Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They both are. St. Pats is a good feeder to the Cathedral Schools. NPS is a good feeder to Sidwell and Cathedral Schools. They are similar. Do you identify more with Episcopalians or Presbyterians? NPS might be slightly more Republican and Southern than St. Pats.

Last year, the largest # of NPS kids went to Maret.

I understand that was a bit of an aberation that resulted from several kids happening to have siblings/connections in that class.

It did not happen this year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They both are. St. Pats is a good feeder to the Cathedral Schools. NPS is a good feeder to Sidwell and Cathedral Schools. They are similar. Do you identify more with Episcopalians or Presbyterians? NPS might be slightly more Republican and Southern than St. Pats.

Last year, the largest # of NPS kids went to Maret.

I understand that was a bit of an aberation that resulted from several kids happening to have siblings/connections in that class.

Still, that suggests that the trend could continue because Maret has a strong sibling policy. If these Maret admits have younger siblings at NPS, this could be a recurring trend.

Or if not, not.

But if someone is getting into Maret because of a sibling, that means NPS isn't the reason for their getting in.

The challenge with any school's outplacement record is figuring out whether the school really mattered, or it's the student and his/her parents' wealth, parent connections, school connections, etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They both are. St. Pats is a good feeder to the Cathedral Schools. NPS is a good feeder to Sidwell and Cathedral Schools. They are similar. Do you identify more with Episcopalians or Presbyterians? NPS might be slightly more Republican and Southern than St. Pats.

Last year, the largest # of NPS kids went to Maret.

I understand that was a bit of an aberation that resulted from several kids happening to have siblings/connections in that class.

Still, that suggests that the trend could continue because Maret has a strong sibling policy. If these Maret admits have younger siblings at NPS, this could be a recurring trend.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They both are. St. Pats is a good feeder to the Cathedral Schools. NPS is a good feeder to Sidwell and Cathedral Schools. They are similar. Do you identify more with Episcopalians or Presbyterians? NPS might be slightly more Republican and Southern than St. Pats.

Last year, the largest # of NPS kids went to Maret.

I understand that was a bit of an aberation that resulted from several kids happening to have siblings/connections in that class.

OP, what did you decide?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They both are. St. Pats is a good feeder to the Cathedral Schools. NPS is a good feeder to Sidwell and Cathedral Schools. They are similar. Do you identify more with Episcopalians or Presbyterians? NPS might be slightly more Republican and Southern than St. Pats.

Last year, the largest # of NPS kids went to Maret.

There were also a number of girls who went to Holton. And, yes, the NPS ties to the Cathedral schools are strong.

St Pats currently sends kids to Cathedral Schools in much larger numbers than NPS does. That may change once Malcolm Lester takes over NPS though. St Pats also sends several graduates to Sidwell, Maret, GDS, Potomac, Landon and Holton every year. Their admissions to the best DC area privates is unmatched for both 6th and 8th. And their graduates do incredibly well at their next school.

As a percentage of graduates, NPS sends more kids to Sidwell than St. Pat's does. Some argue that Sidwell is more "prestigious" than the Cathedral schools. It may be true that more St. Pat's families choose Cathedral schools, it has nothing to do with the strength of outplacement. Lately, more NPS girls have been choosing Holton over NCS. This is a choice, not because NCS wasn't an option. If you compare the outplacement of the two schools, you'll find they are too similar to say that one is better than the other.

They are BOTH excellent schools - solid academics that inspire a love of learning, a kind, warm community for the whole family that promotes compassion, tolerance & acceptance, and integrity, teaches the children the importance of giving back to your community, city, and the world at large,... These are a few of the things that were (and still are) important to our family when selecting schools.
- a St. Pat's parent who strongly considered NPS a few years go (It was a tough choice)

So, either way, your child has excellent options - you cannot go wrong. Best wishes to your family going forward.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They both are. St. Pats is a good feeder to the Cathedral Schools. NPS is a good feeder to Sidwell and Cathedral Schools. They are similar. Do you identify more with Episcopalians or Presbyterians? NPS might be slightly more Republican and Southern than St. Pats.

Last year, the largest # of NPS kids went to Maret.

There were also a number of girls who went to Holton. And, yes, the NPS ties to the Cathedral schools are strong.

St Pats currently sends kids to Cathedral Schools in much larger numbers than NPS does. That may change once Malcolm Lester takes over NPS though. St Pats also sends several graduates to Sidwell, Maret, GDS, Potomac, Landon and Holton every year. Their admissions to the best DC area privates is unmatched for both 6th and 8th. And their graduates do incredibly well at their next school.

No better than exmissions at NPS but the most popular choices do vary from year to year.

Anonymous wrote:I know quite a few families at St. Patrick's who chose it over NPS and several who didn't initially get in, but transferred from NPS after their first year. That said, I'm sure there are a number of NPS families who were also accepted at St. Patrick's. With the exception of those families who transferred from NPS, I have rarely heard anything other than rave reviews from families at both schools.

NP. I actually don't know a single family that transferred from NPS to St Patrick's, and everyone I know at NPS who has applied to St. Patrick's got into St. Patrick's (my kid included).

Everything else people have said has been basically true.

I wasn't particularly impressed by the literacy curriculum at St Pat's when we looked.

They are both great schools. We chose NPS over St. Pats for two reasons. First, we wanted a school that ended at 6th. We thought that if we stayed at St. Pats, we might stay through 8th, and we wanted our kids to be at their next (and last) undergrad experience for at least 6 years. We felt by 6th grade, we would know enough about our kids to make a good decision with/for them for MS/HS. Second, at the time, we thought the outplacement at NPS was slightly better in terms of diversity of schools and consistent numbers at the schools that we thought we might consider in the future (STA, NCS, Sidwell, Holton, Potomac). Now, years later, I think the outplacements are more or less the same, and they probably were years ago too! NPS has been sending an increasing number of girls to Holton and smaller numbers to NCS (but still several a year) and more to STA than to Landon (none last year). Both schools do well and provide options.

Both of our kids have enjoyed NPS. And are good friends with kids at St. Pats - and seem to be doing the same things academically.

We are an NPS family and it is perfect for our. child. Biggest difference is that St. Pats now has a middle school, I believe. NPS does not. So if you have your heart set on a particular high school you might have to do placement again in two years after you leave NPS.

I know quite a few families at St. Patrick's who chose it over NPS and several who didn't initially get in, but transferred from NPS after their first year. That said, I'm sure there are a number of NPS families who were also accepted at St. Patrick's. With the exception of those families who transferred from NPS, I have rarely heard anything other than rave reviews from families at both schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They both are. St. Pats is a good feeder to the Cathedral Schools. NPS is a good feeder to Sidwell and Cathedral Schools. They are similar. Do you identify more with Episcopalians or Presbyterians? NPS might be slightly more Republican and Southern than St. Pats.

Last year, the largest # of NPS kids went to Maret.

There were also a number of girls who went to Holton. And, yes, the NPS ties to the Cathedral schools are strong.

St Pats currently sends kids to Cathedral Schools in much larger numbers than NPS does. That may change once Malcolm Lester takes over NPS though. St Pats also sends several graduates to Sidwell, Maret, GDS, Potomac, Landon and Holton every year. Their admissions to the best DC area privates is unmatched for both 6th and 8th. And their graduates do incredibly well at their next school.

I'm an NPS parent, so I can't speak to St. Pat's outplacement. I've never compared the numbers of kids going to Cathedral schools. But I can say that I'm thrilled with the options that NPS children consider, that I don't consider the Cathedral schools to be the only--or necessarily best--option in town, and that St. Pat's is a larger school than NPS, so I wouldn't expect the numbers to be the same. That being said, I think both of the schools are excellent options--good luck, OP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They both are. St. Pats is a good feeder to the Cathedral Schools. NPS is a good feeder to Sidwell and Cathedral Schools. They are similar. Do you identify more with Episcopalians or Presbyterians? NPS might be slightly more Republican and Southern than St. Pats.

Last year, the largest # of NPS kids went to Maret.

There were also a number of girls who went to Holton. And, yes, the NPS ties to the Cathedral schools are strong.

St Pats currently sends kids to Cathedral Schools in much larger numbers than NPS does. That may change once Malcolm Lester takes over NPS though. St Pats also sends several graduates to Sidwell, Maret, GDS, Potomac, Landon and Holton every year. Their admissions to the best DC area privates is unmatched for both 6th and 8th. And their graduates do incredibly well at their next school.