Reply to Maret and Sidwell-- arts, humanities, science or math?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I am a parent of 2 kids that are/were at  Sidwell, for MS and US. The MS focuses on the whole kid, much as Maret does.  The math and science program is very robust, orchestra and chorus are good, but I am most impressed by the humanities. My kid loves history and social science and he soaks up knowledge like a sponge from the class dialog and assignments.  The work is appropriately challenging for a MS student.  I do not know Maret, but I have heard the same is true there.

US is quite different academically.  It is very difficult, and kids have to constantly push themselves to excel. There is active grade deflation.  The math rivals what I had at a top college, in that it develops, calculus for example, from first principles.  There is no learning equations by memory and applying them.  The student  is required to understand the basis of everything they are doing completely.  This is a much different approach than MCPS, which I also know from a cousin's child, which teaches to the tests.  I do not know about Maret.  English is very intense.  There is an emphasis on writing and critical thinking, but I do not feel it is truly inspiring, although all the kids learn to write well thru a lot of practice. Foreign languages are good, especially Chinese, which starts in MS.  The China program is unique.My kid's favorite classes are history classes. The teachers are super committed to really delving into the complexities of historical issues.  Classes in history that focus on a region, say China or Africa include summer trips that are intense learning experiences, not just sight seeing or volunteer work. My kid interviewed a supreme court justice with 7 other students for an hour.  he knows all about the arguments and cases that they court is reviewing and is fascinated by constitutional history.  The choir is truly superior. The choir teacher is just one in a million.  Drama is good.  Not sure about other music and art. in the US.  All the teachers are very dedicated.  A small number are inflexible, but they are always willing to spend time with a student who asks.  Teachers do not like parents to be involved in US, which I like. My kids is on FA and he had his teachers meet with him one on one a lot to go over work,  prepare for tests, etc.  But the majority of students seem to have tutors in one or more subjects. There is no way of getting around it -- the upper school is high powered and stressful and works best for very, very bright assertive kids who will not get discouraged if they get a B sometimes."

Despite this both of my kids classes are super supportive and there is a real sense of community. People make fun of the Quaker values, but they are real.  In US kids work together  actively and support and respect each other. They suffer with their friends who have a bad grade and celebrate when their friends do well.  The MS is super friendly too and accepting.  Both parent groups are nice and not at all snooty. Sidwell deals actively with racial and social issues . Its not perfect, but it provides a safe haven for gifted students of color. The school is exceptionally diverse.  My kids who receive FA feel very at home and do not care if their friends' parents are rich, famous, or just regular folks.  Hopes this helps.  As I said, I do not know Maret, but hear good things.  The only negative thing I have heard from one family is that the school is very small, so there may not be as much social diversity, just because there are fewer students.[/quote]

Well written, thoughtful, and, IMO, accurate post. I have two kids graduate from Sidwell. As time goes on, I appreciate their time at Sidwell more and more.  They were well prepared for college and life, they have a good sense of values and principles, learned at home but reinforced  by Sidwell.  Both have an incredibly strong connection to their HS friends and teachers, even many years after they have graduated. I think Sidwell was well worth the money spent.  [/quote]

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