GDS...is it as good as its reputation?

[Anonymous]

The open house today was a bit of a bust. They didn't offer a school tour, so it was basically one hour of them talking to us and a very very very short Q&A with 5 students. It was almost impossible to get a real feel of the school. That being said given the reputation of GDS we are still considering applying. If you are a current or former parent or child at GDS can you provide some general insight on the school's academic programming and social life. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

What grade are you talking about?

[Anonymous]

Is there an opportunity to tour once applications are in?

It could be they don't want to disrupt the classrooms with a huge number of parents wandering through.

I wouldn't be put off by this.

What do they have to sell? Nothing. They already have an excellent reputation. But if they are safeguarding the focus of the classrooms, that says a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What grade are you talking about?

Kindergarten.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there an opportunity to tour once applications are in?

It could be they don't want to disrupt the classrooms with a huge number of parents wandering through.

I wouldn't be put off by this.

What do they have to sell? Nothing. They already have an excellent reputation. But if they are safeguarding the focus of the classrooms, that says a lot.

There is one opportunity left before the application is due. I was a bit surprised there where no tours set up for today or a Q&A with the staff. It's great to here the kids speak, but a lot of the questions we have can't really be answered by a 5th grader. I think most of the parents there today where surprised that there wasn't a tour being offered.

Their application process isn't very well laid out. It seems that they expect you to do certain things -- like parent interview -- before applying. Most other schools only schedule them after you have applied. At this point I'm not sure we will be able to schedule one in time, so we may be out of luck...which is disappointing.

[Anonymous]

The reason why GDS and many other schools are lacking in the tour department is simple. They have a fairly rigorous criteria for which students will be admitted and they have far too many applicants so, in truth, they could really care less. They're just going through the motions.

[Anonymous]

The new campus complex will be fabulous!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The reason why GDS and many other schools are lacking in the tour department is simple. They have a fairly rigorous criteria for which students will be admitted and they have far too many applicants so, in truth, they could really care less. They're just going through the motions.

Could care less or could not care less?

[Anonymous]

Gds is a great school but there is going to be a lot of turmoil while seek approval for and then construct their new school. Your kid, entering in K, might experience a deteriorating facility as they invest in the new facility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gds is a great school but there is going to be a lot of turmoil while seek approval for and then construct their new school. Your kid, entering in K, might experience a deteriorating facility as they invest in the new facility.

Turmoil in the development office, not in the classrooms...

[Anonymous]

Why would a tour on a Sunday be an issue? That seems quite odd.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it is as good, provided you don't buy into the hype that its rep is as good as Sidwell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gds is a great school but there is going to be a lot of turmoil while seek approval for and then construct their new school. Your kid, entering in K, might experience a deteriorating facility as they invest in the new facility.

It's more of a risk that their focus will be diluted away from the school by their development venture. It's a difficult job to run a good independent school in Washington, DC. Add to that the challenge of planning and executing a major campus expansion and building program. Then add on top the unusual role of being the project lead on a major mixed-use development, which is not exactly in the school's core competency. This is why many worry that the board and administration may lose focus on the main mission.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it is as good, provided you don't buy into the hype that its rep is as good as Sidwell.

It's arguably better. GDS has a very enviable track record in the Ivys.

[Anonymous]

Save your money and then go for the high school.