Maret vs GDS?

[Anonymous]

GDS: Bigger, progressive culture in faculty and student body, no athletic requirement, experiencing some admin changes with recent overall positive sense of HoS hire.

Maret: Smaller, PEP culture in faculty and student body, athletic requirement, significant admin churn (current HoS done after a three-year stint, his handpicked #2 going with him, interim HoS coming in).

Both schools offer a strong education and have excellent faculty. GDS probably has more academic flexibility given the bigger size and no athletic requirement.

If you're looking for younger grades, either is probably a good bet. If you're looking for middle/upper, look at GDS, as the churn at Maret seems less predictable right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot speak to Maret, but the GDS is very balanced in terms of student activities/interests. It doesn't have the dominant athletic popularity that you'd find at some schools. At GDS, art, drama, debate, sports, newspaper, robotics, etc. all have equal footing. The course catalog is also quite extensive compared to my other child's private--I assume the larger student body can justify more/different classes/levels. The benefit students really being encouraged to participate in what interests them vs following the pack is when it comes time to apply to college, students have pursued a wide variety of interests/paths vs everyone taking the same courses that it is easier to differentiate themself.

Agree. It's feels more similar to college than what I experienced in high school.

We really like GDS and our kid is having a great time in HS (including being on varsity sports teams), but to say that non-athletic extracurriculars have equal footing with athletics is overstated. It might be more balanced compared to other high schools, but athletics at GDS still get a ton of resources and recognition that just aren't given to other activities.

Interesting that athletics get a ton of resources at a school where they are not required and where kids are not recruited. I would have thought things like debate would be emphasized more at GDS than sports. Or is GDS now seeking to be more competitive in sports?

And, as an aside, when did schools like Sidwell start recruiting athletes? And why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot speak to Maret, but the GDS is very balanced in terms of student activities/interests. It doesn't have the dominant athletic popularity that you'd find at some schools. At GDS, art, drama, debate, sports, newspaper, robotics, etc. all have equal footing. The course catalog is also quite extensive compared to my other child's private--I assume the larger student body can justify more/different classes/levels. The benefit students really being encouraged to participate in what interests them vs following the pack is when it comes time to apply to college, students have pursued a wide variety of interests/paths vs everyone taking the same courses that it is easier to differentiate themself.

Agree. It's feels more similar to college than what I experienced in high school.

We really like GDS and our kid is having a great time in HS (including being on varsity sports teams), but to say that non-athletic extracurriculars have equal footing with athletics is overstated. It might be more balanced compared to other high schools, but athletics at GDS still get a ton of resources and recognition that just aren't given to other activities.

Interesting that athletics get a ton of resources at a school where they are not required and where kids are not recruited. I would have thought things like debate would be emphasized more at GDS than sports. Or is GDS now seeking to be more competitive in sports?

And, as an aside, when did schools like Sidwell start recruiting athletes? And why?

Sidwell is shameless in its recruiting and drops academic requirements significantly for top recruits. It’s gross

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot speak to Maret, but the GDS is very balanced in terms of student activities/interests. It doesn't have the dominant athletic popularity that you'd find at some schools. At GDS, art, drama, debate, sports, newspaper, robotics, etc. all have equal footing. The course catalog is also quite extensive compared to my other child's private--I assume the larger student body can justify more/different classes/levels. The benefit students really being encouraged to participate in what interests them vs following the pack is when it comes time to apply to college, students have pursued a wide variety of interests/paths vs everyone taking the same courses that it is easier to differentiate themself.

Agree. It's feels more similar to college than what I experienced in high school.

We really like GDS and our kid is having a great time in HS (including being on varsity sports teams), but to say that non-athletic extracurriculars have equal footing with athletics is overstated. It might be more balanced compared to other high schools, but athletics at GDS still get a ton of resources and recognition that just aren't given to other activities.

Interesting that athletics get a ton of resources at a school where they are not required and where kids are not recruited. I would have thought things like debate would be emphasized more at GDS than sports. Or is GDS now seeking to be more competitive in sports?

And, as an aside, when did schools like Sidwell start recruiting athletes? And why?

Sidwell is shameless in its recruiting and drops academic requirements significantly for top recruits. It’s gross

Why do you think Maret has a competitive basketball team ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot speak to Maret, but the GDS is very balanced in terms of student activities/interests. It doesn't have the dominant athletic popularity that you'd find at some schools. At GDS, art, drama, debate, sports, newspaper, robotics, etc. all have equal footing. The course catalog is also quite extensive compared to my other child's private--I assume the larger student body can justify more/different classes/levels. The benefit students really being encouraged to participate in what interests them vs following the pack is when it comes time to apply to college, students have pursued a wide variety of interests/paths vs everyone taking the same courses that it is easier to differentiate themself.

Agree. It's feels more similar to college than what I experienced in high school.

We really like GDS and our kid is having a great time in HS (including being on varsity sports teams), but to say that non-athletic extracurriculars have equal footing with athletics is overstated. It might be more balanced compared to other high schools, but athletics at GDS still get a ton of resources and recognition that just aren't given to other activities.

Interesting that athletics get a ton of resources at a school where they are not required and where kids are not recruited. I would have thought things like debate would be emphasized more at GDS than sports. Or is GDS now seeking to be more competitive in sports?

And, as an aside, when did schools like Sidwell start recruiting athletes? And why?

Sidwell is shameless in its recruiting and drops academic requirements significantly for top recruits. It’s gross

Yep, as a Sidwell parent my kid has told me about all of the problems the basketball recruits have been causing. They’re social outcasts and academically weak.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot speak to Maret, but the GDS is very balanced in terms of student activities/interests. It doesn't have the dominant athletic popularity that you'd find at some schools. At GDS, art, drama, debate, sports, newspaper, robotics, etc. all have equal footing. The course catalog is also quite extensive compared to my other child's private--I assume the larger student body can justify more/different classes/levels. The benefit students really being encouraged to participate in what interests them vs following the pack is when it comes time to apply to college, students have pursued a wide variety of interests/paths vs everyone taking the same courses that it is easier to differentiate themself.

Agree. It's feels more similar to college than what I experienced in high school.

We really like GDS and our kid is having a great time in HS (including being on varsity sports teams), but to say that non-athletic extracurriculars have equal footing with athletics is overstated. It might be more balanced compared to other high schools, but athletics at GDS still get a ton of resources and recognition that just aren't given to other activities.

Interesting that athletics get a ton of resources at a school where they are not required and where kids are not recruited. I would have thought things like debate would be emphasized more at GDS than sports. Or is GDS now seeking to be more competitive in sports?

And, as an aside, when did schools like Sidwell start recruiting athletes? And why?

Sidwell is shameless in its recruiting and drops academic requirements significantly for top recruits. It’s gross

Why do you think Maret has a competitive basketball team ?

Did Maret finally find an athletic field of its own?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lol. Wait to hear if your DC gets an acceptance to either. Hard admits

Both are long shots getting into

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot speak to Maret, but the GDS is very balanced in terms of student activities/interests. It doesn't have the dominant athletic popularity that you'd find at some schools. At GDS, art, drama, debate, sports, newspaper, robotics, etc. all have equal footing. The course catalog is also quite extensive compared to my other child's private--I assume the larger student body can justify more/different classes/levels. The benefit students really being encouraged to participate in what interests them vs following the pack is when it comes time to apply to college, students have pursued a wide variety of interests/paths vs everyone taking the same courses that it is easier to differentiate themself.

Agree. It's feels more similar to college than what I experienced in high school.

We really like GDS and our kid is having a great time in HS (including being on varsity sports teams), but to say that non-athletic extracurriculars have equal footing with athletics is overstated. It might be more balanced compared to other high schools, but athletics at GDS still get a ton of resources and recognition that just aren't given to other activities.

Interesting that athletics get a ton of resources at a school where they are not required and where kids are not recruited. I would have thought things like debate would be emphasized more at GDS than sports. Or is GDS now seeking to be more competitive in sports?

And, as an aside, when did schools like Sidwell start recruiting athletes? And why?

Sidwell is shameless in its recruiting and drops academic requirements significantly for top recruits. It’s gross

Why do you think Maret has a competitive basketball team ?

They've got several super tall athletes. That's usually a sign. Non-recruiting schools might have one that's 6'5', but to have several that height or taller usually signals recruiting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot speak to Maret, but the GDS is very balanced in terms of student activities/interests. It doesn't have the dominant athletic popularity that you'd find at some schools. At GDS, art, drama, debate, sports, newspaper, robotics, etc. all have equal footing. The course catalog is also quite extensive compared to my other child's private--I assume the larger student body can justify more/different classes/levels. The benefit students really being encouraged to participate in what interests them vs following the pack is when it comes time to apply to college, students have pursued a wide variety of interests/paths vs everyone taking the same courses that it is easier to differentiate themself.

Agree. It's feels more similar to college than what I experienced in high school.

We really like GDS and our kid is having a great time in HS (including being on varsity sports teams), but to say that non-athletic extracurriculars have equal footing with athletics is overstated. It might be more balanced compared to other high schools, but athletics at GDS still get a ton of resources and recognition that just aren't given to other activities.

Interesting that athletics get a ton of resources at a school where they are not required and where kids are not recruited. I would have thought things like debate would be emphasized more at GDS than sports. Or is GDS now seeking to be more competitive in sports?

And, as an aside, when did schools like Sidwell start recruiting athletes? And why?

Sidwell is shameless in its recruiting and drops academic requirements significantly for top recruits. It’s gross

Why do you think Maret has a competitive basketball team ?

They've got several super tall athletes. That's usually a sign. Non-recruiting schools might have one that's 6'5', but to have several that height or taller usually signals recruiting.

Maret basketball is under .500 in a so-so MAC conference.

As for why schools invest in athletics: kids at the schools enjoy being in communities where there are fun events to be a part of. Basketball doesn't require too many kids to be solid/strong, and having good athletic teams can elevate the school experience for the entire high school.

[Anonymous]

Maret football is for anyone that can catch and block. No transcript required. The coach is the biggest crybaby I’ve ever seen. Joke school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot speak to Maret, but the GDS is very balanced in terms of student activities/interests. It doesn't have the dominant athletic popularity that you'd find at some schools. At GDS, art, drama, debate, sports, newspaper, robotics, etc. all have equal footing. The course catalog is also quite extensive compared to my other child's private--I assume the larger student body can justify more/different classes/levels. The benefit students really being encouraged to participate in what interests them vs following the pack is when it comes time to apply to college, students have pursued a wide variety of interests/paths vs everyone taking the same courses that it is easier to differentiate themself.

Agree. It's feels more similar to college than what I experienced in high school.

We really like GDS and our kid is having a great time in HS (including being on varsity sports teams), but to say that non-athletic extracurriculars have equal footing with athletics is overstated. It might be more balanced compared to other high schools, but athletics at GDS still get a ton of resources and recognition that just aren't given to other activities.

Interesting that athletics get a ton of resources at a school where they are not required and where kids are not recruited. I would have thought things like debate would be emphasized more at GDS than sports. Or is GDS now seeking to be more competitive in sports?

And, as an aside, when did schools like Sidwell start recruiting athletes? And why?

Sidwell is shameless in its recruiting and drops academic requirements significantly for top recruits. It’s gross

Why do you think Maret has a competitive basketball team ?

They've got several super tall athletes. That's usually a sign. Non-recruiting schools might have one that's 6'5', but to have several that height or taller usually signals recruiting.

Maret basketball is under .500 in a so-so MAC conference.

As for why schools invest in athletics: kids at the schools enjoy being in communities where there are fun events to be a part of. Basketball doesn't require too many kids to be solid/strong, and having good athletic teams can elevate the school experience for the entire high school.

Maybe developing your own athletes starting in lower school could also elevate the high school experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot speak to Maret, but the GDS is very balanced in terms of student activities/interests. It doesn't have the dominant athletic popularity that you'd find at some schools. At GDS, art, drama, debate, sports, newspaper, robotics, etc. all have equal footing. The course catalog is also quite extensive compared to my other child's private--I assume the larger student body can justify more/different classes/levels. The benefit students really being encouraged to participate in what interests them vs following the pack is when it comes time to apply to college, students have pursued a wide variety of interests/paths vs everyone taking the same courses that it is easier to differentiate themself.

Agree. It's feels more similar to college than what I experienced in high school.

We really like GDS and our kid is having a great time in HS (including being on varsity sports teams), but to say that non-athletic extracurriculars have equal footing with athletics is overstated. It might be more balanced compared to other high schools, but athletics at GDS still get a ton of resources and recognition that just aren't given to other activities.

Interesting that athletics get a ton of resources at a school where they are not required and where kids are not recruited. I would have thought things like debate would be emphasized more at GDS than sports. Or is GDS now seeking to be more competitive in sports?

And, as an aside, when did schools like Sidwell start recruiting athletes? And why?

Sidwell is shameless in its recruiting and drops academic requirements significantly for top recruits. It’s gross

Why do you think Maret has a competitive basketball team ?

They've got several super tall athletes. That's usually a sign. Non-recruiting schools might have one that's 6'5', but to have several that height or taller usually signals recruiting.

Maret basketball is under .500 in a so-so MAC conference.

As for why schools invest in athletics: kids at the schools enjoy being in communities where there are fun events to be a part of. Basketball doesn't require too many kids to be solid/strong, and having good athletic teams can elevate the school experience for the entire high school.

Maybe developing your own athletes starting in lower school could also elevate the high school experience.

Most do. Basketball is riskier in some sense because the team itself is so small. Probably on 15 players make a varsity team.

Soccer, baseball, lacrosse, football, track have better odds for athletes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot speak to Maret, but the GDS is very balanced in terms of student activities/interests. It doesn't have the dominant athletic popularity that you'd find at some schools. At GDS, art, drama, debate, sports, newspaper, robotics, etc. all have equal footing. The course catalog is also quite extensive compared to my other child's private--I assume the larger student body can justify more/different classes/levels. The benefit students really being encouraged to participate in what interests them vs following the pack is when it comes time to apply to college, students have pursued a wide variety of interests/paths vs everyone taking the same courses that it is easier to differentiate themself.

Agree. It's feels more similar to college than what I experienced in high school.

We really like GDS and our kid is having a great time in HS (including being on varsity sports teams), but to say that non-athletic extracurriculars have equal footing with athletics is overstated. It might be more balanced compared to other high schools, but athletics at GDS still get a ton of resources and recognition that just aren't given to other activities.

Interesting that athletics get a ton of resources at a school where they are not required and where kids are not recruited. I would have thought things like debate would be emphasized more at GDS than sports. Or is GDS now seeking to be more competitive in sports?

And, as an aside, when did schools like Sidwell start recruiting athletes? And why?

Sidwell is shameless in its recruiting and drops academic requirements significantly for top recruits. It’s gross

Why do you think Maret has a competitive basketball team ?

They've got several super tall athletes. That's usually a sign. Non-recruiting schools might have one that's 6'5', but to have several that height or taller usually signals recruiting.

Maret basketball is under .500 in a so-so MAC conference.

As for why schools invest in athletics: kids at the schools enjoy being in communities where there are fun events to be a part of. Basketball doesn't require too many kids to be solid/strong, and having good athletic teams can elevate the school experience for the entire high school.

Maybe developing your own athletes starting in lower school could also elevate the high school experience.

That's a nice sentiment, but no schools with any measure of competitive athletics survive on homegrown lower school talent. Strong athletes aren't always easy to identify at that age and shouldn't be an institutional priority then.

[Anonymous]

But can anyone explain the rationale for Sidwell recruiting basketball athletes? It's not like they have trouble getting applicants. Why do they do it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But can anyone explain the rationale for Sidwell recruiting basketball athletes? It's not like they have trouble getting applicants. Why do they do it?

They had amazing successes with basketball a few years ago and don't want to let that die yet. It's also their strongest sport and, without it, the athletic programs don't look particularly enticing except for girls' soccer, cross country, and t&f.