Sidwell vs. Georgetown Day School -- pros and cons

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SFS HS parent, school starts at 8AM, block schedule with some breaks throughout the day, so every day is slightly different. Not every class meets ever day.

Lunch is 12PM, the day is generally done around 3PM.

If they play a sport, practices generally go ~3:30-5/5:30PM, although that can vary by sport and season. If they have an away game, that time will likely go later. Kids who do theater or chorus will be there later, some other activities daily.

I always enjoy seeing kids around when I go for athletic events. My child loves the school, is good about using break times for homework which helps manage commitments on days when sports runs late (and is far better than I would have ever been).

Thank you! What about homework over breaks?

Not PP - but parent of recent grad (so others can weigh in on whether this changed this year) - Sidwell has midterm exams are after winter break - so it is not a true break from work. There were no breaks completely free of homework.

Sidwell does have exams after winter break, but there is no expectation or pressure from the school that they study then. Some crazed parents probably do make their kids study over break, but that's on them. The school builds in plenty of time with work days/ reading days etc in the January exam schedule to do all required studying. Plus, exams only count for a minimal part of the final grade.

As a parent, I prefer it this way. I would hate to see them try to cram in exams before Christmas break, which is now a more relaxed time period. And they'd most likely have to start school before Labor Day to do this, which we would hate.

You sound like the prior HS principal - who was a lovely person but pointed to parents as blame for any pressure students felt from the Sidwell's high pressure culture. It is the students who say they can't fully relax over break because the exams are looming on the other side. At least the ones who are the go-getters. This is totally self imposed on themselves (and among their peer group) and i agree that not every student will operate this way. I also agree that there are study days built into the exam period. And it's not clear to me that any studying was done over break - more that the angst is certainly there.

But it is very different than college, for example, when you leave for break with a complete break. It is also different than other schools (where my other children attend) - that no longer give midterm exams and intentionally put a full stop on work before winter break.

Frankly, with the exams spread out and the study days built in - I think those midterm exams take away a lot of learning time. I do prefer GDS's approach to do away with them and to have only Final Exams at the end of the year. This also solves the issue of trying to squeeze in midterms before the end of December.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SFS HS parent, school starts at 8AM, block schedule with some breaks throughout the day, so every day is slightly different. Not every class meets ever day.

Lunch is 12PM, the day is generally done around 3PM.

If they play a sport, practices generally go ~3:30-5/5:30PM, although that can vary by sport and season. If they have an away game, that time will likely go later. Kids who do theater or chorus will be there later, some other activities daily.

I always enjoy seeing kids around when I go for athletic events. My child loves the school, is good about using break times for homework which helps manage commitments on days when sports runs late (and is far better than I would have ever been).

Thank you! What about homework over breaks?

Not PP - but parent of recent grad (so others can weigh in on whether this changed this year) - Sidwell has midterm exams are after winter break - so it is not a true break from work. There were no breaks completely free of homework.

Sidwell does have exams after winter break, but there is no expectation or pressure from the school that they study then. Some crazed parents probably do make their kids study over break, but that's on them. The school builds in plenty of time with work days/ reading days etc in the January exam schedule to do all required studying. Plus, exams only count for a minimal part of the final grade.

As a parent, I prefer it this way. I would hate to see them try to cram in exams before Christmas break, which is now a more relaxed time period. And they'd most likely have to start school before Labor Day to do this, which we would hate.

+1 from a current SFS parent, and child’s preference as well after discussing with them (they have friends at others schools who have exams pre-break). They also only have one exam per day which makes this manageable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unless your kid’s a bit of a weirdo in the nicest possible way to really emo hang out behind the school building way, this isn’t even a choice. And you all know it

How can you say this? We have two children who chose between these schools and each made a different choice. The GDS student had a much happier experience. Sidwell student would still make the same choice but based more on their friend group at Sidwell. both got an excellent education. They are different kinds of kids.

OP - have your kid visit both and if they have a strong pull to one or the other - go with it. They should go where they feel their people are. If they are on the fence, I'd personally pay attention to the level of joy at each of the schools and the relationships teachers make with students. The schools differ widely on these perspectives.

[Anonymous]

They're different alright

[Anonymous]

Both of these are very good schools, but I cannot imagine an 8th grader shadowing both high schools for a day and not have a preference. Very different approaches to education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both of these are very good schools, but I cannot imagine an 8th grader shadowing both high schools for a day and not have a preference. Very different approaches to education.

That is good to hear, actually. We will wait until both shadow days are done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both of these are very good schools, but I cannot imagine an 8th grader shadowing both high schools for a day and not have a preference. Very different approaches to education.

That is good to hear, actually. We will wait until both shadow days are done.

I'm the parent with kids that chose differently between these two. Both felt shadow days were useful. After attending, both thought they made the right choice for themself. They will get a great education either way - and the experiences are different. But let them choose...they will own the decision. (<<This is important in times when HS kicks them in the rear end!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless your kid’s a bit of a weirdo in the nicest possible way to really emo hang out behind the school building way, this isn’t even a choice. And you all know it

How can you say this? We have two children who chose between these schools and each made a different choice. The GDS student had a much happier experience. Sidwell student would still make the same choice but based more on their friend group at Sidwell. both got an excellent education. They are different kinds of kids.

OP - have your kid visit both and if they have a strong pull to one or the other - go with it. They should go where they feel their people are. If they are on the fence, I'd personally pay attention to the level of joy at each of the schools and the relationships teachers make with students. The schools differ widely on these perspectives.

And an 8th grader is supposed to pick up on this during a one-day shadow visit?

Disagree that these two schools differ "wildly." There is a lot of hyperbole in many of these posts, starting with the overuse of the word "very." Parents like to believe that there is a perfect school for every child, but in reality, all of the DMV privates are more alike than they are different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless your kid’s a bit of a weirdo in the nicest possible way to really emo hang out behind the school building way, this isn’t even a choice. And you all know it

How can you say this? We have two children who chose between these schools and each made a different choice. The GDS student had a much happier experience. Sidwell student would still make the same choice but based more on their friend group at Sidwell. both got an excellent education. They are different kinds of kids.

OP - have your kid visit both and if they have a strong pull to one or the other - go with it. They should go where they feel their people are. If they are on the fence, I'd personally pay attention to the level of joy at each of the schools and the relationships teachers make with students. The schools differ widely on these perspectives.

And an 8th grader is supposed to pick up on this during a one-day shadow visit?

Disagree that these two schools differ "wildly." There is a lot of hyperbole in many of these posts, starting with the overuse of the word "very." Parents like to believe that there is a perfect school for every child, but in reality, all of the DMV privates are more alike than they are different.

I agree that the top DMV private schools are more alike than different (wonder if that has anything to do with the fact that both cost $55K+/year to attend and are located a mile from each other...), but GDS HS and Sidwell HS, still, are different and have very different approaches to the HS experience. Can't speak to "joy", but can say that, yes, an 8th grader is going to be able to pick up on the differences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless your kid’s a bit of a weirdo in the nicest possible way to really emo hang out behind the school building way, this isn’t even a choice. And you all know it

How can you say this? We have two children who chose between these schools and each made a different choice. The GDS student had a much happier experience. Sidwell student would still make the same choice but based more on their friend group at Sidwell. both got an excellent education. They are different kinds of kids.

OP - have your kid visit both and if they have a strong pull to one or the other - go with it. They should go where they feel their people are. If they are on the fence, I'd personally pay attention to the level of joy at each of the schools and the relationships teachers make with students. The schools differ widely on these perspectives.

And an 8th grader is supposed to pick up on this during a one-day shadow visit?

Disagree that these two schools differ "wildly." There is a lot of hyperbole in many of these posts, starting with the overuse of the word "very." Parents like to believe that there is a perfect school for every child, but in reality, all of the DMV privates are more alike than they are different.

I agree that the top DMV private schools are more alike than different (wonder if that has anything to do with the fact that both cost $55K+/year to attend and are located a mile from each other...), but GDS HS and Sidwell HS, still, are different and have very different approaches to the HS experience. Can't speak to "joy", but can say that, yes, an 8th grader is going to be able to pick up on the differences.

Parent of 2 kids that made different choice here - as 8th graders - they were able to make this choice. They both picked what worked for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell is not a secular school if that matters to you. They talk about God and they have worship meetings in line with being a Quaker school. That’s at least one big difference.

Good point.

I have not heard that word used once. So you can’t possibly know since you’ve obviously only read about SFS

What word, God? Are you joking? This is literally on the website: The Quaker belief that there is “that of God” in everyone shapes everything we do at Sidwell Friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do another shadow day. Both give a ton of homework that is outside the normal for high school. Find out about stuff that will make your and your kid’s life better.

Stuff like does one not give homework over breaks. How much homework over the weekend. Does either give a full week off for Thanksgiving. What is the class schedule -block or other. Is there parking when your kid can drive.

Sidwell is a big 3 if that is important to you.[u/quote]

So is GDS.

No GDS is not the big 3. The big three have always been the Two cathedral schools and Sidwell.

Because... you say so? Got it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Congrats OP—two great choices. Maybe consider the daily schedules and how that fits for your family. I have a kid at GDS so I only know their schedule. They are on a block schedule with 75 minute classes. HS starts at 8:45am—they have a class then community time, then another class, followed by lunch and two classes after lunch. After school sports /programs are optional. Many HS kids hang out in the forum or gym after school. The classes are every other day (so they don’t have homework assigned one day and due the next which is nice). GDS generally does not have homework over breaks.
GDS has busses that drop off at school at 8am (lots of kids hang in the forum or library until 8:45am when school starts). The busses leave school around 3:40. You pay by the day so we always use the morning bus, and either use the afternoon bus or carpool home if staying for sports, drama, buddy program, etc. School closed around 8pm.

Thank you, this is super helpful!

That is a nice schedule

Would love a Sidwell person to post their schedule too!

Sidwell uses the block schedule as well and has for several years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SFS HS parent, school starts at 8AM, block schedule with some breaks throughout the day, so every day is slightly different. Not every class meets ever day.

Lunch is 12PM, the day is generally done around 3PM.

If they play a sport, practices generally go ~3:30-5/5:30PM, although that can vary by sport and season. If they have an away game, that time will likely go later. Kids who do theater or chorus will be there later, some other activities daily.

I always enjoy seeing kids around when I go for athletic events. My child loves the school, is good about using break times for homework which helps manage commitments on days when sports runs late (and is far better than I would have ever been).

Thank you! What about homework over breaks?

Not PP - but parent of recent grad (so others can weigh in on whether this changed this year) - Sidwell has midterm exams are after winter break - so it is not a true break from work. There were no breaks completely free of homework.

Sidwell does have exams after winter break, but there is no expectation or pressure from the school that they study then. Some crazed parents probably do make their kids study over break, but that's on them. The school builds in plenty of time with work days/ reading days etc in the January exam schedule to do all required studying. Plus, exams only count for a minimal part of the final grade.

As a parent, I prefer it this way. I would hate to see them try to cram in exams before Christmas break, which is now a more relaxed time period. And they'd most likely have to start school before Labor Day to do this, which we would hate.

You sound like the prior HS principal - who was a lovely person but pointed to parents as blame for any pressure students felt from the Sidwell's high pressure culture. It is the students who say they can't fully relax over break because the exams are looming on the other side. At least the ones who are the go-getters. This is totally self imposed on themselves (and among their peer group) and i agree that not every student will operate this way. I also agree that there are study days built into the exam period. And it's not clear to me that any studying was done over break - more that the angst is certainly there.

But it is very different than college, for example, when you leave for break with a complete break. It is also different than other schools (where my other children attend) - that no longer give midterm exams and intentionally put a full stop on work before winter break.

Frankly, with the exams spread out and the study days built in - I think those midterm exams take away a lot of learning time. I do prefer GDS's approach to do away with them and to have only Final Exams at the end of the year. This also solves the issue of trying to squeeze in midterms before the end of December.

My SFS alum never studied over winter break. I doubt many of the kids did. As a PP noted, between reading days and a very spaced out exam schedule, there really isn't a need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SFS HS parent, school starts at 8AM, block schedule with some breaks throughout the day, so every day is slightly different. Not every class meets ever day.

Lunch is 12PM, the day is generally done around 3PM.

If they play a sport, practices generally go ~3:30-5/5:30PM, although that can vary by sport and season. If they have an away game, that time will likely go later. Kids who do theater or chorus will be there later, some other activities daily.

I always enjoy seeing kids around when I go for athletic events. My child loves the school, is good about using break times for homework which helps manage commitments on days when sports runs late (and is far better than I would have ever been).

Thank you! What about homework over breaks?

Not PP - but parent of recent grad (so others can weigh in on whether this changed this year) - Sidwell has midterm exams are after winter break - so it is not a true break from work. There were no breaks completely free of homework.

Sidwell does have exams after winter break, but there is no expectation or pressure from the school that they study then. Some crazed parents probably do make their kids study over break, but that's on them. The school builds in plenty of time with work days/ reading days etc in the January exam schedule to do all required studying. Plus, exams only count for a minimal part of the final grade.

As a parent, I prefer it this way. I would hate to see them try to cram in exams before Christmas break, which is now a more relaxed time period. And they'd most likely have to start school before Labor Day to do this, which we would hate.

You sound like the prior HS principal - who was a lovely person but pointed to parents as blame for any pressure students felt from the Sidwell's high pressure culture. It is the students who say they can't fully relax over break because the exams are looming on the other side. At least the ones who are the go-getters. This is totally self imposed on themselves (and among their peer group) and i agree that not every student will operate this way. I also agree that there are study days built into the exam period. And it's not clear to me that any studying was done over break - more that the angst is certainly there.

But it is very different than college, for example, when you leave for break with a complete break. It is also different than other schools (where my other children attend) - that no longer give midterm exams and intentionally put a full stop on work before winter break.

Frankly, with the exams spread out and the study days built in - I think those midterm exams take away a lot of learning time. I do prefer GDS's approach to do away with them and to have only Final Exams at the end of the year. This also solves the issue of trying to squeeze in midterms before the end of December.

My SFS alum never studied over winter break. I doubt many of the kids did. As a PP noted, between reading days and a very spaced out exam schedule, there really isn't a need.

I hear they study over thanksgiving.