inspiration08

i had a friend who applied for junior year and didnt get in. shes the one who told me about the legacy thing. who knows?

thats cool though. i <3 DC.

david wallace

Our daughter has been accepted at Sidwell Friends, Georgetown Day School, and potentially Thomas Jefferson. She likes Math and Science, but she also likes Spanish, art and music. Without considering cost or convenience issues, what advice would you give us in helping to choose one? Where are the best teachers and the best and friendliest students? We want her to love school!

LovelyVelocity

David Wallace,

Do you already live in the D.C. area or are you relocating there?

Also, what grade is your daughter entering?

MomtoanUndecided

My husband (who does college admissions) says TJ is the best school, arguably, in the nation. Just the very very top students get admitted there, so her peer group would be amazing.

scrocks3

I actually know a graduate from Thomas Jefferson and in my opinion, the school is really really small (they have like 80 in all) and only the best of the best go there

MomtoanUndecided

No, they are much larger than 80 students. Wikipedia says 1800 students. But they are incredibly bright kids and yes, the best of the best get in there, and usually go if accepted.

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

TJHSST News - Main

scrocks3

wow, that's really big for a prep school. I guess I was off by a lot

Jonathan1

It's a public prep. That's why it's so big.

xGods_Favoritex

I would cross of GDS immediately and choose between TJ and Sidwell. Both are a step above GDS from a purely academic standpoint. At this point your daughter needs to consider what her interests are--does she want to go up against the best and brightest in math/sci and get a passing education in the humanities? Or does she want to have a solid education in both categories. Then again, if her interests are Spanish and art as you said, TJ has great programs in both. But then so does Sidwell.

Environment should also be considered. TJ is huge, nerdy, homogenous, and a little cutthroat. Sidwell is extremely wealthy, filled with foreign diplomats. Take a look around both schools, go to the revisit days. See kids who are there right now. Would she rather spend four years with the kids at Sidwell? Or the kids at TJ?

nervedoctor

I work in Bethesda and have been in the DC area 20 years. The only 2 public schools that my colleagues use are TJ and Walt Whitman. As you probably remember Chelsea Clinton attended Sidwell which is known for strong humanities courses but best for liberal,
more laid back students, like most Friends Schools. This works well for some students but many need either even more structure or prefer a competitive math-science environment. Your child probably can guide you best of all.

nervedoctor

I work in Bethesda and have been in the DC area 20 years. The only 2 public schools that my colleagues use are TJ and Walt Whitman. As you probably remember Chelsea Clinton attended Sidwell which is known for strong humanities courses but best for liberal,
more laid back students, like most Friends Schools. This works well for some students but many need either even more structure or prefer a competitive math-science environment. For catholic boys Georgetown Prep is well -regarded. In this decision your
child can guide you best of all.

LovelyVelocity

My personal choice for my child would be Sidwell. But it is hardly laid back, at least not academically. I personally know students and families who are very happy with GDS, so I would keep it in the running. I would imagine your daughter has a preference. She can study the curriculum online and get a sense of the school's culture on her visit. I would let her choose and only override her only if you had solid "adult" reasons to do so. Good luck!

LovelyVelocity

P.S. Sidwell and GDS attract very liberal types, as you probably know. Democrats consistently best Republicans in mock elections!

scrocks3

Are these all day schools(Sidwell, Georgetown prep,TJ)?

LovelyVelocity

Yes. The school mentioned in recent posts is Georgetown Day. Georgetown Prep, mentioned in earlier posts, is also day. TJ is a public school for gifted and talented with stringent tested admissions.