Sidwell vs. Georgetown Day School -- pros and cons

[Anonymous]

One is woke and the other one super woke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two differences we experiences:

1) Parent conferences - parent communication.

At Sidwell - parent conferences occurred in Fall 9th grade and then never again. And parents do not meet with all teachers at that time. Parents are asked to rank preferences and eventually are assigned 3 teachers to meet with (I think we got our top 3?)

At GDS - parent conferences are every Fall 9-12th grade - and there is time to meet with every teacher.

We much prefer the GDS model. We knew the teachers, they clearly knew our child.

Disclaimer that maybe Sidwell will change conference structure with new HS principal (who we loved through their prior role) - so current parents can speak up if an adjustment has been made this year.

The difference between conferences also reflects a difference in whether/how Sidwell and GDS handles parental conversation with the admin or teachers. GDS has been far more open to engagement.

New HS parents reading this should note that parent engagement in HS is (appropriately) far less than in MS/LS for any school.

2) Day to day student campus life

GDS has an open campus from day one. Kids are free to come and go and are trusted to act accordingly.

Sidwell is more structured and has more rules regarding being on campus. They are tracked and required to be on campus more often. Students get LOP points if they are caught (for this and missing meeting for worship and other thing). It's far more structured and more punitory overall (but often for campus rules)

Kids going to GDS need to have the maturity to handle this sort of freedom for sure. Note that Sidwell kids do still go out for lunch. Mine went out equally often. As a parent, the GDS model is another feature that leads to the school feeling lighter and happier and Sidwell feeling more restrictive.

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But to each their own - my Sidwell child chose it over GDS (and would do so again) and my GDS child the opposite. We do think the GDS path is a happier one (and college outcomes and preparedness the same).

If a kid has a choice between both - let them choose.

Same pp as above - one other difference

GDS's schedule allows for a wider variety of choices and choice begins at earlier stages than Sidwell. GDS also allows for more courses to be taken over time.

One of the ways we have seen this play out is that students take a wider variety of pathways at GDS based on their interests. At Sidwell, especially for the go-getter group - they all seemed to be racing in the same lane when it came to college applications. At GDS - kids could distinguish themselves by course selection over time and they felt like there were more lanes (and less head to head college competition where the only distinguishing feature was a grade or a test score).

This sounds like a key distinction but looking at the curricula I can’t see the difference. Both schools have identical minimum requirements for high school, except that Sidwell only requires 2 years of science and GDS requires 3. How have you seen this play out differently?

I suspect the poster above meant a difference in terms of choices of class vs specific requirements. I don’t know what Sidwell offers but for GDS selection opportunities are:
9th—pick language, math level, elective (most pick an arts requirement but you technically don’t have to—could pick another elective and take art junior or senior year for example), everyone takes the same History, English 9, PE

10th—pick language, math level, science level, history topic (world, euro, Latin American, Asian, or African), elective (most pick the other arts requirement but don’t have to if they take it later—some kids will take an additional elective and have no free period), everyone takes English 10, PE

11th—most pick language, math topic/level, history topic/level, science topic/level, 1-2 electives per semester that can range widely in topic/difficulty—could take an additional year long core course ie 2nd science, or a few single semester classes), everyone takes English 11 (for those that love English they can also select an additional English from several electives)

12th—everyone takes English 12–everything else is a choice and there are lots of choices among the core topics as well as electives. Most kids end up with 6-7 periods worth of classes depending on if they have a science with a lab that takes 2 periods.

Many will take some form of the 5 core subjects all four years but it can look very different depending on which classes are selected under science, history, math, language and additional English electives.

Having had another kid go through a DMV private with less selection, we can attest to the virtue of having more choice in spreading out the kids interests and making it feel less competitive.

[Anonymous]

Thanks above PP. This sounds identical to Sidwell, would love to to hear from other PP if I’m wrong about that

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two differences we experiences:

1) Parent conferences - parent communication.

At Sidwell - parent conferences occurred in Fall 9th grade and then never again. And parents do not meet with all teachers at that time. Parents are asked to rank preferences and eventually are assigned 3 teachers to meet with (I think we got our top 3?)

At GDS - parent conferences are every Fall 9-12th grade - and there is time to meet with every teacher.

We much prefer the GDS model. We knew the teachers, they clearly knew our child.

Disclaimer that maybe Sidwell will change conference structure with new HS principal (who we loved through their prior role) - so current parents can speak up if an adjustment has been made this year.

The difference between conferences also reflects a difference in whether/how Sidwell and GDS handles parental conversation with the admin or teachers. GDS has been far more open to engagement.

New HS parents reading this should note that parent engagement in HS is (appropriately) far less than in MS/LS for any school.

2) Day to day student campus life

GDS has an open campus from day one. Kids are free to come and go and are trusted to act accordingly.

Sidwell is more structured and has more rules regarding being on campus. They are tracked and required to be on campus more often. Students get LOP points if they are caught (for this and missing meeting for worship and other thing). It's far more structured and more punitory overall (but often for campus rules)

Kids going to GDS need to have the maturity to handle this sort of freedom for sure. Note that Sidwell kids do still go out for lunch. Mine went out equally often. As a parent, the GDS model is another feature that leads to the school feeling lighter and happier and Sidwell feeling more restrictive.

-----

But to each their own - my Sidwell child chose it over GDS (and would do so again) and my GDS child the opposite. We do think the GDS path is a happier one (and college outcomes and preparedness the same).

If a kid has a choice between both - let them choose.

Same pp as above - one other difference

GDS's schedule allows for a wider variety of choices and choice begins at earlier stages than Sidwell. GDS also allows for more courses to be taken over time.

One of the ways we have seen this play out is that students take a wider variety of pathways at GDS based on their interests. At Sidwell, especially for the go-getter group - they all seemed to be racing in the same lane when it came to college applications. At GDS - kids could distinguish themselves by course selection over time and they felt like there were more lanes (and less head to head college competition where the only distinguishing feature was a grade or a test score).

This sounds like a key distinction but looking at the curricula I can’t see the difference. Both schools have identical minimum requirements for high school, except that Sidwell only requires 2 years of science and GDS requires 3. How have you seen this play out differently?

Most kids entering Sidwell/GDS at HA are not taking the minimum requirements - they are taking 4 years of all 5 academic subjects because this is what colleges want. At Sidwell, some will choose to drop something senior year so they can double up in something they love. (for example - drop language in order to take two math, or two science ). At GDS you wouldn't have to drop language to double up in math or science (although at GDS the high level are double courses) - although (anywhere) you would want to be balanced enough in which level of science/math you chose to handle the work.

The differences I am speaking to are choices and number of classes. It helps to look at the flow charts of coursework by school and look at the number of periods the school has provided.

GDS has 8 blocks and allows you to take a 6th or even a 7th class as you wish (having a healthy balance is always stressed). Sidwell has 7 blocks - they only allow a 6th class if it is NOT an academic one - it can only be art/music or computer science. We knew kids that were having to forgo art/music (which has a 2 year requirement but some kids want 4) to give computer science a try while still taking the 5 academic classes.

GDS also starts allowing more choice and more options in 11th grade (for example, english electives in 11/12) vs Sidwell offering more choice in 12th (for example english 9/10/11 is same for all, 12th electives). There would be no way for someone at Sidwell taking 5 academic classes to take both music and art in a semester. At GDS, a student could do this in 11th/12th grade if they wanted to (because PE is gone by then) and still have a free period. Or they could take art and computer science and still take 5 academic core. Both schools offer a range of history electives but they are only available in 12th graders at Sidwell, but offered to 11th and 12th graders at GDS.

In the end - the Sidwell path was very structured with little choice (but my student ended up liking the courses) and many students took the exact same course sequence as my kid. GDS provided more choice (and my student liked those courses) and as a result - fewer students chose the exact same path as my kid.

That said - whether a student can get into the courses they "want" at GDS in 11th depends on space and demand. And at Sidwell there are several math and computer science courses (typically ones taken by seniors) that the school will end up not running if not enough students want it that year....which can be a bummer if you had looked forward to taking that class since you arrived in 9th grade.

But these both can happen at any school - so be wary - a school catalog (anywhere)typically includes a large list of courses - but being in the catalog doesn't always mean your kid will get into the class (space limited) or that the class will be offered (not enough demand).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks above PP. This sounds identical to Sidwell, would love to to hear from other PP if I’m wrong about that

No - it is not identical to Sidwell. Sidwell allow 6 classes max. Less room for electives and fewer choices. (we were at both schools)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks above PP. This sounds identical to Sidwell, would love to to hear from other PP if I’m wrong about that

No - it is not identical to Sidwell. Sidwell allow 6 classes max. Less room for electives and fewer choices. (we were at both schools)

To be clear - I am the PP who noted this difference.

But I'll say again - while i feel like this is a noticeable difference between the two schools. The first criteria should be - which school does your child want to attend. If they have a favorite between the two - they should go to that school.

[Anonymous]

Ok thanks for clarifying. The difference then is that at Sidwell you can never take more than 6 subjects, whereas at GDS you can take 7 or 8? How does that impact homework/general stress levels?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks above PP. This sounds identical to Sidwell, would love to to hear from other PP if I’m wrong about that

No - it is not identical to Sidwell. Sidwell allow 6 classes max. Less room for electives and fewer choices. (we were at both schools)

To be clear - I am the PP who noted this difference.

But I'll say again - while i feel like this is a noticeable difference between the two schools. The first criteria should be - which school does your child want to attend. If they have a favorite between the two - they should go to that school.

Thanks again PP. They do have a (slight) favorite, but having only done shadow days at each and having no real experience of either, it’s hard for them to tell!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok thanks for clarifying. The difference then is that at Sidwell you can never take more than 6 subjects, whereas at GDS you can take 7 or 8? How does that impact homework/general stress levels?

Gds has 8 periods and everyone is required to have a free period, so most people take 6-7 classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok thanks for clarifying. The difference then is that at Sidwell you can never take more than 6 subjects, whereas at GDS you can take 7 or 8? How does that impact homework/general stress levels?

Gds has 8 periods and everyone is required to have a free period, so most people take 6-7 classes.

But it looks like in 9th and 10th, PE is a required class, so still only one non-academic class. Sidwell doesn’t have a PE class that meets in the school day. So I don’t think the difference amounts to much

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GDS is the wannabe Sidwell. If you have a choice, go for the original.

Not true. Different cultures.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok thanks for clarifying. The difference then is that at Sidwell you can never take more than 6 subjects, whereas at GDS you can take 7 or 8? How does that impact homework/general stress levels?

Gds has 8 periods and everyone is required to have a free period, so most people take 6-7 classes.

But it looks like in 9th and 10th, PE is a required class, so still only one non-academic class. Sidwell doesn’t have a PE class that meets in the school day. So I don’t think the difference amounts to much

That’s true about PE. But it does make a difference. With 7 classes you can take 5 core academic plus
take another academic elective
two arts
music and studio art
art/music and computer science
- or use the 7th slot as a second free period.

These are not possible at Sidwell. It creates more freedom and it results in a greater variety of student pathways.

This is why I mention it - it’s a noticeable difference

It doesn’t make one better than the other if you have a preference though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok thanks for clarifying. The difference then is that at Sidwell you can never take more than 6 subjects, whereas at GDS you can take 7 or 8? How does that impact homework/general stress levels?

Gds has 8 periods and everyone is required to have a free period, so most people take 6-7 classes.

But it looks like in 9th and 10th, PE is a required class, so still only one non-academic class. Sidwell doesn’t have a PE class that meets in the school day. So I don’t think the difference amounts to much

That’s true about PE. But it does make a difference. With 7 classes you can take 5 core academic plus
take another academic elective
two arts
music and studio art
art/music and computer science
- or use the 7th slot as a second free period.

These are not possible at Sidwell. It creates more freedom and it results in a greater variety of student pathways.

This is why I mention it - it’s a noticeable difference

It doesn’t make one better than the other if you have a preference though.

Ps - the above would be 11th/12th. Also - some students are given permission in 10th to take 8 classes in order to take both performing and studio art (in addition to PE and 5 academic core)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One is woke and the other one super woke.

Sounds like you would be comfortable at the North Korean school.

[Anonymous]

Just wanted to add that my kid was really finding it difficult to decide between the two as he liked so much about both of them, but having had a shadow day at each, he did come down clearly on one side (Sidwell for him). So very worth it to do the shadow day