Agree that GDS has real strengths (academics, TEACHERS, arts programs, historic commitment to diversity and social justice) -- that's why I sent my kid there in the first place. Some of those strengths are enduring. Others feel increasingly at risk.

To give you a sense of what I'm talking about, I'll say a bit more about one of the issues I've flagged.

Governance -- GDS, while nominally a parent-run school, has Soviet-style elections in which there are only as many candidates as there are slots. No real choice. Board is not representative of the community as a whole. These are old issues and ones most parents don't notice unless or until they think something is going wrong. They are also problems that, a few years ago, the then-new Head pledged to address.

New wrinkle. Board members apparently sign confidentiality statements and pretty much refuse to discuss policy with their parent "constituents." So there's an inner-circle echo chamber effect that seems to prevent effective oversight of the Administration. Bad decisions get made without any prior outreach beyond the Board, at which point Board and Administration are defensive and entrenched in their position. No meaningful dialogue prior to decisionmaking; damage control thereafter.

Meanwhile, a variety of formal and informal spaces where parents talked among themselves (committees, lobby) have been effectively gutted (with committees eliminated or members replaced when tough questions are being asked). In general, there seems to be a divide and conquer approach that pits groups with different issues against each other rather than searches for common ground. Definitely a my way or the highway vibe -- which you see even in this thread.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agonizing between GDS and Potomac for high school. Love them both. Grateful to have the choice as these were our top 2 choices. Live and work in VA. Scared of snow storms 9f we go with GDS.

Lots of problems at GDS right now -- fundraising, discipline, workload, governance. In your position, I'd seriously consider Potomac.

A current GDS parent.

Interesting.... Why are you then a current parent?
A current GDS parent who does not perceive any of the problems listed above.

Too late to leave. And problems have intensified in the last year or two.

15:08 here - I also want to add that we saw that GDS has enormous strengths, which is why our DC applied in the first place.

I agree with 14:13, I think it would be useful to find out from current parents what the weaknesses are at GDS, to go into a situation clear eyed. No place is perfect, and there is nothing wrong with wanting a realistic assessment of a school rather than what is presented at Open Houses and by admission directors. My child is wait listed, but I'm not asking for the skinny because I want other people to be be scared off!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find this infuriating. People are adults. Why not just e-mail all results. This is so dishonest and disrespectful. The haves and have nots. Really makes me wonder about the school.

I don't understand the hysteria. Everyone is notified via snail mail. Those that are accepted receive an email with a contract. End of story. This is how it worked last year as well and I don't remember any fuss then.

I think that the furor is over the misinformed and wrong receptionist in the admissions office who incorrectly told understandably anxious parents that no emails were sent out.

Is this really such a big deal? Sorry I can't understand. Last year we didn't receive our e-mail until later that day. People were posting in DC Urban Mom. I thought we were not admitted. I never thought of calling the school the same day the admissions decisions were out (talking about planning...) When your server has to manage sending out so many e-mails some might get earlier to their addressees than others.
And please, do not crucify the receptionist. She might have committed a mistake, not a crime.

And regarding the anxiety. Some of the calls to the school were made around 10-11am.... IMO is somewhat worrisome that some people get such level of anxiety over a school admission -and do not have the patience to wait until the next day (or the end of the day at least) to learn about if their DC have been admitted or not.

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agonizing between GDS and Potomac for high school. Love them both. Grateful to have the choice as these were our top 2 choices. Live and work in VA. Scared of snow storms 9f we go with GDS.

Lots of problems at GDS right now -- fundraising, discipline, workload, governance. In your position, I'd seriously consider Potomac.

A current GDS parent.

Can you elaborate on these problems? We're an accepted family (9th) so would like to know the stuff the admissions office and parent callers won't spontaneously bring up?

Thanks.

I'm also a parent and I couldn't disagree more with the other "parent's" statement. And I'm curious why, if the view the school as so problematic, they haven't left.

That is a naive statement. You have got to be the biggest chump ever, if you believe every parent at a school is 100% happy with any aspect of it. You go ahead and keep on cheerleading, and looking like an idiot.

Huge difference between being disappointed with a few things and making a statement like the one above. I am a really happy GDS parent - I would say 100% happy. I would also say there is no way is pay 30k and change for a school with which I had so many major issues.

Anonymous wrote:waiting list, now what?

You wait

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agonizing between GDS and Potomac for high school. Love them both. Grateful to have the choice as these were our top 2 choices. Live and work in VA. Scared of snow storms 9f we go with GDS.

Lots of problems at GDS right now -- fundraising, discipline, workload, governance. In your position, I'd seriously consider Potomac.

A current GDS parent.

Can you elaborate on these problems? We're an accepted family (9th) so would like to know the stuff the admissions office and parent callers won't spontaneously bring up?

Thanks.

I'm also a parent and I couldn't disagree more with the other "parent's" statement. And I'm curious why, if the view the school as so problematic, they haven't left.

That is a naive statement. You have got to be the biggest chump ever, if you believe every parent at a school is 100% happy with any aspect of it. You go ahead and keep on cheerleading, and looking like an idiot.

So friendly today, pp! But I digress... I think that if a person has concerns about a school's "fundraising, discipline, workload and governance," people might want to know why the family stays at said school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agonizing between GDS and Potomac for high school. Love them both. Grateful to have the choice as these were our top 2 choices. Live and work in VA. Scared of snow storms 9f we go with GDS.

Lots of problems at GDS right now -- fundraising, discipline, workload, governance. In your position, I'd seriously consider Potomac.

A current GDS parent.

Can you elaborate on these problems? We're an accepted family (9th) so would like to know the stuff the admissions office and parent callers won't spontaneously bring up?

Thanks.

I'm also a parent and I couldn't disagree more with the other "parent's" statement. And I'm curious why, if the view the school as so problematic, they haven't left.

That is a naive statement. You have got to be the biggest chump ever, if you believe every parent at a school is 100% happy with any aspect of it. You go ahead and keep on cheerleading, and looking like an idiot.

waiting list, now what?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agonizing between GDS and Potomac for high school. Love them both. Grateful to have the choice as these were our top 2 choices. Live and work in VA. Scared of snow storms 9f we go with GDS.

Lots of problems at GDS right now -- fundraising, discipline, workload, governance. In your position, I'd seriously consider Potomac.

A current GDS parent.

Can you elaborate on these problems? We're an accepted family (9th) so would like to know the stuff the admissions office and parent callers won't spontaneously bring up?

Thanks.

I'm also a parent and I couldn't disagree more with the other "parent's" statement. And I'm curious why, if the view the school as so problematic, they haven't left.

+1 [Evil-minded parent of a waitlisted child trying to increase his/her DC's chances of getting off the WL?]

+1000 LOL

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agonizing between GDS and Potomac for high school. Love them both. Grateful to have the choice as these were our top 2 choices. Live and work in VA. Scared of snow storms 9f we go with GDS.

Lots of problems at GDS right now -- fundraising, discipline, workload, governance. In your position, I'd seriously consider Potomac.

A current GDS parent.

Can you elaborate on these problems? We're an accepted family (9th) so would like to know the stuff the admissions office and parent callers won't spontaneously bring up?

Thanks.

I'm also a parent and I couldn't disagree more with the other "parent's" statement. And I'm curious why, if the view the school as so problematic, they haven't left.

+1 [Evil-minded parent of a waitlisted child trying to increase his/her DC's chances of getting off the WL?]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agonizing between GDS and Potomac for high school. Love them both. Grateful to have the choice as these were our top 2 choices. Live and work in VA. Scared of snow storms 9f we go with GDS.

Lots of problems at GDS right now -- fundraising, discipline, workload, governance. In your position, I'd seriously consider Potomac.

A current GDS parent.

Can you elaborate on these problems? We're an accepted family (9th) so would like to know the stuff the admissions office and parent callers won't spontaneously bring up?

Thanks.

I'm also a parent and I couldn't disagree more with the other "parent's" statement. And I'm curious why, if the view the school as so problematic, they haven't left.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agonizing between GDS and Potomac for high school. Love them both. Grateful to have the choice as these were our top 2 choices. Live and work in VA. Scared of snow storms 9f we go with GDS.

Lots of problems at GDS right now -- fundraising, discipline, workload, governance. In your position, I'd seriously consider Potomac.

A current GDS parent.

Interesting.... Why are you then a current parent?
A current GDS parent who does not perceive any of the problems listed above.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agonizing between GDS and Potomac for high school. Love them both. Grateful to have the choice as these were our top 2 choices. Live and work in VA. Scared of snow storms 9f we go with GDS.

Lots of problems at GDS right now -- fundraising, discipline, workload, governance. In your position, I'd seriously consider Potomac.

A current GDS parent.

Can you elaborate on these problems? We're an accepted family (9th) so would like to know the stuff the admissions office and parent callers won't spontaneously bring up?

Thanks.