GDS vs NCS

[Anonymous]

Could anybody please give me some information about the comparison of the two schools? If we don't look at it from aspect of coed or single-sex school, academically which one is stronger? I somehow read from other posts that as NCS is all girl school, the math or science might not that strong, is it true? thanks.

[Anonymous]

Holton is all girls and the math/science is strong so why would NCS be different? Should be the same or better based on reputation.

[Anonymous]

Ncs is considered more prestigious and better academically than GDS.

[Anonymous]

I am familiar with NCS and think highly of it and would not say it is more prestigious academically than GDS -- that may have been the case 25 years ago but I think both are comparable now.

NCS's strongest suit is probably the humanities and teaching writing, and GDS is definitely known for having an excellent math program in particular. With that said, a number of NCS girls in recent years have gotten into MIT and are pursuing STEM academically, so it's not like it is discouraged. Although NCS is smaller than GDS and thus can be expected to have fewer courses, they have the benefit of cross-registration with St. Albans for upper level math and science courses and STEM electives such as the popular Biotechnology elective. There are also NCS girls who have undertaken independent studies in STEM subjects with St. Albans teachers.

Bottom line: two great options academically. Thus, the co-ed vs. single sex and cultural stuff is actually important.

[Anonymous]

But the cultures are diametrically different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But the cultures are diametrically different.

True. There is also NCS' affiliation with the the Cathedral and the Episcopal church. And GDS is sometimes referred to as "JDS." However, there are various religions represented among the students of both schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am familiar with NCS and think highly of it and would not say it is more prestigious academically than GDS -- that may have been the case 25 years ago but I think both are comparable now.

NCS's strongest suit is probably the humanities and teaching writing, and GDS is definitely known for having an excellent math program in particular. With that said, a number of NCS girls in recent years have gotten into MIT and are pursuing STEM academically, so it's not like it is discouraged. Although NCS is smaller than GDS and thus can be expected to have fewer courses, they have the benefit of cross-registration with St. Albans for upper level math and science courses and STEM electives such as the popular Biotechnology elective. There are also NCS girls who have undertaken independent studies in STEM subjects with St. Albans teachers.

Bottom line: two great options academically. Thus, the co-ed vs. single sex and cultural stuff is actually important.

Thanks a lot for the information. For a NCS girl who want to registered math or science course with St. albans, is it as easy as a girl in GDS taking math or science class? Will the teacher in st albans treat the girl from NCS the same as the boy in st. albans? I guess I am afraid the attention she might get is not as much as the boys in st. albans. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am familiar with NCS and think highly of it and would not say it is more prestigious academically than GDS -- that may have been the case 25 years ago but I think both are comparable now.

NCS's strongest suit is probably the humanities and teaching writing, and GDS is definitely known for having an excellent math program in particular. With that said, a number of NCS girls in recent years have gotten into MIT and are pursuing STEM academically, so it's not like it is discouraged. Although NCS is smaller than GDS and thus can be expected to have fewer courses, they have the benefit of cross-registration with St. Albans for upper level math and science courses and STEM electives such as the popular Biotechnology elective. There are also NCS girls who have undertaken independent studies in STEM subjects with St. Albans teachers.

Bottom line: two great options academically. Thus, the co-ed vs. single sex and cultural stuff is actually important.

Thanks a lot for the information. For a NCS girl who want to registered math or science course with St. albans, is it as easy as a girl in GDS taking math or science class? Will the teacher in st albans treat the girl from NCS the same as the boy in st. albans? I guess I am afraid the attention she might get is not as much as the boys in st. albans. Thanks.

Hi again. The cross-registration process is very easy. The two schools have the same schedule for the academic day, and there are spaces reserved in courses for the students from the other school (so there are also spaces reserved for boys in science and other electives offered at NCS -- they have some excellent ones that the boys seek out, so it's not just a one-way flow of students). My experience is that the girls really like taking the classes at St. Albans -- change of pace and all that -- and the St. Albans teachers very much enjoy having the NCS students in the classes and are good about mentoring them. (This isn't math/science, but an NCS family actually donated money to have a theater at Mount Vernon named after a St. Albans economics teacher who had mentored their daughter.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am familiar with NCS and think highly of it and would not say it is more prestigious academically than GDS -- that may have been the case 25 years ago but I think both are comparable now.

NCS's strongest suit is probably the humanities and teaching writing, and GDS is definitely known for having an excellent math program in particular. With that said, a number of NCS girls in recent years have gotten into MIT and are pursuing STEM academically, so it's not like it is discouraged. Although NCS is smaller than GDS and thus can be expected to have fewer courses, they have the benefit of cross-registration with St. Albans for upper level math and science courses and STEM electives such as the popular Biotechnology elective. There are also NCS girls who have undertaken independent studies in STEM subjects with St. Albans teachers.

Bottom line: two great options academically. Thus, the co-ed vs. single sex and cultural stuff is actually important.

Thanks a lot for the information. For a NCS girl who want to registered math or science course with St. albans, is it as easy as a girl in GDS taking math or science class? Will the teacher in st albans treat the girl from NCS the same as the boy in st. albans? I guess I am afraid the attention she might get is not as much as the boys in st. albans. Thanks.

Hi again. The cross-registration process is very easy. The two schools have the same schedule for the academic day, and there are spaces reserved in courses for the students from the other school (so there are also spaces reserved for boys in science and other electives offered at NCS -- they have some excellent ones that the boys seek out, so it's not just a one-way flow of students). My experience is that the girls really like taking the classes at St. Albans -- change of pace and all that -- and the St. Albans teachers very much enjoy having the NCS students in the classes and are good about mentoring them. (This isn't math/science, but an NCS family actually donated money to have a theater at Mount Vernon named after a St. Albans economics teacher who had mentored their daughter.)

that sounds cool. are there cross-registration of classes in lower school as well?

[Anonymous]

I think just for Upper School; I believe for Lower School the main joint activity is theater. I'm not sure that is a bad thing though, with active boys at that age!

[Anonymous]

Do parents of NCS worry about the less interaction of their girls with boys in lower school? i might sound strange, but I really would like my dd to have a lot of interactions with boys and maybe developed some romantic relationship. I think that is part of their growing experience. but on the other hand I also heard that having bf will affect their academic performance. Please don't be sochastic about my point and I really appreciate your insights.

[Anonymous]

I made this decision in 1987 and chose NCS over GDS. Such a bad decision...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do parents of NCS worry about the less interaction of their girls with boys in lower school? i might sound strange, but I really would like my dd to have a lot of interactions with boys and maybe developed some romantic relationship. I think that is part of their growing experience. but on the other hand I also heard that having bf will affect their academic performance. Please don't be sochastic about my point and I really appreciate your insights.

Lower school is grades 4-6, approximately age 9 - 11 or age 10 -12. In my opinion that is far too young for kids to be worrying about interacting with boys to develop romantic relationships, and it is certainly too young for them to be having boyfriends.

I think most kids at single-gender schools get enough interaction with the other gender through activities outside of school, so I don't think single gender education impedes forming romantic relationships when the kids are older. I don't think there is anything wrong or bad about either single-gender or co-ed schools; I would seriously discount the importance of this factor and instead choose the school with the kind of academics and community atmosphere you are looking for regardless of whether it is all girls or coed.

That's just my opinion though, and each family has to decide for themselves what is right for their specific kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am familiar with NCS and think highly of it and would not say it is more prestigious academically than GDS -- that may have been the case 25 years ago but I think both are comparable now.

NCS's strongest suit is probably the humanities and teaching writing, and GDS is definitely known for having an excellent math program in particular. With that said, a number of NCS girls in recent years have gotten into MIT and are pursuing STEM academically, so it's not like it is discouraged. Although NCS is smaller than GDS and thus can be expected to have fewer courses, they have the benefit of cross-registration with St. Albans for upper level math and science courses and STEM electives such as the popular Biotechnology elective. There are also NCS girls who have undertaken independent studies in STEM subjects with St. Albans teachers.

Bottom line: two great options academically. Thus, the co-ed vs. single sex and cultural stuff is actually important.

Thanks a lot for the information. For a NCS girl who want to registered math or science course with St. albans, is it as easy as a girl in GDS taking math or science class? Will the teacher in st albans treat the girl from NCS the same as the boy in st. albans? I guess I am afraid the attention she might get is not as much as the boys in st. albans. Thanks.

Hi again. The cross-registration process is very easy. The two schools have the same schedule for the academic day, and there are spaces reserved in courses for the students from the other school (so there are also spaces reserved for boys in science and other electives offered at NCS -- they have some excellent ones that the boys seek out, so it's not just a one-way flow of students). My experience is that the girls really like taking the classes at St. Albans -- change of pace and all that -- and the St. Albans teachers very much enjoy having the NCS students in the classes and are good about mentoring them. (This isn't math/science, but an NCS family actually donated money to have a theater at Mount Vernon named after a St. Albans economics teacher who had mentored their daughter.)

Eh. I had a very negative experience in two sta classes - as the only girl in an sta English class and as one of several girls in a religion class there. Most girls would try to go over to sta in groups so as to have safety in numbers. When a girl walks down the hall, the boys stare, sometimes make comments etc, and the same staring and snickering happens in class room settings too.

Some of the teachers are there because they want to teach boys, and they may or may not make much of an effort to make the girl feel welcome in the class.

But I don't think that's relevant for your question really, bc ncs offers bc ap calc and vector calc and all the ap science options on its own campus. Chances are that will be sufficent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do parents of NCS worry about the less interaction of their girls with boys in lower school? i might sound strange, but I really would like my dd to have a lot of interactions with boys and maybe developed some romantic relationship. I think that is part of their growing experience. but on the other hand I also heard that having bf will affect their academic performance. Please don't be sochastic about my point and I really appreciate your insights.

Lower school on of upright through sixth grade. You want your ten year old to have a romantic relationship?

There are plenty of opportunities to meet guys to date in upper school. Gov club, chorale, plays, etc.