OP here - thanks all. We have ended up torn between NCS and Holton. Sidwell didn’t seem like a great fit and we think DD will love an all-girls environment. We’ll learn tomorrow whether we have a choice!

In reference to the original poster on fit. As parents we really liked both Sidwell and NCS, however, our BVR DD is reserved in large formal settings. School outplacement counseled us that NCS would be a better academic fit and draw her out more as a student. She also felt strongly drawn to NCS and a few other schools but not Sidwell. We did tour a few school including Sidwell, but the one school she came away from less than excited to pursue was Sidwell. I don't know if it was overall vibe of the tour, a past camp experience, or how she envisioned the transition that generated this impression with her but we were a little surprised and noted the contrast to our impressions. However, NCS did a great job of highlighting how their curriculum develops strong writers and outspoken girls so I think you can see how this balanced out for our family. I can't speak to if these NCS expectations will be realized yet but we did meet other girls that described themselves as reserved but found their the voice at NCS.

P.S. Hope your DD finds the school that feels right.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When my kids were at Beauvoir, the STA admissions team came by for an outplacement meeting. There were ten people from STA there and they took turns on the microphone and stood and took questions. They also had several former BRV students - current STA students on the panel. STA knew that almost every parent at the meeting had STA as their first choice and that 80 percent those kids would get in. Overall, it was an impressive presentation.
Two weeks later, Sidwell came by Beauvoir for the same outplacement meeting. Two women sat in chairs, spoke a little about the school, took a few question, and then left. Low energy would be a compliment.

The fact is, most BRV kids and their parents, have no interest in Sidwell. If they did, they wouldn’t have gone to Beauvoir in the first place. They would have applied to Sidwell in K and yes, believe or not, some would have been accepted.

All that said, Sidwell is a girls school. Nobody should send their boys there !

As a BVR parent I concur that close schools and other privates outshone Sidwell at the coffees. They did seem impersonal compared to others in describing the overall student experience and 4th grade to middle school transition. However, we went to on campus admissions events at Sidwell and the kids and the parents raved about the school and were very impressive in speaking to the curriculum and environment.

I doubt Sidwell (or GDS really) expects to attract many people from BVR, most of whom are small "c" conservative and want a very traditional education. If people from BVR aren't choosing the Cathedral schools, they're probably opting for Holton/Landon or maybe they want a school that is less academically rigorous than all of these (so, again not Sidwell).

We are a Beauvoir family and GDS is our absolute first choice! Didn’t get in for prek. Fingers crossed hard for this process next year.

Why didn’t you want STA?

Anonymous wrote:We are at Beauvoir now and counting down the days until we are done (not headed to NCS). Run from the Close! The parent community is terrible and Beauvoir has been a disaster. I would not select a school with a high proportion of Beauvoir parents or kids.

How was your experience academically? How are the teachers and the curriculum?

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]When my kids were at Beauvoir, the STA admissions team came by for an outplacement meeting. There were ten people from STA there and they took turns on the microphone and stood and took questions. They also had several former BRV students - current STA students on the panel. STA knew that almost every parent at the meeting had STA as their first choice and that 80 percent those kids would get in. Overall, it was an impressive presentation.
Two weeks later, Sidwell came by Beauvoir for the same outplacement meeting. Two women sat in chairs, spoke a little about the school, took a few question, and then left. Low energy would be a compliment.

The fact is, most BRV kids and their parents, have no interest in Sidwell. If they did, they wouldn’t have gone to Beauvoir in the first place. They would have applied to Sidwell in K and yes, believe or not, some would have been accepted.

All that said, Sidwell is a girls school. Nobody should send their boys there ![/quote]

As a BVR parent I concur that close schools and other privates outshone Sidwell at the coffees. They did seem impersonal compared to others in describing the overall student experience and 4th grade to middle school transition. However, we went to on campus admissions events at Sidwell and the kids and the parents raved about the school and were very impressive in speaking to the curriculum and environment. [/quote]

I doubt Sidwell (or GDS really) expects to attract many people from BVR, most of whom are small "c" conservative and want a very traditional education. If people from BVR aren't choosing the Cathedral schools, they're probably opting for Holton/Landon or maybe they want a school that is less academically rigorous than all of these (so, again not Sidwell).[/quote]

We are a Beauvoir family and GDS is our absolute first choice! Didn’t get in for prek. Fingers crossed hard for this process next year. [/quote]

Why didn’t you want STA?

We had a horrible experience at the admission's visiting day for rising 4th graders. Some of the teachers there should not be teaching.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When my kids were at Beauvoir, the STA admissions team came by for an outplacement meeting. There were ten people from STA there and they took turns on the microphone and stood and took questions. They also had several former BRV students - current STA students on the panel. STA knew that almost every parent at the meeting had STA as their first choice and that 80 percent those kids would get in. Overall, it was an impressive presentation.
Two weeks later, Sidwell came by Beauvoir for the same outplacement meeting. Two women sat in chairs, spoke a little about the school, took a few question, and then left. Low energy would be a compliment.

The fact is, most BRV kids and their parents, have no interest in Sidwell. If they did, they wouldn’t have gone to Beauvoir in the first place. They would have applied to Sidwell in K and yes, believe or not, some would have been accepted.

All that said, Sidwell is a girls school. Nobody should send their boys there !

As a BVR parent I concur that close schools and other privates outshone Sidwell at the coffees. They did seem impersonal compared to others in describing the overall student experience and 4th grade to middle school transition. However, we went to on campus admissions events at Sidwell and the kids and the parents raved about the school and were very impressive in speaking to the curriculum and environment.

I doubt Sidwell (or GDS really) expects to attract many people from BVR, most of whom are small "c" conservative and want a very traditional education. If people from BVR aren't choosing the Cathedral schools, they're probably opting for Holton/Landon or maybe they want a school that is less academically rigorous than all of these (so, again not Sidwell).

We are a Beauvoir family and GDS is our absolute first choice! Didn’t get in for prek. Fingers crossed hard for this process next year.

OP - Consider the long term as well - beyond 4th. Are kids in the upper schools of each place happy? Are they doing 4 hours of homework a night? What type of environment do you want for your child?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When my kids were at Beauvoir, the STA admissions team came by for an outplacement meeting. There were ten people from STA there and they took turns on the microphone and stood and took questions. They also had several former BRV students - current STA students on the panel. STA knew that almost every parent at the meeting had STA as their first choice and that 80 percent those kids would get in. Overall, it was an impressive presentation.
Two weeks later, Sidwell came by Beauvoir for the same outplacement meeting. Two women sat in chairs, spoke a little about the school, took a few question, and then left. Low energy would be a compliment.

The fact is, most BRV kids and their parents, have no interest in Sidwell. If they did, they wouldn’t have gone to Beauvoir in the first place. They would have applied to Sidwell in K and yes, believe or not, some would have been accepted.

All that said, Sidwell is a girls school. Nobody should send their boys there !

I was with you until the last sentence. What does that even mean?

I think it means what is says. Sidwell is a nice school for girls.

That’s true. And it’s a nice school for boys too. Missing your point, if you actually have one.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When my kids were at Beauvoir, the STA admissions team came by for an outplacement meeting. There were ten people from STA there and they took turns on the microphone and stood and took questions. They also had several former BRV students - current STA students on the panel. STA knew that almost every parent at the meeting had STA as their first choice and that 80 percent those kids would get in. Overall, it was an impressive presentation.
Two weeks later, Sidwell came by Beauvoir for the same outplacement meeting. Two women sat in chairs, spoke a little about the school, took a few question, and then left. Low energy would be a compliment.

The fact is, most BRV kids and their parents, have no interest in Sidwell. If they did, they wouldn’t have gone to Beauvoir in the first place. They would have applied to Sidwell in K and yes, believe or not, some would have been accepted.

All that said, Sidwell is a girls school. Nobody should send their boys there !

As a BVR parent I concur that close schools and other privates outshone Sidwell at the coffees. They did seem impersonal compared to others in describing the overall student experience and 4th grade to middle school transition. However, we went to on campus admissions events at Sidwell and the kids and the parents raved about the school and were very impressive in speaking to the curriculum and environment.

I doubt Sidwell (or GDS really) expects to attract many people from BVR, most of whom are small "c" conservative and want a very traditional education. If people from BVR aren't choosing the Cathedral schools, they're probably opting for Holton/Landon or maybe they want a school that is less academically rigorous than all of these (so, again not Sidwell).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When my kids were at Beauvoir, the STA admissions team came by for an outplacement meeting. There were ten people from STA there and they took turns on the microphone and stood and took questions. They also had several former BRV students - current STA students on the panel. STA knew that almost every parent at the meeting had STA as their first choice and that 80 percent those kids would get in. Overall, it was an impressive presentation.
Two weeks later, Sidwell came by Beauvoir for the same outplacement meeting. Two women sat in chairs, spoke a little about the school, took a few question, and then left. Low energy would be a compliment.

The fact is, most BRV kids and their parents, have no interest in Sidwell. If they did, they wouldn’t have gone to Beauvoir in the first place. They would have applied to Sidwell in K and yes, believe or not, some would have been accepted.

All that said, Sidwell is a girls school. Nobody should send their boys there !

As a BVR parent I concur that close schools and other privates outshone Sidwell at the coffees. They did seem impersonal compared to others in describing the overall student experience and 4th grade to middle school transition. However, we went to on campus admissions events at Sidwell and the kids and the parents raved about the school and were very impressive in speaking to the curriculum and environment.

Sidwell admission didn’t need to do anything to ensure a 5% acceptance rate aligning with ivies. So the don’t care. Plenty of students will apply!

Anonymous wrote:When my kids were at Beauvoir, the STA admissions team came by for an outplacement meeting. There were ten people from STA there and they took turns on the microphone and stood and took questions. They also had several former BRV students - current STA students on the panel. STA knew that almost every parent at the meeting had STA as their first choice and that 80 percent those kids would get in. Overall, it was an impressive presentation.
Two weeks later, Sidwell came by Beauvoir for the same outplacement meeting. Two women sat in chairs, spoke a little about the school, took a few question, and then left. Low energy would be a compliment.

The fact is, most BRV kids and their parents, have no interest in Sidwell. If they did, they wouldn’t have gone to Beauvoir in the first place. They would have applied to Sidwell in K and yes, believe or not, some would have been accepted.

All that said, Sidwell is a girls school. Nobody should send their boys there !

As a BVR parent I concur that close schools and other privates outshone Sidwell at the coffees. They did seem impersonal compared to others in describing the overall student experience and 4th grade to middle school transition. However, we went to on campus admissions events at Sidwell and the kids and the parents raved about the school and were very impressive in speaking to the curriculum and environment.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When my kids were at Beauvoir, the STA admissions team came by for an outplacement meeting. There were ten people from STA there and they took turns on the microphone and stood and took questions. They also had several former BRV students - current STA students on the panel. STA knew that almost every parent at the meeting had STA as their first choice and that 80 percent those kids would get in. Overall, it was an impressive presentation.
Two weeks later, Sidwell came by Beauvoir for the same outplacement meeting. Two women sat in chairs, spoke a little about the school, took a few question, and then left. Low energy would be a compliment.

The fact is, most BRV kids and their parents, have no interest in Sidwell. If they did, they wouldn’t have gone to Beauvoir in the first place. They would have applied to Sidwell in K and yes, believe or not, some would have been accepted.

All that said, Sidwell is a girls school. Nobody should send their boys there !

I was with you until the last sentence. What does that even mean?

I think it means what is says. Sidwell is a nice school for girls.

“Sidwell is a girls school - nobody should send their boys there” does not mean the same thing as “Sidwell is a good school for girls.”

Fairly certain it's a typo and PP meant "NCS is a girls school." Let's give a little grace people.

Lol no, they were clearly talking about Sidwell. And no one would say you “should not” send boys to an actual girls school like NCS - you CANNOT. But please reread. Clearly talking about Sidwell.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When my kids were at Beauvoir, the STA admissions team came by for an outplacement meeting. There were ten people from STA there and they took turns on the microphone and stood and took questions. They also had several former BRV students - current STA students on the panel. STA knew that almost every parent at the meeting had STA as their first choice and that 80 percent those kids would get in. Overall, it was an impressive presentation.
Two weeks later, Sidwell came by Beauvoir for the same outplacement meeting. Two women sat in chairs, spoke a little about the school, took a few question, and then left. Low energy would be a compliment.

The fact is, most BRV kids and their parents, have no interest in Sidwell. If they did, they wouldn’t have gone to Beauvoir in the first place. They would have applied to Sidwell in K and yes, believe or not, some would have been accepted.

All that said, Sidwell is a girls school. Nobody should send their boys there !

I was with you until the last sentence. What does that even mean?

I think it means what is says. Sidwell is a nice school for girls.

“Sidwell is a girls school - nobody should send their boys there” does not mean the same thing as “Sidwell is a good school for girls.”

Fairly certain it's a typo and PP meant "NCS is a girls school." Let's give a little grace people.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When my kids were at Beauvoir, the STA admissions team came by for an outplacement meeting. There were ten people from STA there and they took turns on the microphone and stood and took questions. They also had several former BRV students - current STA students on the panel. STA knew that almost every parent at the meeting had STA as their first choice and that 80 percent those kids would get in. Overall, it was an impressive presentation.
Two weeks later, Sidwell came by Beauvoir for the same outplacement meeting. Two women sat in chairs, spoke a little about the school, took a few question, and then left. Low energy would be a compliment.

The fact is, most BRV kids and their parents, have no interest in Sidwell. If they did, they wouldn’t have gone to Beauvoir in the first place. They would have applied to Sidwell in K and yes, believe or not, some would have been accepted.

All that said, Sidwell is a girls school. Nobody should send their boys there !

I was with you until the last sentence. What does that even mean?

I think it means what is says. Sidwell is a nice school for girls.

“Sidwell is a girls school - nobody should send their boys there” does not mean the same thing as “Sidwell is a good school for girls.”