Anonymous
Post 10/30/2025 15:07     Subject: Less competitive, secular middle/high schools to get in
For the amount you’d pay private, why not move to NW and go to JR or McArthur? You don’t get a real ROI on tuition, but even with the economic downturn ahead, you’ll still do well to put that money into a house in DC.
Anonymous
Post 10/30/2025 11:45     Subject: Less competitive, secular middle/high schools to get in
I would look at St. Andrew's too. Yes - it has St. in the name - but it is Episcopal and very religion-lite. My Jewish husband said he'd never send our kids to a religious school and he is totally comfortable. They not only talk about but celebrate all religious holidays. And we have had a great academic experience - rigorous but not competitive.
Anonymous
Post 10/29/2025 08:25     Subject: Less competitive, secular middle/high schools to get in
Anonymous wrote:Five-day boarding?


McDonogh maybe?
Anonymous
Post 10/29/2025 07:43     Subject: Less competitive, secular middle/high schools to get in
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You probably should have thought of this when you bought in Northeast.

One of your bedrock principles (diversity of neighbors! Secular! The cred of a DC address!) will necessarily give way before this is over.


Wait, there's cred? I've never felt any cred. How do I get this cred?


You in NE, boo? Or.... NW?


NE
Anonymous
Post 10/29/2025 00:45     Subject: Less competitive, secular middle/high schools to get in
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You probably should have thought of this when you bought in Northeast.

One of your bedrock principles (diversity of neighbors! Secular! The cred of a DC address!) will necessarily give way before this is over.


Wait, there's cred? I've never felt any cred. How do I get this cred?


You in NE, boo? Or.... NW?
Anonymous
Post 10/29/2025 00:40     Subject: Less competitive, secular middle/high schools to get in
Sheridan
Anonymous
Post 10/28/2025 23:42     Subject: Less competitive, secular middle/high schools to get in
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Sandy Spring is secular?

It is quaker, so yes.

Quakers are a Christian sect.

Quaker schools aren’t secular *because* they are Quaker, but the religious aspect is so light as to be nearly nonexistent, and they are basically secular despite being Quaker.

I have no idea whether Quaker schools consider themselves secular or religious, or if they don’t bother defining themselves either way.
Anonymous
Post 10/28/2025 21:41     Subject: Less competitive, secular middle/high schools to get in
Anonymous wrote:Sandy Spring is secular?

It is quaker, so yes.
Anonymous
Post 10/28/2025 19:07     Subject: Less competitive, secular middle/high schools to get in
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Field runs shuttles from various metro stations.


Very competitive for admissions. Definitely worth applying to, but maybe it’s easier to get into Burke.


Huh. Our k-8 sends lots of kids to Field and Burke. Never heard Field referred to as competitive for admissions.


The last two years have been very different at Field. The entire eighth grade now stays for the upper school. Apparently applications are way up too and last spring a thread here on DCUM revealed the waitlist didn’t move. Probably easier to get in for 6th than 9th.
Anonymous
Post 10/28/2025 17:29     Subject: Less competitive, secular middle/high schools to get in
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Field runs shuttles from various metro stations.


Very competitive for admissions. Definitely worth applying to, but maybe it’s easier to get into Burke.


Huh. Our k-8 sends lots of kids to Field and Burke. Never heard Field referred to as competitive for admissions.


I've heard Burke referred to as the more selective of the two, so my guess is they're comparable on average. There's likely fluctuation depending on the year, entry grade, size of the class moving middle to upper school, etc.
Anonymous
Post 10/28/2025 17:26     Subject: Less competitive, secular middle/high schools to get in
Five-day boarding?
Anonymous
Post 10/28/2025 17:09     Subject: Less competitive, secular middle/high schools to get in
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Field runs shuttles from various metro stations.


Very competitive for admissions. Definitely worth applying to, but maybe it’s easier to get into Burke.


Huh. Our k-8 sends lots of kids to Field and Burke. Never heard Field referred to as competitive for admissions.


Not the PP but it has gotten competitive. It's not Potomac/GDS/Maret/STA/NCX competitive, but it's competitive.
Anonymous
Post 10/28/2025 16:45     Subject: Less competitive, secular middle/high schools to get in
Lowell has a middle school
Anonymous
Post 10/28/2025 16:45     Subject: Less competitive, secular middle/high schools to get in
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Field runs shuttles from various metro stations.


Very competitive for admissions. Definitely worth applying to, but maybe it’s easier to get into Burke.


Huh. Our k-8 sends lots of kids to Field and Burke. Never heard Field referred to as competitive for admissions.
Anonymous
Post 10/28/2025 14:33     Subject: Less competitive, secular middle/high schools to get in
Anonymous wrote:You probably should have thought of this when you bought in Northeast.

One of your bedrock principles (diversity of neighbors! Secular! The cred of a DC address!) will necessarily give way before this is over.


Wait, there's cred? I've never felt any cred. How do I get this cred?