Anonymous wrote:No one actually chooses Bullis over Sidwell. Especially if you live in Bethesda. Especially for lower school. Bullis is a backup private school if one didn’t get into sidwell, and you’re fixated on going to a private school.

I mean, these are the facts. Sidwell. No question.

No one actually chooses Bullis over Sidwell. Especially if you live in Bethesda. Especially for lower school. Bullis is a backup private school if one didn’t get into sidwell, and you’re fixated on going to a private school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should start with Sidwell. If your kid can't hack it then transfer to Bullis for HS. Not so easy the other way around.

I agree. I personally know of 2 US Sidwell to Bullis transfers, but I’ve never heard of a Bullis to Sidwell transfer. I’m not saying it has never happened…just saying I’ve never heard of it.

I was a poor single mother kid from Chicago. My mother was an addict and life was rough but rich and meaningful. I recoiled at the thought of a private school, and because I was a top in the nation track athlete with high academics, I received scholarship offers to private schools. I could not have imagined setting foot in one. The kids had zero in common with me. I used to beg my coach to compete in East St Louis five hours away - they were the best. No way the private schools would do something like that.

Did very well at the two universities I graduated from and have an unexpectedly nice life. Didn’t think of sending my two daughters to a private school. They went to TJ - not ideal in many respects but a public experience. They went to Princeton.

Now Bullis comes along with the best track program in the nation. I would have given my left arm to go to Bullis. To train with a 16 year old Olympian? I would have taken it in a heartbeat, and the academics would have been great for me. The chance to be not just very good but great is invaluable. So a reminder everyone has different reasons to attend a school. The girls playing hoops at Sidwell are making the same kind of choice. Money and prestige are often a fool’s errand.

Anonymous wrote:You should start with Sidwell. If your kid can't hack it then transfer to Bullis for HS. Not so easy the other way around.

I agree. I personally know of 2 US Sidwell to Bullis transfers, but I’ve never heard of a Bullis to Sidwell transfer. I’m not saying it has never happened…just saying I’ve never heard of it.

You should start with Sidwell. If your kid can't hack it then transfer to Bullis for HS. Not so easy the other way around.

How is this even a question???

None.

If driving isn't an issue, I'd just go with Sidwell. You can always just flip to Bullis or a similar school later if Sidwell ends up being too rigorous or not a good fit for your kid. Conversely, it will be much harder to regain admission into Sidwell.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I could not imagine choosing Bullis over Sidwell, for a million reasons. I have taught at one and am very familiar with the other. A Friends school will offer a very different vibe. There is *genuine* interest/action on all matters relating to diversity and inclusion. The opportunities for your child at Sidwell are stellar. Those focusing on Bullis’ (or any independent school’s) college list are so short-sighted. I’m sure that is not the only value you want from the place your child will attend for years. I can’t imagine passing up a Sidwell experience. Not many are offered that opportunity.

This is helpful. I don’t want my kids to be ordained into this crazy DEI philosophy. You helped to make our mind up. Thank you. Go Bulldogs!!

Whew (that was close!). 😅
Wonderful choice. I can tell that Bullis and your family are a perfect match—enjoy!

HAHA - seriously, there’s all anyone needs to know.

Anonymous wrote:In our experience at Sidwell, Sidwell parents are down to earth, hard working (many working moms), fun, kind, interesting, from diverse backgrounds, cohesive. It’s been a nice community for my family.

This may be true in LS, maybe MS but definitely not the norm for US. That’s not to say there are no nice families, because there are. But what is described above is mostly fostered in LS and by HS most families don’t have the bandwidth, or some no interest, in the growing community. And many are plotting out their college strategies - impressively stealthy and low key but charging hard.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I could not imagine choosing Bullis over Sidwell, for a million reasons. I have taught at one and am very familiar with the other. A Friends school will offer a very different vibe. There is *genuine* interest/action on all matters relating to diversity and inclusion. The opportunities for your child at Sidwell are stellar. Those focusing on Bullis’ (or any independent school’s) college list are so short-sighted. I’m sure that is not the only value you want from the place your child will attend for years. I can’t imagine passing up a Sidwell experience. Not many are offered that opportunity.

This is helpful. I don’t want my kids to be ordained into this crazy DEI philosophy. You helped to make our mind up. Thank you. Go Bulldogs!!

Sounds like you won’t like Bullis either. You probably want something more white supremacist friendly.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I could not imagine choosing Bullis over Sidwell, for a million reasons. I have taught at one and am very familiar with the other. A Friends school will offer a very different vibe. There is *genuine* interest/action on all matters relating to diversity and inclusion. The opportunities for your child at Sidwell are stellar. Those focusing on Bullis’ (or any independent school’s) college list are so short-sighted. I’m sure that is not the only value you want from the place your child will attend for years. I can’t imagine passing up a Sidwell experience. Not many are offered that opportunity.

This is helpful. I don’t want my kids to be ordained into this crazy DEI philosophy. You helped to make our mind up. Thank you. Go Bulldogs!!

Whew (that was close!). 😅
Wonderful choice. I can tell that Bullis and your family are a perfect match—enjoy!

Anonymous wrote:I could not imagine choosing Bullis over Sidwell, for a million reasons. I have taught at one and am very familiar with the other. A Friends school will offer a very different vibe. There is *genuine* interest/action on all matters relating to diversity and inclusion. The opportunities for your child at Sidwell are stellar. Those focusing on Bullis’ (or any independent school’s) college list are so short-sighted. I’m sure that is not the only value you want from the place your child will attend for years. I can’t imagine passing up a Sidwell experience. Not many are offered that opportunity.

This is helpful. I don’t want my kids to be ordained into this crazy DEI philosophy. You helped to make our mind up. Thank you. Go Bulldogs!!

Np here and upper school Sidwell parent. We are not particularly fond of Sidwell but I’d 100% pick Sidwell for lower school and keep reassessing as they get through middle school whether you want to stay for high school.

I could not imagine choosing Bullis over Sidwell, for a million reasons. I have taught at one and am very familiar with the other. A Friends school will offer a very different vibe. There is *genuine* interest/action on all matters relating to diversity and inclusion. The opportunities for your child at Sidwell are stellar. Those focusing on Bullis’ (or any independent school’s) college list are so short-sighted. I’m sure that is not the only value you want from the place your child will attend for years. I can’t imagine passing up a Sidwell experience. Not many are offered that opportunity.