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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]They are very different schools. Either would be good for a “bright” boy, so you’re going to have to figure out the best fit on your own. As a pp said, start with co-ed vs single-sex, it’s a blatant differentiator. [/quote]

Can we once and for all put a rest to the redundant term “very different,” especially when describing two $50,000 a year private schools located a mile apart in leafy NW DC?

They are not “very different.”  They may be somewhat different, but they are more alike than people who want to sing the praises of the plethora of schools in this area want to concede. OP don’t be an idiot. They are both full of “bright boys,” another meaningless term. [/quote]

A few  differences beyond the single gender vs co-ed:

1) STA has more diversity of political orientation and civility in debate at school is expected as is civility and even friendship " across the isle" as it were among parents in the parent community. Whereas, at pretty much every other NW DC Private such as, GDS, Sidwell and Maret, there is a strong virtue signally L and silencing of debate. I've always voted Dem, but I think educational institutions should return to the more rigorous mission of insisting their enrolled learn how to think and how to debate civilly rather than produce Sophomoric conformists to one political viewpoint.

2) STA doesn't tolerate whiner parents. You will be shown the door.  If you are the type of parent who hovers and tries to exert influence on the grades your kid is given or influence the college placement office to favor your child, you will self destruct if you try this at STA. Whereas, at Sidwell, that seems to be so ingrained of a way of parent behavior that Admin has quit over it: [url]https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2019/06/sidwell-friends-college-admissions-varsity-blues/591124/[/url]

3) STA believes publicly rewarding academic achievement . They have Prize Day and the students acknowledged are genuinely admired for their achievements as is achievement itself. Sidwell, does not believe is giving awards and refuses to do so even to the consternation of many of it's parent community who themselves are high achievers and want their kids to be able to be recognized . Its a Quaker value not to single out achievement. Lot's of applicant parents of 4 year olds pretend they are fine with that, but then when HS roles around, it turns out they actually really do want Larla to be acknowledged ..

[/quote]

1) There are republicans at Sidwell. No MAGAs, but there is diversity of opinion there, from traditional conservatives to center-left liberals very progressive.
2) Sidwell ignores whiner parents as well. Parents who try to get involved in things past about 6th grade are totally ignored. I am not sure why you think they are given oxygen at Sidwell.
3) Sidwell had senior awards back in the 1980's but the school realized that they were generally subjective and not part of the Quaker value system, so they were discontinued.

I don't think you know anything at all about Sidwell, PP.[/quote]

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