Just how different are Sidwell and GDS?

[Anonymous]

Really need help on this one for highschool. Other than no lunch at GDS and Sidwell being Quaker, what are the real differences in terms of the student population, learning environment, community?

[Anonymous]

Tidwell can be really tough on kids, GDS is tough, but not as tough. It depends on which environment you want. GDS is a little more relaxed but Sidwell is better for certain kids.

[Anonymous]

Sidwell*

[Anonymous]

I'm interested in this, too, as we will be looking next year.

Is it true that GDS is a lot more liberal than Sidwell? I had always heard and assumed this and had thus eliminated GDS from consideration as I thought it was too far out there for our family. But I went to an admissions event at Sidwell this year just for information and loved it. Felt right at home with everything I saw and hear. Wondering if I should put GDS back into the mix as well.

[Anonymous]

We had one DD at both schools, really much more similar than different. Let your kid decide, based on how each school feels to him/her, it is HS after all and these are both fantastic schools so there is no "wrong" decision. And if you you push your kid one way or the other, that could backfire in terms of your relationship. Academically we found them basically identical, and we got excellent college counseling at both schools (we were lucky at Sidwell to have a strong part-time counselor/teacher who knew our DD well, others weren't so lucky but I hear they hired new people). Visual arts/theater much much stronger at GDS, some sports much stronger at Sidwell (but a few very strong at GDS notably track). The administration at Sidwell was never our favorite, the heads of HS a series of problems, but the current head was a teacher/dean who was quite well liked by students and families. Love the GDS HS head. Really did not find GDS substantively politically different than Sidwell-both heavily liberal/Democratic but strong student conservative voices are respected and active. Anyway, have your kid visit both schools again, without you, with a current student, and then let the kid decide.

[Anonymous]

Experience at both schools. The most obvious difference is the campus. Sidwell's is just better, no debate there. GDS has a much stronger arts program and generally is more supportive of creative kids. Sidwell is much more regimented and holds all kids up to high standards. (This does create problems for some kids) At GDS, slower learners or a kid less talented in a particular subject will face a more forgiving atmosphere. In my personal experience, it meant my kid did what he could to get by. Sidwell is higher pressure but more organized as an institution. GDS parents tend to have a lot more influence - naturally because the school was founded by parents. Sidwell athletics facilities and coaching generally better with exceptions. I lean toward Sidwell in my cirucmstances. Kids who have moved from one school to the other do fine at both.

[Anonymous]

PP here. These last posts are so helpful, thank you.

[Anonymous]

The cultures are different enough that my GDS high schooler was adamantly opposed to Sidwell when applying to high school. DC would not abide going to chapel/meeting. My DC would say that Sidwell is strongly preferred by students with conventional elite goals - McKinsey/Bain, finance, big law. While most GDS students will end up in the same place, there more who aspire to taking a less worn path out of the Ivies.

From a grownup/parent perspective, the differences felt pretty small and unlike some of the other posters, I do not think you can go really wrong with either school (or StA/NCS for that matter). Both schools have excellent teachers, strong curricula, and many opportunities to be positively engaged with other students and adults. The academic standards are equally exacting. As a rule, I always suggest that other parents follow their gut and if your gut says GDS is too liberal, don't send your child there. Just remember that it is your child going to school and their preference should probably take priority for high school.

[Anonymous]

GDS has a fantastic college placement record, including at Top Ivys.

[Anonymous]

The problem with this question is that aside from hearsay and speculation, very few families have experience with both.
To get a true sense of the differences, visit the schools and sit in on classes if they'll allow it. Go to school functions and meet the families.

I have a child at one of these two schools and I find that the anonymous community on dcum is unreliable and pretty hostile towards many of the sought after privates in dc.

[Anonymous]

GDS has a fantastic college placement record, including at Top Ivy's''

GDS is clearly the more insecure school

[Anonymous]

I think they are pretty different schools. You need to visit, you need to get in to both, you need to write back when you have specific questions.

[Anonymous]

Suppose you are Jewish, or for that matter not Jewish, would you feel more comfortable at one school or the other?

[Anonymous]

That's a crazy question. For mainstream reform Jews, both schools are fine although GDS has a larger Jewish population than GDS. Sidwell is Quaker and GDS is nondenominational. If you have a very strong Jewish identity GDS might be a better fit. If you are ardently pro- Israel, GDS is going to be a better fit. This all assumes you can't separate your religious and cultural life from your kids' educational needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's a crazy question. For mainstream reform Jews, both schools are fine although GDS has a larger Jewish population than GDS. Sidwell is Quaker and GDS is nondenominational. If you have a very strong Jewish identity GDS might be a better fit. If you are ardently pro- Israel, GDS is going to be a better fit. This all assumes you can't separate your religious and cultural life from your kids' educational needs.

Good lord. My point was made by this post. Crazy people just run wild on this website.