Choosing GDS or Sidwell

[Anonymous]

Any thoughts for lower school? Socially we think that GDS would probably be better for us (the parents) but like the balance of progressive and traditional that Sidwell seems to strike. Not as into how much homework Sidwell seems to give as compared with GDS. Happy to have the decision, but can't seem to figure it out. Could a stranger who doesn't know us at all just make the decision! (just joking of course.)

[Anonymous]

To the OP, go with your gut and put your children first! I know, not so easy. Talk to present families - if you know anything. I advise you to look for LOVE not a rational answer but a passionate answer about the child.

Secondly, you did not share what age your child was. If you kid is entering MS/US.... look very specifically at the sports factor (in US it's more obvious what strength in sports to look for). In the LS, not so easy, but if your child seems to be naturally sporty... from what I hear generally speaking Sidwell has much stronger sports today.


I don't HAVE dog in this particular race. but wasraised in DC in the 80s, and attended and am now sending dc to another 'top' school.' I have lifelong friends from many of DCs outstanding schools and have seen the rise of GDS. Honnestly in terms of community the school reminds me of what used to stand out about Sidwell Friends. Parents are super passionate about the culture in the same way that SFS used to be and there is a feeling of child-friendly cultured liberalism. I know many posters are under the impression that Sidwell is some sort of hybrid traditional/progressive structure but this is not the case. Or if it is, so are the Cathedral schools. There is nothing more progressive than Sidwell in one single area than the Cathedral schools (and to insiders hands down the Cathedral schools are more progressive). I challenge one poster to answer how Sidwell is academically more progressive than the Cathedral schools - you can't. And, I don't mean this is a negative or postive way... as very impressed with the Cathedral school and think they are the best of the best (a long with our other best of the bests in this city.

That being said, SFS is an excellent academic institution of the highest degree. The Quaker values are wonderful... I'm personally not sure if families take the Quaker values to the level that a school like Beauvoir does that instills in students & families alike their "life rules" of Kindness, Honesty, Respect & Responsibility... case in point my Beauvoir family friends talk a lot about living by the "life rules," while Sidwell families appreciate how their children (not the families) are guided by Quaker Values at school. The difference is subtle but extremely significant. Sidwell also has a longstanding & deserving reputation for balanced academic excellence. But, as I said before in my opinion, GDS is a lot like Sidwell used to be i(but with a more purposeful progressive curriculum). And while GDS has been around a long time, in the past 15 years it has evolved into a national "A list' frontrunner " joining the company of Sidwell, Ncs, sta & in the past 15 years Holton Arms), and colleges take an extra look at these kids because of the quality of education they receive and is expected of them. It is only getter better & HOTTER.

Good luck. And remember, whatever decision you make will be the right one. You can't go wrong!!

[Anonymous]

Wow...another Sidwell basher...what a shock!

[Anonymous]

GDS has been hot for decades. If anything, the
whole let the teachers wear jeans and tennis shoes
and the kids run amok in the halls has grown tiresome,
not nouvelle.

[Anonymous]

PP Here. No bashing, just facts. If you lived here in the 70s and 80s you would understand my point. GDS is the new Sidwell in terms of school culture. (And for the record GDS used to be the school to kids that couldn't get into anywhere else went - it's rise is impressive and exciting).

And I challenge anyone to name one way that Sidwell is more progressive than the Cathedral Schools. You can't. I'm not saying a progressive curriculum is good or bad... I'm not saying that Sidwell doesn't have some progressive elements to it (just like the Cathedral schools have many as well) but look at the bigger picture Beauvoir/NCS/Sidwell are on par in terms of integrating the progressive element into their curriculum (and honestly, Sidwell's LS is HANDS DOWN more traditional than Beauvoir which has always been borne of the Piaget school).

For the record, I think both GDS & Sidwell are terrific!!

[Anonymous]

The OP was asking about Sidwell versus GDS, not a screed about the Cathedral schools.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like you're upset that the OP is interested in finding out about GDS and Sidwell--and has expressed absolutely no interest in Beauvoir. Otherwise, why do you keep trying to put the Cathedral schools into the mix, when they are not even on OP's radar? Perhaps you should re-read the title of this thread.

Anonymous wrote:PP Here. No bashing, just facts. If you lived here in the 70s and 80s you would understand my point. GDS is the new Sidwell in terms of school culture. (And for the record GDS used to be the school to kids that couldn't get into anywhere else went - it's rise is impressive and exciting).

And I challenge anyone to name one way that Sidwell is more progressive than the Cathedral Schools. You can't. I'm not saying a progressive curriculum is good or bad... I'm not saying that Sidwell doesn't have some progressive elements to it (just like the Cathedral schools have many as well) but look at the bigger picture Beauvoir/NCS/Sidwell are on par in terms of integrating the progressive element into their curriculum (and honestly, Sidwell's LS is HANDS DOWN more traditional than Beauvoir which has always been borne of the Piaget school).

For the record, I think both GDS & Sidwell are terrific!!

[Anonymous]

I thought 23:41 made some very interesting and thought-provoking points and appreciate his/her reply.

[Anonymous]

Both are great schools. You couldn't possibly go wrong.

[Anonymous]

Both are great schools and you *could* go wrong. You could end up with an anorexic daughter at Sidwell or a druggie son at GDS. It really depends on fit. Sidwell seems much more structured and to have a culture that pushes kids more. GDS is more open-ended and the kids who get the most out of it are probably kids who are self-motivated and passionate.

A kid who drifts unless someone keeps him/her on track but who performs well under pressure or in response to competition is probably better off at Sidwell. A kid who resists authority and who cares very deeply about some things and can't be bothered with others is probably better off at GDS.

Between these extremes are many more smart and ambitious kids who would do well in either environment.

So I agree with the "go with your gut" approach but look at the high schools (and middle schools) and think about your kid's personality and where s/he will fit in. That said, it's hard to tell this early, not much is at stake in the choice between these two LSs and if you decide you made the wrong choice, odds are you can switch at MS or HS.

[Anonymous]

I agree that fit is important, especially if the child's personality if near the edge of the spectrum and not as easily adaptable. But I'm not sure sure I buy the stereotypes you put on each school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like you're upset that the OP is interested in finding out about GDS and Sidwell--and has expressed absolutely no interest in Beauvoir. Otherwise, why do you keep trying to put the Cathedral schools into the mix, when they are not even on OP's radar? Perhaps you should re-read the title of this thread.

Anonymous wrote:PP Here. No bashing, just facts. If you lived here in the 70s and 80s you would understand my point. GDS is the new Sidwell in terms of school culture. (And for the record GDS used to be the school to kids that couldn't get into anywhere else went - it's rise is impressive and exciting).

And I challenge anyone to name one way that Sidwell is more progressive than the Cathedral Schools. You can't. I'm not saying a progressive curriculum is good or bad... I'm not saying that Sidwell doesn't have some progressive elements to it (just like the Cathedral schools have many as well) but look at the bigger picture Beauvoir/NCS/Sidwell are on par in terms of integrating the progressive element into their curriculum (and honestly, Sidwell's LS is HANDS DOWN more traditional than Beauvoir which has always been borne of the Piaget school).

For the record, I think both GDS & Sidwell are terrific!!

Not at all... I am thrilled for the family. As I stated before, they are both outstanding schools - and the poster probably wasn't even interested in the Cathedral schools, but sometimes it can be helpful to use an outside school to bring perspective and put into context when you trying to convey a point. For example, I hope my point about whether Sidwell is a progressive, was helped by using two schools GDS (which is definitely progressive) and the Cathedral schools (which are well known in this city and also have strong academic reputations but are usually not labeled as progressive). If I were to draw a line with progressive on the far left and traditional on the far right. I would put GDS closer to the far left than the middle. I would put the Cathedral schools to the right of the middle but not too close to the far right side. I would put Sidwell exactly where I put the Cathedral school. Then because I know how snarky this board is and how posters make dismissive statements without being able to back it upm I challenged posters to share how SFS is more progressive than the Cathedral schools. We're not talking about the families who send their children to the schools, we're talking about academic philosophy & approach to learning.

Again, I wish the OP all the best!!!

[Anonymous]

Then because I know how snarky this board is and how posters make dismissive statements without being able to back it upm I challenged posters to share how SFS is more progressive than the Cathedral schools.

Maybe instead of challenging others to disprove your claim, you should instead put up some evidence to support your claim?

[Anonymous]

I echo poster 23:41's view that a major difference between Sidwell and GDS is athletics. GDS has some good teams but overall Sidwell is stronger and has a few more athletic offerings (e.g. football for boys, field hockey for girls). (My sense is that GDS athletics are improving, though.)

The tone of GDS is also a bit less traditional -- all teachers are called by first name is the obvious one (at Sidwell most go by Mr./Ms./Mrs.). There are other things like a pretty big focus on sexual orientation (assemblies where people come out to the school) that contribute to the GDS non-traditional "feel."

For day-to-day, the absence of a dining room/cafeteria in the upper school at GDS is a difference; you'd probably need to talk to a current family to see the range of how kids deal with it and how it affects daily life.

Academically, Sidwell may still have a stronger cohort, at least as judged by the number of National Merit Scholarship Finalists. I think it is also more competitive/stressful though, so depending on your child it might be nice to be in the environment that is a bit less intense.

Congrats and good luck with the choice!

[Anonymous]

From a purely lower school perspective, I'd look at how much science and foreign language each school has to offer. I think that the math and humanities curricula are pretty similar in both schools.

You might also want to think about whether you want your (future) MS kid with the HS kids or with the LS kids. Sidwell as PreK-4 on one campus, 5-12 on another. GDS has PreK-8, then 9-12. We had a strong preference for the latter arrangement -- keeps the stress level down during MS (and puts MS'ers in an environment where little kids look up to them and where teachers have known them since they were little kids).