if you can't get in one of these - which are the 2nd rate schools in the area?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To me the issue is, outside of the DMV no one has ever heard of GDS. For better or worse, Sidwell has the notoriety that comes from having Clinton and Obama kids there. You can go anywhere in the country and talk about Sidwell and people know the school. That is simply not true of GDS

If I’m going to pay $45000 a year for a school, I prefer to purchase a brand name that means something

But why do you care if Joe Smith in Nebraska has heard of your kid's high school? Maybe if you could say that college admissions had heard of Sidwell but not GDS I could understand your point, but I don't think that's true.

Because Joe Smith in Nebraska might hire my kid one day.

Anonymous wrote:To me the issue is, outside of the DMV no one has ever heard of GDS. For better or worse, Sidwell has the notoriety that comes from having Clinton and Obama kids there. You can go anywhere in the country and talk about Sidwell and people know the school. That is simply not true of GDS

If I’m going to pay $45000 a year for a school, I prefer to purchase a brand name that means something

But why do you care if Joe Smith in Nebraska has heard of your kid's high school? Maybe if you could say that college admissions had heard of Sidwell but not GDS I could understand your point, but I don't think that's true.

To me the issue is, outside of the DMV no one has ever heard of GDS. For better or worse, Sidwell has the notoriety that comes from having Clinton and Obama kids there. You can go anywhere in the country and talk about Sidwell and people know the school. That is simply not true of GDS

If I’m going to pay $45000 a year for a school, I prefer to purchase a brand name that means something

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ten years ago, more families given the choice between Sidwell and GDS would choose Sidwell. Today, that has reversed. GDS is the more sought-after school.

Other than your opinion, do you have any evidence to back up that statement?

Of course not, because there is none. I don't know anyone who would pick GDS over Sidwell.

+1000

So true.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for the replies! I have a quick follow-up: we are a solidly middle-class family, very down to earth. Would either school be a better "fit" for us along that metric? Thanks again for the help.

Both schools have plenty.

In my experience only at one of them is that GDS would be better for real middle class kids.

Are you joking?

Not at all. GDS has a real identity. And a middle class kid can thrive on that. The identity isn’t based on your class standing outside of school. Sidwell is comprised of social climbers. It otherwise has no real identity that it truly identifies with having abandoned that years ago.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ten years ago, more families given the choice between Sidwell and GDS would choose Sidwell. Today, that has reversed. GDS is the more sought-after school.

Other than your opinion, do you have any evidence to back up that statement?

Of course not, because there is none. I don't know anyone who would pick GDS over Sidwell.

+1000

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for the replies! I have a quick follow-up: we are a solidly middle-class family, very down to earth. Would either school be a better "fit" for us along that metric? Thanks again for the help.

Both schools have plenty.

In my experience only at one of them is that GDS would be better for real middle class kids.

Are you joking?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for the replies! I have a quick follow-up: we are a solidly middle-class family, very down to earth. Would either school be a better "fit" for us along that metric? Thanks again for the help.

Both schools have plenty.

In my experience only at one of them is that GDS would be better for real middle class kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ten years ago, more families given the choice between Sidwell and GDS would choose Sidwell. Today, that has reversed. GDS is the more sought-after school.

Other than your opinion, do you have any evidence to back up that statement?

Of course not, because there is none. I don't know anyone who would pick GDS over Sidwell.

GDS is, and has always been, the wannabe Sidwell. This is gotten even more pronounced over the years from when I was there in the late 90s. This does not speak to the educational experience your child might have. It would be fine either way. As long as you don’t mind elitism.

Parent with several kids at GDS Our first kid chose GDS over Sidwell bc he thought it would be less of a pressure cooker. I think that was true in middle school, based on talking to friends at Sidwell, however both are pressure cookers in HS. With our younger kids I do think sibling preference helped them get into GDS. Our kids are all really happy at GDS. They feel challenged and accepted. They all have different learning styles, interests and levels of social /interactions with friends but they all seem to be thriving. In terms of the "middle school family" question- tons of kids are on financial aid. There is a big range of income levels. There are visibly wealthy families of course but it's not cool to flaunt it. There is no big fundraising gala for instance. However some kids will be going on amazing vacations, driving nice cars etc but that is certainly the same at Sidwell.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ten years ago, more families given the choice between Sidwell and GDS would choose Sidwell. Today, that has reversed. GDS is the more sought-after school.

Other than your opinion, do you have any evidence to back up that statement?

Of course not, because there is none. I don't know anyone who would pick GDS over Sidwell.

Maybe you should expand your circle of acquaintances. I know many kids who chose GDS over Sidwell.

For high school, I know several kids who pick GDS over Sidwell, and I know several kids who pick Sidwell over GDS, and many more who didn't have a choice.

The visits matter to kids and that is when they decide. Mine only applied to one of those because the other felt very off, and ended up attending a totally different school that felt just right. Let your kid lead the way unless you are applying to lower school.

We applied only to GDS. It seemed much more joyful than Sidwell.

And I even know some who left Sidwell for GDS.

And while we're at it, in know many (many) who got into both.