Sidwell K: class size & schedule

[Anonymous]

No, in fact Sidwell's questionnaire is now online.

I strongly disagree with the rejection comment. Sidwell is the ONLY school around to honestly reject most of their applicants. From personal experience, anecdotal from friends and colleagues, and from this board, Maret, GDS and to a great extent Beauvoir waitlists practically every applicant they do not outright accept.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, in fact Sidwell's questionnaire is now online.

I strongly disagree with the rejection comment. Sidwell is the ONLY school around to honestly reject most of their applicants. From personal experience, anecdotal from friends and colleagues, and from this board, Maret, GDS and to a great extent Beauvoir waitlists practically every applicant they do not outright accept.

I know lots of people waitlisted at Sidwell, and only one actual rejection (no, not us, before you ask). However I don't know any actual rejections at Beauvoir, Maret or GDS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are at another big-3 school.

Well, that was highly relevant information.

Actually, yes. FWIW you know where I was coming from. One of the disadvantages of an anonymous thread is that you have no idea who is posting --- a school insider, someone what has not been through the application process, or someone who is completely clueless.

[Anonymous]

Sidwell makes new families a priority, and this is reflected in the make-up and admissions numbers. They do not fill their classes with all-priority students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know lots of people waitlisted at Sidwell, and only one actual rejection (no, not us, before you ask). However I don't know any actual rejections at Beauvoir, Maret or GDS.

Word is that Sidwell's wait pool is very small--I've heard under 10. But I know three families with children of the same gender who were waitlisted for the same grade last year. Assuming all three families are telling the truth, it seems to me this would be unlikely if the number waitlisted were truly so small.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell makes new families a priority, and this is reflected in the make-up and admissions numbers. They do not fill their classes with all-priority students.

Any idea how many new non-priority (non VIP, Quaker, alum, sibling, diversity, teacher) families they took into PK last year?

[Anonymous]

Another issue is whether or not the waitlist moves. I know two kids who moved off the NCS waitlist, but nobody who moved off Sidwell's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Frankly, the message they send, perhaps unintentionally, is that their reputation is so good that they can just coast.

Also reflected, I think, in some seemingly out-of-touch statements, such as the touting of the 12:1 student-teacher ratio in classrooms. (This was for K.) Compared to other area schools, that's nothing to write home about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell makes new families a priority, and this is reflected in the make-up and admissions numbers. They do not fill their classes with all-priority students.

Any idea how many new non-priority (non VIP, Quaker, alum, sibling, diversity, teacher) families they took into PK last year?

It is traditionally about half, but that probably fluctuates from year to year. Also, "VIP" is not a priority for Sidwell, contrary to popular belief.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, in fact Sidwell's questionnaire is now online.

I strongly disagree with the rejection comment. Sidwell is the ONLY school around to honestly reject most of their applicants. From personal experience, anecdotal from friends and colleagues, and from this board, Maret, GDS and to a great extent Beauvoir waitlists practically every applicant they do not outright accept.

Not true, St Patrick's rejects many applicants, only a few are placed on the waitlist and St Patrick's certainly belongs in any discussion on "top" schools, both academically and socially, in Washington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Also, "VIP" is not a priority for Sidwell, contrary to popular belief.

Hmm, then I really can't understand how one kid I know got in. Must have been an administrative error.