Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mostly self-selection and self-perpetuating higher admissions rigor for kids that go to each. Even if just look at National Merit SFs over time, far higher percentage of NMSFs at SFS, GDS and STA than Landon and Prep. That said, clearly are plenty of academically-gifted kids at Landon and Prep who go to great colleges.

I can’t speak to GDS which has a bit of a reputation as a fall back for kids that didn’t get into Sidwell, but it is safe to say that for the other four schools, the school was the FIRST choice for the vast majority of the students. In other words, boys don’t go to Prep because they didn’t’ get into Landon or STA, not do boys go to Landon because they didn’t get into Sidwell or STA – and so on. The schools offer very different environments that appeal to different families. Anyone who is truly interested in understanding the unique appeal of each school needs to talk to families that know the schools.

I personally know several boys that have applied to both STA and Landon and ended up at one or the other, each wanted all boys schools and were interested in sports, but they were not the "best" sports star.

I'd assume that most boys apply to more than one school - might be considered foolish to do otherwise unless there is a good public school fall back. But the point is that most of the boys are at the school that was their first choice.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS is a very liberal school and plenty of quirky kids there. Athletics are very de-emphasized. It does, however, have an outstanding academic reputation as supported by its college matriculation stats. Much stronger environment than what you get at Landon or Prep. Not sure how being "liberal" equates to having a lesser academic environment.

Because you know how liberalism goes: Everything is tolerated and all is accepted and celebrated. Even lesser academic standards.

Hmm. So liberals (whatever that means) tolerate lesser academic standards. Sure, that makes sense.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mostly self-selection and self-perpetuating higher admissions rigor for kids that go to each. Even if just look at National Merit SFs over time, far higher percentage of NMSFs at SFS, GDS and STA than Landon and Prep. That said, clearly are plenty of academically-gifted kids at Landon and Prep who go to great colleges.

I can’t speak to GDS which has a bit of a reputation as a fall back for kids that didn’t get into Sidwell, but it is safe to say that for the other four schools, the school was the FIRST choice for the vast majority of the students. In other words, boys don’t go to Prep because they didn’t’ get into Landon or STA, not do boys go to Landon because they didn’t get into Sidwell or STA – and so on. The schools offer very different environments that appeal to different families. Anyone who is truly interested in understanding the unique appeal of each school needs to talk to families that know the schools.

I personally know several boys that have applied to both STA and Landon and ended up at one or the other, each wanted all boys schools and were interested in sports, but they were not the "best" sports star.

Anonymous wrote:GDS is a very liberal school and plenty of quirky kids there. Athletics are very de-emphasized. It does, however, have an outstanding academic reputation as supported by its college matriculation stats. Much stronger environment than what you get at Landon or Prep. Not sure how being "liberal" equates to having a lesser academic environment.

Because you know how liberalism goes: Everything is tolerated and all is accepted and celebrated. Even lesser academic standards.

Thank you for sharing your insights.

Anonymous wrote:Mostly self-selection and self-perpetuating higher admissions rigor for kids that go to each. Even if just look at National Merit SFs over time, far higher percentage of NMSFs at SFS, GDS and STA than Landon and Prep. That said, clearly are plenty of academically-gifted kids at Landon and Prep who go to great colleges.

I can’t speak to GDS which has a bit of a reputation as a fall back for kids that didn’t get into Sidwell, but it is safe to say that for the other four schools, the school was the FIRST choice for the vast majority of the students. In other words, boys don’t go to Prep because they didn’t’ get into Landon or STA, not do boys go to Landon because they didn’t get into Sidwell or STA – and so on. The schools offer very different environments that appeal to different families. Anyone who is truly interested in understanding the unique appeal of each school needs to talk to families that know the schools.

I doubt that there is anyone in the area that has the knowledge base to provide a meaningful response to this question – but that won’t stop the teeming millions from proffering their uninformed opinions.

Here’s the challenge: “academics” could be broken into three categories – facilities; environment; teachers. Comparing the facilities of the elite private schools is easy enough – I’d start by saying that each of the schools has far more than adequate facilities. Prep plainly has the most lavish facilities and GDS has a small campus, but I don’t see anything that would impact the “academic experience” one way or the other. The environments can be easily compared: Prep, STA and Landon offer a single gender environment while SFS and GDS offer a coed environment – that’s a huge difference and there is plenty of research on single gender vs coed academic environments – do your homework and decide for yourself, but this is a huge factor in the academic environment. Teacher quality is also a huge factor, but comparing overall teacher quality across five different schools just isn’t possible because no one has the requisite experience with all of the teachers at all of the schools. Each school has excellent teachers and some that are less than excellent. In addition, some teachers are terrific for one student but ineffective for a student with a different learning style. For these reasons, an overall assessment/comparison of teacher quality isn’t really possible, but I’m sure we’ll hear from “experts” who disagree.

GDS is a very liberal school and plenty of quirky kids there. Athletics are very de-emphasized. It does, however, have an outstanding academic reputation as supported by its college matriculation stats. Much stronger environment than what you get at Landon or Prep. Not sure how being "liberal" equates to having a lesser academic environment.

While I firmly believe Sidwell and STA have a stronger academic programs than GP and Landon, I'm not sure about GDS being better than GP or Landon.

The school is way too far to the ideology left where I just don't buy its an intense academic environment. As a long time Washingtonian, GDS has always been known where the "strange kids" go. I'm sure GDS has some extremely bright kids come through its doors but just don't buy its extremely intense and its students are pushed hard in the classroom compared to a school liek STA or Sidwell. Sorry if that offends anyone but perception is reality.

Mostly self-selection and self-perpetuating higher admissions rigor for kids that go to each. Even if just look at National Merit SFs over time, far higher percentage of NMSFs at SFS, GDS and STA than Landon and Prep. That said, clearly are plenty of academically-gifted kids at Landon and Prep who go to great colleges.

07:05, Can you explain further? What makes the academics at STA, SFS and GDS so much stronger than Landon and GP?

23:28, Thanks but we obviously understand this. My question is about academic quality in comparison to other schools.

Landon is comparable to Prep. Neither are anywhere near the academic level of STA, SFS or GDS.

If you prefer single gender, then Sidwell and GDS are out. If you want secular Prep and STA are out. That may well be the rationale for many who chose Landon.

To those who applied to other various schools and chose Landon please share your rationale.