This is one that you can sort out for yourself. Spend 15 minutes in each school and your impression will be formed. Pick a nice day like today and observe the migration of students. Are kids heading off campus or staying on campus?

The upper school building was renovated at Sidwell within the past 10 years. There are plenty of indoor gathering spaces as well as the on-campus coffee shop. True, it doesn't have the awesome two story atrium/theater space that GDS created.

GDS is really, really tight in terms of space. I disagree with the poster above. I have seen both campuses and think the Sidwell campus is hands down the superior facility. As a perspective family/student, that seems obvious on its face. But that is something you can easily see for yourself.

Other than athletic fields, which don't sound relevant to this kid, I would disagree that the Sidwell indoor facilities are better . The main academic building is basically an ugly 1960s box, classrooms are ok, but hallways are dark and ugly. New meeting house is gorgeous as is the new gym, but these are not where kids spend all day. Real lack of indoor "gathering" spaces at Sidwell. GDS high school building had a pretty recent big renovation. New science and arts spaces, great gathering place (the multistory forum). The forum really adds to the sense of community, and the school buildings stay open until 11pm, with lots going on, including use of the library. Sidwell pretty much shuts down at 5pm except for sporting or performance events.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a bright, sensitive, quiet, and not-good-at-sport girl, which would be a better fit? Academically she is strong at both STEM and humanities.

may I ask are you coming from private or public?

From public.

Congratulations -- a great problem to have. Go with your gut, they are both great high schools. How do you feel about the Quaker aspects and the long periods (45 minutes?) of reflective time? I would think a lot of kids would have a hard time with this, at least at first.

They are similar schools but the current GDS high school campus is basically an office building with a turf field. Sidwell's facilities are much stronger. After touring both schools, that would play a significant part in my decision.

Approximately 125

How many students per grade in gds HS?

It's hard to go wrong with either one although I know a parent at Sidwell whose DD goes to GDS. She was told by a GDS teacher her son would be a better fit at Sidwell because he's shy. I think you need to do your own homework and see where your daughter feels most comfortable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a bright, sensitive, quiet, and not-good-at-sport girl, which would be a better fit? Academically she is strong at both STEM and humanities.

For above profile, definitely GDS. And this is coming from an SFS parent.

Can you elaborate why? Thanks.

Anonymous wrote:For a bright, sensitive, quiet, and not-good-at-sport girl, which would be a better fit? Academically she is strong at both STEM and humanities.

may I ask are you coming from private or public?

+1 for GDS for this profile.

Anonymous wrote:For a bright, sensitive, quiet, and not-good-at-sport girl, which would be a better fit? Academically she is strong at both STEM and humanities.

For above profile, definitely GDS. And this is coming from an SFS parent.

Our DS faced a similar choice two years ago between GDS and Sidwell. We made him go back and shadow again (which both schools happily accommodated.) While he ultimately chose Sidwell (and is very happy), I think he would have been happy at either. Both great schools. Congratulations to your daughter on her great options.