Anonymous wrote:Why such the hate for Sidwell on this thread? I am all for constructive criticism but, majority of these post are hyperbole at best.

Probably jealousy. Sidwell is the most selective private and the only one people out of DC have heard of sue due to the presidential offspring attending there. St.alban’s and the cathedral schools also have the cachet but not everyone wants single sex education for their kids. GDS is good academically but is kind of no frills. And Maret is a ****show these days with their playing field problems and sex abuse issues.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:How is Sidwell not a Quaker school? Really?

Go visit the school. If you are Quaker and visit, you will spot quickly why Sidwell isn't really Quaker.

The Quakers at the school disagree.

How many Quaker students are there at Sidwell? Are any of the staff Quaker?

In 2007, there were 87,000 Quakers in all the US (per https://www.fgcquaker.org). i would estimate there are fewer today. there are indeed Quaker students/families at the school. I would estimate 1-2 per class, which is far in excess of what you would find at a nonQuaker school based on the tiny size of the Quaker population in the US. I have no idea whether there are any Quaker faculty (I also do not know how many faculty may be Hindu, Protestant, Catholic, atheist, Baptist, Mormon, etc. it has never occurred to me to ask a faculty member what religion he or she practices, if any). That being said, to this nonQuaker, it feels very much as if the school tries to discuss and instill Quaker values. It does not try to convert students and families to Quakerism.

The teaching of Quaker values has been positive for our son's education. If you do not want a values-based education for your child or do not feel you can support Quaker values, you shouldn't apply to the school.

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Anonymous wrote:But isn’t the alumni network for making and perpetuating connections?

Isn't that true of any school or community?

It could but that’s not the sole purpose.

Anonymous wrote:But isn’t the alumni network for making and perpetuating connections?

Isn't that true of any school or community?

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Anonymous wrote:Sidwell is a great investment into your child's education. Take a look at their alumni social media accounts. Active group that's racially diverse. Is it worth the 44k tag? Well, that's up to you and what your expecting. At the end of the day this is one of the best schools in DC and in the Nation.

Finally, someone willing to say what really drives most decisions to attend SFS and similar schools: connections. Especially for k-12s, connections get a kid in and connections are what families pay for. Also a big consideration for schools which is why legacies and knowing Board members, etc. are hooks.

Give it a break.

By the time you are 25 yo you’ll have way more connections where your try interests lie than your teenage years. You’ll have college friends, internships friends, Sports friends, study abroad friends, job friends, grad school friends. It’s awesome. It’s a small world too. But please don’t harp about upper school or hometown. If even relevant to what you’re doing, that will be just one other circle of friends and good contacts you have among a ton of others.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell is a great investment into your child's education. Take a look at their alumni social media accounts. Active group that's racially diverse. Is it worth the 44k tag? Well, that's up to you and what your expecting. At the end of the day this is one of the best schools in DC and in the Nation.

+100

And in jobs and industries that pay well for actual skills!!! Many are actually capitalists (gasp!)!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell is a great investment into your child's education. Take a look at their alumni social media accounts. Active group that's racially diverse. Is it worth the 44k tag? Well, that's up to you and what your expecting. At the end of the day this is one of the best schools in DC and in the Nation.

Finally, someone willing to say what really drives most decisions to attend SFS and similar schools: connections. Especially for k-12s, connections get a kid in and connections are what families pay for. Also a big consideration for schools which is why legacies and knowing Board members, etc. are hooks.

I don’t know what you read but, that is not what is implied. I think the poster was saying alumni are active (sign of being vested) and diverse. Where does connections come into play? Oh that’s right, that’s what you wanted it to say.

But isn’t the alumni network for making and perpetuating connections?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell is a great investment into your child's education. Take a look at their alumni social media accounts. Active group that's racially diverse. Is it worth the 44k tag? Well, that's up to you and what your expecting. At the end of the day this is one of the best schools in DC and in the Nation.

Finally, someone willing to say what really drives most decisions to attend SFS and similar schools: connections. Especially for k-12s, connections get a kid in and connections are what families pay for. Also a big consideration for schools which is why legacies and knowing Board members, etc. are hooks.

The PP doesn't use the word connections and I don't think they implied it either. But you can keep your axe sharpened and continue to show your biases.

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell is a great investment into your child's education. Take a look at their alumni social media accounts. Active group that's racially diverse. Is it worth the 44k tag? Well, that's up to you and what your expecting. At the end of the day this is one of the best schools in DC and in the Nation.

Finally, someone willing to say what really drives most decisions to attend SFS and similar schools: connections. Especially for k-12s, connections get a kid in and connections are what families pay for. Also a big consideration for schools which is why legacies and knowing Board members, etc. are hooks.

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell is a great investment into your child's education. Take a look at their alumni social media accounts. Active group that's racially diverse. Is it worth the 44k tag? Well, that's up to you and what your expecting. At the end of the day this is one of the best schools in DC and in the Nation.

+100

Sidwell is a great investment into your child's education. Take a look at their alumni social media accounts. Active group that's racially diverse. Is it worth the 44k tag? Well, that's up to you and what your expecting. At the end of the day this is one of the best schools in DC and in the Nation.

Size and offerings are different, location and costs of campus are different as well. If you prefer SSFS, then terrific, it is a fine school. There are a lot of Sidwell families who live in Prince George's County and DC who would not be able to make the trek to Olney and make it work.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree.

Me too. Sidwell isn’t really Quaker anymore.

Can’t help yourself, can you? Poor impulse control

One could say the same about you.

And at 45k, Sidwell ain’t Quaker.

You said the same thing 8 pages ago, and the other Quaker schools on the east coast charge the same or more.

Not SSFS.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree.

Me too. Sidwell isn’t really Quaker anymore.

Can’t help yourself, can you? Poor impulse control

One could say the same about you.

And at 45k, Sidwell ain’t Quaker.

Time to move on Sidwell hater.