Anonymous wrote:I bet the public school applicants will continue to trend down, especially at the elite, $55k schools.

The word is increasingly out that college admissions for a smart but unhooked kid are better from DCPS than they are for the same kid at Sidwell, NCS, etc. Plus you have to work your a$$ off through all of high school at these privates. I had kids come from DCPS and this is definitely what people are talking about and coming to realize in mass. These are close communities, neighborhoods and communities--word travels.

STJ is sort of it's own animal--it will always get a bunch of families who are skittish about Jackson Reed and figure that paying under $23k for the guarantee of order in the classroom is worth it. Interestingly, some of these kids end up transferring out to JR later in high school.

Anonymous wrote:By the time you’re in DCPS middle school a lot of families come to the realization that DCPS actually does a really good job serving high achieving students. And, those kids will do well at JR and have a very good shot at Ivy. But for the majority of families, those whove been lumped into the dreaded “average” category, the privates become very attractive. Because being average at JR exposes you to classes with kids who are years behind. And even the best teachers cannot handle an overcrowded classroom with such a wide range of needs. It’s impossible. Therefore many of those “average” families scramble for privates and charters.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I bet the public school applicants will continue to trend down, especially at the elite, $55k schools.

The word is increasingly out that college admissions for a smart but unhooked kid are better from DCPS than they are for the same kid at Sidwell, NCS, etc. Plus you have to work your a$$ off through all of high school at these privates. I had kids come from DCPS and this is definitely what people are talking about and coming to realize in mass. These are close communities, neighborhoods and communities--word travels.

STJ is sort of it's own animal--it will always get a bunch of families who are skittish about Jackson Reed and figure that paying under $23k for the guarantee of order in the classroom is worth it. Interestingly, some of these kids end up transferring out to JR later in high school.

LOL, so you really think a college is going to have preference for a public school kid who coasted through HS vs a private school kid who "works his a$$ off through all of high school." Colleges know that kids coming out of schools like Sidwell are significantly more prepared for the rigors of college. Sorry, but your your statement is not very convincing at all.

yes. if you don't believe this then you have your head in the sand. Colleges LOVE kids from Walls and Jackson Reed. They love them. It is far, far easier to get in unhooked to top 50 colleges from Jackson Reed or Walls in 2023 than from NCS or Sidwell. If you don't believe this, go talk to the parent of a senior at your Big3. Go talk to college counseling.
I wish this wasn't the case. My kids left DCPS for Big3 schools. They're now learning twice as much and they are doing well. But I know 100% that they would have gone to better colleges out of DCPS. We're applying to colleges now. Their friends who were mediocre students in middle school and barely studied in high school have better college options and are getting into better schools.
I agree this seems unjust (shouldn't the kids who are better prepared be more prized by colleges?) but it is reality.

You’ll see the difference in college when your kid makes Dean’s List freshman year.

Private school Ivy League grad with private school kids here. Stop knocking JR or Walls kids. First, they’re kids. Second, many will make the Dean’s list. Private school doesn’t make you a better parent than public school parents, nor private school kids better than public school kids

Private school means that you can afford to give your child a better educational experience than JR (overcrowded, chaotic, mediocre academic preparation) and Walls (subpar academic facilities and no sports facilities).

So? That’s like judging a basketball player by the quality of coaching or a basketball player’s parents by the kinds of coaches they found for their kids. Finding great coaches hardly means D1 material

Anonymous wrote:By the time you’re in DCPS middle school a lot of families come to the realization that DCPS actually does a really good job serving high achieving students. And, those kids will do well at JR and have a very good shot at Ivy. But for the majority of families, those whove been lumped into the dreaded “average” category, the privates become very attractive. Because being average at JR exposes you to classes with kids who are years behind. And even the best teachers cannot handle an overcrowded classroom with such a wide range of needs. It’s impossible. Therefore many of those “average” families scramble for privates and charters.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I bet the public school applicants will continue to trend down, especially at the elite, $55k schools.

The word is increasingly out that college admissions for a smart but unhooked kid are better from DCPS than they are for the same kid at Sidwell, NCS, etc. Plus you have to work your a$$ off through all of high school at these privates. I had kids come from DCPS and this is definitely what people are talking about and coming to realize in mass. These are close communities, neighborhoods and communities--word travels.

STJ is sort of it's own animal--it will always get a bunch of families who are skittish about Jackson Reed and figure that paying under $23k for the guarantee of order in the classroom is worth it. Interestingly, some of these kids end up transferring out to JR later in high school.

LOL, so you really think a college is going to have preference for a public school kid who coasted through HS vs a private school kid who "works his a$$ off through all of high school." Colleges know that kids coming out of schools like Sidwell are significantly more prepared for the rigors of college. Sorry, but your your statement is not very convincing at all.

yes. if you don't believe this then you have your head in the sand. Colleges LOVE kids from Walls and Jackson Reed. They love them. It is far, far easier to get in unhooked to top 50 colleges from Jackson Reed or Walls in 2023 than from NCS or Sidwell. If you don't believe this, go talk to the parent of a senior at your Big3. Go talk to college counseling.
I wish this wasn't the case. My kids left DCPS for Big3 schools. They're now learning twice as much and they are doing well. But I know 100% that they would have gone to better colleges out of DCPS. We're applying to colleges now. Their friends who were mediocre students in middle school and barely studied in high school have better college options and are getting into better schools.
I agree this seems unjust (shouldn't the kids who are better prepared be more prized by colleges?) but it is reality.

That wasn't our experience in our non big 3 HS. The smart kids will do well and that doesn't necessarily mean an ivy league school. Honestly, my very high stats kid with a 1580 SAT and 4.3 GPA who already graduated didn't even want to apply to any ivies. We toured Yale and he was underwhelmed. He ended up at his top 20 dream school and is thriving. I did the calculations of admits vs applications for his university out of our zoned public HS (a "W" school), and the results were abysmal. Acceptance rate that was about a third of the universal acceptance rate (about 6% vs 15%).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I bet the public school applicants will continue to trend down, especially at the elite, $55k schools.

The word is increasingly out that college admissions for a smart but unhooked kid are better from DCPS than they are for the same kid at Sidwell, NCS, etc. Plus you have to work your a$$ off through all of high school at these privates. I had kids come from DCPS and this is definitely what people are talking about and coming to realize in mass. These are close communities, neighborhoods and communities--word travels.

STJ is sort of it's own animal--it will always get a bunch of families who are skittish about Jackson Reed and figure that paying under $23k for the guarantee of order in the classroom is worth it. Interestingly, some of these kids end up transferring out to JR later in high school.

LOL, so you really think a college is going to have preference for a public school kid who coasted through HS vs a private school kid who "works his a$$ off through all of high school." Colleges know that kids coming out of schools like Sidwell are significantly more prepared for the rigors of college. Sorry, but your your statement is not very convincing at all.

yes. if you don't believe this then you have your head in the sand. Colleges LOVE kids from Walls and Jackson Reed. They love them. It is far, far easier to get in unhooked to top 50 colleges from Jackson Reed or Walls in 2023 than from NCS or Sidwell. If you don't believe this, go talk to the parent of a senior at your Big3. Go talk to college counseling.
I wish this wasn't the case. My kids left DCPS for Big3 schools. They're now learning twice as much and they are doing well. But I know 100% that they would have gone to better colleges out of DCPS. We're applying to colleges now. Their friends who were mediocre students in middle school and barely studied in high school have better college options and are getting into better schools.
I agree this seems unjust (shouldn't the kids who are better prepared be more prized by colleges?) but it is reality.

You’ll see the difference in college when your kid makes Dean’s List freshman year.

Private school Ivy League grad with private school kids here. Stop knocking JR or Walls kids. First, they’re kids. Second, many will make the Dean’s list. Private school doesn’t make you a better parent than public school parents, nor private school kids better than public school kids

Private school means that you can afford to give your child a better educational experience than JR (overcrowded, chaotic, mediocre academic preparation) and Walls (subpar academic facilities and no sports facilities).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I bet the public school applicants will continue to trend down, especially at the elite, $55k schools.

The word is increasingly out that college admissions for a smart but unhooked kid are better from DCPS than they are for the same kid at Sidwell, NCS, etc. Plus you have to work your a$$ off through all of high school at these privates. I had kids come from DCPS and this is definitely what people are talking about and coming to realize in mass. These are close communities, neighborhoods and communities--word travels.

STJ is sort of it's own animal--it will always get a bunch of families who are skittish about Jackson Reed and figure that paying under $23k for the guarantee of order in the classroom is worth it. Interestingly, some of these kids end up transferring out to JR later in high school.

LOL, so you really think a college is going to have preference for a public school kid who coasted through HS vs a private school kid who "works his a$$ off through all of high school." Colleges know that kids coming out of schools like Sidwell are significantly more prepared for the rigors of college. Sorry, but your your statement is not very convincing at all.

yes. if you don't believe this then you have your head in the sand. Colleges LOVE kids from Walls and Jackson Reed. They love them. It is far, far easier to get in unhooked to top 50 colleges from Jackson Reed or Walls in 2023 than from NCS or Sidwell. If you don't believe this, go talk to the parent of a senior at your Big3. Go talk to college counseling.
I wish this wasn't the case. My kids left DCPS for Big3 schools. They're now learning twice as much and they are doing well. But I know 100% that they would have gone to better colleges out of DCPS. We're applying to colleges now. Their friends who were mediocre students in middle school and barely studied in high school have better college options and are getting into better schools.
I agree this seems unjust (shouldn't the kids who are better prepared be more prized by colleges?) but it is reality.

That wasn't our experience in our non big 3 HS. The smart kids will do well and that doesn't necessarily mean an ivy league school. Honestly, my very high stats kid with a 1580 SAT and 4.3 GPA who already graduated didn't even want to apply to any ivies. We toured Yale and he was underwhelmed. He ended up at his top 20 dream school and is thriving. I did the calculations of admits vs applications for his university out of our zoned public HS (a "W" school), and the results were abysmal. Acceptance rate that was about a third of the universal acceptance rate (about 6% vs 15%).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I bet the public school applicants will continue to trend down, especially at the elite, $55k schools.

The word is increasingly out that college admissions for a smart but unhooked kid are better from DCPS than they are for the same kid at Sidwell, NCS, etc. Plus you have to work your a$$ off through all of high school at these privates. I had kids come from DCPS and this is definitely what people are talking about and coming to realize in mass. These are close communities, neighborhoods and communities--word travels.

STJ is sort of it's own animal--it will always get a bunch of families who are skittish about Jackson Reed and figure that paying under $23k for the guarantee of order in the classroom is worth it. Interestingly, some of these kids end up transferring out to JR later in high school.

LOL, so you really think a college is going to have preference for a public school kid who coasted through HS vs a private school kid who "works his a$$ off through all of high school." Colleges know that kids coming out of schools like Sidwell are significantly more prepared for the rigors of college. Sorry, but your your statement is not very convincing at all.

yes. if you don't believe this then you have your head in the sand. Colleges LOVE kids from Walls and Jackson Reed. They love them. It is far, far easier to get in unhooked to top 50 colleges from Jackson Reed or Walls in 2023 than from NCS or Sidwell. If you don't believe this, go talk to the parent of a senior at your Big3. Go talk to college counseling.
I wish this wasn't the case. My kids left DCPS for Big3 schools. They're now learning twice as much and they are doing well. But I know 100% that they would have gone to better colleges out of DCPS. We're applying to colleges now. Their friends who were mediocre students in middle school and barely studied in high school have better college options and are getting into better schools.
I agree this seems unjust (shouldn't the kids who are better prepared be more prized by colleges?) but it is reality.

You’ll see the difference in college when your kid makes Dean’s List freshman year.

Private school Ivy League grad with private school kids here. Stop knocking JR or Walls kids. First, they’re kids. Second, many will make the Dean’s list. Private school doesn’t make you a better parent than public school parents, nor private school kids better than public school kids

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I bet the public school applicants will continue to trend down, especially at the elite, $55k schools.

The word is increasingly out that college admissions for a smart but unhooked kid are better from DCPS than they are for the same kid at Sidwell, NCS, etc. Plus you have to work your a$$ off through all of high school at these privates. I had kids come from DCPS and this is definitely what people are talking about and coming to realize in mass. These are close communities, neighborhoods and communities--word travels.

STJ is sort of it's own animal--it will always get a bunch of families who are skittish about Jackson Reed and figure that paying under $23k for the guarantee of order in the classroom is worth it. Interestingly, some of these kids end up transferring out to JR later in high school.

LOL, so you really think a college is going to have preference for a public school kid who coasted through HS vs a private school kid who "works his a$$ off through all of high school." Colleges know that kids coming out of schools like Sidwell are significantly more prepared for the rigors of college. Sorry, but your your statement is not very convincing at all.

yes. if you don't believe this then you have your head in the sand. Colleges LOVE kids from Walls and Jackson Reed. They love them. It is far, far easier to get in unhooked to top 50 colleges from Jackson Reed or Walls in 2023 than from NCS or Sidwell. If you don't believe this, go talk to the parent of a senior at your Big3. Go talk to college counseling.
I wish this wasn't the case. My kids left DCPS for Big3 schools. They're now learning twice as much and they are doing well. But I know 100% that they would have gone to better colleges out of DCPS. We're applying to colleges now. Their friends who were mediocre students in middle school and barely studied in high school have better college options and are getting into better schools.
I agree this seems unjust (shouldn't the kids who are better prepared be more prized by colleges?) but it is reality.

You’ll see the difference in college when your kid makes Dean’s List freshman year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in North Arlington and about half our friends now send their kids to private high school (less so for ES/MS).

Yep, I’ve lived here for 15 years and the trend is very obvious. Never saw a Gonzaga or Visi sticker. Now they are everywhere and I’m even seeing SJC stickers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I bet the public school applicants will continue to trend down, especially at the elite, $55k schools.

The word is increasingly out that college admissions for a smart but unhooked kid are better from DCPS than they are for the same kid at Sidwell, NCS, etc. Plus you have to work your a$$ off through all of high school at these privates. I had kids come from DCPS and this is definitely what people are talking about and coming to realize in mass. These are close communities, neighborhoods and communities--word travels.

STJ is sort of it's own animal--it will always get a bunch of families who are skittish about Jackson Reed and figure that paying under $23k for the guarantee of order in the classroom is worth it. Interestingly, some of these kids end up transferring out to JR later in high school.

A common question at open houses lately is "How likely are straight As here?" People don't want to risk GPAs and prefer the safety of grade inflation.