if you had to choose between sidwell, beauvoir, and gds, where would you accept?

[Anonymous]

.

[Anonymous]

Beauvoir

[Anonymous]

GDS or Sidwell

[Anonymous]

GDS.

[Anonymous]

GDS - without a doubt

[Anonymous]

Beauvoir, no question.

From what I've seen, GDS and Sidwell spend too much time telling their students (repeatedly) how fabulous, how brilliant, how perfect they are, and are structured to reinforce the "kids know best" concept. Just what your basic NW DC child needs more of.

[Anonymous]

To the previous poster....what a bunch of tripe.

[Anonymous]

And what are you, the PR Director for GDS or Sidwell? OP asked for an opinion, and when you ask for opinions, this is what you get... the good and the bad.

Actually, I would appreciate it if the poster who made these comments about GDS/ Sidwell would elaborate, if s/he is still monitoring.

[Anonymous]

If you want:
1. traditional/conservative - Beauvoir,
2. more liberal - Sidwell
3. even more liberal- GDS
We had to chose between Beauvoir and Sidwell and chose Beauvoir because we like the more traditional although we really liked Sidwell. We never applied to GDS because way too liberal for us. All excellent academically.HTH

[Anonymous]

Sidwell

[Anonymous]

GDS

[Anonymous]

GDS

[Anonymous]

Please excuse this question if it's been answered adequately in other threads, but I would appreciate an elaboration on the comments that GDS is so "liberal." I've heard/ read that often and am not sure what it means. Does this mean that teaching/ education styles are "progressive," and if so, how? (As in, No desks? No books? No teachers??) Or, is it more a reference to the subject matter that is taught/ books used, etc? It's hard to get a feel for this on the school tour. Thanks for any blatant feedback/ opinions!

[Anonymous]

I think it is fair to say that GDS is the most liberal of the three schools mentioned (and probably among the most liberal in all of DC). It doesn't have to do with the academics - all these schools teach the essentially the same curriculum... In the lower grades: Chicago Math, Responsive Classroom, Writers' Workshop, etc. But the liberalism is seen in things both large and small. At GDS, the students call all teachers by their first names. This isn't a lack of respect for teachers, but a sense that respect does not come from titles alone. The kids (except the youngest) walk un-escorted through the halls from class to class... Because kids can be quiet in the halls, even if they aren't single file. At Beauvoir, the teachers teach the students how to be responsible, respectful, and kind - it can feel very didactic. At GDS the kids are encouraged to figure things out of their own - with guidance from the teachers, of course - but the learning is much more self-guided.

There's no religion at GDS, as there is at Beauvoir and Sidwell. GDS was founded to be a racially integrated school - the first in DC, public or private, and that tradition is still strong. The gay parents' and gay students' organizations at GDS are very strong - GDS is one of the first schools in the country to celebrate Gay Pride Day/Week at all levels and in all grades (age appropriately, of course). GDS students have traditionally been "artsy" and not "athletic" and those differences were and are respected and encouraged.

(Can you tell we've accepted a pre-K spot at GDS for next year?)

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

We have a daughter in the first grade at GDS and love it. All the schools mentioned by the original poster are excellent. I would just suggest that you follow your gut on this. We have a tendency to over think/analyze. Serious thought is obviously important in making a decision as big as school choice, but I'm a big believer in that inner voice.

For what its worth, I think the liberal/conservative label is misused in this context. We are talking about children and eduction here, not politics and those labels tend to be short hand for so much extra baggage that just isn't applicable in the schools. All of the top schools in DC are more progressive on a number of issues than typical schools across the country; all are welcoming of a diverse community (including gay/lesbian parents). GDS does take a great deal of pride in its mission which is a bit different than Sidwell's which is, in turn, different than Beauvoir's. I would suggest that you take a look at the various mission statements and think hard about them. Its my experience that the schools care deeply about them and try to reflect them in the daily lives of the children.