When did GDS become so well regarded?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with these thoughts except that for some reason, many people I know seem to exclude Sidwell from category 1. It’s almost as if the “cache” of the school causes them to justify why the Quaker aspects of Sidwell are not religious in nature.

"That of God in everyone" isn't religious?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, there is the moderately-sized asterisk that families who 1. seek to avoid any Christian theology-based school, no matter how "lite" and 2. want an excellent education will put GDS at the top of the list. That's still very much the case, based on my anecdata of atheist and observant Jewish good friends with kids at GDS. For some of these friends, even mandatory Quaker meeting for worship or non-denominational & Christian chapel requirements were too much. i.e., NCS, Sidwell, St. Andrews.

For this crew, the pool consists of GDS, Sheridan, Lowell, Burke, and a couple of other schools.

I agree with these thoughts except that for some reason, many people I know seem to exclude Sidwell from category 1. It’s almost as if the “cache” of the school causes them to justify why the Quaker aspects of Sidwell are not religious in nature. I hear many people do this with Norwood, too, which to my understanding still has a weekly chapel requirement.

Norwood's daily chapel is not religious in nature. Originally Episcopal, the school is now secular.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with these thoughts except that for some reason, many people I know seem to exclude Sidwell from category 1. It’s almost as if the “cache” of the school causes them to justify why the Quaker aspects of Sidwell are not religious in nature.

"That of God in everyone" isn't religious?

That was PP's point--that it is, but some people overlook that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Y'all sound jealous.

Jealous of what? I don’t have kids in private. This title popped up in recent topics and caught my eye because I grew up here and I agree. What would I be jealous of? Just stating a fact. GDS was a meh school in the 80s and 90s. You sound defensive.

hmmm, I was a mid 80s GDS grad and went to an Ivy, as did about 10 of the 80 kids in my class. Where did this idea that it wasn't a top school then come from?

Just speculating, but perhaps the perception in the eyes of some as to the eliteness of the school grew out of the perception that the student body differed in some ways from that of, for example, St. Albans (i.e., more jewish and not as white). Or, put another way, because there were then and remain now, plenty of anti-semites and racists who refuse to believe that a diverse institution is elite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the 80s and early 90s GDS was the school where liberal, Jewish intellectuals sent their kids. WASPY types never considered it because of that. Slowly I think folks started to realize that the kids were getting a great education there and what had been a mostly Jewish school (albeit very reform/progressive) started to change demographically. Also GDS had a reputation for being integrated early on and DC was a VERY segregated city so that probably held its reputation down in certain circles

Totally agree with this. All of the Jewish lawyers I know sent their kids there back then. Then, once it became known that kids got into Ivies...the more WASPY types thought it was ok.

I agree too. I also recall from colleagues in the early 90s that the perception was that GDS was starting to get non-hooked kids into Ivies and SLACs. I may be wrong because I didn't have kids then. I do have a 9th grader who just started in GDS upper school and I don't think this perception continues now.

Well, there is the moderately-sized asterisk that families who 1. seek to avoid any Christian theology-based school, no matter how "lite" and 2. want an excellent education will put GDS at the top of the list. That's still very much the case, based on my anecdata of atheist and observant Jewish good friends with kids at GDS. For some of these friends, even mandatory Quaker meeting for worship or non-denominational & Christian chapel requirements were too much. i.e., NCS, Sidwell, St. Andrews.

For this crew, the pool consists of GDS, Sheridan, Lowell, Burke, and a couple of other schools.

I agree with these thoughts except that for some reason, many people I know seem to exclude Sidwell from category 1. It’s almost as if the “cache” of the school causes them to justify why the Quaker aspects of Sidwell are not religious in nature. I hear many people do this with Norwood, too, which to my understanding still has a weekly chapel requirement.

The funny thing is that GDS is more clearly religious (Jewish) than some of those other (culturally Christian) schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the 80s and early 90s GDS was the school where liberal, Jewish intellectuals sent their kids. WASPY types never considered it because of that. Slowly I think folks started to realize that the kids were getting a great education there and what had been a mostly Jewish school (albeit very reform/progressive) started to change demographically. Also GDS had a reputation for being integrated early on and DC was a VERY segregated city so that probably held its reputation down in certain circles

Totally agree with this. All of the Jewish lawyers I know sent their kids there back then. Then, once it became known that kids got into Ivies...the more WASPY types thought it was ok.

I agree too. I also recall from colleagues in the early 90s that the perception was that GDS was starting to get non-hooked kids into Ivies and SLACs. I may be wrong because I didn't have kids then. I do have a 9th grader who just started in GDS upper school and I don't think this perception continues now.

Well, there is the moderately-sized asterisk that families who 1. seek to avoid any Christian theology-based school, no matter how "lite" and 2. want an excellent education will put GDS at the top of the list. That's still very much the case, based on my anecdata of atheist and observant Jewish good friends with kids at GDS. For some of these friends, even mandatory Quaker meeting for worship or non-denominational & Christian chapel requirements were too much. i.e., NCS, Sidwell, St. Andrews.

For this crew, the pool consists of GDS, Sheridan, Lowell, Burke, and a couple of other schools.

I agree with these thoughts except that for some reason, many people I know seem to exclude Sidwell from category 1. It’s almost as if the “cache” of the school causes them to justify why the Quaker aspects of Sidwell are not religious in nature. I hear many people do this with Norwood, too, which to my understanding still has a weekly chapel requirement.

The funny thing is that GDS is more clearly religious (Jewish) than some of those other (culturally Christian) schools.

Are you confused? GDS is a secular school. The students are a mixture of Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, atheist, agnostic, etc. There is no religious service of any kind at the school. The students do, however, learn about and participate in various religious celebrations with the intent of creating religiously literature citizens who are able to appreciate different religious traditions.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know the percentage of Jewish students at GDS? It can't possibly be anywhere near 50 percent.

[Anonymous]

Who cares what the percentage is of Jewish students at GDS? If that is an issue for you, don't apply. They'll be happy to not to have you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up here in the 80s and it was considered a school where kids went that didn't "get in" - things have changed - what happened and when?

Another negative thread about GDS? My children attend another big three but I don’t understand these negative posts about genius. Is it the same poster or same few posters?

GDS typo

A Freudian slip?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who cares what the percentage is of Jewish students at GDS? If that is an issue for you, don't apply. They'll be happy to not to have you.

I was asking because PP’s assertion that GDS was “more religious” seemed bonkers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the 80s and early 90s GDS was the school where liberal, Jewish intellectuals sent their kids. WASPY types never considered it because of that. Slowly I think folks started to realize that the kids were getting a great education there and what had been a mostly Jewish school (albeit very reform/progressive) started to change demographically. Also GDS had a reputation for being integrated early on and DC was a VERY segregated city so that probably held its reputation down in certain circles

H
Totally agree with this. All of the Jewish lawyers I know sent their kids there back then. Then, once it became known that kids got into Ivies...the more WASPY types thought it was ok.

I agree too. I also recall from colleagues in the early 90s that the perception was that GDS was starting to get non-hooked kids into Ivies and SLACs. I may be wrong because I didn't have kids then. I do have a 9th grader who just started in GDS upper school and I don't think this perception continues now.

Well, there is the moderately-sized asterisk that families who 1. seek to avoid any Christian theology-based school, no matter how "lite" and 2. want an excellent education will put GDS at the top of the list. That's still very much the case, based on my anecdata of atheist and observant Jewish good friends with kids at GDS. For some of these friends, even mandatory Quaker meeting for worship or non-denominational & Christian chapel requirements were too much. i.e., NCS, Sidwell, St. Andrews.

For this crew, the pool consists of GDS, Sheridan, Lowell, Burke, and a couple of other schools.

And Bullis. It's not the 1980s, the school is vastly different now. Also quite a lot of Jews sending their kids there.

Yes, Bullis has a large Jewish population. It’s becoming a prominent group at the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, there is the moderately-sized asterisk that families who 1. seek to avoid any Christian theology-based school, no matter how "lite" and 2. want an excellent education will put GDS at the top of the list. That's still very much the case, based on my anecdata of atheist and observant Jewish good friends with kids at GDS. For some of these friends, even mandatory Quaker meeting for worship or non-denominational & Christian chapel requirements were too much. i.e., NCS, Sidwell, St. Andrews.

For this crew, the pool consists of GDS, Sheridan, Lowell, Burke, and a couple of other schools.

Interesting observation, and while I don't disagree that many people may feel that way, I will note that I'm an atheist whose daughter attends NCS. I was a little nervous at first, but on the first parent night, the chaplain spoke to parents and made clear that her role welcomed families of all faiths or lack thereof. I know another atheist whose DS goes to St. Andrews, and they've also been welcomed and feel totally comfortable. I'm pretty certain I'd be comfortable at SFS as well. The Episcopal and Quaker traditions/communities seem very inclusive in my experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who cares what the percentage is of Jewish students at GDS? If that is an issue for you, don't apply. They'll be happy to not to have you.

Funny. Christian and Catholic schools are much more open and diverse than this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who cares what the percentage is of Jewish students at GDS? If that is an issue for you, don't apply. They'll be happy to not to have you.

Funny. Christian and Catholic schools are much more open and diverse than this.

What nonsense is this?

[Anonymous]

There are multiple posts on here, I suspect by the same person, and that person is either a pot-stirrer (best case) or anti-semite.