Reply to Fact versus Fiction re: GDS

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]We have been a GDS family for about eleven years and have had kids in the LMS and the HS. Don’t believe everything you read on this Board. Some people are irrationally anti-GDS, and others are irrationally pro-GDS. It is an excellent school, but no school is for everyone. On the whole, the teachers and administrators are very good at what they do, and care deeply about the kids. The LMS has vastly improved since we first came in 2010, and is a kind place that really wakes up kids’ love of learning. The MS used to be very stressful for kids, and now they have changed the curriculum so that kids are prepared for HS without being overly stressed or burdened. The new building is beautiful and it is nice having the whole school in one location. The HS is a great place, and benefits from the influx of new kids in 9th. People on this Board like to trash GDS for how many kids are admitted at 9th, but most schools would benefit from an influx of new kids at 9th. The HS tends to meet kids where they are, and not push them into competition. Some kids are super driven, and operate with a high degree of stress, but others are pretty low key and happy go lucky. And some happy go lucky kids are top students, and others are not, but everyone is supported. We have been pleased with the college placement process, which we found to be well informed and empathetic. I would talk to people you know who have kids there and do whatever virtual events you can. Regarding excessive displays of wealth, that has not been my experience. There is no top private in DC that does not have a lot of wealthy families—that’s the unfortunate nature of the private school model, and holding GDS to a different standard than other privates in the area seems unfair. GDS as an institution shies away from ostentatious displays of wealth. There is no annual auction for instance, which is usually the wealth flaunting Super Bowl for most schools. So I do think they try to demonstrate their commitment to their mission in how they operate.  [/quote]

Another LT GDS parent here who has had three kids come up through the school, the last one graduating last year. I agree with this poster. I would also like to add with three kids in college, they all feel very prepared for college. They fully believe the school prepared them well. What stands out in my mind is that all three kids liked going to school. It definitely was a lot of work, and not all teachers were equal. But they were excited about attending. To me, this was one of the most important aspects. [/quote]

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