How to position DCPS kids for private admission?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My nonathletic DCPS kids with As and Bs and high test scores got in everywhere we applied. I know that the school counselor noted how much the family showed up to school wide activities and how much the parents both volunteered. I have to think it was the last point that made them stand out? Who knows?

Did your kid who had As and Bs get into any of the BIG 3? Just curious about this since we're in the same situation. Thank you!

unless your kid is getting very high 90s across the board in DCPS you don't want a Big3 school. the work load is about 5 times that of DCPS and you'll end up with really crappy grades and horrible college admissions. Frankly, unless your kid is going to end up top10 in their class at the Big3 your college admissions will be better coming from DCPS.

We made this jump with kids who were 99% PARCC, 99% in all classes at a JKLM and then Deal and they're probably at the 80% of their classes at the Big3. first one is graduating this year and looking at the same colleges as DCPS classmates who did a tiny fraction of the work at Jackson Reed with far less stress.

[Anonymous]

Who (1) learned more at school and (2) was better prepared for college, the Big 3 student or the one "who did a tiny fraction of the work at Jackson Reed"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids got into all the schools we applied to, and we didn't do any of the stuff people are talking about on here. Grades were mixed, scores were high. Maybe our lack of striving was a breath of fresh air?

What schools were on your list?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had our oldest in DCPS Prek and moved to K because we had heard from others how tough it is to come from DCPS. We got our oldest into Beauvoir who pulled in younger siblings and now he is likely headed to STA. Many parents have the plan to wait until X grade to try for private - you should decide at what grade your bank account can stomach is and apply then, it gets more and more competitive every year. If our child had stayed at their very well regarded public school, he would not be headed to STA right now. Private school kids have an advantage in private school admissions.

How do you already know he was accepted if decisions haven't gone out yet?

We have kids at Beauvoir. There's a very strong signal from the school on your child's chances for STA and NCS admission. PP said earlier "likely headed". You definitely get a sense. My advice to PP is not to waste time with DCPS if Cathedral school admission is your goal - Beauvoir is the best way in. That's not to say otherwise is impossible but it's much much harder. It's not a guarantee but significantly ups your child's chances.

[Anonymous]

Be yourself, let your child be him or her self, and let the school clearly know if you have a preference on their school over others and why. Being able to articulate clearly and continually why this school is a good fit for your child -- which should come out in the essays and interviews -- does help. Our DD is a leader, is a fierce debater, and does not necessarily conform to her peers though she does follow rules and excels academically. We did not hide that when we applied and she figured out where she would or would not fit best and one school basically told us they did not perceive her as a good fit. I was not offended in the least nor was she. Good luck! It can be as stressful as a process as you choose to make it. Do what you can to get things done early but recognize this is not an exact science by any
means.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids got into all the schools we applied to, and we didn't do any of the stuff people are talking about on here. Grades were mixed, scores were high. Maybe our lack of striving was a breath of fresh air?

Yes, you don't have to out yourself but really curious what do you mean by mixed grades is that a mix of A's and B's and which schools (you can just list the schools you were accepted too but don't have to put your current school.

Just trying to see if there is reasonable hope. I know people who were legacies at Beauvoir yet their child got shut out of STA or NCS. Also, there are folks who got iced out and were waitlisted and ended up at a K-8 instead of a school that goes through 12. Just trying not top end up in that boat so it's helpful to have context.

[Anonymous]

My kid got into one of the top 3s from DCPS with As and Bs at 9th grade. We were up front that the kid had ADHD and grades were related to difficulty remembering to turn in assignments- so likely consistent with his teacher recommendations. He is very bright kid who teachers always wrote he was a pleasure to have in class, spent time teaching other kids in class who had difficulty understanding assignments/ likely also in Recs, was in school math competitions, did a sport at a high level,we think we probably got a recommendation from a family close friend who had lifers at the school. We were not asking for financial assistance and indicated we were only applying to that school. The child was going to stay in public if not accepted. He also wrote an email to make the point he would attend if accepted. Don’t know what helped. Expect the fact we were surprised the school said they expected we were going to apply to multiple schools at the interview and we said no may also have helped. Maybe the teacher recommendations were also tailored to that one school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid got into one of the top 3s from DCPS with As and Bs at 9th grade. We were up front that the kid had ADHD and grades were related to difficulty remembering to turn in assignments- so likely consistent with his teacher recommendations. He is very bright kid who teachers always wrote he was a pleasure to have in class, spent time teaching other kids in class who had difficulty understanding assignments/ likely also in Recs, was in school math competitions, did a sport at a high level,we think we probably got a recommendation from a family close friend who had lifers at the school. We were not asking for financial assistance and indicated we were only applying to that school. The child was going to stay in public if not accepted. He also wrote an email to make the point he would attend if accepted. Don’t know what helped. Expect the fact we were surprised the school said they expected we were going to apply to multiple schools at the interview and we said no may also have helped. Maybe the teacher recommendations were also tailored to that one school.

When you say A's and B's was there multiple A's and B or mostly A's and a B? Just trying to compare. Our kid has been has a B in Math and Science but A's in everything else so it's apparent he isn't a STEM kid, but has a sibling at a Big3. Not sure since it is just a bit nerve racking cause he's a smart kid and tests well, just needs to buckle down with STEM subjects. Okay, if anymore insight you can provide would be helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My nonathletic DCPS kids with As and Bs and high test scores got in everywhere we applied. I know that the school counselor noted how much the family showed up to school wide activities and how much the parents both volunteered. I have to think it was the last point that made them stand out? Who knows?

Did you apply to sidwell, STA, GDS?

No, kid only wanted to apply to one. No interest in applying to others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid got into one of the top 3s from DCPS with As and Bs at 9th grade. We were up front that the kid had ADHD and grades were related to difficulty remembering to turn in assignments- so likely consistent with his teacher recommendations. He is very bright kid who teachers always wrote he was a pleasure to have in class, spent time teaching other kids in class who had difficulty understanding assignments/ likely also in Recs, was in school math competitions, did a sport at a high level,we think we probably got a recommendation from a family close friend who had lifers at the school. We were not asking for financial assistance and indicated we were only applying to that school. The child was going to stay in public if not accepted. He also wrote an email to make the point he would attend if accepted. Don’t know what helped. Expect the fact we were surprised the school said they expected we were going to apply to multiple schools at the interview and we said no may also have helped. Maybe the teacher recommendations were also tailored to that one school.

When you say A's and B's was there multiple A's and B or mostly A's and a B? Just trying to compare. Our kid has been has a B in Math and Science but A's in everything else so it's apparent he isn't a STEM kid, but has a sibling at a Big3. Not sure since it is just a bit nerve racking cause he's a smart kid and tests well, just needs to buckle down with STEM subjects. Okay, if anymore insight you can provide would be helpful.

Mostly As, STEM kid, likely a B in English don’t remember how he did in History. My kid had very strong preferences about schools. I really encouraged him to consider other schools- including the other top 3. He absolutely refused. I think he knew kids at the various schools- these kids have been online forever - had lots of connections across schools. We have seen with our kids and our friends kids that the private schools fit some kids better than others. The grades were the grades- followed the kids lead. Probably lucked out, right. But did not let the grades dissuade us from applying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My nonathletic DCPS kids with As and Bs and high test scores got in everywhere we applied. I know that the school counselor noted how much the family showed up to school wide activities and how much the parents both volunteered. I have to think it was the last point that made them stand out? Who knows?

Did you apply to sidwell, STA, GDS?

No, kid only wanted to apply to one. No interest in applying to others.

Why are you pretending to be me?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids got into all the schools we applied to, and we didn't do any of the stuff people are talking about on here. Grades were mixed, scores were high. Maybe our lack of striving was a breath of fresh air?

What schools were on your list?

All in DC. A mix of the typical Northwest schools and Catholic schools mix of coed and all boys.

[Anonymous]

All three of my children started at DCPS and went to a top private school in DC.

(1) Test Scores Matter - First, get your kids tested to get a baseline of where they are at academically; my strongest tester was the one the school wanted, and the others got in with sibling preference (and pretty high test scores too). You might want to apply your strongest test taker first, to get sibling preference for others later (even if other ones are older).

(2) Apply to many schools - expect to get waitlisted or need to reapply. I would start applying for third grades nd keep re-applying through 6th grade. 9th grade is extremely competitive at private schools as entry year, unless your kid is brilliant or has a super talent.

(3) Identify your kids passions from young age and nurture - it does not have to be a sport -it could be art, music, theater -and do a lot of stuff in that area your kid loves.

(4) Seek people at the school to advocate for you - maybe parents at the private school to write a reference letter.

Good luck!