Sidwell - why don't many families in nw dc apply to sidwell, even though it is one of the top 2?

[Anonymous]

Let's face it, DC private schools don't have the best athletics, especially for boys. My theory is that it's because most upper middle class males in DC weren't and aren't very good athletes -- they're more of the student council/debate team type (believe me, I'm a lawyer and I work with tons of them). And academic/intellectual achievement isn't seen as compatible with being athletic, even though that's BS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let's face it, DC private schools don't have the best athletics, especially for boys. My theory is that it's because most upper middle class males in DC weren't and aren't very good athletes -- they're more of the student council/debate team type (believe me, I'm a lawyer and I work with tons of them). And academic/intellectual achievement isn't seen as compatible with being athletic, even though that's BS.

STA has students from a wide range of income brackets and locations. It also has a dorm. Boys and parents [of all political persuasions] are attracted to it because the school does offer a blend of rigor in academics , arts, and athletics.

[Anonymous]

If anyone thinks sending their kid to STA, Landon or Sidwell for high quality athletics (other than perhaps Lacrosse) is deluding themselves.

Definition of High Quality: superior national standing for Division 1 NCAA athletes.

Sure, St Albans had Nick Lowry and Jonathan Ogden go to the NFL, and there have been a handful of Div 1 soccer and basketball players from StA, Landon, Sidwell, Maret etc, but really, if you are looking for that kind of athletic program on a national scale, the DC privates will not be for you in general.

Ed Tapscott, the coach of the Wizards, is a Sidwell Alum for what it is worth.

[Anonymous]

I should add that a school like DeMatha has a much wider national reputation for basketball and football. I am not sure if much in this area comes close.

[Anonymous]

To all the eerily sports savvy parents posting here: how old are your children?

If they're in early grade school, I am curious as to why the sport potential of a school @ 11th/varsity grade is so important to you at this time?

Disclosure: I am a big jock from a family of jocks, college scholarship jocks even, so I get it. I do. Dad was a pro baseball player even.

But it seems a little weird for parents of what I strongly suspect are 4 year olds plotting their preschoolers athletic career. It's like the parents of girls who show facility with counting change @ 4 to be comparing the merits of U. of Chicago vs. the London School of Economics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To all the eerily sports savvy parents posting here: how old are your children?

If they're in early grade school, I am curious as to why the sport potential of a school @ 11th/varsity grade is so important to you at this time?

Disclosure: I am a big jock from a family of jocks, college scholarship jocks even, so I get it. I do. Dad was a pro baseball player even.

But it seems a little weird for parents of what I strongly suspect are 4 year olds plotting their preschoolers athletic career. It's like the parents of girls who show facility with counting change @ 4 to be comparing the merits of U. of Chicago vs. the London School of Economics.

My youngest son is in high school which is why I supplied the DCsportsfan.com info.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To all the eerily sports savvy parents posting here: how old are your children?

If they're in early grade school, I am curious as to why the sport potential of a school @ 11th/varsity grade is so important to you at this time?

Disclosure: I am a big jock from a family of jocks, college scholarship jocks even, so I get it. I do. Dad was a pro baseball player even.

But it seems a little weird for parents of what I strongly suspect are 4 year olds plotting their preschoolers athletic career. It's like the parents of girls who show facility with counting change @ 4 to be comparing the merits of U. of Chicago vs. the London School of Economics.

Well not all of us have PKers. DS is almost 8 and has already shown athletic apptitude in lacrosse (plays on two teams - one invitational) soccer (Stoddert) basketball and football (rec league for young'uns) and excels relative to others his age at so called "country club" sports such as tennis, swimming and diving (he could do a backwards dive at 6, DD 1st dove off board at 3). He is a good athlete and loves playing. DH was a college scholarship first string football player (Div II) as well as a generally good athlete in most all sports. Our parents and grandparents were all (well almost - not my geeky dad ) top notch highschool and college athletes including an All American Lax player from a LAX powerhouse. Its just something we see as important and our son loves. The team comraderie is definitely part of it for both kids. DD is a bit younger but has already shown extraordinary athletic ability too. And all that said, my son worships Jesse Hubbard.

[Anonymous]

I would agree, based on your description, that Landon. Prep or StA could be a good option for your DS. I do not think most kids have the pedigree or aptitude that your kid seems to display.

[Anonymous]

Sorry to go off thread here but I have been wondering more about G'Prep. I hear great things on these boards but we are not Catholic and don't know anyone who's kids went/go there. Would it be a poor choice for a non-Catholic and/or impossible to gain admission as a non-C?

[Anonymous]

So you drive for one year and then use the bus when s/he's in kindergarten. Not such a big deal really.

Unless your kid is the only Kindergartener on the bus. It's not like public school where all the kids take the bus. Most NWDC Lower School kids carpool. If you can't find one and your kid doesn't want to take the bus, it's a PITA. It also is hard to get up there for daytime school events if you work downtown.

[Anonymous]

I understand it's a hassle. We live in NWDC; DC goes to Norwood. Just saying there are options. Location in this case should not be an insuperable hurdle, IMHO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My point, which I readily concede was not one of earthshattering importance, was that if it's too far for you, fine, it's too far. But to cast this as an urban/suburban distinction is a little silly.

Edgemoor is more urban than Forest Hills

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My point, which I readily concede was not one of earthshattering importance, was that if it's too far for you, fine, it's too far. But to cast this as an urban/suburban distinction is a little silly.

Edgemoor is more urban than Forest Hills

true, very silly. i live in dc but find Bethesda more walkable than many parts of DC. clearly, for some, a DC address is vital though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:While most of my NW neighbors are liberal, there is a part of them that seeks and old school, stodgy, and yes conservative education. Call them hypocrites, limousine liberals, or WASP wannabes. Thus, the popularity of Beauvoir, St. Pats, NPS and the like.

It is hilarious that some parent or staffer from NPS or St. Patrick's is actually mention those 2 schools in the same breath as Beauvoir. Sidwell has plenty of old money WASPS. More jews of course b/c of aversion to mandatory chapel if you go on STA. I graduated Sidwell--my brother from STA. The second tier schools are just that. second tier. Stop these fake posts where people lump them with top tier schools and pretend they're something their not. I guess it makes it easier to sleep at night instead of facing the fact that your'e wasting 30gs at some middling school just so you don't have to be near a few jews, latinos and blacks *sigh*.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The lower school is a pain in the ass to get to if you live in the city. Sure, it's downtown Bethesda, but that's still a LONG way from cleveland park or even AU park for a daily commute, and then you have to drive all the way back into the city for work-- DURING RUSH HOUR!.

There is a bus from the DC campus.

It's also something like 3 blocks from the Metro.

It's Sidwell's bus service. It's door to door.

There really is such drivel on this board about Sidwell. Complete misinformation. The bus picks your child up at middle school--takes the to Edgemoor and brings them back to middle school. No door to door--not to you home anyway. PP who said Sidwell is a local school is partially correct--that has changed with Clinton notoriety. NCS, STA, Madeira have true national academic "prep reputations". That being said, Sidwell is on par with a Putney or Punahou (Honolulu, yes, that's why Obama chose Sidwell, most like his own prep) level of prep school. Whatever-this board is anonymous and you'll just disregard what I say here anyway--I speak the truth though