Upper School - Sidwell vs. NCS

[Anonymous]

How would you characterize the student body in the Upper School at Sidwell as compared to the kids at NCS?

[Anonymous]

Well, for one, at Sidwell, about half of them have a different genitalia.

[Anonymous]

Seriously? Totally different schools. Go take a tour or go to an info session.

[Anonymous]

Sidwell is more diverse and the social scene in more fluid. There are many boy-girl best friends. In US the kids form several groups of friends based on their interests and EC activities, and these may shift as the kids mature, but all the kids know each other and seem to respect each other. New comers are welcomed because everyone likes to meet new people. In middle school there is some drama over who goes to whose parties, etc., but by US this is done. The kids support each other because they all feel academic stress.

I know NCS less well, but my impression is the girls form lasting friendships in middle school and 9th grade and these tend to stay ion place. One of my friend's daughter's told me "It takes a lot of work to be popular." I don't get that sense at Sidwell. The academic work is equally stressful at both schools.

[Anonymous]

NCS is a traditional by the books no nonsense education. Both great schools but the girls at NCS can chew the girls up at Sidwell any day of the week.

[Anonymous]

Wow. Are you for real?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NCS is a traditional by the books no nonsense education. Both great schools but the girls at NCS can chew the girls up at Sidwell any day of the week.

The NCS girls themselves would never say that -- they have great respect for (and often many friends at) Sidwell. Two excellent academic schools with bright/brilliant, high-achieving, and articulate young women. The big differences really are social (co-ed vs. all-girls is a very different picture). NCS might be a little stronger overall for girls' sports but Sidwell has some great programs as well and sends many athletes on to play in college. Good arts at both schools (and NCS arts is co-ed with St. Albans so they have the full co-ed experience in theater/singing/orchestra).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NCS is a traditional by the books no nonsense education. Both great schools but the girls at NCS can chew the girls up at Sidwell any day of the week.

Mike Tyson-style? I've heard about their elbows. Didn't realize you also have to look out for their teeth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NCS is a traditional by the books no nonsense education. Both great schools but the girls at NCS can chew the girls up at Sidwell any day of the week.

The NCS girls themselves would never say that -- they have great respect for (and often many friends at) Sidwell. Two excellent academic schools with bright/brilliant, high-achieving, and articulate young women. The big differences really are social (co-ed vs. all-girls is a very different picture). NCS might be a little stronger overall for girls' sports but Sidwell has some great programs as well and sends many athletes on to play in college. Good arts at both schools (and NCS arts is co-ed with St. Albans so they have the full co-ed experience in theater/singing/orchestra).

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell is more diverse and the social scene in more fluid. There are many boy-girl best friends. In US the kids form several groups of friends based on their interests and EC activities, and these may shift as the kids mature, but all the kids know each other and seem to respect each other. New comers are welcomed because everyone likes to meet new people. In middle school there is some drama over who goes to whose parties, etc., but by US this is done. The kids support each other because they all feel academic stress.

I know NCS less well, but my impression is the girls form lasting friendships in middle school and 9th grade and these tend to stay ion place. One of my friend's daughter's told me "It takes a lot of work to be popular." I don't get that sense at Sidwell. The academic work is equally stressful at both schools.

Beyond the coed v. single gender aspect, I don't think the difference is that stark, actually. Sidwell has a social pecking order too -- among both boys and girls -- though it's somewhat less well-defined and acutely felt than at NCS.

[Anonymous]

The NCS girls my daughter knows are happy kids who know what they want and go for it. The Sidwell girls she knows are much more anxious and concerned about where they rank. Both sets of girls are smart, do well in classes, participate in sports. Most also have some other (usually arts-related interest). Strong STEM students in both groups (even though that's not how DD met them).

Interesting to me because the NCS alumnae I know who are closer to my age both said that while they got a great education at NCS, they would never send their daughters there because workload and standards were oppressive. (Both women are successful in high-powered careers and neither complains about job-related pressure/stress.) My guess is that NCS has changed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell is more diverse and the social scene in more fluid. There are many boy-girl best friends. In US the kids form several groups of friends based on their interests and EC activities, and these may shift as the kids mature, but all the kids know each other and seem to respect each other. New comers are welcomed because everyone likes to meet new people. In middle school there is some drama over who goes to whose parties, etc., but by US this is done. The kids support each other because they all feel academic stress.

I know NCS less well, but my impression is the girls form lasting friendships in middle school and 9th grade and these tend to stay ion place. One of my friend's daughter's told me "It takes a lot of work to be popular." I don't get that sense at Sidwell. The academic work is equally stressful at both schools.

I once had a Sidwell teanager say this to me," well, a big difference I see is that ( at Cathedral ) they seem to be able to repeat what they have read, but without much introspection , whereas everyone I know at Sidwell is very introspective and really thinks about what they are saying "

Had to laugh.....

[Anonymous]

NCS has more of a mean girl culture.

In response to one of the above, Sidwell arts is not so great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NCS is a traditional by the books no nonsense education. Both great schools but the girls at NCS can chew the girls up at Sidwell any day of the week.

Mike Tyson-style? I've heard about their elbows. Didn't realize you also have to look out for their teeth.

It happened on the soccer field a few years ago. NCS basically took out a star Sidwell player. It was like a preppy Mob hit.

[Anonymous]

Bump