Kevin Plank gave millions to the school to upgrade the sports facilities. This was not motivated by the families, admin or the board, but a former student. |
Well the OP also mentioned STA/NCS, GDS but you don't see parents from these schools make an a$$ out of themselves and try to "correct" what don't need to be corrected. Sidwell parents are so insecure. |
You're wrong. In fact, you're wrong on all the numbers you posted. |
The teams for girls take more freshman players. The teams for boys are very hard. The only no-cut is running. Forget about it for baseball, golf, tennis, and non-freshman soccer. Its as if sports are a pro-team already. No room for normal HS students. |
It would be interesting to see pre vs post pandemic numbers. People decide on schools for a number of reasons. MCPS has had it's challenges and is just too big. But overall, SJC is not better than any of the "Ws" and probably on par with B-CC at best. |
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We chose SJC over BCC and are very happy that we did. There are huge differences between the two schools. Classes at SJC are a lot smaller (average 20 kids per class). SJC hasn’t experienced lockdowns or bomb threats while we have been there. There aren’t any fights or safety issues in the school, and there is not a rampant drug problem. Unlike public schools, you have to apply to SJC so problem kids can be screened out. SJC regularly suspends and expels kids who don’t adhere to its rules.
On top of all of that it has excellent academics and sports. In particular we like that the kids write lots of papers (all seniors have to write a senior thesis paper). |
No, that’s not it. Someone (or a handful) of BIM boosters often post on other schools’ threads about its recent Niche ranking. In response, parents routinely call it a joke ranking and say BIM is an undesirable school. There’s a very different energy when Sidwell parents post almost anything positive about their school. I’m not trying to argue this point. I’m not a Sidwell parent, but I see the difference. It’s ok if you don’t agree. |
NP. Not all, and not either of the numbers presented as fact. SJC has about 1300 students (source: https://www.stjohnschs.org/userfiles/sjchsmvc/documents/College%20Counseling/School%20Profile.pdf ) 83% of Montgomery County students are in public, therefore 17% are not (source: https://www.publicschoolreview.com/maryland/montgomery-county#google_vignette ). PP presented the 60% and 25% as estimates/guesses. Do you have sources to indicate those percentages are likely wrong? |
| Many families look at SJCHS as a cheaper option than other elite private schools. It's also academically strong without being overbearing. The students genuinely love it there and it is by no means a pressure cooker environment. |
No, that’s incorrect. GDS was ranked #1 in 2022 (Sidwell #2), after Sidwell had held that spot “for at least the past two years.” BIM didn’t even crack the top 5 that year. https://theaugurbit.com/2021/10/23/gds-tops-sidwell-in-new-rankings-arousing-school-pride/ Btw, Niche’s 2025 rankings have Sidwell ranked #1 as the best private high school in the DMV. BIM is #2. https://www.niche.com/k12/search/best-high-schools/m/washington-dc-metro-area/ |
One of us is wrong. And it turns out it's you. See the citation in the above Post. (Get a clue!) |
Better against what criteria? When you don't "get it", I guess you don't "get it". People don't go to private schools for the academics alone. It's the whole experience for your kids that's different. |
Kudos to Sidwell! They finally dethroned BIM. |
Battle of the titans. |
😂 🤣 |