Bullis, Sidwell, Landon, Maret, Georgetown Day, Potomac...

This might be possibly the most absurd rankings I have ever seen. Academically, the actual ranking definitely is:
1) Sidwell
2) GDS
3) Landon
4) Maret
5) Potomac
6) Bullis

In sports, the rankings go:
1) Landon
2) Bullis
3) Sidwell
4) Potomac
5) Maret
6) GDS

Not really sure in the arts aspects of things. However, I'm sure all of those schools are strong in some area of the arts, whether it is drawing, painting, orchestra, band, etc.

As a somewhat recent alum of GDS, which I attended from k-12, I am really wondering where all of this is coming from. If you are really smart enough for any of these schools than you should already realize that different students excel in different environments. It all depends on the fit. Some students need more structure academically than others, some thrive on self-exploration and unique ways of thinking, some need more balance in activities than others. Is a student who is a very serious athlete going to have the same exposure at GDS that they would have at, say, Landon? Probably not. But if a student has an interesting in acting or singing, GDS offers much more exposure. Frankly, if you are someone who wants to encourage your children to define themselves and their self-confidence based on their school's ranking, then PLEASE don't choose GDS, because I wouldn't want that type of attitude in my school. GDS's main goal is freedom of expression in a community that is receptive and open to new ideas (as long as they are slightly liberal if I am being very honest). You can feel it in the classrooms, in the hallways, in the arts, in sports. Being different isn't such a bad thing at GDS, but simply an opportunity to learn about someone. That being said, some students need more structure. GDS will not police you. It is an open campus, you can leave when you aren't in class to grab coffee or run home and you call your teachers by their first name. Not all students will be able to handle that level of personal responsibility. Not all parents want their children to have that type of unsupervised freedom.

I always felt there was healthy, playful competition between Sidwell, Maret, and GDS because of the similarities in activities, and general attitudes of the school. I had many friends in each and we have all been equally successful. I don't think a single one of them would say that they would have been more successful had they only been in another school. In fact because of how small the schools are we often found that the typical GDS "social group" was really just a blend of students from all three. Thankfully we didn't share the need to rank each other like some of the parents on this blog seem to need to. If you continue that you will be doing your child a disservice.

Try them out for a day and pick a school because it's the right fit for your child. Not because some parent on here is nervous about their parenting and needs to leave it to the rank of the school their child attends to feel good about their child's chances at success. It depends on what you value, what values you would like your child to develop and finding an environment that matches.

GDS parent, here. Trust me: arts are very well-integrated into the GDS program! The school is very well-balanced in terms of arts, academics and physical education. Teachers are caring, administration attentive. As others have said, it truly is a matter of fit... not just for the kids, but for the family. We transferred to GDS from another independent school. Our first school ranked well academically (and actually a prettier campus), but the school was a mismatch in too many ways. We left after a year, wiser as to what "fit" really meant. We've been much happier at GDS, but I know there are others equally happy at the first school who would never dream of transferring.

Lack of exposure to arts at GDS? Are you sure you are referrring to Georgetown Day School?

All the schools belong in the same boat.

OP is on crack.

Landon as more academic than GDS is just silly talk. As is lack of exposure to the arts at GDS.

Anonymous wrote:OP, I'm not trying to be rude but are you functioning well with that ranking?? How do you put Sidwell below BULLIS? Here are my rankings and descriptions:
1. Sidwell Friends - Very academically rigorous

2. Landon and Potomac - Both academically rigorous school

3. Georgetown Day- Only an inch below #2's. Just doesn't
have a good exposure to the arts and athletics.

4. Maret- Solid School but a notch below the top 3.

5. Bullis- Average to good private. There are more privates out there which are value for the money.

What do you base your list on? Do you have kids at all 6 of these schools? Do you have first-hand experience with each of these schools? I'm just really curious how you became the ultimate authority on DC area private schools.

I do have children at Bullis and would rank it quite high in terms of both education received and overall school experience. If your interest is solely on judging a school based on its college matriculation list - then it probably isn't the school for you. Bullis however, may be the school for your child. The emphaisis in college counseling is finding the right fit for students, rather than selecting a school that sounds good to others. Bullis families value this and are looking to develop the overall person rather than someone is judged by a GPA and test scores. Check it out for yourself - have your child visit and talk to some of the school administrators and faculty.

http://www.bullis.org/college-counseling/colleges-attended-list/index.aspx

Here is the college matriculation list. The kids go to ok colleges but the list seems underwhelming to me. I would not rank this school as high as some of the others.

This thread is pointless.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bullis is well below the others academically. Sorry.

What do you base that on? Do you have children there and at another school so that you are able to make a direct comparison? Is their curriculum different?

Do you?

Not that PP, but she's not the one making huge generalizations about a school she doesn't know. You are.

funny pp

Anonymous wrote:PP, if discipline-driven means straight forward, 'by the book' education, then I would agree. Not much out of the box going on on the educational side.

MCPS schools don't teach outside the box but boy aren't they considered golden.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bullis is well below the others academically. Sorry.

What do you base that on? Do you have children there and at another school so that you are able to make a direct comparison? Is their curriculum different?

Do you?