OP, if you are set on private school I hope you expand your list because these two schools are very difficult to get into.

Anonymous wrote:Both have terrible athletic programs

A person or child who has narrowed their list down to Sidwell and Maret is unlikely to prioritize athletics over academics (much like our own choice). And it's hard to think of a co-ed school that does both at high levels.

Both have terrible athletic programs

You should look at GDS, the MS is extremely focused on organization and teaching kids an approach to handle large projects and assignments in an organized and thoughtful way. I think you are confusing liberal politics with assumptions about how hard the kids there work and how focused they are expected and need to be, with the help of the teachers particularly in MS.

You may want to look at Field too.

OP here, thanks for the feedback. Perhaps I overstated my DD's disorganization! It has not impacted her getting her schoolwork thus far, and in fact, the more challenging the workload, the more organized and precise she tends to be. When assignments are too easy, she slips into a bit of a sloppy mode which is, in part, why a strong and demanding academic environment is important to us. While she may not be as innately organized as some, we have worked with her to create a system for noting assignments etc that she follows. In this vein, we are not applying to GDS because we think she needs a bit more structure. Any other feedback on experiences at Sidwell and Maret are much appreciated!

I would wait to see where your child is accepted first------ the choices will be clearer when she gets to revisit the schools that she got in to.....

Ditto. OP, if your middle school daughter has organizational challenges, you need to work with her to remediate them. Might consider places like Lowell, WES, Norwood, and then shoot for Sidwell or Maret for US.

I am a Sidwell parent. I do not know Maret well but I think your DC might fit better there for US. Sidwell is intense and your daughter would need support with time management if she is disorganized. Although there are many creative kids at Sidwell, this is not the primary focus. In US the focus on traditional academic classes. Socially it seems like your daughter would be fine at either school.

Anonymous wrote:Your kid will have plenty of academic peers at either school. Have had kids at one, and close family friends with kids the same age at the other. Workloads etc similar, or if anything more intense at Sidwell at least in US. Plenty of a sense of community at both schools, Maret due to smaller size and family feel, Sidwell quite a lot due to Quaker traditions such as meeting (even if only 10% of students or less are actually Quaker). Both schools have strong school spirit as evidenced by showing up at sporting events, arts events. So choose based on "feel" or where your kid is lucky enough to get in. If considering these two surprised not also considering GDS, also a very similar school to Sidwell and Maret.

NP here and apologize if I am taking this off course but would you elaborate on bolded? We are considering Sidwell and Maret but I had mentally drawn the line at GDS and eliminated as too liberal for our taste.

Your kid will have plenty of academic peers at either school. Have had kids at one, and close family friends with kids the same age at the other. Workloads etc similar, or if anything more intense at Sidwell at least in US. Plenty of a sense of community at both schools, Maret due to smaller size and family feel, Sidwell quite a lot due to Quaker traditions such as meeting (even if only 10% of students or less are actually Quaker). Both schools have strong school spirit as evidenced by showing up at sporting events, arts events. So choose based on "feel" or where your kid is lucky enough to get in. If considering these two surprised not also considering GDS, also a very similar school to Sidwell and Maret.

I am not sure anyone can gauge which school kids work harder at, without having kids at both school to know. The schools are similar, generally, so assuming there is a choice, your DD will have to go with the one she has a better vibe.

Anonymous wrote:We look at both and DD is at one of these schools. To us the difference was the campus and size. Both are great for kids that are into learning. Maret is smaller and more intimate and has k-12 on one campus. Sidwell has 5-12 on one campus and is bigger especially in high school. My impression was the students were more hardworking at maret. Sidwell has a really big campus - nicer facilities but maybe based on what you are saying maret might be better fit. if she gets into both or either, she will get a chance to visit again. good luck!

OP here, thank you PP for your response. I am interested to hear that the students seem more hardworking at Maret, I might have expected the opposite. Not to say that my child is a genius but she is quite bright and I want to make sure that she is challenged academically and is in class with an academically strong group of peers. If you, or anyone else with firsthand knowledge, can expand on the academic experience, and the sense of community, it would be most helpful. Thx again.

We look at both and DD is at one of these schools. To us the difference was the campus and size. Both are great for kids that are into learning. Maret is smaller and more intimate and has k-12 on one campus. Sidwell has 5-12 on one campus and is bigger especially in high school. My impression was the students were more hardworking at maret. Sidwell has a really big campus - nicer facilities but maybe based on what you are saying maret might be better fit. if she gets into both or either, she will get a chance to visit again. good luck!

For my smart, curious, somewhat disorganized, athletic, friendly, DD. Applying for middle school and obviously would be lucky to have the opportunity to go to either school. Would appreciate feedback on the academics at each school - how engaged are the kids, how much are they challenged to be curious learners and take intellectual risks? DD seems most in her element with challenging assignments that require some creativity and hard work. Also, would love to hear about the sense of the community at each school. DD is very spirited and outgoing and would be most at home at a school with a nice sense of community. Thanks for any feedback!