Anonymous wrote:OP, it depends on what you mean by “mediocre”.

If your DC’s preference is any one of these:

SFS
GDS
STA
NCS
Holton
SAAS
Potomac
Madeira
Episcopal
Maret
Landon
WIS
G’town Prep
Bullis
Stone Ridge
SSSAS
Flint Hill
SAES
Gonzaga
Visi
Good Counsel
SJC

Then none of them is truly mediocre. Do some have more average students than others, yes, of course. But they are all really good schools. There are others that I’m not thinking of that are also probably in that category, I’m just less familiar with them.

Can throw SSSA in there too

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, it depends on what you mean by “mediocre”.

If your DC’s preference is any one of these:

SFS
GDS
STA
NCS
Holton
SAAS
Potomac
Madeira
Episcopal
Maret
Landon
WIS
G’town Prep
Bullis
Stone Ridge
SSSAS
Flint Hill
SAES
Gonzaga
Visi
Good Counsel
SJC

Then none of them is truly mediocre. Do some have more average students than others, yes, of course. But they are all really good schools. There are others that I’m not thinking of that are also probably in that category, I’m just less familiar with them.

Bishop Ireton?

Burke? Field?

Maybe Field and Burke but not Ireton

PP here. My list was not meant to be exhaustive. I don’t much about either of those. The vast majority of other schools I have at least some first hand knowledge of, either through a DC attending, or the research/application process, or various friends’/colleagues’ kids attending. I’d include them. I’d probably include BI, DJO and PVI too, for that matter. They are on par to probably slightly better than the neighborhood public HS in their community. Again, not meant to be excluded. My point is that all of these are above “mediocre”. I’m sure there are plenty of mediocre private schools in the DMV, I just happen to think the vast majority of kids can get a really good education at any of the mentioned ones.

Anonymous wrote:I went to a mediocre university and, because I was comfortable, I did extremely well. Then went to a top grad school.

This, you can sometimes shine as the big fish in a small pond.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, it depends on what you mean by “mediocre”.

If your DC’s preference is any one of these:

SFS
GDS
STA
NCS
Holton
SAAS
Potomac
Madeira
Episcopal
Maret
Landon
WIS
G’town Prep
Bullis
Stone Ridge
SSSAS
Flint Hill
SAES
Gonzaga
Visi
Good Counsel
SJC

Then none of them is truly mediocre. Do some have more average students than others, yes, of course. But they are all really good schools. There are others that I’m not thinking of that are also probably in that category, I’m just less familiar with them.

Bishop Ireton?

Burke? Field?

Maybe Field and Burke but not Ireton

I went to a mediocre university and, because I was comfortable, I did extremely well. Then went to a top grad school.

I have a strong student with high ISEE scores at a “mediocre” private by this board’s standards. He’s thriving and his confidence being a big fish in a small pond has done wonders. Cream always rises to the top. He’s challenged but relaxed, has fantastic relationships with his teachers and peers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, it depends on what you mean by “mediocre”.

If your DC’s preference is any one of these:

SFS
GDS
STA
NCS
Holton
SAAS
Potomac
Madeira
Episcopal
Maret
Landon
WIS
G’town Prep
Bullis
Stone Ridge
SSSAS
Flint Hill
SAES
Gonzaga
Visi
Good Counsel
SJC

Then none of them is truly mediocre. Do some have more average students than others, yes, of course. But they are all really good schools. There are others that I’m not thinking of that are also probably in that category, I’m just less familiar with them.

Bishop Ireton?

Burke? Field?

Anonymous wrote:OP, it depends on what you mean by “mediocre”.

If your DC’s preference is any one of these:

SFS
GDS
STA
NCS
Holton
SAAS
Potomac
Madeira
Episcopal
Maret
Landon
WIS
G’town Prep
Bullis
Stone Ridge
SSSAS
Flint Hill
SAES
Gonzaga
Visi
Good Counsel
SJC

Then none of them is truly mediocre. Do some have more average students than others, yes, of course. But they are all really good schools. There are others that I’m not thinking of that are also probably in that category, I’m just less familiar with them.

Bishop Ireton?

Anonymous wrote:OP, it depends on what you mean by “mediocre”.

If your DC’s preference is any one of these:

SFS
GDS
STA
NCS
Holton
SAAS
Potomac
Madeira
Episcopal
Maret
Landon
WIS
G’town Prep
Bullis
Stone Ridge
SSSAS
Flint Hill
SAES
Gonzaga
Visi
Good Counsel
SJC

Then none of them is truly mediocre. Do some have more average students than others, yes, of course. But they are all really good schools. There are others that I’m not thinking of that are also probably in that category, I’m just less familiar with them.

These and the other schools regularly discussed in this forum will all prepare your kid for college.

OP, it depends on what you mean by “mediocre”.

If your DC’s preference is any one of these:

SFS
GDS
STA
NCS
Holton
SAAS
Potomac
Madeira
Episcopal
Maret
Landon
WIS
G’town Prep
Bullis
Stone Ridge
SSSAS
Flint Hill
SAES
Gonzaga
Visi
Good Counsel
SJC

Then none of them is truly mediocre. Do some have more average students than others, yes, of course. But they are all really good schools. There are others that I’m not thinking of that are also probably in that category, I’m just less familiar with them.

Personally, I think it's going to be really individual. One of our kids is at a private that markets itself as a non-pressure-cooker school. It's quite mediocre. The behavior is not much better than our public. The faculty is also quite mixed, and we are finding gaps after all the hybrid instruction. Depending on what you are after in a private school, I would do all the investigating you can.

Similar position and questioned cost of DC’s desired non-top US (academically) but didn’t push it. DC loves choice and is energized, engaged, getting all As, and most importantly comes home happy every day. Worth every penny.

Anonymous wrote:My DS has applied to four schools for 9th. He has excellent stats, sports, recommendations, etc. Everyone seems pretty confident he will get into most/all schools.

The thing is that he fell in love with the most mediocre school of the bunch and would definitely choose that over others. Now, DH and I are now questioning whether it's worth it to go to a less prestigious private school vs. our excellent local public.

Will the experience be that great? Will it help with college admissions (or hurt)?

We were willing to shell out a lot of money for a prestigious school, but not sure if it's worth it for a lower tier.

Thoughts?

Sorry, not going to read the whole thread if this was already addressed, but why did you even include a “mediocre” option if you knew it would be unacceptable to you? Why are you going through the hassle of applying to schools that you don’t want to send your kid to? Seems odd.

OP, you said “Everyone seems pretty confident he will get into most/all schools.” I think you need to just wait and see what happens. Given the huge increase in the number of kids applying to private for 9th, I think you need to dial down expectations. He may very well get into all 4 schools, but he may only get into 1. DS should do revisits and then see where the chips fall in terms of first choice, etc. After revisit days, 2 of my 4 kids had a completely different first choice! Good luck and trust your kid.

Really doubt op is much of a judge.