Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We wanted an excellent school by any standard (national or international) motivated by our children’s ambitions and needs, but only looked at co-ed schools (there are several reasons many families a priori decide against or in favor of non-co-ed schooling) and knew we didn’t want to board. SFS was an obvious choice and the only school we applied to as the result.

No regrets at all. An excellent school and a welcoming community. Overall, we think all the schools need to dial sharply down on homework and up on creativity and unstructured, free time, but that’s not an SFS-specific issue. If anything, the issue is driven by a majority of parents who appear to be single-mindedly focused on a very narrow vision of success which is not necessarily borne out by the current science or long-term measures of success and happiness.

Delusional because SFS is not known nationality or internationally.

NP. But really?! Sour grapes much?
Maybe you don’t get around much? It’s ok. V contagious out there.

Anonymous wrote:We wanted an excellent school by any standard (national or international) motivated by our children’s ambitions and needs, but only looked at co-ed schools (there are several reasons many families a priori decide against or in favor of non-co-ed schooling) and knew we didn’t want to board. SFS was an obvious choice and the only school we applied to as the result.

No regrets at all. An excellent school and a welcoming community. Overall, we think all the schools need to dial sharply down on homework and up on creativity and unstructured, free time, but that’s not an SFS-specific issue. If anything, the issue is driven by a majority of parents who appear to be single-mindedly focused on a very narrow vision of success which is not necessarily borne out by the current science or long-term measures of success and happiness.

Delusional because SFS is not known nationality or internationally.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it seems to me that gds and sidwell are kind of similar in quality of education. what is the biggest difference between the two schools? For parents to chose sidewell, not gds, what is the main reason for you to choose sidwell?

Sidwell is Quaker. This is a cultural difference that is worth noting. We love the Quaker education there.

The difference is money and the profile of the parents the school seeks:

Sidwell has lost it's big draw ( POTUS kids) and with it it's cache and ability to say "no" to whomever they like, unless they can't say "no"

GDS never had that problem. So its basically GDS is your average Washington family: met at SAIS, work for the Bank. Sidwell you might have a Admin position in a Dem Admin or a column in WAPO

Maret- same as GDS but more money and more diplomat types, especially from MENA

In pecking order of desirability for Admission it is:

Sidwell
Maret
GDS

In that order

You are crazy if you think St. Albans and NCS aren’t desirable. Many will argue they are the top schools in DC, not Sidwell. GDS or Maret more desirable than the Cathedral schools? That is laughable.

All of these schools are clearly excellent. I think, however, that St. Albans attracts far more republican/conservative/traditional families. Nothing wrong with that, but our family did not even consider St. Albans because it would not have been a good fit for our family. I think all of the other listed schools have more similarities than differences.

Your loss. Those who know STA know it it mixed politically (and in fact has over time generally been considered a more Democrat school).

+1 Further, if you have a girl, the education at NCS is phenomenal. No one could ever call NCS even slightly conservative or Republican.

Agree wholeheartedly about NCS, and if we had daughters, we would certainly look at the school. We only have boys, and based on what we have seen and learned from friends whose sons go to St. Albans, we are absolutely certain it would not be a good fit for our family. Again, it is an excellent school but to try and take the position that it is comparable in culture/feel to the other schools listed is just disingenuous. I know this is hard to hear, but in my personal opinion, it is not a great place for boys of color.

You are correct. There are a ton of very conservative families at STA right now, including vocal Trump supporters. NCS is far more liberal. Our daughter is is at NCS; we are looking elsewhere for our son. STA is a good fit for many families but not a great fit for others.

We wanted an excellent school by any standard (national or international) motivated by our children’s ambitions and needs, but only looked at co-ed schools (there are several reasons many families a priori decide against or in favor of non-co-ed schooling) and knew we didn’t want to board. SFS was an obvious choice and the only school we applied to as the result.

No regrets at all. An excellent school and a welcoming community. Overall, we think all the schools need to dial sharply down on homework and up on creativity and unstructured, free time, but that’s not an SFS-specific issue. If anything, the issue is driven by a majority of parents who appear to be single-mindedly focused on a very narrow vision of success which is not necessarily borne out by the current science or long-term measures of success and happiness.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it seems to me that gds and sidwell are kind of similar in quality of education. what is the biggest difference between the two schools? For parents to chose sidewell, not gds, what is the main reason for you to choose sidwell?

Sidwell is Quaker. This is a cultural difference that is worth noting. We love the Quaker education there.

The difference is money and the profile of the parents the school seeks:

Sidwell has lost it's big draw ( POTUS kids) and with it it's cache and ability to say "no" to whomever they like, unless they can't say "no"

GDS never had that problem. So its basically GDS is your average Washington family: met at SAIS, work for the Bank. Sidwell you might have a Admin position in a Dem Admin or a column in WAPO

Maret- same as GDS but more money and more diplomat types, especially from MENA

In pecking order of desirability for Admission it is:

Sidwell
Maret
GDS

In that order

You are crazy if you think St. Albans and NCS aren’t desirable. Many will argue they are the top schools in DC, not Sidwell. GDS or Maret more desirable than the Cathedral schools? That is laughable.

All of these schools are clearly excellent. I think, however, that St. Albans attracts far more republican/conservative/traditional families. Nothing wrong with that, but our family did not even consider St. Albans because it would not have been a good fit for our family. I think all of the other listed schools have more similarities than differences.

Your loss. Those who know STA know it it mixed politically (and in fact has over time generally been considered a more Democrat school).

+1 Further, if you have a girl, the education at NCS is phenomenal. No one could ever call NCS even slightly conservative or Republican.

Agree wholeheartedly about NCS, and if we had daughters, we would certainly look at the school. We only have boys, and based on what we have seen and learned from friends whose sons go to St. Albans, we are absolutely certain it would not be a good fit for our family. Again, it is an excellent school but to try and take the position that it is comparable in culture/feel to the other schools listed is just disingenuous. I know this is hard to hear, but in my personal opinion, it is not a great place for boys of color.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it seems to me that gds and sidwell are kind of similar in quality of education. what is the biggest difference between the two schools? For parents to chose sidewell, not gds, what is the main reason for you to choose sidwell?

Sidwell is Quaker. This is a cultural difference that is worth noting. We love the Quaker education there.

The difference is money and the profile of the parents the school seeks:

Sidwell has lost it's big draw ( POTUS kids) and with it it's cache and ability to say "no" to whomever they like, unless they can't say "no"

GDS never had that problem. So its basically GDS is your average Washington family: met at SAIS, work for the Bank. Sidwell you might have a Admin position in a Dem Admin or a column in WAPO

Maret- same as GDS but more money and more diplomat types, especially from MENA

In pecking order of desirability for Admission it is:

Sidwell
Maret
GDS

In that order

You are crazy if you think St. Albans and NCS aren’t desirable. Many will argue they are the top schools in DC, not Sidwell. GDS or Maret more desirable than the Cathedral schools? That is laughable.

All of these schools are clearly excellent. I think, however, that St. Albans attracts far more republican/conservative/traditional families. Nothing wrong with that, but our family did not even consider St. Albans because it would not have been a good fit for our family. I think all of the other listed schools have more similarities than differences.

Your loss. Those who know STA know it it mixed politically (and in fact has over time generally been considered a more Democrat school).

+1 Further, if you have a girl, the education at NCS is phenomenal. No one could ever call NCS even slightly conservative or Republican.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it seems to me that gds and sidwell are kind of similar in quality of education. what is the biggest difference between the two schools? For parents to chose sidewell, not gds, what is the main reason for you to choose sidwell?

Sidwell is Quaker. This is a cultural difference that is worth noting. We love the Quaker education there.

The difference is money and the profile of the parents the school seeks:

Sidwell has lost it's big draw ( POTUS kids) and with it it's cache and ability to say "no" to whomever they like, unless they can't say "no"

GDS never had that problem. So its basically GDS is your average Washington family: met at SAIS, work for the Bank. Sidwell you might have a Admin position in a Dem Admin or a column in WAPO

Maret- same as GDS but more money and more diplomat types, especially from MENA

In pecking order of desirability for Admission it is:

Sidwell
Maret
GDS

In that order

You are crazy if you think St. Albans and NCS aren’t desirable. Many will argue they are the top schools in DC, not Sidwell. GDS or Maret more desirable than the Cathedral schools? That is laughable.

All of these schools are clearly excellent. I think, however, that St. Albans attracts far more republican/conservative/traditional families. Nothing wrong with that, but our family did not even consider St. Albans because it would not have been a good fit for our family. I think all of the other listed schools have more similarities than differences.

Your loss. Those who know STA know it it mixed politically (and in fact has over time generally been considered a more Democrat school).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it seems to me that gds and sidwell are kind of similar in quality of education. what is the biggest difference between the two schools? For parents to chose sidewell, not gds, what is the main reason for you to choose sidwell?

Sidwell is Quaker. This is a cultural difference that is worth noting. We love the Quaker education there.

The difference is money and the profile of the parents the school seeks:

Sidwell has lost it's big draw ( POTUS kids) and with it it's cache and ability to say "no" to whomever they like, unless they can't say "no"

GDS never had that problem. So its basically GDS is your average Washington family: met at SAIS, work for the Bank. Sidwell you might have a Admin position in a Dem Admin or a column in WAPO

Maret- same as GDS but more money and more diplomat types, especially from MENA

In pecking order of desirability for Admission it is:

Sidwell
Maret
GDS

In that order

You are crazy if you think St. Albans and NCS aren’t desirable. Many will argue they are the top schools in DC, not Sidwell. GDS or Maret more desirable than the Cathedral schools? That is laughable.

All of these schools are clearly excellent. I think, however, that St. Albans attracts far more republican/conservative/traditional families. Nothing wrong with that, but our family did not even consider St. Albans because it would not have been a good fit for our family. I think all of the other listed schools have more similarities than differences.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it seems to me that gds and sidwell are kind of similar in quality of education. what is the biggest difference between the two schools? For parents to chose sidewell, not gds, what is the main reason for you to choose sidwell?

Sidwell is Quaker. This is a cultural difference that is worth noting. We love the Quaker education there.

The difference is money and the profile of the parents the school seeks:

Sidwell has lost it's big draw ( POTUS kids) and with it it's cache and ability to say "no" to whomever they like, unless they can't say "no"

GDS never had that problem. So its basically GDS is your average Washington family: met at SAIS, work for the Bank. Sidwell you might have a Admin position in a Dem Admin or a column in WAPO

Maret- same as GDS but more money and more diplomat types, especially from MENA

In pecking order of desirability for Admission it is:

Sidwell
Maret
GDS

In that order

You are crazy if you think St. Albans and NCS aren’t desirable. Many will argue they are the top schools in DC, not Sidwell. GDS or Maret more desirable than the Cathedral schools? That is laughable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No comparison. We have friends all over the world. Everyone has heard of SFS, which has a Harvard-like reputation. No one — no exceptions — outside DC has ever heard of GDS

No one has heard of SFS outside of DC. Some people might have heard of them because of the Obama's kids and Clinton's.
SFS has no national academics reputation, not even in the DC area where the strongest ones academically, are the MoCo Magnets and TJ.

Untrue. Everyone’s heard of Sidwell and TJ and both are objectively ranked high. MoCo? Maybe a long time ago. At least it’s free. My choice would be a top public school but sadly MD is not CA

Sidwell and GDS cannot come close to the MoCo Magnets academically

LOL

I haven’t read the 7 pages so you may have the answers already. I believe both schools are very good. We choose GDS for my DC in high school because GDS was more flexible. For instance, in math they have different levels for Freshman, kids can do calculus in 9th grade if they have the level. It was not possible in Sidwell. For English and foreign languages they were also more flexible (eg a student could take two foreign languages instead of one). My DC was pretty strong academically so we based our decision on that. I have a few friends with students in Sidwell and they love the school also.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GDS is way better than Sidwell because it is closer to an ideal school, a school that produces righteous people who are really communists.

Awoman

I believe

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No comparison. We have friends all over the world. Everyone has heard of SFS, which has a Harvard-like reputation. No one — no exceptions — outside DC has ever heard of GDS

No one has heard of SFS outside of DC. Some people might have heard of them because of the Obama's kids and Clinton's.
SFS has no national academics reputation, not even in the DC area where the strongest ones academically, are the MoCo Magnets and TJ.

Untrue. Everyone’s heard of Sidwell and TJ and both are objectively ranked high. MoCo? Maybe a long time ago. At least it’s free. My choice would be a top public school but sadly MD is not CA

Sidwell and GDS cannot come close to the MoCo Magnets academically

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it seems to me that gds and sidwell are kind of similar in quality of education. what is the biggest difference between the two schools? For parents to chose sidewell, not gds, what is the main reason for you to choose sidwell?

Sidwell is Quaker. This is a cultural difference that is worth noting. We love the Quaker education there.

The difference is money and the profile of the parents the school seeks:

Sidwell has lost it's big draw ( POTUS kids) and with it it's cache and ability to say "no" to whomever they like, unless they can't say "no"

GDS never had that problem. So its basically GDS is your average Washington family: met at SAIS, work for the Bank. Sidwell you might have a Admin position in a Dem Admin or a column in WAPO

Maret- same as GDS but more money and more diplomat types, especially from MENA

In pecking order of desirability for Admission it is:

Sidwell
Maret
GDS

In that order

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No comparison. We have friends all over the world. Everyone has heard of SFS, which has a Harvard-like reputation. No one — no exceptions — outside DC has ever heard of GDS

No one has heard of SFS outside of DC. Some people might have heard of them because of the Obama's kids and Clinton's.
SFS has no national academics reputation, not even in the DC area where the strongest ones academically, are the MoCo Magnets and TJ.

Untrue. Everyone’s heard of Sidwell and TJ and both are objectively ranked high. MoCo? Maybe a long time ago. At least it’s free. My choice would be a top public school but sadly MD is not CA