Help - Maret vs. Sheridan for K????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would also like to point out another plus of a k-12. My child 4 or 5 was charming, articulate, cute and a 99% WPPSI. Pretty great candidate for a big 3 k-12. We went k-8. At 14, DC is still all those things, but it really isn't as important for admissions to 9th. Now DC is assessed on grades, SSAT scores, sports ability, extra curricular accomplishments. I really wish we went with the K-12. Sorry, but high school admissions are a crap shoot around here. I would 100% go with Maret. Fabulous school and you will have a great option for high school. You can always look elsewhere for 9th, but I suspect you will be relieved you can skip over the process. Good luck!

Which is exactly the reason some lifers wash out by ms or hs they may be cute 4 year olds but not academically strong enough to make it at the big schools. Wouldn't you rather know that before you go in?

[Anonymous]

I am the PP. I think you are right - some k-12 lifers might not be able to make it academically for high school. However, there are also kids (like my DC) that absolutely can make it academically at a Big 3, but must compete against tons of other kids that are similar in scores and profile for VERY FEW spots. Maret takes 25 kids for high school. About 12-13 per gender. There are plenty of qualified kids that get turned away. It is just a fact. Also, applying to high school is stressful. Just another perspective. K-8 schools are great for many reasons. Those have been mentioned here. I jut want to point out the negative side from first hand experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My friend's child's experience with Sheridan has been a class full of "challenging" kids. Several have been asked to leave (they are now in later elementary) but it's been a constant struggle with classmates with significant behavioral and mental health issues.

That said, the parents are great. Very down to earth. They are a close knit bunch because they've been together since the kids started school. If you want a ready-made community in DC, Sheridan is a great place to be.

Come on now DCPS admin/troll. You can do better than this. Go back to the drawing board. Very few kids leave Sheridan. Nice try however.

Not a troll at all and I have no dog
in this fight. I've just heard a LOT about Sheridan from my very good friend and thought it was helpful to share the good and the bad. It's a great community. The kids (at least in one grade cohort) are surprisingly challenging. And YES, several were most definitely encouraged to leave for other schools. But go ahead and put your head in the sand and pretend this doesn't happen...

This is patently untrue. You come across as a gleeful liar.

This school would never do that. Frankly, no independent school in NWDC would do the underlined.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am the PP. I think you are right - some k-12 lifers might not be able to make it academically for high school. However, there are also kids (like my DC) that absolutely can make it academically at a Big 3, but must compete against tons of other kids that are similar in scores and profile for VERY FEW spots. Maret takes 25 kids for high school. About 12-13 per gender. There are plenty of qualified kids that get turned away. It is just a fact. Also, applying to high school is stressful. Just another perspective. K-8 schools are great for many reasons. Those have been mentioned here. I jut want to point out the negative side from first hand experience.

not the PP your were responding to but wanted to say thanks for your perspective and your positive tone.

I agree that if a family knows that it wants a certain competitive K-12, they need to apply early and often. It is tough, and great, qualified kids get turned away.

To add another perspective: we chose a K-8 because it was a progressive school, not necessarily because it only went to 8th grade. But, we are fine with that because we want our child to be able to choose his own high school. It may end up being Sidwell, but it would just as easily be Washington Waldorf. I am happy for him to go through the admissions process again for high school, because he will be part of the decision process and because it will be an excellent experience to have going into the college admissions process. (I'm a college professor, so that is always in the back of my mind).

Congratulations to the OP. Best of luck with your decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My friend's child's experience with Sheridan has been a class full of "challenging" kids. Several have been asked to leave (they are now in later elementary) but it's been a constant struggle with classmates with significant behavioral and mental health issues.

That said, the parents are great. Very down to earth. They are a close knit bunch because they've been together since the kids started school. If you want a ready-made community in DC, Sheridan is a great place to be.

Come on now DCPS admin/troll. You can do better than this. Go back to the drawing board. Very few kids leave Sheridan. Nice try however.

Not a troll at all and I have no dog
in this fight. I've just heard a LOT about Sheridan from my very good friend and thought it was helpful to share the good and the bad. It's a great community. The kids (at least in one grade cohort) are surprisingly challenging. And YES, several were most definitely encouraged to leave for other schools. But go ahead and put your head in the sand and pretend this doesn't happen...

This is patently untrue. You come across as a gleeful liar.

This school would never do that. Frankly, no independent school in NWDC would do the underlined.

um.
kids ARE counseled out of NWDC privates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My friend's child's experience with Sheridan has been a class full of "challenging" kids. Several have been asked to leave (they are now in later elementary) but it's been a constant struggle with classmates with significant behavioral and mental health issues.

That said, the parents are great. Very down to earth. They are a close knit bunch because they've been together since the kids started school. If you want a ready-made community in DC, Sheridan is a great place to be.

Come on now DCPS admin/troll. You can do better than this. Go back to the drawing board. Very few kids leave Sheridan. Nice try however.

Not a troll at all and I have no dog
in this fight. I've just heard a LOT about Sheridan from my very good friend and thought it was helpful to share the good and the bad. It's a great community. The kids (at least in one grade cohort) are surprisingly challenging. And YES, several were most definitely encouraged to leave for other schools. But go ahead and put your head in the sand and pretend this doesn't happen...

This is patently untrue. You come across as a gleeful liar.

This school would never do that. Frankly, no independent school in NWDC would do the underlined.

um.
kids ARE counseled out of NWDC privates.

They sure are. But none of the NWDC independents would "encourage" a significant percentage of an entire grade "to leave for other schools." That's what our troll friend claims happened here.

[Anonymous]

OP, have you decided?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My friend's child's experience with Sheridan has been a class full of "challenging" kids. Several have been asked to leave (they are now in later elementary) but it's been a constant struggle with classmates with significant behavioral and mental health issues.

That said, the parents are great. Very down to earth. They are a close knit bunch because they've been together since the kids started school. If you want a ready-made community in DC, Sheridan is a great place to be.

Come on now DCPS admin/troll. You can do better than this. Go back to the drawing board. Very few kids leave Sheridan. Nice try however.

Not a troll at all and I have no dog
in this fight. I've just heard a LOT about Sheridan from my very good friend and thought it was helpful to share the good and the bad. It's a great community. The kids (at least in one grade cohort) are surprisingly challenging. And YES, several were most definitely encouraged to leave for other schools. But go ahead and put your head in the sand and pretend this doesn't happen...

This is patently untrue. You come across as a gleeful liar.

Sorry to burst your bubble but it is true and not just at Sheridan. At different k-8 also "cleaned house" last year. That school decided the money was not as critical to health of school as making sure all kids were a solid academic fit for school and that kids that needed more behavioral support be at a school that could handle those kids. Now back to Sheridan... Similar situation and if you need proof look at current 3rd grade cohort. They have accepted 6 kids. At a one class school like Sheridan that is a huge number!!

This school would never do that. Frankly, no independent school in NWDC would do the underlined.

um.
kids ARE counseled out of NWDC privates.

They sure are. But none of the NWDC independents would "encourage" a significant percentage of an entire grade "to leave for other schools." That's what our troll friend claims happened here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would also like to point out another plus of a k-12. My child 4 or 5 was charming, articulate, cute and a 99% WPPSI. Pretty great candidate for a big 3 k-12. We went k-8. At 14, DC is still all those things, but it really isn't as important for admissions to 9th. Now DC is assessed on grades, SSAT scores, sports ability, extra curricular accomplishments. I really wish we went with the K-12. Sorry, but high school admissions are a crap shoot around here. I would 100% go with Maret. Fabulous school and you will have a great option for high school. You can always look elsewhere for 9th, but I suspect you will be relieved you can skip over the process. Good luck!

This. Definitely choose Maret.

[Anonymous]

I'd pick Sheridan K all the way. Maret is a great school, that offers many wonderful things, but the K-8 model that Sheridan offers has been the best placement for our family. The 8th graders take such deep pride and care of their kindergarten buddies, it is really a special place. In the K-8 model, the 7th and 8th graders really learn about leadership and responsibility as the 'big kids' in the school before they head off to high school. It is hard to know right now what our DC will be like as a student in high school, and I am excited for her to be part of the process of learning about what school will best suit her needs as a 14 year old - a decision I can not make while she is so young. I understand that is one of the many qualities Sheridan students graduate with - learning about themselves as learners. The school is small and intimate, all the adults know each child's name. It is hard to replicate that type of connection in a k-12 environment. You have 2 great choices - but 2 very different choices, so part of your decision should be thinking about what type of school setting you want for your child. I'd go with Sheridan

[Anonymous]

I think it would be wise for everyone to get their facts straight and not just go on what their friends have said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maret - no question.

Even if later you do not like Maret for high school it will be easier to get into school of your choice from Maret; not so much from Sheridan.

the Sheridan kids go where they want for H.S.


that said, both schools offer a really good K-8 experience, I hear.

There is no school where the kids "go where they want" unless they are encouraged to aim low. Admissions are too competitive for that.

[Anonymous]

We chose Sheridan over GDS. It was a hard choice (even though I kept hearing over and over again how all the Sheridan kids go to GDS in 9th). What sealed the deal for us was the teaching staff we met, the academics (choices and progressive approach), the mountain campus, and meeting the kids at both schools. There is a certain level of confidence in these Sheridan kids that feels very steady and not overwhelmed or stressed out. We have friends with older kids at both schools, and some of these Maret kids were struggling in a way I don't want to put upon my kid including socially. We do have to deal with post Sheridan school decisions but right now I am leaning towards Wilson actually. I have a few years to decide but a good friend who I lean on for college advice and info (she is an admissions officer) says they love kids coming from Wilson vs. a private school. Go with your gut. Maret is a lovely school - you have some good choices!

[Anonymous]

Maret.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would also like to point out another plus of a k-12. My child 4 or 5 was charming, articulate, cute and a 99% WPPSI. Pretty great candidate for a big 3 k-12. We went k-8. At 14, DC is still all those things, but it really isn't as important for admissions to 9th. Now DC is assessed on grades, SSAT scores, sports ability, extra curricular accomplishments. I really wish we went with the K-12. Sorry, but high school admissions are a crap shoot around here. I would 100% go with Maret. Fabulous school and you will have a great option for high school. You can always look elsewhere for 9th, but I suspect you will be relieved you can skip over the process. Good luck!

This. Definitely choose Maret.

+1