Georgetown Prep vs. Sidwell

[Anonymous]

I know lots of differences (one is single sex, one is religious, etc) but if just looking at academics, how do they compare?

[Anonymous]

Please. Nobody thinks this post is serious.

[Anonymous]

I am probably the only person on DCUM who has a close relative in both schools: they are both great! I am comparing upper schools since Prep is only for HS. Here the pluses:

Prep: solid academics, Latin required,nice teachers, know how to deal with boys, lots of school spirit, incredible facilities, friendly students who generally get along well and form a unit even after graduation, although there are groups of friends like most schools, no bullying, but lots of boy goofing around, students relaxed, wonderful sports with great coaches, support for multi-sport athletes, whole school or whole class does community service together, nice parents, emphasis on the whole boy. the only downside I can think of is that it may be easier for athletic boys to be leaders, so if your son is not an athlete he will find his place, but it will require some effort,

Sidwell: outstanding academics, classes are on the college level, diverse student body, kids with all kinds of interests can be leaders, coed, nice parents, committed teachers some of whom are truly extraordinary, amazing opportunities in the arts, especially chorus, and social sciences, many, many travel opportunities ( Japan, China, Africa, Europe) , wonderful lectures, Quaker values ( yes, really), kids form groups of friends, but are supportive of all, no bullying. downsides: extreme academic pressure usually self imposed, mediocre sports teams

Really u cannot go wrong with either school It depends on what our son prefers.

[Anonymous]

They serve two very different communities. Prep is very homogeneous.

[Anonymous]

Polar opposite schools

[Anonymous]

Do the academics compare?

[Anonymous]

The focus on wealth of Sidwell families is not a Quaker value. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

Prep is a joke academically.

[Anonymous]

Is there any such thing as a Quaker these days? I've never met one. Maybe I am being cynical, but Sidwell can be Quaker without being a very religious environment. My son attends an Episcopal school where the only use of the chapel is school convocations, which are not religious events. Prep I'd think is a Jesuit community based on what I have observed. As a non-Catholic I would be concerned about fitting in for both my kid and for us as a family. We had a son play youth lacrosse for Club Blue and definitely felt the families and kids were very friendly and nice, but also felt very outside their group. I had only positive impressions of the GP families we met, but I also felt in the end that immersing our son at GP as a non-Jesuit would be a poor fit. GP seems very much a religious oriented school.

[Anonymous]

I think the OP was looking for academic comparisons...

[Anonymous]

Sandy Spring is known to still have some Quaker values.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They serve two very different communities. Prep is very homogeneous.

no, its not. You are incorrect and have prejudged here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there any such thing as a Quaker these days? I've never met one. Maybe I am being cynical, but Sidwell can be Quaker without being a very religious environment. My son attends an Episcopal school where the only use of the chapel is school convocations, which are not religious events. Prep I'd think is a Jesuit community based on what I have observed. As a non-Catholic I would be concerned about fitting in for both my kid and for us as a family. We had a son play youth lacrosse for Club Blue and definitely felt the families and kids were very friendly and nice, but also felt very outside their group. I had only positive impressions of the GP families we met, but I also felt in the end that immersing our son at GP as a non-Jesuit would be a poor fit. GP seems very much a religious oriented school.

You are right.

Prep is owned by the Jesuit Order. Run by priests. Attended by the sons of Catholic professionals and business owners with the expectation that they remain in Washington, marry Catholic girls, and take their place in the large Catholic community.

There are a few non-Catholics there, especially after all the money they spent on facilities caused them to increase enrollment from 425 boys (the capacity of the chapel) to 500.

The parents and boys are civilized people, so they treat others well. But full membership in the community will elude those outside "the one true faith".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there any such thing as a Quaker these days? I've never met one. Maybe I am being cynical, but Sidwell can be Quaker without being a very religious environment. My son attends an Episcopal school where the only use of the chapel is school convocations, which are not religious events. Prep I'd think is a Jesuit community based on what I have observed. As a non-Catholic I would be concerned about fitting in for both my kid and for us as a family. We had a son play youth lacrosse for Club Blue and definitely felt the families and kids were very friendly and nice, but also felt very outside their group. I had only positive impressions of the GP families we met, but I also felt in the end that immersing our son at GP as a non-Jesuit would be a poor fit. GP seems very much a religious oriented school.

There seem to be a lot of professed "Quakers" whose surnames end in -stein and -berg when applications for Sidwell admissions roll in!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there any such thing as a Quaker these days? I've never met one. Maybe I am being cynical, but Sidwell can be Quaker without being a very religious environment. My son attends an Episcopal school where the only use of the chapel is school convocations, which are not religious events. Prep I'd think is a Jesuit community based on what I have observed. As a non-Catholic I would be concerned about fitting in for both my kid and for us as a family. We had a son play youth lacrosse for Club Blue and definitely felt the families and kids were very friendly and nice, but also felt very outside their group. I had only positive impressions of the GP families we met, but I also felt in the end that immersing our son at GP as a non-Jesuit would be a poor fit. GP seems very much a religious oriented school.

There seem to be a lot of professed "Quakers" whose surnames end in -stein and -berg when applications for Sidwell admissions roll in!

I'm sure most in DC have heard the description, "Sidwell is where Protestants teach Jews how to be good Quakers".

The OP has to be new to Washington to ask people to compare these two very opposite schools. I'm sure there are those who apply to Sidwell that also consider comparable schools like Maret or GDS or even STA. Anyone who might fit in well at Sidwell will be a real fish out of water at Prep or Gonzaga.