OP here

To 10.45 PP: Thanks for sharing your observation. I totally agree. I feel that it is generally assumed on this forum, that an athletic boy is an antithesis to an intelligent, thoughtful and academically strong boy.

From my own and my husband's experience (both with an Ivy League graduate degree AND some medals from international sports events) I know, that a good balance in the physical and mental/intellectual exercise in life can make one very efficient -- both in terms of time management and the activity of a "well-oxygenated" brain.

Yes, we have been looking for a school that can combine the academic AND athletic excellence. And, no, we are not 100% sure which one would be the best choice.

Some of the PPs make great points. There is a continuous theme here where independent schools that have strong athletic programs, are bashed or at least undermined. Not enough credit is given that is possible that a school can balance both extremely well.

I hate to say it, but there seems to be a faction on this board that looks down on student athletes and the schools that promote such. I sense that there is jealousy. The sentiment for these people seems to be that an excellent athlete couldn't possibly be as smart as my non-athletic son....

Anonymous wrote:
OP here. Interesting insights -- thanks to all PPs.

Can we now forget about the co-ed vs. non co-ed, athletics vs. nerd, campus facilities vs. community, quaker vs. ... stuff and focus on ACADEMICS only?

DS has been accepted to both Sidwell and Landon and likes both schools. (Yes, the schools are very different, but that does not mean that only one may be the "right fit"... the "right fit" can mean so many things that the "right fit" argumentation is just an endlessly repeated cliche...)

Regardless of all the other stuff, the question we are grappling with is:
How different is the academic environment?
Is there a difference in the possibility and in the way to achieve academic excellence in these schools?

Thanks!

P.S. Although both DH and I have graduate degrees from the Ivies, we seem unable to conclude as easily as some posters suggest that one of these schools is so clearly academically better than the other.

The types of kids at Landon [athletes] slammed by many on these boards can be just as intellectual. Did you apply to STA? It has some of the neighborhood cool types commonly found at Sidwell, the hardest academics, etc. Why don't you spend time at these schools? Go to the spring sport games - get an idea of the student body in middle and high school. See the parents in action. Sit in on upper school classes. Then make the decision.

Better "leaders" vs. better "academic types" is a very interesting angle to consider!


Suddenly I hear Jon Lovitz saying "yeah, that's the ticket!" Seriously, weaker academics doesn't mean stronger leadership training. What evidence is there that Landon produces more "leaders" than Sidwell?

Being neither a Sidwell nor Landon booster, I think these 2 schools draw from very different populations. Sidwell tends to draw more from the DC political/media/legal communities, while Landon draws more from the suburban/business communities. Sidwell is more liberal and progressive in its educational approach and its political leanings. Not many Republicans at Sidwell. Landon is more the opposite.

Anonymous wrote:Here is my two cents:

Yes, Sidwell is better academically. But there is far less academic advantage over a Landon than the hype lends you to believe.

If balance is important to you, yes including athletics, then Landon could be a solid advantage in your decision making.

Frankly, many people would argue that the make up of the environment at Landon produces better leaders. Sidwell better academic types.

These are worthy two cents. Better "leaders" vs. better "academic types" is a very interesting angle to consider!

Anonymous wrote:Ummm, no pp. Sidwell is able to pick the absolute top students (grades, test scores, recs., etc) --- Landon and many of the others have good students -- but generally not the absolute top ones (I know there may be exceptions).

I'm saying that as a parent whose kid didn't get accepted into Sidwell...only waitlisted.

Do they pick the best teachers?

Here is my two cents:

Yes, Sidwell is better academically. But there is far less academic advantage over a Landon than the hype lends you to believe.

If balance is important to you, yes including athletics, then Landon could be a solid advantage in your decision making.

Frankly, many people would argue that the make up of the environment at Landon produces better leaders. Sidwell better academic types.

It all depends on what you want for your son and where would be the best chemistry for him.

Hasn't the ship already sailed?? The decision deadlines have passed. That said, I would love to know where you end up sending your son - especially if you were the person who asked this same question a few weeks ago and said that you were going to be out of town until after the decision deadline so you would be unable to visit the schools again.

In terms of cohort, the top is higher and deeper at Sidwell. Curriculum at Sidwell is more rigorous and includes courses (e.g. in math) that go far beyond Landon's.

If I had a super-bright son, no way in hell would I send him to Landon over Sidwell. If I had a smart son who was also really into athletics and who does not do well in a pressure-cooker environment, then I might send him to Landon, especially if I thought it would mean the difference between being in the top 5 vs. top 30 wrt class rank. (Yes, I know that Sidwell doesn't rank. But I also know that when dozens of apps from Sidwell and Landon come across admissions officers desk each year, then they can pretty easily deduce where a kid falls in his class based on numbers and recs).

An intelligent, motivated kid can get good education at either school. But, if academic excellence is what we're talking about (and maybe I have exceptionally high standards on that score), it's certainly attainable at Sidwell, given a student with the right personality and interests, and not very likely at Landon.

OP, the academic environment is somewhat more fast-paced at Sidwell than Landon because there is overall a greater spread of student abilities at Landon than Sidwell. (Although certainly Sidwell students are not monolithically genius in their ability levels!) There is also more nightly homework at Sidwell so you might factor that in as well. Not sure what you mean by "is there a difference in the possibility and way to achieve academic excellence" at these schools. Anecdotally it may be harder for your son to get top grades at Sidwell vs. Landon (given the pool), but if he is a star I'm sure he will twinkle brightly at either place -- which is why so many responses you are getting focus on cultural factors.

I don't think it is a matter of one being clearly academic superior than the other. I think the issue is, when you have a single sex environment, it is very different than a co-ed environment.

They are both fabulous schools, but only you as parents, and your DS can determine what "feels" right.

Don't take our word for it -- we're all anonymous. Ask for the college admission stats. And, for Landon, separate the athletic recruits from general admits and you'll be left bare for the top colleges.

OP here. Interesting insights -- thanks to all PPs.

Can we now forget about the co-ed vs. non co-ed, athletics vs. nerd, campus facilities vs. community, quaker vs. ... stuff and focus on ACADEMICS only?

DS has been accepted to both Sidwell and Landon and likes both schools. (Yes, the schools are very different, but that does not mean that only one may be the "right fit"... the "right fit" can mean so many things that the "right fit" argumentation is just an endlessly repeated cliche...)

Regardless of all the other stuff, the question we are grappling with is:
How different is the academic environment?
Is there a difference in the possibility and in the way to achieve academic excellence in these schools?

Thanks!

P.S. Although both DH and I have graduate degrees from the Ivies, we seem unable to conclude as easily as some posters suggest that one of these schools is so clearly academically better than the other.

Ummm, no pp. Sidwell is able to pick the absolute top students (grades, test scores, recs., etc) --- Landon and many of the others have good students -- but generally not the absolute top ones (I know there may be exceptions).

I'm saying that as a parent whose kid didn't get accepted into Sidwell...only waitlisted.