As someone with experience in both schools, the communities are completely different. I am surprised that the OP doesn't have a real sense of where their family would feel more comfortable. I hesitate to share this, because I know it is a generalization, but in large part, Landon tends to be more conservative/clubby, while Maret tends to have a slightly more DC/liberal feel.

Maret.

If you pass up Maret, you are not likely to have a chance to reverse that decision. Landon is larger and a greater chance of getting in at a later date -- should things not work out.

I'd pick Maret if I were in that position (unless I had a very sporty child).

Our Third grader is thriving at Landon after muddling along in Montgomery County Public School. He tested well, simply wasn't pushed, met the standards and received little attention thereafter. Plays an instrument, non-speaking role in the play, loves his teachers, played in the Shrimp Bowl and likely the Landon Cup next year. We couldn't ask for more. He has buddies and looks forward to school every day. The lower school head is phenomenal. You can't go wrong with either choice. I suspect, it comes down to co-ed vs single sex.

We are surprised at how academic Maret's middle school curriculum is. DS is studying Algebra in 7th grade, which is what his friends at St. Albans and NCS are doing at 8th. Maret differentiates in math at 7th grade and most 7 th graders take 2 languages (Latin and Spanish/French). There is interestingly very little pressure on the kids with respect to grades and for the most part, kids seem happy. There are definitely limited sports offerings at Maret at the middle school level.
Good luck, sounds like you don't have a bad option, just two really good ones.

Maret. Hands down.

Maret is more traditional than GDS or other progressive schools, but definitely more towards the progressive end of the spectrum than the traditional end of the spectrum.

Anonymous wrote:We have friends who left Maret for Landon. In a nutshell they felt that the curriculum covered the classics better at Landon, and that Maret's curriculum was very progressive and had a liberal bent.

It's funny that another couple of threads in the last few days specifically states that Maret is more traditional and less progressive in its teaching philosophy. Not sure how to interpret these comments. Maybe it's in between?

I think both schools are known for having excellent academics. Maret, though, is considered on DCUM to be the more exclusive school -- harder to get into. Unclear how much of that is attributable to Maret being so small. Comparing the schools' seniors going on to ivy league schools -- the numbers are nearly identical, though Maret seems to have more going to good non-ivy league schools, like Swarthmore, Williams, etc. The physical space at Landon is far more impressive than Maret's -- a small city school at Maret, with one field on campus versus Landon's 6 or 7 fields on campus and wide expanses of land. Good luck!

Sorry, I can't speak to Maret. But my son is in 3rd at Landon and he loves it. It has been an amazing experience for him. He gets to do sports, which he loves and also do the school play and sing in the chorus. He came from a co-ed school ad I think the all boys experience has been great. It was very clear that the girls needed a different learning style than the boys and Landon knows boys! You'll obviously be fine with whatever you choose but just wanted to share our experience.

Good luck!

We have friends who left Maret for Landon. In a nutshell they felt that the curriculum covered the classics better at Landon, and that Maret's curriculum was very progressive and had a liberal bent.

Anyone?

Someone cue the Landon bashers, please.... they are needed in aisle 3.

DS accepted at both and really liked both. Each has pros/cons for our DS and our family. Stepping back, they are different in some significant ways, yet from our tours and our encounters with current students (boys at Landon, co-ed at Maret), the kids and teachers seem equally happy, friendly, engaged, and competent. Anyone else face this quandary in the past or facing it now? Are the middle & upper school just as great as the lower school seems to be?