GDS or WIS for elementary school?

[Anonymous]

Bilingual kids who will most likely move abroad with us during their years in attendance one or two times for two year stints. Three kids, youngest still a baby. One boy and two girls - we would like them in the same elementary school. Our boy loves sports.

We are so divided between these two schools. And help/experience would be appreciated. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

If he likes sports GDS will offer more than WIS in elementary school.

[Anonymous]

Our kids attended both schools and we ended up staying at WIS. Both schools are excellent but we like the international environment at WIS better, and find the school more diverse and the curriculum more global than GDS (being an international family ourselves). And we prefer the IB which is very rigorous at WIS and well recognized both abroad and here. This being said, our kids left twice (once from GDS, once from WIS) for a few years and were readmiitted to their school in both cases (after going again through the full admission process but with friendly logistical support).

[Anonymous]

NP here, great perspective, thanks PP.

[Anonymous]

We are a bilingual and international family and have been really happy at GDS. We are not particularly keen on IB and feel that overall and through the divisions, the academics at GDS are stronger. For elementary and middle it is probably a wash, but it is hard to beat GDS US. The kids are fantastically prepared for college.

[Anonymous]

They are both great schools. The IB program at WIS is very rigorous and unless you have had kids at both, as the PP did, not sure that you can accurately make the statement about the upper schools. I have multiple friends with kids at GDS who say the primary and middle schools are not very challenging but that it really picks up in the US and that, yes, the US is a really great experience. But that does not mean it is “stronger” than another program. OP, you should visit both schools and talk to families in real life as well. Good luck with the process!

[Anonymous]

There's a lot of overlap between the 2 schools in applications and even within families. Not sure you can go wrong here if your kids were accepted at both. Mine were, and we chose WIS for a variety of reasons.

Both primary schools (as with most other private primary schools in DC) have their detractors. If language is the priority in the younger years, I'd go for WIS. Otherwise I think you'll find that the primary schools will look pretty similar.

The WIS middle school is fantastic, and both high schools are excellent preparation for college.

WIS will have had more experience with families re-entering after time abroad (you do need to reapply each time and for each child), and they also have preK3 for your youngest if needed. Overall parent populations at the 2 schools have a pretty different feel, if that matters to you.

[Anonymous]

Bilingual / international family here, both kids at GDS. We love it. In every level. Teachers, administration, way of teaching. My kids have developed an amazing passion for learning. We do languages outsise the school and speak our mother tongue always at home. Our friends and entourage is mainly diverse and international. The school is very American, but in our case that is a good (better) fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's a lot of overlap between the 2 schools in applications and even within families. Not sure you can go wrong here if your kids were accepted at both. Mine were, and we chose WIS for a variety of reasons.

Both primary schools (as with most other private primary schools in DC) have their detractors. If language is the priority in the younger years, I'd go for WIS. Otherwise I think you'll find that the primary schools will look pretty similar.

The WIS middle school is fantastic, and both high schools are excellent preparation for college.

WIS will have had more experience with families re-entering after time abroad (you do need to reapply each time and for each child), and they also have preK3 for your youngest if needed. Overall parent populations at the 2 schools have a pretty different feel, if that matters to you.

How do you know this?

[Anonymous]

9:32 again here, forgot to respond to your sports question. WIS is not known for sports outside of soccer. It's a big part of the culture of the school. Some high school students can't play on the varsity team because of academy soccer. They have boys' and girls' volleyball, basketball, tennis, track, cross-country, and I think that's about it.

Someone else will advise on GDS' sports strengths.

[Anonymous]

They are both great schools. There are tons of opportunities for sports in this area. Good luck, OP.

[Anonymous]

Both great schools. Different approaches -- GDS is progressive, while WIS uses the IB Primary Years Program. Check both out and see which approach fits your kid and your family better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's a lot of overlap between the 2 schools in applications and even within families. Not sure you can go wrong here if your kids were accepted at both. Mine were, and we chose WIS for a variety of reasons.

Both primary schools (as with most other private primary schools in DC) have their detractors. If language is the priority in the younger years, I'd go for WIS. Otherwise I think you'll find that the primary schools will look pretty similar.

The WIS middle school is fantastic, and both high schools are excellent preparation for college.

WIS will have had more experience with families re-entering after time abroad (you do need to reapply each time and for each child), and they also have preK3 for your youngest if needed. Overall parent populations at the 2 schools have a pretty different feel, if that matters to you.

How do you know this?

Our kids got into both schools so we asked around a lot. Know many families at both schools. Have been to events at both.

Good luck with the decision.

[Anonymous]

Our child was accepted at a “big 3” and it was a really, really tough decision but we chose WIS in the end. It’s good to inquire on these forums but visiting schools will really help you decide. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Why are you framing this in terms of elementary schools when both are K-12? Think longer term. They lead to two pretty different HS experiences. I agree with others that LS/MS is probably a wash.