Sidwell or GDS and why

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vastly different philosophies and sports abilities. So what are you actually comparong?

Do you know what the word “vastly” means?

They are different, yes. They are not “vastly” different.

I beg to differ. No one’s recruiting for sports from Gds.

Huh, what? GDS didn't have the best volleyball team in the DMV area by luck. Now, they aren't like the WCAC and try to have championship teams in every sport.

Sidwell isn't really all that different. They try to be competitive across the DMV in basketball and tennis...but they aren't really recruiting much in football or baseball or many other sports where they field middle of the pack teams even in just their own conference.

In the case of volleyball, it's more that the program attracts girls who want to be in a strong program. That's different than recruiting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can families speak more to what they mean about GDS being more fun? I feel like I see a lot of folks describe it that way on DCUM but it could mean a lot of things.

Probably best to come from a family with kids at both schools (and there are more than few), but my kid is at GDS and they have a bunch of friends at Sidwell, so they compare notes. If those notes are to be believed, Sidwell has a more traditional feel, and apparently stricter with rules. GDS has a looser environment - rules, relationships with teachers, relationships with administrators, etc.. The kids at GDS can be very ambitious and hard working, and they are aware of how their classmates are doing (academics, awards, extracurriculars), but it is not a competitive environment, at least not overtly. Who knows whether that makes GDS more "fun," and those two schools are far more similar than they are different.

Also, they do things like have a sleepover in the school in Sept. for the 9th graders. They have a random day where they cancel classes and the kids can play games all day. Stuff like that. It's definitely a fun school even though it is also intense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vastly different philosophies and sports abilities. So what are you actually comparong?

Do you know what the word “vastly” means?

They are different, yes. They are not “vastly” different.

I beg to differ. No one’s recruiting for sports from Gds.

Huh, what? GDS didn't have the best volleyball team in the DMV area by luck. Now, they aren't like the WCAC and try to have championship teams in every sport.

Sidwell isn't really all that different. They try to be competitive across the DMV in basketball and tennis...but they aren't really recruiting much in football or baseball or many other sports where they field middle of the pack teams even in just their own conference.

In the case of volleyball, it's more that the program attracts girls who want to be in a strong program. That's different than recruiting.

It doesn't work that way. You don't consistently have top teams in the DMV without a coach who understands the talent at the 7th/8th grade level and reached out to that talent. There are plenty of options at other schools that also produce top teams, so you don't win the student by chance. The GDS coach also coaches at one of the top DMV Club teams...that's not a coincidence either.

GDS didn't use to be tops in volleyball...they decided to become tops and recruited to make it happen.

Sidwell doesn't just hope to get lucky in basketball. The coach also coaches top AAU teams and recruits players to Sidwell.

[Anonymous]

GDS was the better fit for our kid and family. It felt more like a nice, warm school versus Sidwell with its large campus and prep school feeling. GDS has all kids take phys ed and no athletics requirement which worked better for our kid. Now that our kid is at GDS, I see the fun part of it. Little things throughout the month like the pickleball competition, but also cookie decorating. Makes me laugh that Sidwell goes with golf cart driving lessons.The kids at GDS send out emails to drum up support to attend games that are downright funny. We know great families at Sidwell and get a feeling that it is more competitive among the kids and families. My kid packs a sandwich everyday and loves freedom to come and go. Most of the kids we knew going through this process got into one or the other but there were some who made choices. I think at that point the families know what’s best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vastly different philosophies and sports abilities. So what are you actually comparong?

Do you know what the word “vastly” means?

They are different, yes. They are not “vastly” different.

I beg to differ. No one’s recruiting for sports from Gds.

Huh, what? GDS didn't have the best volleyball team in the DMV area by luck. Now, they aren't like the WCAC and try to have championship teams in every sport.

Sidwell isn't really all that different. They try to be competitive across the DMV in basketball and tennis...but they aren't really recruiting much in football or baseball or many other sports where they field middle of the pack teams even in just their own conference.

In the case of volleyball, it's more that the program attracts girls who want to be in a strong program. That's different than recruiting.

It doesn't work that way. You don't consistently have top teams in the DMV without a coach who understands the talent at the 7th/8th grade level and reached out to that talent. There are plenty of options at other schools that also produce top teams, so you don't win the student by chance. The GDS coach also coaches at one of the top DMV Club teams...that's not a coincidence either.

GDS didn't use to be tops in volleyball...they decided to become tops and recruited to make it happen.

Sidwell doesn't just hope to get lucky in basketball. The coach also coaches top AAU teams and recruits players to Sidwell.

GDS isn't offering aid, though, and other schools do. That's the difference. GDS is attracting top talent because they now have a good program that girls want to join. Plus, coaches are not allowed to contact players. Players must contact coaches first if they are interested in a particular school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vastly different philosophies and sports abilities. So what are you actually comparong?

Do you know what the word “vastly” means?

They are different, yes. They are not “vastly” different.

I beg to differ. No one’s recruiting for sports from Gds.

Huh, what? GDS didn't have the best volleyball team in the DMV area by luck. Now, they aren't like the WCAC and try to have championship teams in every sport.

Sidwell isn't really all that different. They try to be competitive across the DMV in basketball and tennis...but they aren't really recruiting much in football or baseball or many other sports where they field middle of the pack teams even in just their own conference.

In the case of volleyball, it's more that the program attracts girls who want to be in a strong program. That's different than recruiting.

It doesn't work that way. You don't consistently have top teams in the DMV without a coach who understands the talent at the 7th/8th grade level and reached out to that talent. There are plenty of options at other schools that also produce top teams, so you don't win the student by chance. The GDS coach also coaches at one of the top DMV Club teams...that's not a coincidence either.

GDS didn't use to be tops in volleyball...they decided to become tops and recruited to make it happen.

Sidwell doesn't just hope to get lucky in basketball. The coach also coaches top AAU teams and recruits players to Sidwell.

GDS isn't offering aid, though, and other schools do. That's the difference. GDS is attracting top talent because they now have a good program that girls want to join. Plus, coaches are not allowed to contact players. Players must contact coaches first if they are interested in a particular school.

I don’t think any of the local privates…including WCAC schools…offer sports scholarships if that’s what you mean.

It’s all need-based aid, even for athletes.

Also, if you play in the club team with the GDS coach, then you are talking with the coach all the time.

I will repeat…no school has the top team in the DMV in basically any sport without recruiting. L

[Anonymous]

What's your view of each, OP?

[Anonymous]

For what it's worth went to GDS a loooonnngg time ago and they were competitive/strong at volleyball then. Hard to make JV or varsity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:we like GDS bc it seems more friendly and happy. They try to mix joy with intense academics. That's the high school though. they both seem to have lovely elementary schools. I don't know much about Sidwell middle school but hard to imagine it does as little to prepare its kids for high school as is the case at GDS.

Then why comment? I could make the exact same statement as you, but reverse the school names. Our kids have really enjoyed Sidwell and were well prepared for high school and what came since. They are/were lifers so went to all of the divisions and were well prepared by the Middle School faculty and curriculum.

My point was the GDS middle school does not prepare its students for the high school. Very few people have kids at both these schools so can’t truly comment on both w in-depth knowledge. I have only direct experience w GDS but have lots of friends with kids at sidwell. From that, if I were doing it again, I’d pick gds as I think high school is great academically and the kids seem happier. but the gds middle school is a weak spot right now for what that’s worth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Choose GDS if you want to pay the same amount as Sidwell for much worse college outcomes and a school with zero identity (other than being too lazy to offer lunch despite shelling out on a new building).

Choose sidwell if you want to go to school with a bunch of parents/students are so grindy that they have to set explicit rules about not stalking college counselors in the parking lot and are so pleased as punch about their identity being that Obama’s kids went

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Choose GDS if you want to pay the same amount as Sidwell for much worse college outcomes and a school with zero identity (other than being too lazy to offer lunch despite shelling out on a new building).

Choose sidwell if you want to go to school with a bunch of parents/students are so grindy that they have to set explicit rules about not stalking college counselors in the parking lot and are so pleased as punch about their identity being that Obama’s kids went

False. Our grindy identity also includes the fact that the following Presidents and VP’s children (and grandchildren) attended Sidwell:

President Theodore Roosevelt's son;
President Richard Nixon's daughters;
President Bill Clinton's daughter;
President Barack Obama's daughters;
President/VP Joe Biden's grandchildren; and
VP Al Gore's son and grandson.

We’re grindy AND our identity involves a lot more Presidential/VP kids (but Obama is my fave). Y’all hate us because you ain’t us. 😝

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Choose GDS if you want to pay the same amount as Sidwell for much worse college outcomes and a school with zero identity (other than being too lazy to offer lunch despite shelling out on a new building).

Choose sidwell if you want to go to school with a bunch of parents/students are so grindy that they have to set explicit rules about not stalking college counselors in the parking lot and are so pleased as punch about their identity being that Obama’s kids went

False. Our grindy identity also includes the fact that the following Presidents and VP’s children (and grandchildren) attended Sidwell:

President Theodore Roosevelt's son;
President Richard Nixon's daughters;
President Bill Clinton's daughter;
President Barack Obama's daughters;
President/VP Joe Biden's grandchildren; and
VP Al Gore's son and grandson.

We’re grindy AND our identity involves a lot more Presidential/VP kids (but Obama is my fave). Y’all hate us because you ain’t us. 😝

Wonderful entitlement! Good champions of public education here!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Choose GDS if you want to pay the same amount as Sidwell for much worse college outcomes and a school with zero identity (other than being too lazy to offer lunch despite shelling out on a new building).

Choose sidwell if you want to go to school with a bunch of parents/students are so grindy that they have to set explicit rules about not stalking college counselors in the parking lot and are so pleased as punch about their identity being that Obama’s kids went

False. Our grindy identity also includes the fact that the following Presidents and VP’s children (and grandchildren) attended Sidwell:

President Theodore Roosevelt's son;
President Richard Nixon's daughters;
President Bill Clinton's daughter;
President Barack Obama's daughters;
President/VP Joe Biden's grandchildren; and
VP Al Gore's son and grandson.

We’re grindy AND our identity involves a lot more Presidential/VP kids (but Obama is my fave). Y’all hate us because you ain’t us. 😝

Wonderful entitlement! Good champions of public education here!

And the outcome of this thread is that the OP is applying her child to Maret.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:we like GDS bc it seems more friendly and happy. They try to mix joy with intense academics. That's the high school though. they both seem to have lovely elementary schools. I don't know much about Sidwell middle school but hard to imagine it does as little to prepare its kids for high school as is the case at GDS.

Then why comment? I could make the exact same statement as you, but reverse the school names. Our kids have really enjoyed Sidwell and were well prepared for high school and what came since. They are/were lifers so went to all of the divisions and were well prepared by the Middle School faculty and curriculum.

My point was the GDS middle school does not prepare its students for the high school. Very few people have kids at both these schools so can’t truly comment on both w in-depth knowledge. I have only direct experience w GDS but have lots of friends with kids at sidwell. From that, if I were doing it again, I’d pick gds as I think high school is great academically and the kids seem happier. but the gds middle school is a weak spot right now for what that’s worth.

Given you said the middle school is a weak point, is it easier to get into GDS high school from another independent school (not K-8), another K-12 or 4-12 like Maret or NCS or Holton?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:we like GDS bc it seems more friendly and happy. They try to mix joy with intense academics. That's the high school though. they both seem to have lovely elementary schools. I don't know much about Sidwell middle school but hard to imagine it does as little to prepare its kids for high school as is the case at GDS.

Then why comment? I could make the exact same statement as you, but reverse the school names. Our kids have really enjoyed Sidwell and were well prepared for high school and what came since. They are/were lifers so went to all of the divisions and were well prepared by the Middle School faculty and curriculum.

My point was the GDS middle school does not prepare its students for the high school. Very few people have kids at both these schools so can’t truly comment on both w in-depth knowledge. I have only direct experience w GDS but have lots of friends with kids at sidwell. From that, if I were doing it again, I’d pick gds as I think high school is great academically and the kids seem happier. but the gds middle school is a weak spot right now for what that’s worth.

Given you said the middle school is a weak point, is it easier to get into GDS high school from another independent school (not K-8), another K-12 or 4-12 like Maret or NCS or Holton?

Not necessarily. All depends on grades, test scores and teacher recs.