There are waivers! His club can get him one for private, but not for public, it’s messed up but what can you do.

I believe kids playing in MLS NEXT can’t even play for their school. Is that true? If so, the athletics won’t matter as much, go where he’ll be happy and enjoy his HS experience.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Prep MAGA
Good Counsel MAGA

Bullis or none.

Bullis is very much MAGA and has absurd teacher turnover—friend’s kid had teachers leave mid year (3 of their teachers in one year once) every year of HS!

Prep would be your best choice, follow by St. Andrews (good culture).

LOL -- Bullis is not MAGA! Do you have a kid there? I do (3 kids) and I can assure you that Bullis isn't MAGA.

Bullis is expensive and from what I’ve heard isn’t great with aid. That’s going to create a self-selected wealthy pool of students.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Academically, there is a wide gap between Bullis/SAES and GC. Not even close.

Athletically, there's a wide gap between Bullis/GC and SAES. Not even close.

I'm not sure why you think your son won't get in at Prep but will at Bullis. Prep takes about 125 boys into ninth grade Bullis will take about 30. Bullis is way more competitive than Prep these days (and the other schools). Prep actually might be your best option. Offers what you want. Way cheaper than Bullis.

price point and complete disregard for giving aid makes Bullis inaccessible to so many. It creates the illusion of selectiveness when actually they price themselves into an exclusive echelon not based on the merit of the student. It's not that they take 30. The take the 30 who can pay (and a small subset of those get material aid, very small).

I have heard from a current, wealthy Bullis parent that some of the parents are billionaires, so it does give the impression that they give preference to families with money.

Saying they give preference to wealthy families is quite a reach.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Academically, there is a wide gap between Bullis/SAES and GC. Not even close.

Athletically, there's a wide gap between Bullis/GC and SAES. Not even close.

I'm not sure why you think your son won't get in at Prep but will at Bullis. Prep takes about 125 boys into ninth grade Bullis will take about 30. Bullis is way more competitive than Prep these days (and the other schools). Prep actually might be your best option. Offers what you want. Way cheaper than Bullis.

price point and complete disregard for giving aid makes Bullis inaccessible to so many. It creates the illusion of selectiveness when actually they price themselves into an exclusive echelon not based on the merit of the student. It's not that they take 30. The take the 30 who can pay (and a small subset of those get material aid, very small).

I have heard from a current, wealthy Bullis parent that some of the parents are billionaires, so it does give the impression that they give preference to families with money.

All are good. Good Counsel has larger class sizes and he would likely receive less attention than the others

Anonymous wrote:Prep MAGA
Good Counsel MAGA

Bullis or none.

Bullis is very much MAGA and has absurd teacher turnover—friend’s kid had teachers leave mid year (3 of their teachers in one year once) every year of HS!

Prep would be your best choice, follow by St. Andrews (good culture).

Anonymous wrote:Academically, there is a wide gap between Bullis/SAES and GC. Not even close.

Athletically, there's a wide gap between Bullis/GC and SAES. Not even close.

I'm not sure why you think your son won't get in at Prep but will at Bullis. Prep takes about 125 boys into ninth grade Bullis will take about 30. Bullis is way more competitive than Prep these days (and the other schools). Prep actually might be your best option. Offers what you want. Way cheaper than Bullis.

price point and complete disregard for giving aid makes Bullis inaccessible to so many. It creates the illusion of selectiveness when actually they price themselves into an exclusive echelon not based on the merit of the student. It's not that they take 30. The take the 30 who can pay (and a small subset of those get material aid, very small).

There are roughly 95-100 kids per grade in US. DS’s year, I think about 40ish stayed on from MS and then the rest came from outside schools. SAES did a lot at the beginning of the year to help get kids integrated and feeling comfortable, but playing a fall sport was the key for DS making friends because he loves sports and that’s his natural go to method for interacting with other kids. He is friends with kids who came in new in 9th grade and kids who were already at SAES for MS. DS went to a small school prior to SAES so it is bigger and he feels like there’s enough variety/mixing of kids. That said, if you are coming from public school, it may feel waaay too small.

Re sports—a lot of kids play on a team bc they are required to play at least two seasons your freshman and sophomore year (many drop to one season for junior and senior year), but there’s not much in the way of athletic “recruiting.” They are building teams from a pool of less than 200 boys/200 girls each season AND playing against schools that do actually recruit. If your son’s goal is simply having the experience of playing for his HS, great. If he’s on the D1 likely path, he will be a standout (which could be great). But, if your son’s goal is dominating and championships, SAES will not be a good fit

Academically, there is a wide gap between Bullis/SAES and GC. Not even close.

Athletically, there's a wide gap between Bullis/GC and SAES. Not even close.

I'm not sure why you think your son won't get in at Prep but will at Bullis. Prep takes about 125 boys into ninth grade Bullis will take about 30. Bullis is way more competitive than Prep these days (and the other schools). Prep actually might be your best option. Offers what you want. Way cheaper than Bullis.

Anonymous wrote:We are at SAES. DS is a strong student (grades, test scores, good executive function) who is also a solid athlete (plays club for his primary sport, is strong at whatever he tries, but isn’t really thinking about playing beyond HS). He takes all honors courses and plays multiple sports at SAES, even tried stage crew—something he never thought he’d do. His teachers are excellent, he is challenged academically, and he is having a very balanced high school experience that is very similar to what we had back in the early 1990s (not DMV). Families have been overwhelmingly down to earth with a mix of kids coming from private and public. If your kid wants a big sports “scene” with football etc, SAES might not be the best fit, but being able to play multiple sports for his HS and continue to play club for his primary sport has been fantastic for DS.

For a point of comparison, we did not look at GC because it’s too far and felt too big, but DS applied and was accepted to the other schools on your list.

Very helpful, thank you! Yes we expect the main sports component to come from club but want there to be a strong sports element at school just because that is his nature. Very good info, thanks.
What are class sizes like for your student? Enough kids for a variety of friendships?

Anonymous wrote:Prep MAGA
Good Counsel MAGA

Bullis or none.

OMG really? I had no idea. The Heights is def Maga. St Andrews has a strong blue state they/them vibe with all the rainbow flags everywhere. Bullis more moderate middle of the road? DO not want Larlo to be somewhere woke.

Anonymous wrote:If you are considering Catholic schools and soccer is his sport, The Heights could have been worth a look. They have a great team and rigorous, classical education. Very conservative though, which may not be for everyone.

He did not want an all boys education. The Heights was a top choice otherwise!

If you are considering Catholic schools and soccer is his sport, The Heights could have been worth a look. They have a great team and rigorous, classical education. Very conservative though, which may not be for everyone.