Anonymous
Post 01/13/2026 20:13     Subject: Indulge my fantasy - top private vs. Walls
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Your chances of having this choice are very very low. There are, surprise to no one, more than say 15 really smart gritty go getter girls from the entire DMV looking into Sid and GDS for 9th. So this fantasy is, as you recognize, a real fantasy.

That being said, we chose a Big 3 over our very excellent punching above its weight college admissions public for the reasons outlined by others but to put a finer point on it.

First, the writing, editing, and analytical development. I think there are equally good teachers at the good public schools. But, they have exponentially more students. A private school English teacher can assign a three page paper and then edit it and provide those edits back. That iterative process can continue. That is simply not possible with the numbers of students a public school teacher has to deal with. (3 page paper, times 50 kids at best, etc.). Also, say 25 kids on a class; your child will by definition have fewer opportunities to engage in meaningful academic back and forth guided by a teacher.

Also, we liked the lack of grade inflation. We felt that our child deserved meaningful feedback on their performance. We wanted our child to have some grade challenged in high school when we were there to my guide them. That is much more likely to happen at a private school.

We also see that the classes are harder. They just are. People can pretend that they aren’t but my kid does way more homework than his peers at our local public. I understand this cuts both ways — 3 hours of homework on some nights freshman year is not actually beneficial to my kid.

Finally, and again this will be like throwing gasoline on a fire, we came to the conclusion that college outcomes are better. Which made sense to us for the reasons outlined above.





Your local public is not Walls, which undermines the relevance of your post. Also, you underestimate the number of children who have these choices.


(1). Our local public is, in my view, superior to Walls. Regardless, we engaged in the analysis for TJHSST where our child was accepted and also turned down for these reasons and everyone knows that’s “better” than Walls.

(2). Classes at GDS and Sidwell are about 120 in US. They accept about 30 +/- for 9th entry. Half of those (yes yes approximately) go to girls. Hence explain what’s the matter with my math?

(3). I thought my post was pretty helpful? Geez.


I think you don’t realize how many addition duties private school teachers have that eat up their time. Yes, they have smaller classes and so should be able to give students more feedback—but often they are busy with other duties that public school teachers do not have and also are often less qualified and paid far less.

The real difference between public and private is the peer group anyway, unless you are talking about a school like TJ or Stuyvesant in NYC.

Also, I would expect my child to learn to edit their own writing and not have their writing feedback be merely “edits.” Sounds like you should have sent your kid to TJ.
Anonymous
Post 01/13/2026 14:10     Subject: Indulge my fantasy - top private vs. Walls
Anonymous wrote:We have a Walls/GWEP grad and a child who is currently attending one of the Big 3. (You will have good and bad teachers anywhere.) Pros and cons to both but every child deserves the education and attention provided by the Big 3 schools. If given the opportunity and your child wants it, take the spot at the big 3.


That is not possible.
Anonymous
Post 01/13/2026 10:28     Subject: Indulge my fantasy - top private vs. Walls
Keep in mind that independent school acceptances come out and ask for a financial commitment before Walls acceptances come out. Unless you are waitlisted, you need to be ready to decide on an offer before you know about Walls.

Your kid has already had a public school experience, which has value in understanding the larger world. It’s Ok to change.

Let your kid have input. This is a long time ago, but I surprised myself when, after years of complaining about public school, I chose to stay after being accepted to the independent school I was sure I wanted.

If you really want independent options, look at more schools.

Anonymous
Post 01/12/2026 17:30     Subject: Indulge my fantasy - top private vs. Walls
I know a handful of private elementary/middle who left for Walls and loved it. Also... what exactly was bad at your DCPS? What middle school are you at and how is she handling it there? It's been a cakewalk and a pleasure working with DCPS for the most part. My daughter is very busy outside of school and does academics outside of school. I just don't think we are "tolerating DCPS". The financial worries you have... make sure your advisor supports it in terms of your own retirement and funding college etc. It's your money, but you know what REALLY hurts a kid... parent stress, parent guilt applied, and losing things like discretionary spending and vacations.
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 19:59     Subject: Indulge my fantasy - top private vs. Walls
We have a Walls/GWEP grad and a child who is currently attending one of the Big 3. (You will have good and bad teachers anywhere.) Pros and cons to both but every child deserves the education and attention provided by the Big 3 schools. If given the opportunity and your child wants it, take the spot at the big 3.
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2026 19:33     Subject: Indulge my fantasy - top private vs. Walls
Anonymous wrote:Your chances of having this choice are very very low. There are, surprise to no one, more than say 15 really smart gritty go getter girls from the entire DMV looking into Sid and GDS for 9th. So this fantasy is, as you recognize, a real fantasy.

That being said, we chose a Big 3 over our very excellent punching above its weight college admissions public for the reasons outlined by others but to put a finer point on it.

First, the writing, editing, and analytical development. I think there are equally good teachers at the good public schools. But, they have exponentially more students. A private school English teacher can assign a three page paper and then edit it and provide those edits back. That iterative process can continue. That is simply not possible with the numbers of students a public school teacher has to deal with. (3 page paper, times 50 kids at best, etc.). Also, say 25 kids on a class; your child will by definition have fewer opportunities to engage in meaningful academic back and forth guided by a teacher.

Also, we liked the lack of grade inflation. We felt that our child deserved meaningful feedback on their performance. We wanted our child to have some grade challenged in high school when we were there to my guide them. That is much more likely to happen at a private school.

We also see that the classes are harder. They just are. People can pretend that they aren’t but my kid does way more homework than his peers at our local public. I understand this cuts both ways — 3 hours of homework on some nights freshman year is not actually beneficial to my kid.

Finally, and again this will be like throwing gasoline on a fire, we came to the conclusion that college outcomes are better. Which made sense to us for the reasons outlined above.





I went to a big three and have sent my kids through MCPS and this is spot on except maybe for the college outcome piece. The part about feedback on writing is particularly accurate. After seeing the public HS experience thru my first kid, I would have sent the second two to a top private if we could afford it. And the transition to college has been so much harder than mine was. And I have smart kids.

Anonymous
Post 01/09/2026 19:12     Subject: Indulge my fantasy - top private vs. Walls
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Your chances of having this choice are very very low. There are, surprise to no one, more than say 15 really smart gritty go getter girls from the entire DMV looking into Sid and GDS for 9th. So this fantasy is, as you recognize, a real fantasy.

That being said, we chose a Big 3 over our very excellent punching above its weight college admissions public for the reasons outlined by others but to put a finer point on it.

First, the writing, editing, and analytical development. I think there are equally good teachers at the good public schools. But, they have exponentially more students. A private school English teacher can assign a three page paper and then edit it and provide those edits back. That iterative process can continue. That is simply not possible with the numbers of students a public school teacher has to deal with. (3 page paper, times 50 kids at best, etc.). Also, say 25 kids on a class; your child will by definition have fewer opportunities to engage in meaningful academic back and forth guided by a teacher.

Also, we liked the lack of grade inflation. We felt that our child deserved meaningful feedback on their performance. We wanted our child to have some grade challenged in high school when we were there to my guide them. That is much more likely to happen at a private school.

We also see that the classes are harder. They just are. People can pretend that they aren’t but my kid does way more homework than his peers at our local public. I understand this cuts both ways — 3 hours of homework on some nights freshman year is not actually beneficial to my kid.

Finally, and again this will be like throwing gasoline on a fire, we came to the conclusion that college outcomes are better. Which made sense to us for the reasons outlined above.





Your local public is not Walls, which undermines the relevance of your post. Also, you underestimate the number of children who have these choices.


(1). Our local public is, in my view, superior to Walls. Regardless, we engaged in the analysis for TJHSST where our child was accepted and also turned down for these reasons and everyone knows that’s “better” than Walls.

(2). Classes at GDS and Sidwell are about 120 in US. They accept about 30 +/- for 9th entry. Half of those (yes yes approximately) go to girls. Hence explain what’s the matter with my math?

(3). I thought my post was pretty helpful? Geez.
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2026 16:09     Subject: Indulge my fantasy - top private vs. Walls
Anonymous wrote:Your chances of having this choice are very very low. There are, surprise to no one, more than say 15 really smart gritty go getter girls from the entire DMV looking into Sid and GDS for 9th. So this fantasy is, as you recognize, a real fantasy.

That being said, we chose a Big 3 over our very excellent punching above its weight college admissions public for the reasons outlined by others but to put a finer point on it.

First, the writing, editing, and analytical development. I think there are equally good teachers at the good public schools. But, they have exponentially more students. A private school English teacher can assign a three page paper and then edit it and provide those edits back. That iterative process can continue. That is simply not possible with the numbers of students a public school teacher has to deal with. (3 page paper, times 50 kids at best, etc.). Also, say 25 kids on a class; your child will by definition have fewer opportunities to engage in meaningful academic back and forth guided by a teacher.

Also, we liked the lack of grade inflation. We felt that our child deserved meaningful feedback on their performance. We wanted our child to have some grade challenged in high school when we were there to my guide them. That is much more likely to happen at a private school.

We also see that the classes are harder. They just are. People can pretend that they aren’t but my kid does way more homework than his peers at our local public. I understand this cuts both ways — 3 hours of homework on some nights freshman year is not actually beneficial to my kid.

Finally, and again this will be like throwing gasoline on a fire, we came to the conclusion that college outcomes are better. Which made sense to us for the reasons outlined above.





Your local public is not Walls, which undermines the relevance of your post. Also, you underestimate the number of children who have these choices.
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2026 13:08     Subject: Indulge my fantasy - top private vs. Walls
Your chances of having this choice are very very low. There are, surprise to no one, more than say 15 really smart gritty go getter girls from the entire DMV looking into Sid and GDS for 9th. So this fantasy is, as you recognize, a real fantasy.

That being said, we chose a Big 3 over our very excellent punching above its weight college admissions public for the reasons outlined by others but to put a finer point on it.

First, the writing, editing, and analytical development. I think there are equally good teachers at the good public schools. But, they have exponentially more students. A private school English teacher can assign a three page paper and then edit it and provide those edits back. That iterative process can continue. That is simply not possible with the numbers of students a public school teacher has to deal with. (3 page paper, times 50 kids at best, etc.). Also, say 25 kids on a class; your child will by definition have fewer opportunities to engage in meaningful academic back and forth guided by a teacher.

Also, we liked the lack of grade inflation. We felt that our child deserved meaningful feedback on their performance. We wanted our child to have some grade challenged in high school when we were there to my guide them. That is much more likely to happen at a private school.

We also see that the classes are harder. They just are. People can pretend that they aren’t but my kid does way more homework than his peers at our local public. I understand this cuts both ways — 3 hours of homework on some nights freshman year is not actually beneficial to my kid.

Finally, and again this will be like throwing gasoline on a fire, we came to the conclusion that college outcomes are better. Which made sense to us for the reasons outlined above.



Anonymous
Post 01/09/2026 12:14     Subject: Indulge my fantasy - top private vs. Walls
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’m so confused. Why haven’t you asked your daughter what SHE wants?… Instead of random strangers on the internet. If she has a good head on her shoulders, she will have her own aspirations and desires that are outside other people’s opinions. You say that YOU are exhausted but is your daughter exhausted with DCPS? Also why are you spending so much time thinking about this? She may not even have a choice and then you’re wasted everyone’s time on this.


I’m sure at the end of the day the daughter would prefer the $200k+ you would throw away on Sidwell to use as a downpayment on a house or law school tuition … not sure why you will start this phase of her life off with a terrible financial choice.


Some of us are fortunate enough to be able to do all three…
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2026 11:22     Subject: Indulge my fantasy - top private vs. Walls
Cross this bridge when you come to it.
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2026 11:20     Subject: Indulge my fantasy - top private vs. Walls
Anonymous wrote:I would choose private over Walls. Walls seemed too disorganized when I toured it.


Walls is not disorganized, but it does require strong executive function skills. If your kid is truly independent and driven, Walls is a great fit. If student (or parents) require any degree of hand-holding, go private.
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2026 10:54     Subject: Indulge my fantasy - top private vs. Walls
We had a flavor of this choice and it was up to our kid to decide.They thought the cohort at Walls was more uniformly academics-focused than the private and would push them to do better. They also thought the diversity felt real and not curated.

It was not an economic decision and we were OK with either option. Saying no to the amazing facilities and on-premise lunch options at the private did hurt.

I will say that many of their friends who had the choice and were not financially constrained went private.

Assuming your kid is mature and not flighty, I'd let them make the decision once you have the choice.
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2026 06:59     Subject: Re:Indulge my fantasy - top private vs. Walls
My child decided to go to a big 3 at 9th while we have pretty solid public options. Kid enjoys it - much more sports and other activities and academics are more challenging. So far not much private school drama. Kids are all focused and busy.

Regarding the rich thing, about 25 percent of kids receive financial aid in school, not sure if higher share in HS. You probably would find a lot of people with similar or less income. I am single parenting and child support does not include private school tuition. Did not apply for FA, unsure if we would qualify or the amount. It is a financial commitment bigger than my mortgage. But the kid wants it, so I set aside 250k, and told the kid to work or apply for student loans to finance part of the college expenses later, and myself to delay retirement by 2 years.
Anonymous
Post 01/09/2026 04:39     Subject: Indulge my fantasy - top private vs. Walls
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:By posting on the private school thread you're going to get more responses pushing private.

Personally, I think you sound entitled and difficult to deal with and think your kid is better than everybody else. You're clearly one of those parents that the rest of us roll our eyes at.

So, as a DCPS parent, sure, go private and don't let the door hit you in the a$$ on the way out.


The thing is, some kids -are- better at school and life than other kids.


lol. If the kid is so much better at school and life then why do they need to waste $200k for high school?


It’s a better experience, a better education, and many DC families can afford the tuition. Who shortchanges their children to be miserly? wtf