There is an earlier thread on whether or not GDS is truly a progressive school: http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/101604.page

Opinions vary, but GDS clearly thinks of itself as progressive.

13:39, what are you saying?

I'm not sure that I would consider GDS "progressive" in a ordinary sense. The list of truly "progressive" schools usually includes:

The Avalon School
The Barrie School
Edmund Burke School
Emerson Preparatory School
The Field School
Green Acres School
The Nora School
Parkmont School
Sandy Spring Friends School
Thornton Friends School
Washington Waldorf School

GDS tries hard to be like Sidwell. I don't see a truly progressive school worrying about "competition."

Aww... I think it's cute how the DCUM mom's think that that they are big city girls roughing it out in the urban jungle of NW DC.

Anonymous wrote:Why is Barrie on here? Shouldn't it be on the Silver Spring Rural Mom?

says the "big city" mom . . .

Why is Barrie on here? Shouldn't it be on the Silver Spring Rural Mom?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems to me that if GDS is so great, it wouldn't need to so much pumping up. The panic that sets in whenever someone suggests it may not be such a wonderful school speaks volumes. Would certainly check out a variety of schools that seem appealing.

I feel the same way about exercise ... and chocolate ... and sex. People say those things are great, so therefore they must be terrible.

but reading comprehension is overrated, eh?

Anonymous wrote:Seems to me that if GDS is so great, it wouldn't need to so much pumping up. The panic that sets in whenever someone suggests it may not be such a wonderful school speaks volumes. Would certainly check out a variety of schools that seem appealing.

I feel the same way about exercise ... and chocolate ... and sex. People say those things are great, so therefore they must be terrible.

Seems to me that if GDS is so great, it wouldn't need to so much pumping up. The panic that sets in whenever someone suggests it may not be such a wonderful school speaks volumes. Would certainly check out a variety of schools that seem appealing.

Here is the GDS info http://www.privateschoolreview.com/school_ov/school_id/5825

GDS has larger classes and a higher student teacher ratio than Barrie (8:1 vs 6:1)

Here is the Barrie School information http://www.privateschoolreview.com/school_ov/school_id/12769

Anonymous wrote:What is the class size at Barrie?

privateschoolreview.com is self reporting, so it's not accurate, but it does give an idea.

What is the class size at Barrie?

Barrie School has much smaller class size, but your DC will be among brighter students at GDS. Both schools are very progressive.

Nice try. This forum is. NOT limited to upper school, there is discussion of Pre-K for Pete's sake. Every school has kids going to elite schools and kids going to not so elite schools for college.