GDS, Field, or Burke--which would you choose?

[Anonymous]

Curious to what others might think? We know GDS has the reputation as more prestigious and rigorous, and that Field and Burke are smaller, but we like all of them for different reasons. Want to make sure we are considering all aspects we should. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

What grade?

[Anonymous]

GDS.. I have a math and science kid so either a STEM magnet for which we would move or GDS if staying in DC.

[Anonymous]

My kids chose Field and Burke after getting into all 3. Just gut feelings more than anything. One in particular felt the GDS social scene felt a bit rough...the tour guide also said nasty things about Field and Burke which turned my kid off. For HS, in our household, it was all about the shadow day.

[Anonymous]

I really think it depends on the kid! A kid who does best in very small classes and a fairly sheltered environment would probably like Field. A kid whose sense of him/herself is as an urbanite would probably be happier at Burke, with its open campus. A kid who is very self-confident and academically ambitious would find more opportunities at Burke. They are all excellent schools, and it is clear that very bright kids can succeed and go to fine colleges from any of these schools. But the "vibe" is quite different at each.

[Anonymous]

The academics are pretty different too. I would not say Burke would be the place for the more "academically ambitious" kid.

[Anonymous]

Is really hard to choose! We're looking for middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is really hard to choose! We're looking for middle school.

GDS is very different in feel from Field and Burke. Your child should do a shadow day and see which one school they like best.

[Anonymous]

A kid who is very self-confident and academically ambitious would find more opportunities at Burke. They are all excellent schools,

All three at fine schools, but I would not put Burke at the top of the 3 if my middle schooler was (already!) showing academic *ambition*. The top slot for the ambitioushas to go to GDS, because at the very highest levels of HS academia, GDS is the one that can take the kid the farthest. this is not the same as saying 'it's the best school.'

But on the whole "national stage" thing, while still in high school, it's not even a close call among the 3.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The academics are pretty different too. I would not say Burke would be the place for the more "academically ambitious" kid.

I would put this differently. I agree that GDS has the most challenging academics of the three, and it is a great fit for kids who are looking for classes with very high expectations and a peer group which will directly challenge them to excel. But for some "academically ambitious" kids, this is a recipe for stress rather than for success. Burke and Field offer excellent college preparation, but in a lower key atmosphere.

One difference between Burke and Field is that Burke offers more choice in terms of honors and AP courses in high school. While I appreciate the downside of AP courses (more focus on preparing for a specific test), in schools in which the students have a relatively wide range of interests and talents (all bright but not all academic high-fliers), it does give the option of being in classes with kids who are particularly highly motivated on the specific topic.

Burke also is unusually flexible in giving credit for independent study and classes taken outside of school (college, distance-learning, etc). This allows students to go beyond what the school offers in areas of interest. I'm not sure about Field or GDS on this one.

The bottom line is, as several PPs have said, go for a shadow day and see which school feels right to your DC.

[Anonymous]

Agree with the PP. Burke seems very much to honor students' individual curiosities and passions. I think a very academically-oriented kid who didn't like being in a pressure cooker environment might find Burke the best fit of the three. Field struck me as a little more one-size-fits all from an academic perspective (but please correct me if this is wrong: that was an impression only). I do think GDS is a pressure cooker in high school. Some very smart kids find that exciting and motivating; others find it a turn-off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

A kid who is very self-confident and academically ambitious would find more opportunities at Burke. They are all excellent schools,

All three at fine schools, but I would not put Burke at the top of the 3 if my middle schooler was (already!) showing academic *ambition*. The top slot for the ambitioushas to go to GDS, because at the very highest levels of HS academia, GDS is the one that can take the kid the farthest. this is not the same as saying 'it's the best school.'

But on the whole "national stage" thing, while still in high school, it's not even a close call among the 3.

This kind of attitude makes you sound unpleasant. I don't recall the OP saying anything about her kid wanting to go to a school that is "on the national stage" whatever that even means.

[Anonymous]

This is the original poster. Our child likes all three schools, so we're just trying to understand the small (and not so small) differences between the schools and the environments there. Wanting to avoid a 'pressure-cooker' environment, but also trying to find one where our child will fit in well socially --a pretty typical outgoing, hard-working, fun-loving child without any highly unusual issues/difficulties (as of yet, that we know of), but a tendency to push self too hard and trying to avoid that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the original poster. Our child likes all three schools, so we're just trying to understand the small (and not so small) differences between the schools and the environments there. Wanting to avoid a 'pressure-cooker' environment, but also trying to find one where our child will fit in well socially --a pretty typical outgoing, hard-working, fun-loving child without any highly unusual issues/difficulties (as of yet, that we know of), but a tendency to push self too hard and trying to avoid that.

Based on what you just wrote, I would go with Field.

[Anonymous]

Definitely not GDS if your child tends to push himself too hard. Field or Burke.