Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The "no overlap" thing is not true in our case either. I have kids at both NCS and STA and they have friends at Sidwell.

None of these high schoolers have a ton of time to hang out with kids from other schools. Heck, they don't have time to hang out with kids from their own schools. But there is no hostility. They mix just fine. Many of them grew up going to feeder schools together, their parents are friends, etc.

Typical DCUM is spreading drama and untruths.

No one said there is any hostility. They are just not in the same social circles. That’s true in our case for two kids.

My kids hang out with other kids a lot on the weekends. That is strange and a bit sad that yours do not. They should be - they are teens!

This. They just are not in the same social world. Different social groups.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure it was Gore Jr's decision to leave STA for Sidwell.

DC folks know...

Maybe it wasn’t, but Harvard College obviously didn’t care. Btw, it was Jr’s decision to send his child to Sidwell.

It’s so cute how you use Harvard admissions as a guidepost in ethics

THIS

Especially since Harvard is known for Grade inflation- everyone gets a " A"

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure it was Gore Jr's decision to leave STA for Sidwell.

DC folks know...

Maybe it wasn’t, but Harvard College obviously didn’t care. Btw, it was Jr’s decision to send his child to Sidwell.

It’s so cute how you use Harvard admissions as a guidepost in ethics

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a daughter at Sidwell and two boys at STA.

Both schools are high pressure and extremely rigorous but STA has a more supportive, tight-knit vibe. The boys compete but the ethos is to acknowledge and appreciate each others’ strengths. Teachers are generally warmer and more engaged. This is a godsend during the high school years because the supportive environment helps mitigate the extreme demands kids face.

Sidwell has the extreme pressure but without as much supportive bonds. Students are competitive with one another. There are pockets of kids who support each other and are good friends. However, there’s more free form anxiety. Teachers are less warm. It’s up to students to find them if they need help.

I know my STA boys have been told countless times by teachers,”Come see me and we can talk about that some more” or something to that effect. Teachers invite you to engage with them. At Sidwell the teachers seem more distant and you have to be more entrepreneurial about getting help.

Sidwell has an edge in the sciences. STA has the edge in sports with the notable exception of basketball.

For a boy, I think STA is better. Our daughter chose Sidwell over NCS because Sidwell is less of a pressure cooker than NCS. She’s still in touch with Beauvoir friends who went to NCS, and she is happy that she did not go there.

You have posted this before. Are your sons STILL at STA or graduated?

I have not posted on this topic this before. Could there possibly be more than one family that has a girl who attends Sidwell and boys who attend STA?

OMG, not possible, right?

Not many have one daughter at Sidwell and 2 at STA. It is unusual.

Statistically probably not that rare given that of the families who circle the Big 3, those who are good with STA are not likely to also fit in at GDS. A Sidwell/STA or Sidwell/NCS combo is more likely than a GDS/STA or GDS/NCS combo.

Not many families have kids at STA and Sidwell - a few families but certainly not a family of three with2 boys at STA.

You’re sounding a bit creepy. Do you stalk directories and compile spreadsheets to keep track of this?

DP. Small school - 75-80 kids per grade you know or at least have met every family on some level.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a daughter at Sidwell and two boys at STA.

Both schools are high pressure and extremely rigorous but STA has a more supportive, tight-knit vibe. The boys compete but the ethos is to acknowledge and appreciate each others’ strengths. Teachers are generally warmer and more engaged. This is a godsend during the high school years because the supportive environment helps mitigate the extreme demands kids face.

Sidwell has the extreme pressure but without as much supportive bonds. Students are competitive with one another. There are pockets of kids who support each other and are good friends. However, there’s more free form anxiety. Teachers are less warm. It’s up to students to find them if they need help.

I know my STA boys have been told countless times by teachers,”Come see me and we can talk about that some more” or something to that effect. Teachers invite you to engage with them. At Sidwell the teachers seem more distant and you have to be more entrepreneurial about getting help.

Sidwell has an edge in the sciences. STA has the edge in sports with the notable exception of basketball.

For a boy, I think STA is better. Our daughter chose Sidwell over NCS because Sidwell is less of a pressure cooker than NCS. She’s still in touch with Beauvoir friends who went to NCS, and she is happy that she did not go there.

You have posted this before. Are your sons STILL at STA or graduated?

I have not posted on this topic this before. Could there possibly be more than one family that has a girl who attends Sidwell and boys who attend STA?

OMG, not possible, right?

Not many have one daughter at Sidwell and 2 at STA. It is unusual.

Statistically probably not that rare given that of the families who circle the Big 3, those who are good with STA are not likely to also fit in at GDS. A Sidwell/STA or Sidwell/NCS combo is more likely than a GDS/STA or GDS/NCS combo.

Not many families have kids at STA and Sidwell - a few families but certainly not a family of three with2 boys at STA.

You’re sounding a bit creepy. Do you stalk directories and compile spreadsheets to keep track of this?

DP. Small school - 75-80 kids per grade you know or at least have met every family on some level.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a daughter at Sidwell and two boys at STA.

Both schools are high pressure and extremely rigorous but STA has a more supportive, tight-knit vibe. The boys compete but the ethos is to acknowledge and appreciate each others’ strengths. Teachers are generally warmer and more engaged. This is a godsend during the high school years because the supportive environment helps mitigate the extreme demands kids face.

Sidwell has the extreme pressure but without as much supportive bonds. Students are competitive with one another. There are pockets of kids who support each other and are good friends. However, there’s more free form anxiety. Teachers are less warm. It’s up to students to find them if they need help.

I know my STA boys have been told countless times by teachers,”Come see me and we can talk about that some more” or something to that effect. Teachers invite you to engage with them. At Sidwell the teachers seem more distant and you have to be more entrepreneurial about getting help.

Sidwell has an edge in the sciences. STA has the edge in sports with the notable exception of basketball.

For a boy, I think STA is better. Our daughter chose Sidwell over NCS because Sidwell is less of a pressure cooker than NCS. She’s still in touch with Beauvoir friends who went to NCS, and she is happy that she did not go there.

You have posted this before. Are your sons STILL at STA or graduated?

I have not posted on this topic this before. Could there possibly be more than one family that has a girl who attends Sidwell and boys who attend STA?

OMG, not possible, right?

Not many have one daughter at Sidwell and 2 at STA. It is unusual.

Statistically probably not that rare given that of the families who circle the Big 3, those who are good with STA are not likely to also fit in at GDS. A Sidwell/STA or Sidwell/NCS combo is more likely than a GDS/STA or GDS/NCS combo.

Not many families have kids at STA and Sidwell - a few families but certainly not a family of three with2 boys at STA.

You’re sounding a bit creepy. Do you stalk directories and compile spreadsheets to keep track of this?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

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.

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: https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2019/06/sidwell-friends-college-admissions-varsity-blues/591124/

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 ..

This is a very thoughtful post and articulates why we really like the school. They really do seem to consistently "do the right and just thing" which can't be easy when you're educating some of the most elite in DC (and others who think of themselves as elite.) The school is very solid: strong administration, communication, tradition. They are kind and don't take themselves too seriously while also never bending in the wind (or to a parent's whim).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a daughter at Sidwell and two boys at STA.

Both schools are high pressure and extremely rigorous but STA has a more supportive, tight-knit vibe. The boys compete but the ethos is to acknowledge and appreciate each others’ strengths. Teachers are generally warmer and more engaged. This is a godsend during the high school years because the supportive environment helps mitigate the extreme demands kids face.

Sidwell has the extreme pressure but without as much supportive bonds. Students are competitive with one another. There are pockets of kids who support each other and are good friends. However, there’s more free form anxiety. Teachers are less warm. It’s up to students to find them if they need help.

I know my STA boys have been told countless times by teachers,”Come see me and we can talk about that some more” or something to that effect. Teachers invite you to engage with them. At Sidwell the teachers seem more distant and you have to be more entrepreneurial about getting help.

Sidwell has an edge in the sciences. STA has the edge in sports with the notable exception of basketball.

For a boy, I think STA is better. Our daughter chose Sidwell over NCS because Sidwell is less of a pressure cooker than NCS. She’s still in touch with Beauvoir friends who went to NCS, and she is happy that she did not go there.

You have posted this before. Are your sons STILL at STA or graduated?

I have not posted on this topic this before. Could there possibly be more than one family that has a girl who attends Sidwell and boys who attend STA?

OMG, not possible, right?

Not many have one daughter at Sidwell and 2 at STA. It is unusual.

Statistically probably not that rare given that of the families who circle the Big 3, those who are good with STA are not likely to also fit in at GDS. A Sidwell/STA or Sidwell/NCS combo is more likely than a GDS/STA or GDS/NCS combo.

Not many families have kids at STA and Sidwell - a few families but certainly not a family of three with2 boys at STA.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a daughter at Sidwell and two boys at STA.

Both schools are high pressure and extremely rigorous but STA has a more supportive, tight-knit vibe. The boys compete but the ethos is to acknowledge and appreciate each others’ strengths. Teachers are generally warmer and more engaged. This is a godsend during the high school years because the supportive environment helps mitigate the extreme demands kids face.

Sidwell has the extreme pressure but without as much supportive bonds. Students are competitive with one another. There are pockets of kids who support each other and are good friends. However, there’s more free form anxiety. Teachers are less warm. It’s up to students to find them if they need help.

I know my STA boys have been told countless times by teachers,”Come see me and we can talk about that some more” or something to that effect. Teachers invite you to engage with them. At Sidwell the teachers seem more distant and you have to be more entrepreneurial about getting help.

Sidwell has an edge in the sciences. STA has the edge in sports with the notable exception of basketball.

For a boy, I think STA is better. Our daughter chose Sidwell over NCS because Sidwell is less of a pressure cooker than NCS. She’s still in touch with Beauvoir friends who went to NCS, and she is happy that she did not go there.

You have posted this before. Are your sons STILL at STA or graduated?

I have not posted on this topic this before. Could there possibly be more than one family that has a girl who attends Sidwell and boys who attend STA?

OMG, not possible, right?

Not many have one daughter at Sidwell and 2 at STA. It is unusual.

Statistically probably not that rare given that of the families who circle the Big 3, those who are good with STA are not likely to also fit in at GDS. A Sidwell/STA or Sidwell/NCS combo is more likely than a GDS/STA or GDS/NCS combo.

Not many families have kids at STA and Sidwell - a few families but certainly not a family of three with2 boys at STA.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure it was Gore Jr's decision to leave STA for Sidwell.

DC folks know...

Maybe it wasn’t, but Harvard College obviously didn’t care. Btw, it was Jr’s decision to send his child to Sidwell.

It’s so cute how you use Harvard admissions as a guidepost in ethics

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure it was Gore Jr's decision to leave STA for Sidwell.

DC folks know...

Maybe it wasn’t, but Harvard College obviously didn’t care. Btw, it was Jr’s decision to send his child to Sidwell.