Looking for an honest assessment of GDS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The extent to which GDS supporters go to obscure the reality of their school is baffling. GDS is a fine school that fills a unique niche in the Washington, DC private school landscape. GDS is NOT similar to STA – STA is a somewhat tradition bound an all-boys school with a long history in DC. GDS is a comparatively new school founded by Jewish and Black families who were being excluded from the schools such as STA. GDS has always been a VERY progressive/liberal school that draws its students from NW and the near in suburbs – it fits its community perfectly. STA is a world renowned destination school. Beyond that false comparison, there is the reticence here to acknowledge the ethnic character of the school that GDS itself considers a badge of honor. There also seems to be a reticence to admit to the artsy/hipster character of the students that is comparable to Maret, not STA.

The GDS supporters here do their school a disservice. The students at GDS are very bright and if my son were a highly intelligent, secular somewhat reserved “hipster” (non-athletic) type student, I’d want to know that there was a place for him.

I believe PPs would agree with the history of the school; however, if you have any familiarity with the LS today (not ten, or even five years ago), it is clear that the student body is no longer and will no longer be predominantly Jewish. Also, I would quite confidently claim that most of the black and Asian students are not Jewish, though some from mixed backgrounds are. Only about half of the "white" kids are Jewish, ie, one-sixth of the class. It's still a larger representation than the Jewish population generally, though.

[Anonymous]

GDS parents, do you think non-Jewish kids feel "left out"? Is middle school social life bar mitzvah dominated? I guess that would be my only worry, though I am probably just projecting (non-Jewish kid who went from a heavily Catholic elementary school to an heavily Jewish Jr High in 7th grade and got invited to virtually no bar mitzvahs, sniff sniff.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GDS parents, do you think non-Jewish kids feel "left out"? Is middle school social life bar mitzvah dominated? I guess that would be my only worry, though I am probably just projecting (non-Jewish kid who went from a heavily Catholic elementary school to an heavily Jewish Jr High in 7th grade and got invited to virtually no bar mitzvahs, sniff sniff.)

My non-Jewish kid has never felt left out. I think that the Bar/Bat Mitzvah invites tended to be even more inclusive than typical birthdays. And no offense taken if your kid turns most down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I believe PPs would agree with the history of the school; however, if you have any familiarity with the LS today (not ten, or even five years ago), it is clear that the student body is no longer and will no longer be predominantly Jewish. Also, I would quite confidently claim that most of the black and Asian students are not Jewish, though some from mixed backgrounds are. Only about half of the "white" kids are Jewish, ie, one-sixth of the class. It's still a larger representation than the Jewish population generally, though.

We've been around for more than 10 years and I don't agree with this account of the changes over that period. That said, the diversity/composition of the classes does change with grades/admissions years -- e.g. PreK/K is very diverse (because there are so few slots and diversity is a priority). And the HS has a different mix than the L/MS (much larger, different principles of selection, different pool). Another complicating factor is the composition of the Board, which does not seem diverse or representative at all.

To the extent that there has been a change over time, my perception is that the school's becoming less lefty and less nerdy. Money, sports, and PR are starting to matter much more than they did when my DC first enrolled.