Traditionally, Maret parents either don’t spend a ton of time on DCUM or don’t engage much. So don’t take that as a bad sign. Take it as a sign of a more laid back community.

So the hogwarts houses are 4 houses that you’re sorted into in 5th grade and have little fun completions like an occasional tug of war kind of thing. Siblings are ALWAYS in the same house (unlike at hogwarts) to avoid adding to sibling rivalries.

There are a couple school events to meet other students and you’ll get a directory at some point in the summer so you could reach out to other parents to do something fun. There are also summer camps that tend to have a lot of Maret kids attending

Mr Redd, the new head of MS, is the current 6th grade history teacher. The kids love him as a teacher and advisor so i am looking forward to having him as the head of the middle a school next year

Reposting-Thank you so much for responding about the rising 7th-grade class! For some odd reason, I've not been able to find too much commentary on Maret since Friday so it was making me nervous. I am wondering in the OPs child got in.
What grade /subject does the new MS director teach? Also, can you explain a little more about the "Hogwarts House" model they have? I can't remember if its inclusive of all grades including lower school of it was just a MS/US thing.

For the rising 7th grade class I understand some kids are more geographically dispersed than others, have you found that those kids living beyond the immediately DC, close to DC/MD area are less involved socially in terms of afterschool or weekend friend activities? As DC is coming from another private in VA, they are leaving a big friendship base and are nervous about this happening since we do not live in the city.

Finally, beyond the school-sponsored family reception, are there any other opportunities for the kids to meet prior to the beginning of school? TIA!

Anonymous wrote:NP here. Curious about the rising 6th graders. Any insight? Also, it is often repeated that Maret is tiny but I also see that a graduating class is around 70 or so. How is this any different from NCS/STA or others? I've seen posts that say that those schools' graduating classes are about the same size. Why then the trope that Maret is small?

Maret is small for a co-Ed school, I guess. Sidwell friends and GDS have 500 kids each in upper school, which is about 125 per grade compared to Maret’s 80. It feels small and tight also because of the large number of siblings and kids of alums. I don’t have a kid in 6th grade but know some families who are lovely.

I find it interesting that many describe Maret as "arty". We are still in our first year at the school, and yes it has a strong art program, but many sporty (and non-arty) kids.

NP here. Curious about the rising 6th graders. Any insight? Also, it is often repeated that Maret is tiny but I also see that a graduating class is around 70 or so. How is this any different from NCS/STA or others? I've seen posts that say that those schools' graduating classes are about the same size. Why then the trope that Maret is small?

I meant to ask what subject/grade the new MS Director currently teaches. We met 2 during our visit who seemed to be great teachers. Thanks

Thank you so much for responding! For some odd reason, I 've not been able to find too much commentary on Maret since Friday so it was making me nervous. I am wondering in the OPs child got in.

Sounds like the new MS director is a current teacher? If so, what grade? Also, can you explain a little more about the "Hogwarts House" model they set up? I can't remember if its inclusive of all grades including lower school of it was just a MS/US thing.

I understand some kids are more geographically dispersed than others, have you found that those kids living beyond the immediately DC, close to DC/MD area are less involved socially in terms of afterschool or weekend friend activities? As DC is coming from another private in VA, they are leaving a big friendship base and are nervous about this happening since we do not live in the city.

Finally, beyond the school-sponsored family reception, are there any other opportunities for the kids to meet prior to the beginning of school? TIA!

Current 6th is a very good bunch! Not perfect (it’s middle school), but generally a kind bunch who are about as happy with each other as middle schoolers can be. There is occasional conflict and drama but it seems to be resolved quickly - there don’t seem to be any cliques or long term friction issues.

There tend to be a bunch who live within a couple miles of school and then a bunch in MD. There are always a handful who live FAR away in any class. For some reason Maret isn’t very popular in VA, so most classes have just a few families. I’d guess about 5-10% from VA in each class.

Parents are also pleased with the choice for incoming head of MS. Most kids who have had him say he’s their favorite teacher and he’s a very interesting and thoughtful person.

Wow that is awesome!! Congratulations!!!

DC just got in for 7th grade at Maret. Can anyone tell me what the current 6th grade is like? Friendly group? Is it mostly kids from MD or VA or DC?

Anonymous wrote:Dear parents obsessed with college admission stats -

Please keep in mind that if my younger, less fabulous child attends a school, it will not affect your super-fabulous child.

It will affect college admissions. My kid could even end up at a not-DCUM worthy school (gasp!), but they may be great at art or music or sports or yearbook layouts or a great friend or really funny. They do not actually need to go to The Best College to be a good human. AND my not-fabulous kid will avoid holding back your fabulous kid by being in a separate math class, lower level language class, etc. My kid will do his/her best to not hold yours down much as all.

So, while I recognize that college placement is one of the most easily accessible metrics, it does not begin to tell the whole story about any school. Please try to keep that in mind throughout this process and if you really, really can't get past the possible acceptance of the almost-completely-average-amongst-classmates sibling, this is probably not the school for you.

You need to chill out. This is a discussion board. People discuss. It's not an attack on your child.

Dear parents obsessed with college admission stats -

Please keep in mind that if my younger, less fabulous child attends a school, it will not affect your super-fabulous child.

It will affect college admissions. My kid could even end up at a not-DCUM worthy school (gasp!), but they may be great at art or music or sports or yearbook layouts or a great friend or really funny. They do not actually need to go to The Best College to be a good human. AND my not-fabulous kid will avoid holding back your fabulous kid by being in a separate math class, lower level language class, etc. My kid will do his/her best to not hold yours down much as all.

So, while I recognize that college placement is one of the most easily accessible metrics, it does not begin to tell the whole story about any school. Please try to keep that in mind throughout this process and if you really, really can't get past the possible acceptance of the almost-completely-average-amongst-classmates sibling, this is probably not the school for you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maret does not try to be Sidwell at all. In any case, who wants to be like Sidwell these days?

Maret has lot of affluence but it is not in your face, and the school community is friendly, academics very solid, and the kids highly supportive of each other.

And college counseling is great.

But placement is underwhelming.

This year's college placement so far is pretty good -- Princeton, Dartmouth, Penn, Northwestern, Chicago, Williams, Yale, etc Many kids accepted at top 20 liberal arts and National Universities.

+100

Glass houses.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I freely admit that this is February, waiting for decisions craziness, but I am waking up from feeling stressed for my DD about getting into Maret for 7th. She is a strong student, great scores, good kid, yada yada. We have a good public school fall back being in MoCo. But she and we were so taken with the community that the school seems to be (academics too but that seemed good at most places we looked at).

No one else in our friend circle is applying for private, so I feel a little alone in my angst about this. Anyone else feeling a spot of this compulsive stress too?

I know, three more weeks. Can't wait.

OP - look in the mirror. If you are experiencing this much angst that you need to crowd source is on DCUM for 7TH GRADE, you seriously need professional help. I'm sure this stress is effecting DD as well, and is not going to be helpful when you are applying to college, which takes this all to another level. Sure, I'm guessing that Maret's beautiful grounds and mission statement are compelling for you and are likely feeding whatever inferiority complex you have, but just stop. I'm sure your "friend circle" has just about had it with you as well and think you are insane. I sure do!

You are kind of mean. What's with this toxic post?

It was posted by someone who wandered in from the Recent Topics link and who has no business in this forum. They have always hated how they could not afford to have private school as an option for their mediocre kids and now they're taking out their frustrations on an anonymous message board.