13:19 - Thank you for your assessment. Originally, we were familar with these schools based on their strong reputation, but became disappointed the more we looked into both schools. At first, because of the schools' strong reputation and reported low admittance rate, we questioned what we saw and learned because we couldn't believe parents would accept such average academics at these schools, especially with tuition costing $30K. We were also surprised that the schools do not have stronger academic students, since they claim admission into the schools is difficult. PP, thank you for responding. Although, there are plenty of people willing to discuss the schools's sports programs/teams, few are willing to discuss the schools' academics with any specificity. May be the message is that they don't really care or know.

[quote=Anonymous]We looked at both these schools, which have good reputations for its academics, but have found that its academic programs are not very strong. What is the truth about the strength of these schools academics? I know several alumni who are not sending their sons to GP because of this issue. Have the academics suffered because of the emphasis on the sports programs or have the academics always been average, but the schools have benefited from a reputation greater than the reality? [/quote]

If superior "academic programs" and what you hope these will achieve are your single priority, save the $120K (4yrs x. $30K) and send them to Whitman. Four years of competing with those Asian kids there for class rank will maximize the high school learning experience.

Or, if you are Catholic --- and you probably are if you are considering GP --- than look to St Anselms.

GP and Landon admit a percentage of very bright kids and after four years amazingly these very bright kids go on the very good universities. Same as they always have.

Each school also has it's proportion of average or even not-so-bright kids, who are there for a variety of reasons (rich, legacies, family connections, athletic prowless, children of teachers or staff or all of the above).

Athletics may be causing even higher number of athletes to be admitted. Football was always a big deal. But now sports like lacrosse, and basketball and even hockey, wrestling and swimming need to be supplied with superior athletes.

We looked at both these schools, which have good reputations for its academics, but have found that its academic programs are not very strong. What is the truth about the strength of these schools academics? I know several alumni who are not sending their sons to GP because of this issue. Have the academics suffered because of the emphasis on the sports programs or have the academics always been average, but the schools have benefited from a reputation greater than the reality?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think asking "what hi school you went to" is to look for a connection and/or play the name game: Did you know so and so?

My son goes to a liberal leaning coed private school. There are parents there from Landon, STA and Prep. I don't hear bitter rancor or petty competition. They seem to respect each other for a fairly shared experience and get together routinely for evening basketball games together. They seem to have moved on, unlike some of the dramatic posters on this site.

"My son goes to a liberal leaning coed private school" and Georgetown Prep parents seem to be at odds with one another. And a occasional basketball game is hardly the kind of life long friendship that generally describes these schools.

What is your problem with her post? Go ahead and dismiss anybody who provides firsthand evidence of the contrary to what you posit. The majority of people on this site are thankfully fair and rational.

It is sad that almost every well intentioned question on this site deteriorates due to a few trolls.

There are over 3000 alumni of the 2 schools who have graduated in the last 20 years. A couple of people playing basketball -- who have kids at the same school -- are not evidence of anything. Nor is the single incidence of roomates evidence. These are anecdotes.

I can recount a situation where a recruited GP athlete at UVA was assigned a Landon roommate and called his coach and had him change it. For every "integrated" basketball game there are hundreds where they all went to the same school.

The majority of people on here, I suspect, are looking for information about these schools. Suggesting what we all pretty much know to be true is not the case, isn't information. It's "mis-information".

Believe who and what you want to believe.

Earlier posts in this string attempt to affix blame. Why would that be necessary if nothing existed?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think asking "what hi school you went to" is to look for a connection and/or play the name game: Did you know so and so?

My son goes to a liberal leaning coed private school. There are parents there from Landon, STA and Prep. I don't hear bitter rancor or petty competition. They seem to respect each other for a fairly shared experience and get together routinely for evening basketball games together. They seem to have moved on, unlike some of the dramatic posters on this site.

"My son goes to a liberal leaning coed private school" and Georgetown Prep parents seem to be at odds with one another. And a occasional basketball game is hardly the kind of life long friendship that generally describes these schools.

What is your problem with her post? Go ahead and dismiss anybody who provides firsthand evidence of the contrary to what you posit. The majority of people on this site are thankfully fair and rational.

It is sad that almost every well intentioned question on this site deteriorates due to a few trolls.

From my experience of growing up here but attending neither school, GP has a better all around reputation when you add in academics, character, athletics, college success.

Anonymous wrote:The thread is out of control because....the parents at these schools are out of control.

I think you are getting a little dramatic. Compared to some other threads, this one is pretty mild. Let's denigrate all the parents at both schools because a few parents feel this way.

If you actually took the time to get to know both schools, you would see the majority of the parents are committed to their sons getting a good education and taking advantage of the opportunities at both schools. Are their parents at both schools like what has been described? Of course. But to broadbrush all the parents is just ridiculous, just like it is ridiculous that people on this forum think they know everything about a school because people post things on this forum so that makes it true.

The thread is out of control because....the parents at these schools are out of control.

Anonymous wrote:This thread is getting out of control. I've been around DC for quite some time and YES both Prep and Landon kids get along quite in college and post college. Heck - some kids even live together in college. Of course there are a few kids and parents at both schools who still live in the good old days and might hold a grudge on where someone went to HS. Its sad but true.

Both schools offer great academics, great athletics and a wonderful HS experience for each and every boy who walks through their doors.

You are confused about which of the groups is the "few".

This thread is getting out of control. I've been around DC for quite some time and YES both Prep and Landon kids get along quite in college and post college. Heck - some kids even live together in college. Of course there are a few kids and parents at both schools who still live in the good old days and might hold a grudge on where someone went to HS. Its sad but true.

Both schools offer great academics, great athletics and a wonderful HS experience for each and every boy who walks through their doors.

Anonymous wrote:I think asking "what hi school you went to" is to look for a connection and/or play the name game: Did you know so and so?

My son goes to a liberal leaning coed private school. There are parents there from Landon, STA and Prep. I don't hear bitter rancor or petty competition. They seem to respect each other for a fairly shared experience and get together routinely for evening basketball games together. They seem to have moved on, unlike some of the dramatic posters on this site.

"My son goes to a liberal leaning coed private school" and Georgetown Prep parents seem to be at odds with one another. And a occasional basketball game is hardly the kind of life long friendship that generally describes these schools.

I think asking "what hi school you went to" is to look for a connection and/or play the name game: Did you know so and so?

My son goes to a liberal leaning coed private school. There are parents there from Landon, STA and Prep. I don't hear bitter rancor or petty competition. They seem to respect each other for a fairly shared experience and get together routinely for evening basketball games together. They seem to have moved on, unlike some of the dramatic posters on this site.

High school definitely matters. I remember my first job interview out of college, I had come back to DC to apply and the second or third question was "Which high school did you attend?" Don't lie to yourself that high school doesn't matter. The minute you tell them that yeah I went to such an such school, they ask what it was like. The answer "Coat and tie, rigorous prep school" seals up many things for you. Oh and for those who might be questioning well even the low-end students could say that after college and high school, this was a pretty high-end first job in terms of pay so I meant business. I know for a fact when my DS and DD get to the upper school ages in 1-2 years, they will be going to top notch all-sex schools.

Anonymous wrote:"In DC, where you go to high school is much more important than where you go to college."

Not if you plan to have a career.

Maybe not. Although there are some who would say the influence of the college you attended lasts up to you get your first job. As you proceed through your career, people stop caring or asking what college you went to.

But "Where did you go to high school" is one of the first questions that is asked in a social setting as DC natives feel each other out. And its a critical driver of who your life-long friends are. For whatever reasons, the high school associations seem to be very important in DC.

"In DC, where you go to high school is much more important than where you go to college."

Not if you plan to have a career.