Would you choose School Without Walls over the private HS in which your DC is accepted?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. The sports offerings are very much lacking and are terrible.

So are the facilities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Debating the same choice. Tuition for HS or college is not a factor. College outcomes are also not a concern since it'll be the same kid and same parental factors in either option and the HS impact will probably be marginal. I get that private is better for teacher attention, class size and facilities.

DC's MS cohort admitted to Walls could all have academically rigorous private HS admits if they wanted to and could afford it, based on the subset who are facing this choice.

My main question is whether a stronger average cohort at Walls creates a difference in experience from a smaller two-speed cohort at rigorous privates where lifers may not be as strong academically on average.

The lifers do not dilute the rigor of the rigorous privates--lifer are expected to rise to the challenge or not get very good grades. So many classes are leveled at privates that there is a spot for everyone. My child (not a lifer) has a mix of new kids and lifers in his upper level classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. The sports offerings are very much lacking and are terrible.

So are the facilities.

Access to GW is terrible?! They go there for the library and some sports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. The sports offerings are very much lacking and are terrible.

So are the facilities.

The facilities are decent.
They are only terrible in the insufficiency of sports facilities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. The sports offerings are very much lacking and are terrible.

So are the facilities.

The facilities are decent.
They are only terrible in the insufficiency of sports facilities.

I guess you don’t know about the leaky classroom/hallway ceilings and the partly renovated SWW building. Some parts are decent (the renovated parts) and some parts are subpar (the rest).

[Anonymous]

The grass is always greener or at least cheaper on the other side. I went through this dilemma a few years ago. Hated MS at Sidwell and thought about switching. There was a Sidwell parent who switched to Walls whom I spoke with. She changed for social reasons and it worked out for her. Also spoke to a Walls family whose reaction was why would you leave Sidwell. LOL. We ended up staying and HS was a much better experience.

[Anonymous]

We would have happily sent our DC to SWW instead of private. They weren’t accepted despite perfect MS grades and outstanding test scores so they matriculated to a T10 uni from private instead. Sometimes SWW makes mistakes in admissions. That’s life.

[Anonymous]

This is OP. SWW felt more like a DC office building than a school, but I'm less concerned about the facilities than I am about the general experience, and the seemingly single-minded focus on college admissions and the high stress levels that students report there. The VA private school we're weighing it against has a more balanced approach, but going there would mean less sleep, more travel time, and paying tuition (which may or may not be offset in later years, depending on what happens on the college front). DC is unsure about which school they would prefer. Maybe we should just flip a coin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. SWW felt more like a DC office building than a school, but I'm less concerned about the facilities than I am about the general experience, and the seemingly single-minded focus on college admissions and the high stress levels that students report there. The VA private school we're weighing it against has a more balanced approach, but going there would mean less sleep, more travel time, and paying tuition (which may or may not be offset in later years, depending on what happens on the college front). DC is unsure about which school they would prefer. Maybe we should just flip a coin.

I don't know where you live...but the convenience factor is huge and should not be underestimated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SWW decisions will come out Friday 3/29. Question for families already accepted and enrolled at privates: assuming you are accepted at SWW, do you see yourself choosing SWW over the private high school in which you are already enrolled? How would you compare SWW with the area's top private high schools? (You don't need to remind me that SWW is free, I know that.)

absolutely not - no

[Anonymous]

Gave kid a choice between a Big 3 private and Walls and having chosen Walls is very happy, well challenged and learning to navigate a variety of city life experiences. When you look at it less like a high school and more like a college classroom building - its a different perspective perspective and not for every kid but has worked out well for us…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gave kid a choice between a Big 3 private and Walls and having chosen Walls is very happy, well challenged and learning to navigate a variety of city life experiences. When you look at it less like a high school and more like a college classroom building - its a different perspective perspective and not for every kid but has worked out well for us…

Does your kid not do any sports?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is at a Big3. No. No interest in SWW. It’s no TJ.

Ugh. No to TJ too. My kids are at top privates because we want them to have a great experience in school. Neither SWW nor TJ offer the sense of community, sports, wide range of ECs, kids with wide range of interests and an overall great hs experience that the great privates in our area do. Just not the same.

[Anonymous]

My daughter loved Walls, but it's not for everyone. If private is your preference, go for it; leave Walls for students who want to learn and haven't had all the opportunities that wealthy folks in DC can give their kids through privates. I'm tired of the bashing of DCPS; nothing is perfect, but the teachers and opportunities at Walls were great for my kid. She thrived there, made great friends, and attended a wonderful college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gave kid a choice between a Big 3 private and Walls and having chosen Walls is very happy, well challenged and learning to navigate a variety of city life experiences. When you look at it less like a high school and more like a college classroom building - its a different perspective perspective and not for every kid but has worked out well for us…

Does your kid not do any sports?

PP - our kid play a club sport….I was concerned it wouldnt give the same school community but both groups are working out well and a good fit