Best HS for girls, athletics and academic, good mix?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This depends on the sport or sports, of course, but I would start by stratifying by a) good to very good student; and b) outstanding student.

For a good to very good student:
1. Potomac
2. Visitation
3. Stone Ridge and St. Stephens-St. Agnes, and O'Connell
4. Bullis

For an outstanding student:
1. NCS
2. Holton
3. GDS, Sidwell or Maret

I'm missing several schools, of course, but these are the ones that jump out. I'm not sure where Flint Hill, Episcopal and Holy Child fall on the sports scale.

Academics aside, these seem to be the best programs (over the last 5-10 years, with recent years weighted more heavily), in descending order:
1. NCS Crew
2. Holton Tennis
3. Visi Basketball
4. Visi Soccer
5. Visi Lacrosse
6. Visi and NCS Field Hockey
7. GDS Cross-Country
8. NCS Softball
I'm not sure about volleyball or swimming, and this list may not do Stone Ridge or Potomac justice, but have at it.

One reason that Visi is able to field strong teams in the larger team sports is their larger student population relative to the other schools.

The only 3 programs, in the ISL, to have true national recognition are:
Flint Hill Volleyball
St Stephens St Agnes Lacrosse
Visi Lacrosse

Close and getting closer
SR Lacrosse

That’s about it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Holton and NCS would be the best for girls academics w/ good sports. FWIW mine was recruited to Ivy from Holton for her sport. She also had friends recruited for sport from NCS. GDS sucks at sports and SJ is not as good academically. Visi would be ok and so would SR. (but not quite as good academically as NCS/Holton).

+1 All true, although GDS does seem to be getting better in some sports, and is great in cross-country. Visi is probably the best in the 'major' sports of soccer, field hockey, basketball and lacrosse, but it neglects many other sports and is not on the level of NCS and Holton, or even Potomac. Holton is outstanding in tennis, and NCS is historically strong, but Holton and Potomac have passed them by, of late. NCS Crew is incredible -- easily the best girls sports program in the entire DC area. It is known nationally, similar to men's lacrosse and football at Gonzaga and football at StJ.

I believe the girls lacrosse programs at BI and SSSAS would take issue with this.

[Anonymous]

The academic and sports "lists" someone created above are a joke. First, Potomac is one of the top academic schools in the area. In fact, just look at the NMSF rankings someone provided. That year they were above Maret for one. Second, on no list of top athletics should GDS, Maret, Sidwell or NCS ever be included (Crew, as an outlier sport, aside). As for sports, Holton beat SSSAS last year in lacrosse and made to the finals. Further, and most telling, most of Holton's sports teams compete in the top ISL bracket (AA) and do most of Potomac's, Visi's and SR's. Potomac won the ISL AA Soccer championship last year.

Bottom line, the schools that are both, strong across-the-board academically and athletically (beyond one niche sport) are Holton and Potomac, SSSAS and Visi, and Stone Ridge. That is it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This depends on the sport or sports, of course, but I would start by stratifying by a) good to very good student; and b) outstanding student.

For a good to very good student:
1. Potomac
2. Visitation
3. Stone Ridge and St. Stephens-St. Agnes, and O'Connell
4. Bullis

For an outstanding student:
1. NCS
2. Holton
3. GDS, Sidwell or Maret

I'm missing several schools, of course, but these are the ones that jump out. I'm not sure where Flint Hill, Episcopal and Holy Child fall on the sports scale.

Academics aside, these seem to be the best programs (over the last 5-10 years, with recent years weighted more heavily), in descending order:
1. NCS Crew
2. Holton Tennis
3. Visi Basketball
4. Visi Soccer
5. Visi Lacrosse
6. Visi and NCS Field Hockey
7. GDS Cross-Country
8. NCS Softball
I'm not sure about volleyball or swimming, and this list may not do Stone Ridge or Potomac justice, but have at it.

One reason that Visi is able to field strong teams in the larger team sports is their larger student population relative to the other schools.


Sidwell girls varsity soccer is amazing and beat all the other schools in their league. Very strong program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This depends on the sport or sports, of course, but I would start by stratifying by a) good to very good student; and b) outstanding student.

For a good to very good student:
1. Potomac
2. Visitation
3. Stone Ridge and St. Stephens-St. Agnes, and O'Connell
4. Bullis

For an outstanding student:
1. NCS
2. Holton
3. GDS, Sidwell or Maret

I'm missing several schools, of course, but these are the ones that jump out. I'm not sure where Flint Hill, Episcopal and Holy Child fall on the sports scale.

Academics aside, these seem to be the best programs (over the last 5-10 years, with recent years weighted more heavily), in descending order:
1. NCS Crew
2. Holton Tennis
3. Visi Basketball
4. Visi Soccer
5. Visi Lacrosse
6. Visi and NCS Field Hockey
7. GDS Cross-Country
8. NCS Softball
I'm not sure about volleyball or swimming, and this list may not do Stone Ridge or Potomac justice, but have at it.

One reason that Visi is able to field strong teams in the larger team sports is their larger student population relative to the other schools.


Sidwell girls varsity soccer is amazing and beat all the other schools in their league. Very strong program.

Sidwell girls varsity soccer is amazing and beat all the other schools in their league. Very strong program

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This depends on the sport or sports, of course, but I would start by stratifying by a) good to very good student; and b) outstanding student.

For a good to very good student:
1. Potomac
2. Visitation
3. Stone Ridge and St. Stephens-St. Agnes, and O'Connell
4. Bullis

For an outstanding student:
1. NCS
2. Holton
3. GDS, Sidwell or Maret

I'm missing several schools, of course, but these are the ones that jump out. I'm not sure where Flint Hill, Episcopal and Holy Child fall on the sports scale.

Academics aside, these seem to be the best programs (over the last 5-10 years, with recent years weighted more heavily), in descending order:
1. NCS Crew
2. Holton Tennis
3. Visi Basketball
4. Visi Soccer
5. Visi Lacrosse
6. Visi and NCS Field Hockey
7. GDS Cross-Country
8. NCS Softball
I'm not sure about volleyball or swimming, and this list may not do Stone Ridge or Potomac justice, but have at it.

One reason that Visi is able to field strong teams in the larger team sports is their larger student population relative to the other schools.


Sidwell girls varsity soccer is amazing and beat all the other schools in their league. Very strong program.

Sidwell girls varsity soccer is amazing and beat all the other schools in their league. Very strong program

Yes, but winning the ISL is not like being ranked in the top 10 nationally in a spirt

St Stephens, ireton and Visi for Lacrosse
Flint Hill for volleyball

No other ISL/private schools are close

[Anonymous]

But none of those are close to the others with academics. Not even comparable.

[Anonymous]

Good Counsel Girls Soccer has reached national #1 ranking three times. Finished metro #1 and #25 nationally this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This depends on the sport or sports, of course, but I would start by stratifying by a) good to very good student; and b) outstanding student.

For a good to very good student:
1. Potomac
2. Visitation
3. Stone Ridge and St. Stephens-St. Agnes, and O'Connell
4. Bullis

For an outstanding student:
1. NCS
2. Holton
3. GDS, Sidwell or Maret

I'm missing several schools, of course, but these are the ones that jump out. I'm not sure where Flint Hill, Episcopal and Holy Child fall on the sports scale.

Academics aside, these seem to be the best programs (over the last 5-10 years, with recent years weighted more heavily), in descending order:
1. NCS Crew
2. Holton Tennis
3. Visi Basketball
4. Visi Soccer
5. Visi Lacrosse
6. Visi and NCS Field Hockey
7. GDS Cross-Country
8. NCS Softball
I'm not sure about volleyball or swimming, and this list may not do Stone Ridge or Potomac justice, but have at it.

One reason that Visi is able to field strong teams in the larger team sports is their larger student population relative to the other schools.


Sidwell girls varsity soccer is amazing and beat all the other schools in their league. Very strong program.

Sidwell girls varsity soccer is amazing and beat all the other schools in their league. Very strong program

True, but Visi girls soccer also beat all the other schools in the ISL this season -- including beating Sidwell 2-0.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This depends on the sport or sports, of course, but I would start by stratifying by a) good to very good student; and b) outstanding student.

For a good to very good student:
1. Potomac
2. Visitation
3. Stone Ridge and St. Stephens-St. Agnes, and O'Connell
4. Bullis

For an outstanding student:
1. NCS
2. Holton
3. GDS, Sidwell or Maret

I'm missing several schools, of course, but these are the ones that jump out. I'm not sure where Flint Hill, Episcopal and Holy Child fall on the sports scale.

Academics aside, these seem to be the best programs (over the last 5-10 years, with recent years weighted more heavily), in descending order:
1. NCS Crew
2. Holton Tennis
3. Visi Basketball
4. Visi Soccer
5. Visi Lacrosse
6. Visi and NCS Field Hockey
7. GDS Cross-Country
8. NCS Softball
I'm not sure about volleyball or swimming, and this list may not do Stone Ridge or Potomac justice, but have at it.

One reason that Visi is able to field strong teams in the larger team sports is their larger student population relative to the other schools.


Sidwell girls varsity soccer is amazing and beat all the other schools in their league. Very strong program.

Sidwell girls varsity soccer is amazing and beat all the other schools in their league. Very strong program

True, but Visi girls soccer also beat all the other schools in the ISL this season -- including beating Sidwell 2-0.

Should say "beat or tied"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Katie aledecky went to SR-worked our pretty well for her

Yes, Stone Ridge is responsible for her success as a swimmer. That is obvious due to the many, many other Olympic champion swimmers who are SR alums.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Katie aledecky went to SR-worked our pretty well for her

Yes, Stone Ridge is responsible for her success as a swimmer. That is obvious due to the many, many other Olympic champion swimmers who are SR alums.

Well-played!

[Anonymous]

Ledecky money is flowing all over the Ridge. Has anyone been there lately? There facilities are incredible. Holton should be ashamed how shabby everything is. NCS has room contraints. Potomac is coed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ledecky money is flowing all over the Ridge. Has anyone been there lately? There facilities are incredible. Holton should be ashamed how shabby everything is. NCS has room contraints. Potomac is coed.

All of the schools would have been thrilled to have Ledecky there. But SR had nothing to do with her being an Olympic swimmer. Her experience is a good example showing that for elite athletes, their particular school makes no difference...it is the travel and elite teams that do regardless of where the kids go to school. Exception...football and basketball...boys do get recruited straight off their h.s. teams; most other athletes have to do outside teams as well as school teams. My dd was recruited for DI field hockey and DI crew for being on teams outside of her school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP was asking for good academics too. STJ is just mediocre.
Holton or Potomac are the best academic schools that also have good sports teams.

As well as GDS and NCS

GDS is not as strong academically as Holton, NCS, or Potomac. And to say it's athletic is hilarious. Really. It's a great school, with very very liberal kids--but not strong athletes. I even know of several girls who left there for another school because of how bad the athletics are.

Seriously?!? GDS is much stronger academically than Potomac or Holton. It is as rigorous as Sidwell and NCS/STA.

GDS is not the equal of Sidwell, STA or NCS. It is equal to Potomac and Holton however. And the later three are only a little bit less intense than the first three.

Well, you are wrong. Based not just on college placement, but on things like NMSF numbers. Sidwell has 14 this year. GDS is second in DC with 11. STA has 7. NCS has 4. Potomac has 2. Holton has ? Well, I cannot find anything beyond Holton bragging about 10 commended students. Someone did an analysis on tis very board this fall showing percentages:

Sidwell 10.4%
St. Albans 7.7%
GDS 5.7%
NCS 4.4%
Holton 3.6%
Heights 3.2%
St. Anselm's 3.2%
Potomac 2.5%
Maret 2.5%
Walls 2.4%
McLean (VA) 2.4%
Visitation 1.9%
WIS 1.5%
GtownPrep 1.2%
Gonzaga 1.1%
Wash-Lee 1.1%
Yorktown 0.8%
Stone Ridge 0.7%
St. John's 0.6%

Fine, but National Merit is academics only and has nothing to do with sports. OP asked about a mix, so if you want to talk college placement and sports, the local conversation starts and ends with NCS Crew. In the last three years alone, NCS Crew has sent at least 3 rowers to UVa, 3 to Princeton, 2 to Stanford, 2 to Brown, 2 to Dartmouth, and at least one to MIT, UChicago, Wesleyan, Penn, Cornell, Yale, and Texas.

Fine, but this particular sub-thread was about academics only. So while you are correct about the lack of athletic stardom at GDS, it is clearly academically superior to Potomac and Holton and on a par with SFS, STA and NCS.

What about girls lacrosse at SSSAS? Are they no longer dominant? It used to be that all their most impressive college matriculations were girls lax stars when Joan Holden was head, and that's only what - 5 years ago?

"Clearly" by your sole criterion. No one cares about GDS. It is Sidwell for those who didn't get in to Sidwell. Those who applied to the other named schoosl didn't care because NOCAGDS.

Clearly by any number of criteria, including college matriculation.

I really don’t get your hatred for GDS. It has excellent academics. And I say this as an NCS mom.