sibling policy

[Anonymous]

We are in the same boat in applying to a Cathedral school this year, except that the sibling is at another school on the Cathedral Close and admissions is said to be totally separate for all three schools on the Close. In our case, we are taking our chances by applying to just this one school because it is the only school that interests us. (We looked at and applied to GDS and Sidwell as safety schools, with the elder child.) If we do not get into this one school, we will attend our local public school, which is actually very good.

[Anonymous]

Here is what you don't understand 10:17 when you reject a sibling qualified or not you make the families life more difficult. Carpooling, afterschool events, it all becomes very difficult to manage. And resentment grows over time. You can be human and compassionate understand there is a real consequence for families or not care. You obviously do not care. Perhaps that attitude is what truly comes through after all.

I think this post brings up another interesting point. As PPs have pointed out, admissions is building a school community. They are not, and shouldn't be, in the business of making a family's carpooling lives easier. Accusing a school of not having compassion and or being inhuman for not taking your personal schedule into account when accepting students is incorrectly placing the responsibility of your life choices somewhere where it doesn't belong.

Don't resent the school if the commute is too difficult. Make a plan B that better suits your family's needs.

[Anonymous]

building a community includes families-no???

[Anonymous]

This matter came up with a group of friends recently. Many stories of siblings not being accepted and the general consensus was schools that practice this type of admissions were less desirable.

[Anonymous]

I think a school that accepts all or almost all siblings would not be desirable. Its student body would not be as diverse or capable as one would get at a top school.

[Anonymous]

I am scratching my head if we are talking nursery or pre k or even K--all kids are around the same at that point--sorry don't believe that some are just so amazing at that point. As for the diversity--not really interested in that--maybe it's because I am white but am sick of hearing/seeing white kids who get put out the door since they don't fit the "diversity" model. Think siblings/alumnae should matter--makes sense for keeping families together--schools ARE supposed to be communities. Older grades..yeah I do understand because there is a body of work and if kids are proven to have trouble keeping up..that's another story.

[Anonymous]

I disagree that all kids are the same at that age. We have three kids and they were definitely not the same. We chose different schools for them for that reason.

Sorry you can't appreciate why schools would opt for diversity when given a pool of equally qualified applicants. I don't think that perspective is because you are white as there are plenty of white people who don't share your perspective. Perhaps there is another reason of which you are unaware or unwilling to acknowledge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am scratching my head if we are talking nursery or pre k or even K--all kids are around the same at that point--sorry don't believe that some are just so amazing at that point. As for the diversity--not really interested in that--maybe it's because I am white but am sick of hearing/seeing white kids who get put out the door since they don't fit the "diversity" model. Think siblings/alumnae should matter--makes sense for keeping families together--schools ARE supposed to be communities. Older grades..yeah I do understand because there is a body of work and if kids are proven to have trouble keeping up..that's another story.

PLease tell me about one specific incident where a white child was "put out the door" because he was white. Do you mean not accepted? Nice to assume it was because of his race, but none of the top schools have AA kids in proportion to their percentage in the population.