Reply to which schools to look at for 6th grade entry?

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[quote=Anonymous]One PPs comment about GDS as being less intense/competitive academically than Sidwell/STA not correct and many facets of the PPs statement are uninformed and clearly based on no direct experience. I think the OP had the correct feeling about GDS to start with perhaps as not being appropriate for her child if he is prone to anxiety about performance. The middle school workload/expectations are very high, especially in 8th, and the high school is very academically intense. Yes, there are more kids than perhaps at Sidwell that are focused on arts and not gunning only for very top academic colleges, but definitely the majority of students are much more similar to Sidwell/STA than to the other schools being suggested (ST Andrews, Bullis, Field, Burke, etc). And the comment about sports there not particularly accurate either, not STA for sure, but within the MAC in many sports comparable or better than Sidwell. But no one goes to either of the schools for the sports exactly! There is plenty of rah rah school spirit for boys and girls soccer games, basketball, volleyball, and track/X-country, the strongest sports (for girls in the AA division of ISL for all of them, and have often finished at the top or close in the past few years; for boys soccer and X-country/track have won MAC or MAC tournaments in past few years at least once or twice). 
What about Potomac School? It is reasonably academic, has a pretty rah rah sports environment, is not religious at all and while in VA, is very easy to reach from DC since right over the Chain Bridge, depending on where you live may be closer than St Andrews or Bullis.

I wholly agree with this post. The Middle School, particularly 8th, is pretty intense.  I actually think the HS so far in our experience deals with different ranges of kids better than the Middle School, which seems to teach to the top, but I would not say there is a "slow" track.  But it does not sound like you need a slow track. On the sports side, kids are enthusiastic and there is something to be said for a school where you have a good chance of making the team and playing. Also, and there was a thread on this a month or so ago, 6th grade can be a difficult entry year socially but if your DC knows kids there it will be easier.  My sense is that entering at 9th can be a smoother transition, although I am sure there are varying opinions on that. St. Andrews struck us as very nurturing, and I have no direct experience with Bullis but have heard raves about it.  [/quote]

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