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2009 Private School Admission Results - Share them as you get them!
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Anonymous
11:54 here. My understanding was that at pK/K they are trying to shape a balanced class of "legacies" and new blood. By Middle School, when the class is much larger, the proportions don't matter as much. In addition, the ratio of applicants:spaces is perhaps lower in the upper grades. |
Anonymous
| A different, new poster Sidwell alum here .... we were also told a few years ago that preK/K is a much more difficult entry point than later entry points for our alum offspring. |
Anonymous
| what year did your children start Sidwell? |
Anonymous
I'm wondering if any of these Sidwell alums that took this advice had had any luck getting ther kids in to the Middle School? If so, where are their kids in terms of academic readiness compared with children who started in Pre-K/K at Sidwell. Does anyone on this board who is alum have any experience with luck in this area? Not to take anything away from the outstanding Public Schools in MD and VA, but I personally find it bothersome that the Sidwell would outright suggest that alums send their kids to a good local public school until middle school where their odds of acceptance are better, as opposed to encourage them to apply although they may not get in at first and also recommend applying to other private schools that focus on early childhood education. Seems to conflict with the whole philosophy behind why we're spending all this money investing in our children's future by sending them to private school at such a young age. The premise being hopefully we are providing them a solid foundation both academically and emotionally which will make them stronger candidates and give them a better chance at success in both middle school, upper school and life for that matter. To me it sounds like the admission team doesn't want to have deal with legacies and this is an easy way out. If you think about what the admissions team is REALLY saying assuming they mean what they say (and I doubt they do), then basically the Sidwell Lower School offers no better an education than that offered at your local public school. This all goes back to the fact that at Sidwell, it is the Upper School that stands out. As for the Lower School, not so much. |
Anonymous
I posted this a little while ago in answer to the post above; however, I realize now I quoted the wrong post. Sorry for any confusion. This is my response to the post above. I'm wondering if any of these Sidwell alums that took this advice had had any luck getting ther kids in to the Middle School? If so, where are their kids in terms of academic readiness compared with children who started in Pre-K/K at Sidwell. Does anyone on this board who is alum have any experience with luck in this area? Not to take anything away from the outstanding Public Schools in MD and VA, but I personally find it bothersome that the Sidwell's Head of School would outright suggest that alums send their kids to a good local public school until middle school where their odds of acceptance are better, as opposed to encourage them to apply although they may not get in at first and also recommend applying to other private schools that focus on early childhood education. Seems to conflict with the whole philosophy behind why we're spending all this money investing in our children's future by sending them to private school at such a young age. The premise being hopefully we are providing them a solid foundation both academically and emotionally which will make them stronger candidates and give them a better chance at success in both middle school, upper school and life for that matter. To me it sounds it is an easy way out for Sidwell. If you think about what the Head of School is REALLY saying assuming he means what he say (and I doubt he does), then basically the Sidwell Lower School offers no better an education than that offered at your local public school. This all goes back to the fact that at Sidwell, it is the Upper School that stands out. As for the Lower School, not so much. |
Anonymous
| I think it is a good way of managing expectations when there are 80 priority applicants for 30 PK and K slots. |
Anonymous
| Maybe I'm missing something, but how are non-wealthy people not applying for FA at these schools? (mostly based on details given on pages 15-20ish) |
Anonymous
| I thought this thread was about where children were accpeted, waitlisted, etc? |
Anonymous
I know. It's gotten way off topic. Wish they'd start another thread. |
Anonymous
|
DC
Pre-K GDS |
Anonymous
For some of the privates that end at 6th or 8th grade, the head of school & assistants will go around to the private upper schools and discuss (they call it "selling") your kid and your family. I know this for a fact because at our school the administration talks about it openly like it's a good thing. They claim they will never diss a kid -- I don't know about this but obviously I haven't been in on these meetings. It may be more like the degree of enthusiasm they show for some kids over others. I also suspect they also talk about contributions your family is making to the current school, either material or non-material, but I can't prove this either. |
Anonymous
Happy to talk if you want - I live in Bethesda and we have been commuting to CHDS for 12 years. It's been worth it. |
Anonymous
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Anonymous
Congrats! Just for curiosty, does your pre-k child have a sibling or child of alum or staff? reason I ask is that I heard last year and this, the pre-K was predominately that. most others were waitlisted. |
Anonymous
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heard this year for K many sibs, very vague info from this school
starting to realize that the #'s just make it that 10% of our DC's will ever get in to any big 3!! |