any conflict -- big or small -- the school works with the children to equip them with tools to resolve conflict.

Sheridan's outstanding lunch program (they use the same caterer as Sidwell and Holton Arms and its fabulous) as well as the focus on outdoor education with mountain campus were some pragmatic things that stood out as being included in the tuition. Not to mention the pure enthusiasm and joy that we saw with the kids enrolled there when we visited, as well as the teachers who spoke with ease about what makes the school so very special and why they teach there.

I am impressed with how the Sheridan leadership & Board is handling what is clearly a difficult transition leadership with the Head departing unexpectedly. The community has this "rallying" thing is does that feel entirely genuine.

Many of the Sheridan kids end up at GDS for high school. We also looked at GDS (again, NO LUNCH PROGRAM -- ugh!), and felt that academically and socially, its very akin to the progressive approach that is very well done at both Sheridan and Lowell.

[Anonymous]

Another vote for Sheridan. One child went the way through and is now at Maret. Younger child still there. It's a school that really takes kids seriously, equips them with exceptional academic skills and grows leaders who have a heart. Not to mention it's just a great community of adults -- teachers and parents, to boot.

[Anonymous]

OP, all three are very good schools. Both Lowell and Sheridan send lots of kids to GDS, so you would have a good shot at ending up at the same place for high school no matter where you start. Since financial aid is an issue for you, and admissions at all three are not a sure thing, your best bet would be to keep an open mind about all three, apply for admission and financial aid and then figure out what choice is the best for you. Even if you decide now that you like one better, it would not be worth turning down a better aid package between the three and you might not get into your first choice.

[Anonymous]

I have had children at Lowell and GDS and know many happy parents at Sheridan (and cool kids). I would vote for the K-8 for the younger children. Many kids from Lowell and Sheridan do go to GDS (assuming it is the right kind of school for your child as they grow). I would apply, see what happens, consider location and any aid issues, and go with your gut. GL.

[Anonymous]

Thank you all for your insights- super helpful. I was also curious at what grade students start to leave their elementary to go to the jr high and high. Do they start to leave in 6th so they are not the new kid in 8th?

[Anonymous]

For Sheridan and Lowell - is there a percentage of kids that go public for hs?

[Anonymous]

For Lowell there are some going to MoCo publics I believe including magnet.

Kids used to leave for 6th at Lowell pretty routinely given that there are fewer open spots in 7th at most schools. With the new middle school more (likely most) kids will stay through 8th but some will still want a larger environment for middle school. Not sure about Sheridan.

[Anonymous]

If you got into GDS, you should go. No worries about having to get in when older, but you still have the option of transferring out if need be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For Sheridan and Lowell - is there a percentage of kids that go public for hs?

Usually 2-3 kids out of a class of 25. Sometimes none. The head who left was always discouraging and frankly a bit classist about public school. I think that will change now that he's gone and you'll see more kids going public.

[Anonymous]

I'm talking about Sheridan here.

[Anonymous]

Sheridan does not have PreK, so if you need that then you're limited to Lowell.

Sheridan is an exceptional school. They have some fabulous teachers there and there is a lot of buzz about their tremendous work around making diversity live and breathe within their curriculum. I think its a quiet school that focuses on educating kids and does a great job at it. Parents I know there are happy -- kids of these families are kind, thoughtful and very bright.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For Sheridan and Lowell - is there a percentage of kids that go public for hs?

Usually 2-3 kids out of a class of 25. Sometimes none. The head who left was always discouraging and frankly a bit classist about public school. I think that will change now that he's gone and you'll see more kids going public.

I disagree with your prediction. I think it'll be the same rate, and it will have everything to do with the savvy parents' preferences. I'm mentally looking around my kids' grades and I'm having a hard time thinking of more than one woman who would possibly be swayed one way or the other by a HoS, any HoS, into choosing private HS over public HS, or vice versa. We're really not a suggestible bunch, we tend to know what we want.

To OP, I don't have much more to add other than to say that a very large percentage of Sheridan and Lowell kids wind up at GDS in 9th grade every year. At Sheridan, at least, they don't tend to move at an earlier GDS expansion year; they graduate at 8th.