What are the best independent schools ranked 1 - 8 ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the best Greater Washington DC area independent schools ranked 1 - 8, in your opinion ?
1)__
2)__
3)__
4)__
5)__
6)__
7)__
8)__
????

Prestige wise as in the Ivies of the area would be top tier:
STA/NCS/Beauvoir
Sidwell

GDS/Maret

the rest vary on Catholic world vs. independent.

PP here. The bolded are the top tier then others follow suit in varying order. The Big 3 have alwasy been NCS, STA, and Sidwell.

You can look at the pinned topic that covers this but most people I have met consider the Big 3 to be Sidwell/GDS/The Cathedral Schools.

The big 3 are Sidwell, STA and NCS. GDS is not a big 3.

[Anonymous]

Hogwarts is clearly #1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Top academic schools:
Sidwell
GDS
Holton
Ncs/STA

I love how you snuck Holton in there

I certainly didn't "sneak" it in there. Based on what I know, I think Holton is right up there with these other schools.

No one else believes it

And she did sneak it in. Quietly boosting a fine but just not a top school. She did it somewhere else recently, too.

Ooo, sneaky PP, you are so busted! By petty people. But then you are one of them. You all shouldn’t argue so much; you have a lot in common.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the best Greater Washington DC area independent schools ranked 1 - 8, in your opinion ?
1)__
2)__
3)__
4)__
5)__
6)__
7)__
8)__
????

Prestige wise as in the Ivies of the area would be top tier:
STA/NCS/Beauvoir
Sidwell

GDS/Maret

the rest vary on Catholic world vs. independent.

PP here. The bolded are the top tier then others follow suit in varying order. The Big 3 have alwasy been NCS, STA, and Sidwell.

You can look at the pinned topic that covers this but most people I have met consider the Big 3 to be Sidwell/GDS/The Cathedral Schools.

The big 3 are Sidwell, STA and NCS. GDS is not a big 3.

When I talk to White Christian people, it's consistenlty Sidwell, STA, and NCS. Often GDS, but not always.
When I talk to a more diverse group of parents, it's Sidwell, GDS, and STA/NCS.
Lesson: it depends on how wide and diverse your circle is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the best Greater Washington DC area independent schools ranked 1 - 8, in your opinion ?
1)__
2)__
3)__
4)__
5)__
6)__
7)__
8)__
????

Prestige wise as in the Ivies of the area would be top tier:
STA/NCS/Beauvoir
Sidwell

GDS/Maret

the rest vary on Catholic world vs. independent.

PP here. The bolded are the top tier then others follow suit in varying order. The Big 3 have alwasy been NCS, STA, and Sidwell.

You can look at the pinned topic that covers this but most people I have met consider the Big 3 to be Sidwell/GDS/The Cathedral Schools.

The big 3 are Sidwell, STA and NCS. GDS is not a big 3.

When I talk to White Christian people, it's consistenlty Sidwell, STA, and NCS. Often GDS, but not always.
When I talk to a more diverse group of parents, it's Sidwell, GDS, and STA/NCS.
Lesson: it depends on how wide and diverse your circle is.

Truly, who cares? And if you care enough to always interject that GDS is not a Big 3 whenever someone suggests otherwise, you need a better hobby. It’s pathetic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the best Greater Washington DC area independent schools ranked 1 - 8, in your opinion ?
1)__
2)__
3)__
4)__
5)__
6)__
7)__
8)__
????

Prestige wise as in the Ivies of the area would be top tier:
STA/NCS/Beauvoir
Sidwell

GDS/Maret

the rest vary on Catholic world vs. independent.

PP here. The bolded are the top tier then others follow suit in varying order. The Big 3 have alwasy been NCS, STA, and Sidwell.

You can look at the pinned topic that covers this but most people I have met consider the Big 3 to be Sidwell/GDS/The Cathedral Schools.

The big 3 are Sidwell, STA and NCS. GDS is not a big 3.

When I talk to White Christian people, it's consistenlty Sidwell, STA, and NCS. Often GDS, but not always.
When I talk to a more diverse group of parents, it's Sidwell, GDS, and STA/NCS.
Lesson: it depends on how wide and diverse your circle is.

Your circle sounds insecure and boring if this what you talking about.

[Anonymous]

It sure as s$it sounds like you didn’t get in

[Anonymous]

1) Sidwell
2)GDS
3) Albans/NCS/Beau
4) Potomac
agree...but...I would put Potomac as 5 and add Field to 6-8...very similar kids and outcomes.
5 - 8 ) tie: Bullis, Potomac, Maret, Georgetown Prep

[Anonymous]

Here it is!

1) Sidwell
2)Whitman & BCC & Wilson & Walls
3) Albans/NCS/Beau
4) GDS
5 - 8 ) tie: Bullis, Potomac, Maret, Georgetown Prep

[Anonymous]

I take a certain solace in periodically coming to this board and finding discussions of the Big 3 or the Big 5. It's comforting to know that no matter how asinine this discussion is there seems to be no stopping it, either by consensus or attrition. And this week's post serves as further confirmation that hell remains balmy with no sign of freeze.

Why is it important that we recognize three schools as "Big" anything? It clearly is not helpful to a wide swath of private school parents who would never send their kids to two of these schools because they are affiliated with religious institutions. I pass no judgment on the quality of education at STA or NCS, but they aren't options for many people. Do the people that send kids to these schools need to feel better that their kids are going to a "Big" school? Being a part of a coalition of schools doesn't mean a thing; it's the educational experience that best suits your child that matters. The Ivy League (named so because it was originally compromised of four schools - written as IV in roman numerals) now has eight members. People aren't getting their hackles about being OG Ivy though. And virtually every ranking system scores Stanford, Duke, MIT, CalTech and UChicago above roughly half of the schools in the Ivy League. We accept all this, but yet not two weeks goes by when someone isn't on this Board trying to create tiers and status largely based on the DC of the 1950s (GDS didn't even exist before 1945; Potomac's high school started in 1987, etc.).

Historically, there were Big 3 Broadcasters (NBC, CBS, and ABC) and Big 3 Automakers (GM, Chrysler and Ford). But a sizable number of you get your news from Fox or Jon Stewart and drive Teslas. And I still can't get an adequate explanation of why the BigTen has 14 members...

May I suggest more interesting conversations about the Big 3? Perhaps causes of divorce (alcoholism, adultery, being an a$$hole), or personality traits of DCUM P&IS posters (insecurity, overachievement, paranoia). We need to recognize that labels like the Big 3 can be toxic, divisive and harmful to students by placing more of an emphasis on status and tradition than on student well-being and educational outcomes.

I'll be back in a few weeks for my favorite post: What were you doing when you got the acceptance. In the interim I hope everyone finds some Bolivian marching powder and well needed perspective.

[Anonymous]

It’s only “asinine” if you’re not in the Big 3, don’t you think?

[Anonymous]

You really can’t tell unless you have extensively researched and toured each school. Or you have direct experience with each school within the past 5 years.

Those who obsessively name Sidwell, NCS/STA seem to live in an echo chamber.

[Anonymous]

Yes, the Big 3 echo chamber

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I take a certain solace in periodically coming to this board and finding discussions of the Big 3 or the Big 5. It's comforting to know that no matter how asinine this discussion is there seems to be no stopping it, either by consensus or attrition. And this week's post serves as further confirmation that hell remains balmy with no sign of freeze.

Why is it important that we recognize three schools as "Big" anything? It clearly is not helpful to a wide swath of private school parents who would never send their kids to two of these schools because they are affiliated with religious institutions. I pass no judgment on the quality of education at STA or NCS, but they aren't options for many people. Do the people that send kids to these schools need to feel better that their kids are going to a "Big" school? Being a part of a coalition of schools doesn't mean a thing; it's the educational experience that best suits your child that matters. The Ivy League (named so because it was originally compromised of four schools - written as IV in roman numerals) now has eight members. People aren't getting their hackles about being OG Ivy though. And virtually every ranking system scores Stanford, Duke, MIT, CalTech and UChicago above roughly half of the schools in the Ivy League. We accept all this, but yet not two weeks goes by when someone isn't on this Board trying to create tiers and status largely based on the DC of the 1950s (GDS didn't even exist before 1945; Potomac's high school started in 1987, etc.).

Historically, there were Big 3 Broadcasters (NBC, CBS, and ABC) and Big 3 Automakers (GM, Chrysler and Ford). But a sizable number of you get your news from Fox or Jon Stewart and drive Teslas. And I still can't get an adequate explanation of why the BigTen has 14 members...

May I suggest more interesting conversations about the Big 3? Perhaps causes of divorce (alcoholism, adultery, being an a$$hole), or personality traits of DCUM P&IS posters (insecurity, overachievement, paranoia). We need to recognize that labels like the Big 3 can be toxic, divisive and harmful to students by placing more of an emphasis on status and tradition than on student well-being and educational outcomes.

I'll be back in a few weeks for my favorite post: What were you doing when you got the acceptance. In the interim I hope everyone finds some Bolivian marching powder and well needed perspective.

Doesn’t sound like you are taking solace. You sound irritated.

Back to Op’s question:
Big 3/top 3 are and always have been:
1. STA
2. NCS
3. Sidwell

The rest depends and academically St. Anselms is right up there
4. Maret
5. GDS
6. Holton
7. Gonzaga
8. St. Anselms

9. Potomac

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I take a certain solace in periodically coming to this board and finding discussions of the Big 3 or the Big 5. It's comforting to know that no matter how asinine this discussion is there seems to be no stopping it, either by consensus or attrition. And this week's post serves as further confirmation that hell remains balmy with no sign of freeze.

Why is it important that we recognize three schools as "Big" anything? It clearly is not helpful to a wide swath of private school parents who would never send their kids to two of these schools because they are affiliated with religious institutions. I pass no judgment on the quality of education at STA or NCS, but they aren't options for many people. Do the people that send kids to these schools need to feel better that their kids are going to a "Big" school? Being a part of a coalition of schools doesn't mean a thing; it's the educational experience that best suits your child that matters. The Ivy League (named so because it was originally compromised of four schools - written as IV in roman numerals) now has eight members. People aren't getting their hackles about being OG Ivy though. And virtually every ranking system scores Stanford, Duke, MIT, CalTech and UChicago above roughly half of the schools in the Ivy League. We accept all this, but yet not two weeks goes by when someone isn't on this Board trying to create tiers and status largely based on the DC of the 1950s (GDS didn't even exist before 1945; Potomac's high school started in 1987, etc.).

Historically, there were Big 3 Broadcasters (NBC, CBS, and ABC) and Big 3 Automakers (GM, Chrysler and Ford). But a sizable number of you get your news from Fox or Jon Stewart and drive Teslas. And I still can't get an adequate explanation of why the BigTen has 14 members...

May I suggest more interesting conversations about the Big 3? Perhaps causes of divorce (alcoholism, adultery, being an a$$hole), or personality traits of DCUM P&IS posters (insecurity, overachievement, paranoia). We need to recognize that labels like the Big 3 can be toxic, divisive and harmful to students by placing more of an emphasis on status and tradition than on student well-being and educational outcomes.

I'll be back in a few weeks for my favorite post: What were you doing when you got the acceptance. In the interim I hope everyone finds some Bolivian marching powder and well needed perspective.

IV? Really? I don’t disagree that the perennial debate here is stupid but you lost me there.