high schools where smart kids aren't considered nerds & can be popular?

[Anonymous]

My first answer was (and remains) GDS.

But, at a totally different end of the spectrum, I'd also throw in Visitation.

And if DCPS is an option, I'd check out School Without Walls.

[Anonymous]

Sidwell, GDS, Potomac, Maret, NCS, STA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My first answer was (and remains) GDS.

But, at a totally different end of the spectrum, I'd also throw in Visitation.

And if DCPS is an option, I'd check out School Without Walls.

I would not include Visitation, I have heard from students that there is consistently a "mean girl" problem there. I realize that this forum does not have a many progressive school fans, but there are a lot of smart kids at Edmund Burke and they do very well there.

[Anonymous]

I agree with what a lot of PPs are getting ay - that there's a difference between 'smart' and 'eccentric.' The latter is going to have a problem anywhere in middle school.

Can't speak to the other schools, but I went to Holton and there were popular girls who were super smart and some who were more middle-of-the-road. Likewise, there were varied ability levels represented in each crowd. Smart was definitely not an obstacle to popularity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with what a lot of PPs are getting ay - that there's a difference between 'smart' and 'eccentric.' The latter is going to have a problem anywhere in middle school.

Can't speak to the other schools, but I went to Holton and there were popular girls who were super smart and some who were more middle-of-the-road. Likewise, there were varied ability levels represented in each crowd. Smart was definitely not an obstacle to popularity.

OP - I second the suggestion of Holton-Arms in Bethesda. I know a number of girls who have gone there/are there and it might be a great fit for your DD. It strikes me as a school at which smart girls can flourish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think for kids, especially from grades 3 - 8, popular is a LOADED word. My children have never attended a school (public or private) where academic achievement was not celebrated. I will agree that some extremely bright kids have to work on their social skills. And while there are popular kids who are popular simply because they are nice and fun kids that people want to hang with, often, especially in the early years kids are deemed popular due to their behavior that reflects pop culture. Often times this also includes being exposed to entertainment and such that is actually not meant for someone their age. Not a good thing.

I agree with this. I'm almost ashamed to admit that I've lightened up on exposure to pop culture and entertainment with my 7 year old, just because I don't want him to feel like an outsider at school.

We have too, but I'm not really ashamed. It's part of life.

[Anonymous]

It would be more amusing to see a list of the schools where the smart kids are socially isolated. I can't imagine there is a private school in this area where intelligence isn't seen as an a huge asset.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My first answer was (and remains) GDS.

But, at a totally different end of the spectrum, I'd also throw in Visitation.

And if DCPS is an option, I'd check out School Without Walls.

I would not include Visitation, I have heard from students that there is consistently a "mean girl" problem there. I realize that this forum does not have a many progressive school fans, but there are a lot of smart kids at Edmund Burke and they do very well there.

Is being smart and being a "mean girl" mutually exclusive? When I was at Sidwell our mean girls were smart - several of them went to Ivy League schools.

[Anonymous]

Is there a school for dumb mean kids?

[Anonymous]

Aren't almost all kids in private HS smart begin with? At least the ones that people care about on this board. So popularity and smartness aren't mutually exclusive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there a school for dumb mean kids?

Oh please, let's not go there. I can just imagine other DCUMers sharpening their talons before they start to type....