To 12:52 / 2:57 -- Great posts! I don't have enough experience with those specific schools to comment on your details, but I really agree with your general comments about picking the one right for each specific child and not getting hung up on extraneous details. Wonderful post. Really informative. Many thanks for the constructive contributions.

Sam2

Glad my comments were helpful to a couple of families deciding this weekend. Couple more things about topics mentioned earlier in this thread.

On college admissions, both schools have an enviable track record and the variations from year to year seem to have more to do with the strength of different classes than with which school is better positioned to send students to highly selective colleges. So my advice on this is not to let this be the deciding factor, because I think there is no meaningful difference. What is most important is to pick the one that will best support the growth and development of your kid. That is after all the primary benefit of the high school experience, not college admission. In addition, I think both schools do a very fine job helping both students and parents navigate the college admissions process. This includes getting the students to think seriously about what THEY want out of their college experience as well as to come up with a list of 9 or so schools that range from reach to safety schools. Both schools put a limit on the number of colleges the students can apply to. While at first this struck me as not a decision for the school to make, I have come to see the wisdom of it. It helps everyone in the class with college admissions, and 9 schools is plenty. It also forces the students to think hard about what they want and which colleges are the best fit for them. Both schools do a pretty good job of calming the parents down and of letting them know that parental worry over college admissions is a major stressor for the students.

On the chip-on-the-shoulder thing, I do think there is a trace of this at GDS, but it is unwarranted. Maybe it comes from the fact that the Obama kids are at Sidwell and Sidwell is a much older school. But GDS is rightly proud of its own history as the first integrated school in the District and a leader in progressive education. To me, this is a bit like Harvard and Yale. Some Yalies have a slight chip about Harvard because the latter is older and has a bigger international reputation, but those who really know both institutions recognize that each has distinct advantages -- and both are wonderful schools. So I would also not let this be a factor. To the extent that parents might gain some comfort or validation from the fact that Sidwell is the school chosen by the President to educate his kids, you should keep in mind that GDS is the school chosen by the Attorney General. Both schools can point to many prominent and discerning parents who chose one over the other school.

At both schools, you will have lots of opportunities to get involved with other parents and the school -- if you have the time and want to do that (but you won't be pressured to do that if it is not your cup of tea). There are school-sponsored dinners for small groups of parents at the beginning of 9th grade and thereafter, plus other events that facilitate this process. If your kid plays sports, you will meet lots of parents at the games. If your kid sings in the choir, you will meet the other parents at the performances. In short, both schools do a good job of welcoming and integrating new families and making them feel comfortable. The parent cohort is pretty similar at both schools -- lawyers, academics, politicos, World Bank types, journalists and other professionals are overrepresented. What the parents all seem to have in common is a very strong commitment to and interest in their kids' education and development.

I agree with previous posters that the "vibe" at GDS is more informal and casual and the physical setting (especially in the forum) is a little bit more disorganized/chaotic. Kids at GDS hang out in the forum and leave their stuff there and that is the first impression one gets upon entering the main building. I also agree that there is a slightly greater sense at GDS that the students "own" the place. But both schools do a good job in creating a strong community that the students are proud of. And both do a good job of helping students to become effective advocates for themselves. GDS has a slightly more PC tinge to it culture. GDS is more Oberlin and Sidwell is more Haverford/Swarthmore.

Community service is emphasized at both schools, but Sidwell has more organized activities and events (work days, etc. and events that involve the parents as well if they want to participate). At Sidwell, there is also a meeting for worship that the parents are invited to every so often. Again, you can take that or leave it. No pressure to attend if it is not your cup of tea.

Because each class at these schools is relatively small (120), the class has a distinctive character. Although at both schools there is an influx of 35-50 new students in 9th grade, it is worth asking about the rising 8th grade class and what it is like. Does it have any sort of reputation? Any problems or issues? For example, if you have a daughter and that class is clique-y with some mean girls, that would be useful to know. Etc. So that is something worth asking of other parents of 8th graders.

Finally, again, you can't go wrong with this choice. One of my two kids got into both and picked Sidwell as the better fit. One of his closest friends in junior high school also got into both and picked GDS. I think both made the right choices for themselves. And both were extremely happy with their experiences.

Good luck!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another parent here with both Sidwell and GDS high school grads within the past five years. The 3-11 11:05 post is pretty spot on. These are two really wonderful schools and the key is where your kid is most comfortable. GDS is more informal (teachers on first name basis) and it tends to draw many kids who are really into the arts (theater/music). The school proudly notes it has no football team but the musical/play/one acts are a really big deal. And they are. So are the regular events/cabarets where both students and faculty perform. Sidwell is more formal and has more detailed rules ( check out the handbook). It also tends to draw students who are more into sports as a rule (these are broad generalizations of course). And the weekly meeting and Quaker values have a significant impact (largely quite positive in my view) on the student experience. Both schools have amazing academics. Sidwell has a more advanced Chinese program including opportunities in China and more students who study abroad through SYA. Sidwell has a dining room for lunch but GDS does not. GDS has a better after-hours hang-out area for students (the forum) whereas at Sidwell the school shuts down earlier and sends the message that students should be at home with their families as part of a balanced life. GDS gives the students slightly more freedom and Sidwell more structure but both deliver an amazing education focused on critical thinking and analysis mostly in small-group discussion-based classes. Sidwell has slightly less grade inflation. You really cannot go wrong with these two schools. The key is: what is the best fit for your student?

Thank you for this thoughtful response. Very helpful. We are in an enviable position, we know, of having been admitted to both and our DD must decide this weekend. Both schools are incredible and it is tough....as of now, leaning towards Sidwell.

Yes, not OP, but your answer has helped us as well!

Anonymous wrote:Another parent here with both Sidwell and GDS high school grads within the past five years. The 3-11 11:05 post is pretty spot on. These are two really wonderful schools and the key is where your kid is most comfortable. GDS is more informal (teachers on first name basis) and it tends to draw many kids who are really into the arts (theater/music). The school proudly notes it has no football team but the musical/play/one acts are a really big deal. And they are. So are the regular events/cabarets where both students and faculty perform. Sidwell is more formal and has more detailed rules ( check out the handbook). It also tends to draw students who are more into sports as a rule (these are broad generalizations of course). And the weekly meeting and Quaker values have a significant impact (largely quite positive in my view) on the student experience. Both schools have amazing academics. Sidwell has a more advanced Chinese program including opportunities in China and more students who study abroad through SYA. Sidwell has a dining room for lunch but GDS does not. GDS has a better after-hours hang-out area for students (the forum) whereas at Sidwell the school shuts down earlier and sends the message that students should be at home with their families as part of a balanced life. GDS gives the students slightly more freedom and Sidwell more structure but both deliver an amazing education focused on critical thinking and analysis mostly in small-group discussion-based classes. Sidwell has slightly less grade inflation. You really cannot go wrong with these two schools. The key is: what is the best fit for your student?

Thank you for this thoughtful response. Very helpful. We are in an enviable position, we know, of having been admitted to both and our DD must decide this weekend. Both schools are incredible and it is tough....as of now, leaning towards Sidwell.

Another parent here with both Sidwell and GDS high school grads within the past five years. The 3-11 11:05 post is pretty spot on. These are two really wonderful schools and the key is where your kid is most comfortable. GDS is more informal (teachers on first name basis) and it tends to draw many kids who are really into the arts (theater/music). The school proudly notes it has no football team but the musical/play/one acts are a really big deal. And they are. So are the regular events/cabarets where both students and faculty perform. Sidwell is more formal and has more detailed rules ( check out the handbook). It also tends to draw students who are more into sports as a rule (these are broad generalizations of course). And the weekly meeting and Quaker values have a significant impact (largely quite positive in my view) on the student experience. Both schools have amazing academics. Sidwell has a more advanced Chinese program including opportunities in China and more students who study abroad through SYA. Sidwell has a dining room for lunch but GDS does not. GDS has a better after-hours hang-out area for students (the forum) whereas at Sidwell the school shuts down earlier and sends the message that students should be at home with their families as part of a balanced life. GDS gives the students slightly more freedom and Sidwell more structure but both deliver an amazing education focused on critical thinking and analysis mostly in small-group discussion-based classes. Sidwell has slightly less grade inflation. You really cannot go wrong with these two schools. The key is: what is the best fit for your student?

Nixons are Quaker.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Boy am I tired of the "GDS sends more kids to Harvard" poster And the fact that this is a claim I've never heard made at GDS makes me wonder whether this poster is just being deliberately annoying. She's omnipresent here but invisible there and I spend more time there than here.

It's clearly a troll who doesn't like GDS and it intentionally trying to be annoying. Don't let her get to you. She certainly doesn't reflect the GDS parents I'm currently getting to know.

I think she's mocking some actual GDS boosters who were pretty annoying themselves with bragging about GDS early decision college results and with other over-the-top GDS boosterism. IMHO it was actually pretty funny when she first started doing it. But I totally agree the joke is played out now and should be dropped.

I agree that particular troll probably has no ties to GDS. however, wasn't it the Sidwell parents who did the boasting about college results this year?

Anonymous wrote:Very few, if any at Sidwell care about the "brand" or the reconizable factor at the school. I agree with the PP...the fact that the Obamas kids are at Sidwell has no bearing at all on the current life of the school. Same is true of the Clintons, Nixons or any of the so-called famous people at STA, NCS, Maret etc. It is a non-issue except, for some reason, to GDS people (or trolls).

One doesn't hear very much about the Nixons at Sidwell Friends....

It will be interesting to see the GDS plans for the expanded Wisconsin campus. Even with the Safeway torn down, it is hard to figure how they will squeeze a lower and middle school into the site, together with more athletic field and playground space, room for more dropoffs/pickups, parking, etc -- and still be able to use the car dealership site for commercial development.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Obama effect probably ran its course at Sidwell Friends several years ago. As you suggest, there are benefits and burdens. The Clinton era seems, to use a phrase, a simpler time and so last century. In today's social media and frenzied 24 hour political cycle, no good could ever come (at least to the president) from his attending a private school auction."

Now if GDS could just get over it.

Not likely. The story is that GDS wants the new Wisconsin Ave. campus to be more amenable to high profile "protectee" students then their present Palisades property is.

No, the goal is to unite the two campuses and to use commercial development along Wisconsin Ave to provide a revenue stream that will enable the school to sustain its commitment to financial aid and to decent compensation/benefits for teachers without continually increasing tuition.

You can agree or disagree with this vision of where GDS is headed, but that's the story. This stuff about high profile protectees is just some weird DCUM fantasy.

Sidwell parent here: Clearly the Obamas, and the Clintons before, have helped with name recognition and may have led to increases in the number of applications. But what I think PP is saying is that day-to-day, it makes no difference at the school, and students treat them just like regular kids (which is probably one reasons they chose Sidwell in the first place).

Very few, if any at Sidwell care about the "brand" or the reconizable factor at the school. I agree with the PP...the fact that the Obamas kids are at Sidwell has no bearing at all on the current life of the school. Same is true of the Clintons, Nixons or any of the so-called famous people at STA, NCS, Maret etc. It is a non-issue except, for some reason, to GDS people (or trolls).

picked GDS because of location (commute), commitment to social justice, and perception (right or wrong) that they might do better with a more non-trad'l student since we're starting early and hard to know what we've got.

no Obamas - largely irrelevant but a plus for GDS, campus - a plus for sidwell for sure. Lucky either way.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting insight. And, of course, there's the elephant in the room. Many, many families apply to and choose SFS at least in part b/c of the Obamas. "

Sidwell family here: I would say that is probably a factor in 95% of applications. I'm not saying that 95% of people apply because the Obamas are there. I think that 95% factor that in - pros + cons. My guess is that it bumped apps by 30 percent or more.

Obamas dont come to the school auction but Clinton did. Proceeds increased significatly just by having him there.

Current Sidwell parent here: for what it is worth, the fact that the Obamas attend the school is completely irrelevant. No impact on the other students one way or another.

Marketing? I work in an international environment and most people kniw Sidwell as the school of Obama's daughters.

And your point is exactly what? My point is that it doesn't impact the daily lives of students at the school one way or another.

You said that the fact that the Obamas attend the school is irrelevant and I simply disagree with that statement. It possitions the school, it makes it more "recognizable", it creates awareness.

Anonymous wrote:The Obama effect probably ran its course at Sidwell Friends several years ago. As you suggest, there are benefits and burdens. The Clinton era seems, to use a phrase, a simpler time and so last century. In today's social media and frenzied 24 hour political cycle, no good could ever come (at least to the president) from his attending a private school auction."

Now if GDS could just get over it.

Not likely. The story is that GDS wants the new Wisconsin Ave. campus to be more amenable to high profile "protectee" students then their present Palisades property is.