Boooooooooooo. Sucks. Bad. Join SIDWELL FRIENDS SCHOOL. My child was harassed.
Submitted by teacher on May 25, 2021
If you want to work for money, then, welcome come to GDS. If you wish to work with passion, then, never consider here because your passion will fade soon when you begin to work with the leadership here. They treat POC badly and is a very whiteness and wealthy oriented place. But if you are white and got some money or background, you will be fine here.
Submitted by parent on November 25, 2018
I have two girls in GDS, both in lower school and both are thriving! The teachers are excellent and learning goes well beyond the classroom. My Kindergartner's teachers were fantastic! They developed special units that went beyond your standard math and reading. I was especially impressed with the religion unit that spanned several weeks and included field trips to a wide variety of houses of worship including a Franciscan Monastery, the Washington Hebrew Congregation, the Nation's Mosque, a Hindu Temple, the Baha'i Center, a Buddhist Monastery, and more! My older daughter has had a great experience as well. I've been very impressed with their engineering and design exposure in 4th and 5th grades. I've even had the chance to visit with the school's technology specialist who showed me how their 3D printers work. In addition to math, science, and humanities, GDS has both a fantastic language program (Chinese, French, and Spanish is offered with mandatory language beginning in 3rd grade), and an outstanding music and visual arts program. Even the PE program is impressive, with a PE staff of 8 and a wide exposure to sports and play activities. Both girls love their teachers and have developed strong friendships in the year and a half that they have been at the school. We are all looking forward to the years ahead!
Submitted by parent on October 11, 2017
I am a current parent to two GDS students and I couldn't be happier with the school. My kids are very different from each other and GDS is the perfect fit for both of them. GDS gives a well-rounded education and fosters a genuine love of learning. My daughters love going to school and thrive in the GDS learning environment. The school engages students in academia while allowing them to maintain their curiosity to learn and create in their own unique ways. An important part of a GDS education is its strong commitment to individuality, education, and moral responsibility. Even at a young age at GDS, my daughters have become great communicators with strong moral centers. Sending my kids to GDS is one of the best decisions my family has made.
Submitted by parent on October 05, 2014
Be sure that you realize everything the school teaches children before sending your child there. My child was thrown an iPad in his lap daily to learn math and English. They watched numerous videos and TV shows during the regular school day. The School is extremely progressive. They do not introduce a foreign language until third or fourth grade. And they take field trips without notifying parents before hand. Five out of 20 children from my child's class last year did not return to the school this year. Do your homework.
Submitted by other on December 13, 2010
I attended GDS from K-12th grade and I can attest that it is a remarkable place. The faculty is phenomenal. When I reached college (an elite school) I was actually disappointed in the quality of my professors, as GDS had set the bar so high... The school fosters independence, creativity, and freedom of expression, within a supportive and nurturing environment. It was the first integrated school in Washington, DC, and this legacy underpins the school's philosophy and mission to this day.