Anonymous wrote:We are very lucky our DD got into both GDS and Holton, an upper grade in a lower school. How do the schools compare in terms of social-emotional development, peer groups, community, and academics for Lower School and Middle School for girls? I heard both high schools are excellent. Would like to hear some feedback on 4h/5th grade and the middle school experiences.

Anonymous wrote:Current LS family at Holton. We have been very happy with the school and would absolutely recommend it. The teachers have been really amazing; the small class size and personalized engagement are excellent. I didn’t have strong views on all-girls education before, but I can see DD really blossoming and boosting her confidence. Perhaps it sounds silly, but at least at this age, it also means that despite small classes, the (girl) friend pool is actually larger than at her old school. Likewise, I didn’t have strong views about uniforms, but I can attest that they make mornings so much easier, as do the included breakfast and lunch. It feels very safe and comfortable, and she values traditions like Blue/White teams. Someone once called Holton a “warm nest” to me, and that feels right — but DD is really academically focused and has been very challenged.

There is a lot of diversity — more than at our local MCPS school where we came from — but there are indeed a lot of people with a lot of money. I have not, however, felt that people are snobby or rude about it, and we have never felt left out because we don’t belong to a country club or anything. We’ve found some good friends (and some people who are nice but not our people), and I feel like there is a good range of backgrounds, etc., and I never dread conversations at school functions.

DD generally does her homework during “resource time” at the end of the day while waiting for pickup, so I don’t usually see it at home. My understanding is that math is on her computer — IXL and MathFacts. She does have some non-required, harder (“tangy”) math problems on paper that she works on in her own time. I love that they don’t have so much homework that they are overwhelmed for hours every night. Her sibling is at MCPS and brings home worksheets for math, and I don’t feel like she’s learning any more than she would doing the same work on a computer (and she hates them). Holton’s LS math specialist is awesome, and I am super impressed with what they’ve learned.

The HAS program (I think it stands for Humanities and Social Studies?) is amazing. They do a lot of reading and writing, and I’ve seen very clear improvement in both comprehension and writing for my book-loving kid. For homework, they often annotate books, which I kind of love. They have a planner where they record their homework, and I feel like the school’s emphasis on developing executive function is really great.

I’ve read about various issues with the administration on DCUM, but it hasn’t been something we have seen or experienced. We aren’t alums, so I didn’t come in with particular expectations or nostalgia, and perhaps that helps. There has been a little “moving the goalposts” for things that used to be included, like “homework zone” (now $10 a day), but I don’t know that that’s the new administration per se.

I can’t speak to GDS, but we have a lot of friends who are happy there. Being co-ed is an obvious difference, but it also seems somewhat less traditional in terms of formality. I do think there’s a lot of money there too, so if that’s an issue for people, then private school in the DMV is generally going to pose a challenge.

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I’ve also had kids at both schools, in the grades you are looking at.

This has been discussed ad nauseam on this board but Holton has really changed in the past several years. A lot of amazing faculty have left, the school is enrolling a lot more girls so the classes aren’t as close. The school is actively catering to a certain type of wealth/class/culture that values sports over academics.

I think if your family belongs to a country club and regularly associates in high income circles, you’ll feel very comfortable at Holton. If you don’t, you (and your daughter) might feel very out of place.

I know the Holton army will come after me for this post (as they always do) but I’m always hoping that families for whom 60k is a financial stretch, don’t commit to a school that caters to the needs of the uber wealthy.

We are a prospective family and this is exactly what I worry about at Holton. I absolutely got the uber wealthy country club vibe, and although I’m sure there are plenty of outliers, we know this isn’t our scene.

In terms of rich families I don’t see much difference between GDS and Holton. Given the cost of tuition, the majority are upper class famiiies. So far my experience in Holton in terms of academics, sports, and diversity has been fantastic. I am a middle class parent of a 6th grader at Holton.

I’ve had kids at both schools. GDS has more class/wealth diversity and doesn’t appear to favor wealthy families. Holton admin is increasingly catering to the ultra-wealthy. This means that your concerns as a non-ultra wealthy parent are not heard from the admin. This is shift from the past Holton admin.

Also re racial diversity, they ask the non-white kids to do all the admissions events but the actual classes are far less diverse, especially the new admits in the past several years.

The statement about catering increasingly to the ultra-wealthy resonates with me.

As with me. Signed, former (but recently former) Holton parent

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Anonymous wrote:Holton. Have you visited both? Holton’s campus is enormous esp compared to GDS which is really small for a K-12.

Yea but it is also next to a highway junction.

+1. It's the burbs, which some kids do not find appealing. GDS at least has a vibrant, urban campus.

LOL it’s in the middle of Tenleytown. That’s not vibrant or urban. Delusional.

It’s very urban compared to Holton. At least there are places to walk to and go after school. It’s not hidden behind the leafy gates.

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I’ve also had kids at both schools, in the grades you are looking at.

This has been discussed ad nauseam on this board but Holton has really changed in the past several years. A lot of amazing faculty have left, the school is enrolling a lot more girls so the classes aren’t as close. The school is actively catering to a certain type of wealth/class/culture that values sports over academics.

I think if your family belongs to a country club and regularly associates in high income circles, you’ll feel very comfortable at Holton. If you don’t, you (and your daughter) might feel very out of place.

I know the Holton army will come after me for this post (as they always do) but I’m always hoping that families for whom 60k is a financial stretch, don’t commit to a school that caters to the needs of the uber wealthy.

We are a prospective family and this is exactly what I worry about at Holton. I absolutely got the uber wealthy country club vibe, and although I’m sure there are plenty of outliers, we know this isn’t our scene.

In terms of rich families I don’t see much difference between GDS and Holton. Given the cost of tuition, the majority are upper class famiiies. So far my experience in Holton in terms of academics, sports, and diversity has been fantastic. I am a middle class parent of a 6th grader at Holton.

I’ve had kids at both schools. GDS has more class/wealth diversity and doesn’t appear to favor wealthy families. Holton admin is increasingly catering to the ultra-wealthy. This means that your concerns as a non-ultra wealthy parent are not heard from the admin. This is shift from the past Holton admin.

Also re racial diversity, they ask the non-white kids to do all the admissions events but the actual classes are far less diverse, especially the new admits in the past several years.

The statement about catering increasingly to the ultra-wealthy resonates with me.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Holton. Have you visited both? Holton’s campus is enormous esp compared to GDS which is really small for a K-12.

Yea but it is also next to a highway junction.

+1. It's the burbs, which some kids do not find appealing. GDS at least has a vibrant, urban campus.

LOL it’s in the middle of Tenleytown. That’s not vibrant or urban. Delusional.

Anonymous wrote:My dad had the choice between Holton + GDS + chose Holton because it had both of her sports (while GDS had just one of the two). While she did graduate from HYP after Holton she said the " mean girl problem" was so severe, it made her hate the place. She said she wouldn't go back to a Holton reunion if someone paid her. Her friends at GDS had much more fun.

Anonymous wrote:My dad had the choice between Holton + GDS + chose Holton because it had both of her sports (while GDS had just one of the two). While she did graduate from HYP after Holton she said the " mean girl problem" was so severe, it made her hate the place. She said she wouldn't go back to a Holton reunion if someone paid her. Her friends at GDS had much more fun.