Sidwell vs GDS -- specific examples of what differentiates the two

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were lucky to have the choice btw the two as well, as did a family we met at the school we chose later. We compared notes on key differences. Here are the top 10 that I recall:

1. GDS felt like it had a stronger community (school supporting the kids/events/parents volunteering).
2. Sidwell had a larger MS/HS campus for the kids to spread out.
3. GDS had a modern, new building for LS/MS (deceptively big).
4. HS at GDS had an open campus so kids come and go whenever they want. Not sure the rules at Sidwell.
5. Academics at both seemed really good. Teachers we met at both seemed really good.
6. Big focus at GDS on social justice, so it's integrated into the curriculum and assemblies. Very liberal.
7. Sidwell is a Quaker school, so they talked about God and have times of worship where they sit in silence so God can give them insights (this is how it was described to us, apologies if I'm misrepresenting).
8. Both schools courses of study seemed interesting and challenging. Parents at Sidwell shared there was pressure/expectation to do well and competition amongst peers, but that drove the kids. I was impressed by the kids they set-up for us to meet. Parents at GDS said it's challenging and kids study really hard to get a B.
9. GDS seemed more fun/joyful. Kids seemed more at ease.
10. Sidwell athletics seemed better.

We chose GDS.

GDS seems happier overall but the open campus open lunch off campus I think does not promote community. I think lunch time can be a time to know your community and sit at tables and get to know one another.[b]

This is a nice theory, but in reality this sort of bonding doesn't really happen at Sidwell lunch (but it does at St Albans). The food is great and having access to the food is also great - but it's not a community building block.

Speak for yourself/your own children. My children are US students at Sidwell and they usually eat cafeteria lunch. They definitely enjoy spending time and bonding with their friends during lunchtime.

It is no more special at Sidwell than at GDS. We've had US students at both schools and they both tended to eat out once a week and eat at school with friends on other days. (And they both tend to eat out after school a few times a month when sports/school/life gets busy) Neither Sidwell, nor GDS has some special bonding magic at lunchtime more than the other. The students we know at St Albans have a far more structured lunch period ritual and I'd say that's a school where bonding at lunch is next level and a building block to their community.

The main difference is we had between the two kids was more effort was required for lunches for our GDS student. We thought this would be a huge hassle going in, but it wasn't really that bad. (And our Sidwell student had some food unexpected challenges along the way that made it harder than we thought - but again - not a big deal)

I don’t believe for one moment that your child attended Sidwell. If she/he had attended, you would know there’s a HUGE difference in convenience and time saved by having lunch on campus. I packed my children’s lunches through 6th grade (they each joined Sidwell in 7th), and I couldn’t wait to be released from that hellish chore.

You chose GDS, and that’s fine for you. My children wouldn’t change their lunch setup for GDS’ situation.

It’s kind of stupid…but isn’t lunch at Sidwell covered in tuition while it is not at GDS?

Yes. GDS only charges about $3,000 less than Sidwell for tuition. If a GDS student spends just $15/day on lunch, that’s $3,000 for lunch per school year. So, at GDS you’re paying just as much for far less convenience.

[Anonymous]

I don’t have an answer, but my impression was that there were closet republicans at Sidwell but the gds families were all true believer progressives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t have an answer, but my impression was that there were closet republicans at Sidwell but the gds families were all true believer progressives.

You would have to be a closeted Republican at Sidwell. I don’t know why those families wouldn’t just send their children to STA/NCS. I’m sure they would be much more comfortable at the Cathedral schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were lucky to have the choice btw the two as well, as did a family we met at the school we chose later. We compared notes on key differences. Here are the top 10 that I recall:

1. GDS felt like it had a stronger community (school supporting the kids/events/parents volunteering).
2. Sidwell had a larger MS/HS campus for the kids to spread out.
3. GDS had a modern, new building for LS/MS (deceptively big).
4. HS at GDS had an open campus so kids come and go whenever they want. Not sure the rules at Sidwell.
5. Academics at both seemed really good. Teachers we met at both seemed really good.
6. Big focus at GDS on social justice, so it's integrated into the curriculum and assemblies. Very liberal.
7. Sidwell is a Quaker school, so they talked about God and have times of worship where they sit in silence so God can give them insights (this is how it was described to us, apologies if I'm misrepresenting).
8. Both schools courses of study seemed interesting and challenging. Parents at Sidwell shared there was pressure/expectation to do well and competition amongst peers, but that drove the kids. I was impressed by the kids they set-up for us to meet. Parents at GDS said it's challenging and kids study really hard to get a B.
9. GDS seemed more fun/joyful. Kids seemed more at ease.
10. Sidwell athletics seemed better.

We chose GDS.

GDS seems happier overall but the open campus open lunch off campus I think does not promote community. I think lunch time can be a time to know your community and sit at tables and get to know one another.[b]

This is a nice theory, but in reality this sort of bonding doesn't really happen at Sidwell lunch (but it does at St Albans). The food is great and having access to the food is also great - but it's not a community building block.

Speak for yourself/your own children. My children are US students at Sidwell and they usually eat cafeteria lunch. They definitely enjoy spending time and bonding with their friends during lunchtime.

It is no more special at Sidwell than at GDS. We've had US students at both schools and they both tended to eat out once a week and eat at school with friends on other days. (And they both tend to eat out after school a few times a month when sports/school/life gets busy) Neither Sidwell, nor GDS has some special bonding magic at lunchtime more than the other. The students we know at St Albans have a far more structured lunch period ritual and I'd say that's a school where bonding at lunch is next level and a building block to their community.

The main difference is we had between the two kids was more effort was required for lunches for our GDS student. We thought this would be a huge hassle going in, but it wasn't really that bad. (And our Sidwell student had some food unexpected challenges along the way that made it harder than we thought - but again - not a big deal)

I don’t believe for one moment that your child attended Sidwell. If she/he had attended, you would know there’s a HUGE difference in convenience and time saved by having lunch on campus. I packed my children’s lunches through 6th grade (they each joined Sidwell in 7th), and I couldn’t wait to be released from that hellish chore.

You chose GDS, and that’s fine for you. My children wouldn’t change their lunch setup for GDS’ situation.

It’s kind of stupid…but isn’t lunch at Sidwell covered in tuition while it is not at GDS?

Yes. GDS only charges about $3,000 less than Sidwell for tuition. If a GDS student spends just $15/day on lunch, that’s $3,000 for lunch per school year. So, at GDS you’re paying just as much for far less convenience.

But GDS tuition includes textbooks and Sidwell's doesn't. GDS's bus is very cheap. There may be other differences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Totally different parent vibe, too. Both "progressive" of course, but the GDS vibe is "we really are a public school family but [insert random excuse why they are now paying $55k a year for private school]" whereas Sidwell families don't even pretend.

I love this!

GDS: “We are a public school family and drive Subarus, but due to Phoebe’s trust fund and neither of us ever having gone to public school in our lives and our belief that Gia and Genni can only thrive with small classes and curated lunch options we (or Phoebe’s trust) are now paying $55K for each child to attend GDS. We’re both Feds and democrats and believe strongly in having good public education though.”

Sidwell: “Tony and I want Max and Peter to get the best education they can.”

This is so funny and SO accurate for GDS. For Sidwell I would change it to: We moved to DC after college to both work at white shoe law firms/lobbying firms/etc and we have heard from day one that THIS is the place that the Very Important People around town send their kids so for that reason only we will do literally whatever it takes for our kids to go here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t have an answer, but my impression was that there were closet republicans at Sidwell but the gds families were all true believer progressives.

You would have to be a closeted Republican at Sidwell. I don’t know why those families wouldn’t just send their children to STA/NCS. I’m sure they would be much more comfortable at the Cathedral schools.

So diversity in sexuality and skin color and economic income but not viewpoint. That seems right on mission.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And/or why didn’t they build one for the upper school when they built the lower school.

Have you been to the consolidated campus? It’s tiny. With k-12 all there, it’s cramped as it is. Smallest footprint except maybe Burke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t have an answer, but my impression was that there were closet republicans at Sidwell but the gds families were all true believer progressives.

You would have to be a closeted Republican at Sidwell. I don’t know why those families wouldn’t just send their children to STA/NCS. I’m sure they would be much more comfortable at the Cathedral schools.

So diversity in sexuality and skin color and economic income but not viewpoint. That seems right on mission.

Delete income and you are closer to the mark. Visible, viewbook diversity. But parents like it that way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t have an answer, but my impression was that there were closet republicans at Sidwell but the gds families were all true believer progressives.

You would have to be a closeted Republican at Sidwell. I don’t know why those families wouldn’t just send their children to STA/NCS. I’m sure they would be much more comfortable at the Cathedral schools.

So diversity in sexuality and skin color and economic income but not viewpoint. That seems right on mission.

Yes—and I love it!
I’m so happy that I don’t have to deal with (openly) trump supporting parents at Sidwell. Please take that nonsense to other schools that want that form of “diversity.” If I want to be pissed off, I can turn on Fox News.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t have an answer, but my impression was that there were closet republicans at Sidwell but the gds families were all true believer progressives.

You would have to be a closeted Republican at Sidwell. I don’t know why those families wouldn’t just send their children to STA/NCS. I’m sure they would be much more comfortable at the Cathedral schools.

So diversity in sexuality and skin color and economic income but not viewpoint. That seems right on mission.

Delete income and you are closer to the mark. Visible, viewbook diversity. But parents like it that way.

The purpose of financial aid is to have economic diversity. And Sidwell LOVES to trot out its financial aid. I get that that frequently goes hand in hand with racial diversity but not always.

Sigh, I was hoping that Sidwell had a more balanced parent population than it actually has. Oh well. It’s sad to me that only the Cathedral schools seem to in fact have a balance of all those things. It’s something I value for my own child. DC can be so insular and the wide world has loads of other viewpoints that I wish to be included in my child’s education. But, as usual, like posters on here: it’s they are the bad guy and I’m so happy I don’t have to be around them. It’s a dysfunction with long term effects. For all it’s lip service to academic ideas, simply shunning people who don’t share your own is a huge negative to me for GDS and Sidwell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were lucky to have the choice btw the two as well, as did a family we met at the school we chose later. We compared notes on key differences. Here are the top 10 that I recall:

1. GDS felt like it had a stronger community (school supporting the kids/events/parents volunteering).
2. Sidwell had a larger MS/HS campus for the kids to spread out.
3. GDS had a modern, new building for LS/MS (deceptively big).
4. HS at GDS had an open campus so kids come and go whenever they want. Not sure the rules at Sidwell.
5. Academics at both seemed really good. Teachers we met at both seemed really good.
6. Big focus at GDS on social justice, so it's integrated into the curriculum and assemblies. Very liberal.
7. Sidwell is a Quaker school, so they talked about God and have times of worship where they sit in silence so God can give them insights (this is how it was described to us, apologies if I'm misrepresenting).
8. Both schools courses of study seemed interesting and challenging. Parents at Sidwell shared there was pressure/expectation to do well and competition amongst peers, but that drove the kids. I was impressed by the kids they set-up for us to meet. Parents at GDS said it's challenging and kids study really hard to get a B.
9. GDS seemed more fun/joyful. Kids seemed more at ease.
10. Sidwell athletics seemed better.

We chose GDS.

GDS seems happier overall but the open campus open lunch off campus I think does not promote community. I think lunch time can be a time to know your community and sit at tables and get to know one another.[b]

This is a nice theory, but in reality this sort of bonding doesn't really happen at Sidwell lunch (but it does at St Albans). The food is great and having access to the food is also great - but it's not a community building block.

Speak for yourself/your own children. My children are US students at Sidwell and they usually eat cafeteria lunch. They definitely enjoy spending time and bonding with their friends during lunchtime.

It is no more special at Sidwell than at GDS. We've had US students at both schools and they both tended to eat out once a week and eat at school with friends on other days. (And they both tend to eat out after school a few times a month when sports/school/life gets busy) Neither Sidwell, nor GDS has some special bonding magic at lunchtime more than the other. The students we know at St Albans have a far more structured lunch period ritual and I'd say that's a school where bonding at lunch is next level and a building block to their community.

The main difference is we had between the two kids was more effort was required for lunches for our GDS student. We thought this would be a huge hassle going in, but it wasn't really that bad. (And our Sidwell student had some food unexpected challenges along the way that made it harder than we thought - but again - not a big deal)

I don’t believe for one moment that your child attended Sidwell. If she/he had attended, you would know there’s a HUGE difference in convenience and time saved by having lunch on campus. I packed my children’s lunches through 6th grade (they each joined Sidwell in 7th), and I couldn’t wait to be released from that hellish chore.

You chose GDS, and that’s fine for you. My children wouldn’t change their lunch setup for GDS’ situation.

OP - well - here's another difference for you. There are a set of Sidwell parents that never want to believe anything that doesn't fit the narrative of their child's own experience.

PP - you're nuts. Yes - I have had children at both Sidwell and GDS for high school. Having lunch available is great and the DC who went to Sidwell very much appreciated it. And, not having lunch at GDS was not as big of a deal as we expected - and we expected it to be a complete hassle. (The reason it wasn't, is partly because GDC DC is more flexible about options to bring in lunch - so this is kid dependent). But my point is that neither lunch scenario - Sidwell or GDS - had ANY impact on socialization at lunch time. They both spent time with friends. Sometimes my DCs went out for lunch (both of them, once a week!), but most often they did not. And GDS is not some dead zone at lunch with "haves" going out and "have nots" left behind. Just because there are wealthy families there, many parents do not support the idea of their student going out for lunch every day - it is unhealthy and it is an expensive habit to teach a kid who will one day need to manage daily lunch as an young adult on their own dime. Sure - I bet some kids go out more than others - but really - both my kids did the same thing at lunch at these two schools. You don't need cafeteria tables and a lunch line to bond with friends at lunchtime. And that was the point I was expressing when someone else suggested it made a difference in bonding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were lucky to have the choice btw the two as well, as did a family we met at the school we chose later. We compared notes on key differences. Here are the top 10 that I recall:

1. GDS felt like it had a stronger community (school supporting the kids/events/parents volunteering).
2. Sidwell had a larger MS/HS campus for the kids to spread out.
3. GDS had a modern, new building for LS/MS (deceptively big).
4. HS at GDS had an open campus so kids come and go whenever they want. Not sure the rules at Sidwell.
5. Academics at both seemed really good. Teachers we met at both seemed really good.
6. Big focus at GDS on social justice, so it's integrated into the curriculum and assemblies. Very liberal.
7. Sidwell is a Quaker school, so they talked about God and have times of worship where they sit in silence so God can give them insights (this is how it was described to us, apologies if I'm misrepresenting).
8. Both schools courses of study seemed interesting and challenging. Parents at Sidwell shared there was pressure/expectation to do well and competition amongst peers, but that drove the kids. I was impressed by the kids they set-up for us to meet. Parents at GDS said it's challenging and kids study really hard to get a B.
9. GDS seemed more fun/joyful. Kids seemed more at ease.
10. Sidwell athletics seemed better.

We chose GDS.

GDS seems happier overall but the open campus open lunch off campus I think does not promote community. I think lunch time can be a time to know your community and sit at tables and get to know one another.[b]

This is a nice theory, but in reality this sort of bonding doesn't really happen at Sidwell lunch (but it does at St Albans). The food is great and having access to the food is also great - but it's not a community building block.

Speak for yourself/your own children. My children are US students at Sidwell and they usually eat cafeteria lunch. They definitely enjoy spending time and bonding with their friends during lunchtime.

It is no more special at Sidwell than at GDS. We've had US students at both schools and they both tended to eat out once a week and eat at school with friends on other days. (And they both tend to eat out after school a few times a month when sports/school/life gets busy) Neither Sidwell, nor GDS has some special bonding magic at lunchtime more than the other. The students we know at St Albans have a far more structured lunch period ritual and I'd say that's a school where bonding at lunch is next level and a building block to their community.

The main difference is we had between the two kids was more effort was required for lunches for our GDS student. We thought this would be a huge hassle going in, but it wasn't really that bad. (And our Sidwell student had some food unexpected challenges along the way that made it harder than we thought - but again - not a big deal)

I don’t believe for one moment that your child attended Sidwell. If she/he had attended, you would know there’s a HUGE difference in convenience and time saved by having lunch on campus. I packed my children’s lunches through 6th grade (they each joined Sidwell in 7th), and I couldn’t wait to be released from that hellish chore.

You chose GDS, and that’s fine for you. My children wouldn’t change their lunch setup for GDS’ situation.

It’s kind of stupid…but isn’t lunch at Sidwell covered in tuition while it is not at GDS?

On this note. When our second went to GDS we were surprised to find books are included in tuition at GDS - they were not at Sidwell. (and those books were pricey!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t have an answer, but my impression was that there were closet republicans at Sidwell but the gds families were all true believer progressives.

You would have to be a closeted Republican at Sidwell. I don’t know why those families wouldn’t just send their children to STA/NCS. I’m sure they would be much more comfortable at the Cathedral schools.

So diversity in sexuality and skin color and economic income but not viewpoint. That seems right on mission.

Yes—and I love it!
I’m so happy that I don’t have to deal with (openly) trump supporting parents at Sidwell. Please take that nonsense to other schools that want that form of “diversity.” If I want to be pissed off, I can turn on Fox News.

Dual family here - We had no interaction in 4 years with an openly Trump supporting parents at Sidwell. To be honest, most people didn't speak about politics at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t have an answer, but my impression was that there were closet republicans at Sidwell but the gds families were all true believer progressives.

You would have to be a closeted Republican at Sidwell. I don’t know why those families wouldn’t just send their children to STA/NCS. I’m sure they would be much more comfortable at the Cathedral schools.

So diversity in sexuality and skin color and economic income but not viewpoint. That seems right on mission.

Delete income and you are closer to the mark. Visible, viewbook diversity. But parents like it that way.

The purpose of financial aid is to have economic diversity. And Sidwell LOVES to trot out its financial aid. I get that that frequently goes hand in hand with racial diversity but not always.

Sigh, I was hoping that Sidwell had a more balanced parent population than it actually has. Oh well. It’s sad to me that only the Cathedral schools seem to in fact have a balance of all those things. It’s something I value for my own child. DC can be so insular and the wide world has loads of other viewpoints that I wish to be included in my child’s education. But, as usual, like posters on here: it’s they are the bad guy and I’m so happy I don’t have to be around them. It’s a dysfunction with long term effects. For all it’s lip service to academic ideas, simply shunning people who don’t share your own is a huge negative to me for GDS and Sidwell.

Everything isn’t for everyone. Our family doesn’t feel any loss in not being exposed to political perspectives that are rooted in every abhorrent ism, in a school setting. We live in “the real world,” so we get enough of that already.

If you’re seeking that type of educational environment for your children, there are plenty of schools for you in the DMV (e.g., NCS/STA, Visi, Gonzaga, Prep, Landon, Potomac, etc). Go find your people there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were lucky to have the choice btw the two as well, as did a family we met at the school we chose later. We compared notes on key differences. Here are the top 10 that I recall:

1. GDS felt like it had a stronger community (school supporting the kids/events/parents volunteering).
2. Sidwell had a larger MS/HS campus for the kids to spread out.
3. GDS had a modern, new building for LS/MS (deceptively big).
4. HS at GDS had an open campus so kids come and go whenever they want. Not sure the rules at Sidwell.
5. Academics at both seemed really good. Teachers we met at both seemed really good.
6. Big focus at GDS on social justice, so it's integrated into the curriculum and assemblies. Very liberal.
7. Sidwell is a Quaker school, so they talked about God and have times of worship where they sit in silence so God can give them insights (this is how it was described to us, apologies if I'm misrepresenting).
8. Both schools courses of study seemed interesting and challenging. Parents at Sidwell shared there was pressure/expectation to do well and competition amongst peers, but that drove the kids. I was impressed by the kids they set-up for us to meet. Parents at GDS said it's challenging and kids study really hard to get a B.
9. GDS seemed more fun/joyful. Kids seemed more at ease.
10. Sidwell athletics seemed better.

We chose GDS.

GDS seems happier overall but the open campus open lunch off campus I think does not promote community. I think lunch time can be a time to know your community and sit at tables and get to know one another.[b]

This is a nice theory, but in reality this sort of bonding doesn't really happen at Sidwell lunch (but it does at St Albans). The food is great and having access to the food is also great - but it's not a community building block.

Speak for yourself/your own children. My children are US students at Sidwell and they usually eat cafeteria lunch. They definitely enjoy spending time and bonding with their friends during lunchtime.

It is no more special at Sidwell than at GDS. We've had US students at both schools and they both tended to eat out once a week and eat at school with friends on other days. (And they both tend to eat out after school a few times a month when sports/school/life gets busy) Neither Sidwell, nor GDS has some special bonding magic at lunchtime more than the other. The students we know at St Albans have a far more structured lunch period ritual and I'd say that's a school where bonding at lunch is next level and a building block to their community.

The main difference is we had between the two kids was more effort was required for lunches for our GDS student. We thought this would be a huge hassle going in, but it wasn't really that bad. (And our Sidwell student had some food unexpected challenges along the way that made it harder than we thought - but again - not a big deal)

I don’t believe for one moment that your child attended Sidwell. If she/he had attended, you would know there’s a HUGE difference in convenience and time saved by having lunch on campus. I packed my children’s lunches through 6th grade (they each joined Sidwell in 7th), and I couldn’t wait to be released from that hellish chore.

You chose GDS, and that’s fine for you. My children wouldn’t change their lunch setup for GDS’ situation.

OP - well - here's another difference for you. There are a set of Sidwell parents that never want to believe anything that doesn't fit the narrative of their child's own experience.

PP - you're nuts. Yes - I have had children at both Sidwell and GDS for high school. Having lunch available is great and the DC who went to Sidwell very much appreciated it. And, not having lunch at GDS was not as big of a deal as we expected - and we expected it to be a complete hassle. (The reason it wasn't, is partly because GDC DC is more flexible about options to bring in lunch - so this is kid dependent). But my point is that neither lunch scenario - Sidwell or GDS - had ANY impact on socialization at lunch time. They both spent time with friends. Sometimes my DCs went out for lunch (both of them, once a week!), but most often they did not. And GDS is not some dead zone at lunch with "haves" going out and "have nots" left behind. Just because there are wealthy families there, many parents do not support the idea of their student going out for lunch every day - it is unhealthy and it is an expensive habit to teach a kid who will one day need to manage daily lunch as an young adult on their own dime. Sure - I bet some kids go out more than others - but really - both my kids did the same thing at lunch at these two schools. You don't need cafeteria tables and a lunch line to bond with friends at lunchtime. And that was the point I was expressing when someone else suggested it made a difference in bonding.

Why are you belaboring this point? GDS’ US cafeteria situation—or lack there of (among other issues) doesn’t work for us, and that’s ok. It’s not a big deal to you, but it’s a big deal to my family. Sidwell is a much better fit for our entire family. We don’t have to prioritize the same things. I’m happy to hear that GDS is a better fit for your family.