Have had three kids there and it has been generally wonderful for our kids, two in college and were really well-prepared. The MS and HS especially, but the main reason we didn't love the LS was the prior LS head who finally retired. The head of school is fantastic, as is the new HS head.

Anonymous wrote:I know folks who have a kid there now and hate it - some awful things going on there - not good at all

Would you elaborate?

I know folks who have a kid there now and hate it - some awful things going on there - not good at all

I always respected that kids from gds were founders/leaders of the DC punk movement in the late 70s/early 80s.

Anonymous wrote:Another poster mentioned bullying. I want to add to that comment. From my experience and those of several friends, bullying can be badly mismanaged at GDS. There is a reluctance to call a spade a spade, and to deal with the issue in a timely and appropriate manner. The victims and their families can be left cold dealing with it and recovering essentially on their own because of this reluctance. On the plus side, there isn't a lot of bullying. But when it happens, god help the victim because GDS will not.

+1 for the lower school, but since the LS administrator that was there during my daughters tenure is now retired, it may have improved. Bullying based on race creed or color not tolerated, but excluding the unpopular was rampant. In high school this no longer seemed to be a problem.

hello

Right now I go to GDS and it is a perfect fit for me, and I hope you made a good chocie and became a mighty hopper!!!!!!!!

Notice how boosters of schools that do not publish matriculation details routinely overstate matriculation results? Don't believe it.

Anonymous wrote:NMSFs? I really don't care about that. College admittance is what I care about. GDS gets it's middle of the class students into amazing schools. To see the real success of a school you need to see where the middle and bottom of the class end up, not the top ten percent.

Without seeing a list from GDS and then comparing with Sidwell/St. Albans/NCS/Holton/Potomac, etc., there's really no way of testing your assertion. It's good that you are happy with your school, though.

Just silly to compare applies and oranges, as said earlier, most kids/families interested in NCS/StA not likely great fits for GDS, with Sidwell perhaps somewhere in middle but closer to GDS, having had kids at both. But academically in the HS, they are really identical in terms of academics, some years % NMSFs higher at Sidwell, some years at StAs or NCS, some years GDS. Perhaps over a 5 year period slightly higher at Sidwell than the others, but GDS and MCS/StAs may have stronger alumni kid policies, sibling policies or admitting with a bit more leeway in academics for arts or sports. No matter which of these schools, going to have stimulating classes and classmates, and many great teachers, with a heavy workload. I agree that GDS college counseling sometimes seems to work magic, but even the middle and bottom of classes at all these schools go to very good colleges

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell is coasting on it's reputation. GDS is probably the best private high school in the city right now.

Yet, I'd wager that less than 5% of students at STA, Landon, NCS, Holton, PREP, VIZ, STONE RIDGE ever gave a moment's thought to applying to GDS. GDS is just SO different from what most private school parents are looking for.

Well, Sidwell doesn't have much of a problem with the middle or lower quartiles. They end up at solid places for the most part. I thought it was in the top ten percent that GDS shined when it came to college placement. Maybe I'm wrong.

NMSFs? I really don't care about that. College admittance is what I care about. GDS gets it's middle of the class students into amazing schools. To see the real success of a school you need to see where the middle and bottom of the class end up, not the top ten percent.

People often say that on this board but the data still seems to point to Sidwell students as the highest performers among independent schools. National merit stats posted recently is the latest example.

Sidwell is coasting on it's reputation. GDS is probably the best private high school in the city right now.