Which DC private is the most academically rigorous?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GDS combines rigorous, top-notch academics with a nurturing, tolerant environment.

+1. Simply amazing faculty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS combines rigorous, top-notch academics with a nurturing, tolerant environment.

+1. Simply amazing faculty.

I'm increasingly interested in GDS for my child for high school, but my child is an upper level gymnast and starts training at 3:30 on weekdays in the suburbs. I'm guessing the school hours and commute wouldn't work with the training schedule.

[Anonymous]

All of the schools you are asking about have tracks that are as challenging as most bright kids would ever want and other tracks that are not substantially more demanding than a less selective private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your DC is HS age, they will form their own opinion about rigor when they do their shadow days. Both my DCs decided against a popular private HS after shadowing, based on lack of rigor.

oh, c'mon -- don't leave us hanging like that! which school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS combines rigorous, top-notch academics with a nurturing, tolerant environment.

+1. Simply amazing faculty.

I'm increasingly interested in GDS for my child for high school, but my child is an upper level gymnast and starts training at 3:30 on weekdays in the suburbs. I'm guessing the school hours and commute wouldn't work with the training schedule.

I don't know -- worth investigating, as it might work. I don't know when the Upper School day ends but that would be easy to figure out. GDS doesn't have a sports requirement so that would make it easier for you not to have to deal with getting an exemption or applying for independent study credit.

[Anonymous]

GDS does have a PE requirement in 9th grade (mostly health/CPR) but they are quite flexible regarding schedule for kids with major interests/talents that require a big out of school commitment. There was a nationally-ranked figure skater there a few years ago that definitely got out early I believe, and a few dancers, probably others I don't know about. So talk to the admissions office about it and they may refer you to the athletic director and/or dean of students to discuss, but compared to other local schools we found GDS more flexible about this sort of thing (Sidwell is very definitely not flexible for instance). The block schedule helps, because based on how choose classes/schedule, a couple of days could have nothing after say 2 pm. Classes end at 3:15 and it seems possible that every single day getting to gym by 3:30 would be difficult, but suspect it could work to arrive on time most days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your DC is HS age, they will form their own opinion about rigor when they do their shadow days. Both my DCs decided against a popular private HS after shadowing, based on lack of rigor.

oh, c'mon -- don't leave us hanging like that! which school?

I guess Maret.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your DC is HS age, they will form their own opinion about rigor when they do their shadow days. Both my DCs decided against a popular private HS after shadowing, based on lack of rigor.

oh, c'mon -- don't leave us hanging like that! which school?

N=2, so I don't think it would be fair to say. A kid who craves rigor will figure it out on their own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your DC is HS age, they will form their own opinion about rigor when they do their shadow days. Both my DCs decided against a popular private HS after shadowing, based on lack of rigor.

oh, c'mon -- don't leave us hanging like that! which school?

N=2, so I don't think it would be fair to say. A kid who craves rigor will figure it out on their own.

I don't think one shadow day shows that no matter what school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your DC is HS age, they will form their own opinion about rigor when they do their shadow days. Both my DCs decided against a popular private HS after shadowing, based on lack of rigor.

oh, c'mon -- don't leave us hanging like that! which school?

N=2, so I don't think it would be fair to say. A kid who craves rigor will figure it out on their own.

I don't think one shadow day shows that no matter what school.

Maybe not. What do you see as a better way of assessing rigor than spending a full day at a school attending a broad spectrum of classes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sat scores going down is a fact. Info on the ncs website. Their school profile gives this information and it has definitely declined.

Its a reflection of declining applications, and therefore lower standards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sat scores going down is a fact. Info on the ncs website. Their school profile gives this information and it has definitely declined.

Its a reflection of declining applications, and therefore lower standards.

Exactly. And that could have to do with their reputation and not just economy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sat scores going down is a fact. Info on the ncs website. Their school profile gives this information and it has definitely declined.

Its a reflection of declining applications, and therefore lower standards.

Exactly. And that could have to do with their reputation and not just economy.

Why has their reputation suffered?

[Anonymous]

What are least academically rigorous schools in the area?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are least academically rigorous schools in the area?

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