Anonymous wrote:Y'all are letting your American class shine through.

I would assume OP is from another country and not remark on his/her grammar. What does it do for anyone other than (perhaps) make you feel superior?

I was also at the Sidwell OH. There were many, many parents from "other" countries. Including myself.

Yes, but you and they were not making snarky, obnoxious comments about Sidwell.

The truth is that OP's child will probably not be admitted, as most of those who apply are not. And assuming that you know the quality of education offered by a school based on facilities or an open house is really stupid. Especially, since it's clear that OP took no time to actually talk to teachers or current parents there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:9:41, I like most of your post. You offer good advice. I do wish you hadn't included the third paragraph, which is really just thinly veiled snark, and is unnecessary to the rest of your points. Not sure why you chose to go that route.

I apologize as I intended it as a rather matter-of-fact explanation of what seemingly has launched Sidwell into its own class over the past decade. Many of our native Washingtonian friends tell us that even fifteen to twenty years ago Georgetown Day School, National Cathedral School/St. Albans School, and Sidwell Friends School were all considered virtual equals, with NCS/STA having a slight advantage as the school of choice of DC power brokers and moneyed families, and thus with slightly better college matriculation state at that time.

It is a fact, not a snark, that children of the wealthy, or connected, or powerful enjoy a disproportionate (i.e., greater than their 1% numbers) percentage of admissions to the H/P/S/Ys. In the past, NCS/STA enjoyed the benefits of that advantage, and now we have cycled into Sidwell being the primary benficiary of those advantages.

Please note that I used the word "earned" to say how these students gain their admissions. Again, I meant no offense to Sidwell, to you as a Sidwell parent, or to your Sidwell students. I apologize.

I appreciate the apology and clarification. With full respect to you, I am not sure your description of the history of DC schools as learned from your friends is an accurate one, so I don't see it as quite so "matter-of-fact." I also think some of your language choices (e.g., "won the lottery" and "generation of strivers") are loaded ones you would not appreciate being applied to your children or their schools. Moreover, since you do not have personal experience with the school, perhaps your second-hand impression of the parent community is incomplete. I do appreciate your emphasis on how the students "earned" their college placements, regardless of what upbringing or advantages they might've enjoyed, just as I'm sure you would want people to agree that your own children "earned" their successes regardless of the advantages they might've had. Even if I disagree with them, I take your word that your comments were meant in good faith and not intended as jabs. Coming in the middle of a thread that is light on substance and heavy on attacks, perhaps I saw your description of school where you don't have any experience as just more of the same. Again, I appreciate you apology for your comments; such apologies are even rarer on DCUM than in real life so it speaks well of you that you'd offer one.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thi means only an obvious social climber would marry an 80 years old man and have a young child with him.

Duh. Thank you.

You women really love to pull one another down. Your daughters must be very proud.

Huh? Not sure why you are looking for a fight. I was legitimately thanking someone who explained to a poster that didn’t seem to understand why an 80-year-old father of a five-year-old would indicate social climbing.

There are quite a few issues there. Ageism (why marry an older man other than to climb socially?) and sexism (aren't women primarily concerned with status rather than, say, sending their kids to a school that is a terrific social and academic fit?). FWIW, I know several families with parents with wide age differences, and I have not seen any indication of social climbing. In the family I know with the widest age difference, the woman earned two ivy degrees, was a star in her field (that she continues to rise in), and was well established in DC, long before meeting her husband. Where exactly do you think she was climbing?

Corrections. Matriculation "stats". Primary "beneficiary".

Anonymous wrote:9:41, I like most of your post. You offer good advice. I do wish you hadn't included the third paragraph, which is really just thinly veiled snark, and is unnecessary to the rest of your points. Not sure why you chose to go that route.

I apologize as I intended it as a rather matter-of-fact explanation of what seemingly has launched Sidwell into its own class over the past decade. Many of our native Washingtonian friends tell us that even fifteen to twenty years ago Georgetown Day School, National Cathedral School/St. Albans School, and Sidwell Friends School were all considered virtual equals, with NCS/STA having a slight advantage as the school of choice of DC power brokers and moneyed families, and thus with slightly better college matriculation state at that time.

It is a fact, not a snark, that children of the wealthy, or connected, or powerful enjoy a disproportionate (i.e., greater than their 1% numbers) percentage of admissions to the H/P/S/Ys. In the past, NCS/STA enjoyed the benefits of that advantage, and now we have cycled into Sidwell being the primary benficiary of those advantages.

Please note that I used the word "earned" to say how these students gain their admissions. Again, I meant no offense to Sidwell, to you as a Sidwell parent, or to your Sidwell students. I apologize.

9:41, I like most of your post. You offer good advice. I do wish you hadn't included the third paragraph, which is really just thinly veiled snark, and is unnecessary to the rest of your points. Not sure why you chose to go that route.

Meant "sent their children there".

We currently have two children at university in a H/P/S/Y (alphabetically). The type of students whose excellent grades, standardized test scores, and ECs earned them admission into every competitive school and program to which they ever applied, both here and when we lived in NY.

As in your case OP, Sidwell Friends School did not seem like right place for our children, and in the case of one of them did not offer a particular desired EC, and so it was their choice not to apply there for either MS or US. They applied to only two schools, Georgetown Day School and National Cathedral School/ St.
Albans School (again, alphabetically), and were admitted to both.

Sidwell won the private school lottery with its admission and attraction of both President Clinton's daughter Chelsea, and President Obama's daughters Malia and Sasha. It distinguished the school as THE destination of DC power brokers, who in turn sent their children their in numbers. Not surprisingly the children of the powerful and well-connected have earned admission to the H/P/S/Ys, which in turn benefits the school's college placement stats and continues to attract the next generation of strivers.

Sidwell is undoubtedly a very strong private school, as are Georgetown Day School and National Cathedral School/St. Albans School. You really cannot veer too astray in sending your child to any of these schools. I know it is difficult to turn away from a 'brand' name, and you may even doubt yourself, but I would say that parents should trust their instincts and those of their child.

If the place that feels exciting, or warm, or full of energy, or special, or welcoming, or like the right fit for your student for any reason isn't Sidwell, then trust your instincts and go elsewhere. That is what our children chose to do successfully for themselves, and we have never had any regrets.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Should be 30 years ago. Sidwell wasn't all that back then. It was a good school as was GDS, but nothing special.

I graduated in the mid-80s, and it was decidedly differrent. I knew plenty of kids at Sidwell who ended up there because they weren't succeeding in local public schools. It wasn't for high flyers back in the day.

- Old NoVa native

I think you are thinking of Maret.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thi means only an obvious social climber would marry an 80 years old man and have a young child with him.

Duh. Thank you.

You women really love to pull one another down. Your daughters must be very proud.

Huh? Not sure why you are looking for a fight. I was legitimately thanking someone who explained to a poster that didn’t seem to understand why an 80-year-old father of a five-year-old would indicate social climbing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thi means only an obvious social climber would marry an 80 years old man and have a young child with him.

Duh. Thank you.

You women really love to pull one another down. Your daughters must be very proud.

Anonymous wrote:Thi means only an obvious social climber would marry an 80 years old man and have a young child with him.

Duh. Thank you.

OP, I'm sorry you weren't impressed at the open house. My children really enjoy going there, and I think it's a great place for them. But I understand different people look for different things in schools. It's fortunate the DC area has lots of schools for people to choose among. Good luck with your search.

- Sidwell Friends parent

Sidwell is what it is. It is not it's history, conveniently glossed to resist change by those longing for what was. It is not it's reputation from 30 years ago, better or worse than today's. It is not a shallow observation about an 80 year old parent. It is not the tired yarn about social climbers chasing the Clintons and Obamas. It is not the transparently negative posts of certain sour grapes individuals. It is only the educational opportunities it affords your child. Not every child or any child. Your child. On that score, some find it the best fit (a personal and family decision you are not in a position to criticize because you do not know the circumstances). For others it is not. They should move on without impugning the choice made by the former group.

Anonymous wrote: To the OP I have a friend who didn't apply to Sidwell because she wasn't that impressed with the tour. They went to another highly rated private instead and now are trying to get into Sidwell for MS. Did they get a better education at the other school. I don't think so. Dare I say I don't think ANY private lower school is worth it. I can only say that with hindsight as my kids are now in MS. We see the kids coming from publics who got a great education and didn't have to pay the lower school tuition. They say LS is to secure a spot in US..if you can make the transition in MS.

Thank you.