Malia And Sasha's DC School: Where Will They Go?

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			Georgetown Day School -3.4 miles from the White House, about a 9 minute drive -GDS would cost $27,945 for Sasha and $29,050 for Malia. A likely choice, Georgetown Day School "honors the integrity and worth of each individual within a diverse school community. GDS is dedicated to providing a supportive educational atmosphere in which teachers challenge the intellectual, creative, and physical abilities of our students and foster strength of character and concern for others,” the school’s website states in its mission statement. GDS enrolls approx. 1000 students per year, with about 120 in a graduating class. GDS is known for its historical success in high school policy debate and quizbowl as well as its history of diversity.

Comments

[Eugenian]

Just some comments about others' comments:
1) I do not believe there are any children or parents who don't want to be educated.
2) Private schools are not necessarily better than public schools. It depends on the philosophy and commitment of the school.
3) Unfortunately for the Obama family, security has to be the most important consideration.
4) I trust the Obama family to make the very best decision. They are brilliant and will do the right thing.
5) I hope some effort and money will be dedicated during this administration to public schools so they can realize their amazing potential and in turn help all Americans realize theirs. Education is the key to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as well as truth, justice and the American way!

[Culturemaven]

The private vs. public debate really depends on which public schools and which private schools you are talking about. In Houston, I sent my kids to a Christian private school, which turned out, despite its Blue Ribbon status, to be completely inadequate. When we moved back to the West Coast, I picked the school district, picked the school, then found a house. The education here amazes me, and I attended excellent schools myself.
Whatever the Obamas choose, nobody should second-guess them. And you just know that the right-wing neanderthals will jump all over them if they choose private schools. As if their own kids attend public schools!

[DCvote]

They should go to Washington International School. It would send a message to the world that Obama wants his daughters to be world citizens.

[x1soundgarden1x]

preceded (whoops).

[x1soundgarden1x]

Anyone else catch the grammatical failure on Maret's website blurb (#2)? "a myriad of extracurricular activities..." For $26,000 a year I would hope a school administration would be competent enough to know that "myriad" is not preceeded with the article "a." Sheesh.

[andyinaz]

Merriam-Webster notes, "Recent criticism of the use of myriad as a noun, both in the plural form myriads and in the phrase a myriad of, seems to reflect a mistaken belief that the word was originally and is still properly only an adjective.... however, the noun is in fact the older form, dating to the 16th century. The noun myriad has appeared in the works of such writers as Milton (plural myriads) and Thoreau (a myriad of), and it continues to occur frequently in reputable English. There is no reason to avoid it."

[Madampotential]

Sidwell would be my choice. They focus on community service and diversity in the classrooms.

[peacocktaco]

Security Post 9/11 trumps everything else. The rest of the discussion -public vs private, "good enough". etc is very important but not pertinent in this case.

[redsongia]

And privacy. The attention on these girls, because they are cute and the first African American white house kids is too intense. They need to be screened from the media every chance they get, including all this picking up, dropping off at school business.

It's fine for Angelina Jolie, but there are greater security concerns here.

[dcbornandraised]

Again, as a graduate of DC public schools who has gone on to attend and thrive at the top universities in the country, I am disappointed by many of these comments. You all should spend some time in the schools before criticizing. Really, I doubt any of you have ever set foot in the DCPS. Early elementary education is much dependent upon parents irregardless of the public/private nature of the school. Moreover, sending children to such an elite environment for their entire education stunts their moral and social growth, which is equally important to long term success.

[Marikins]

Um, "irregardless" isn't a word.

[Synoia]

Yet. Unlike French, english is a living, flexible language. Sorry I got that wrong, we don't speak english. American is a living, flexible language.

For example: Burglarized. Which is an interesting piece of american grammer. (Burgled, past participle of Burgle).

Flammable/Inflammable. Flammable indeed!

[kissmygrits]

Actually, it is. It's the same as, and interchangeable with, regardless. http://www.onelook.com/?w=irregardless&ls=a

[Paprikapink]

I think the assessment that "sending children to such an elite environment for their entire education stunts their moral and social growth" is as baseless as any blanket disparagement of any school public or private.

For the Obama children, security trumps all. Let's face it, it's not just their security -- important as that is -- it's national security.

[kissmygrits]

Agreed. If they were kidnapped and used as a bargaining chip... horror show...

[Egalitare]

Most people are unaware that there are some not just good but great buildings in the DC school system. However, security is the prime consideration here -- not just for Malia and Sasha, but also the other students, staff, and parents of the school chosen. It's the primary reason that the Clintons decided on Sidwell Friends for Chelsea.

[HomerJSimpson]

They'll be pretty lonely if they go to Stevens Elementary School. That's cause it closed in June, after 140 years.

Francis Junior High, as you call it, is now Francis-Stevens, and it handles preK-8.

The school underwent a multi-million dollar rehab over the summer, has an excellent faculty and a spectacular young principal.

There are also pre-school and after-school programs, which are just the ticket for busy parents like the first couple.

If I had to guess, it would be National Cathedral or maybe Sidwell. But they could do worse than Francis-Stevens, which is only about a five minute ride from home.

Even so, the decision is solely what's best for the kids. They're not political props. Period.

[Coromandel2]

What is the big deal? There are safety issues to consider. A private school that has dealt for years with the offspring of well-known or prominent parents (ambassadors, heads of state, et cetera) is a much more sensible route to take for the child of a president. A public school, even the best one, would not have that kind of infrastructure or experience and the outside pressures and additional safety factors to consider would be onerous, financially and otherwise. So what's the issue here, folks? Jealousy?

[dreddedscotsman]

They should go to that pretty National Cathedral French Château School. The others ones look kinda rinkydink. I'm just saying, if I were the first daughter, you had better expect to be sending ME to a school with Beaux Artes windowframes.

[alialibobali]

Actually, as a student at Georgetown Day School, I would like to let you know that my school is not "rinkydink."
Also, I have been on the campus of all of these schools several times and i would not describe any of these as "rinkydink"
oh and it's going around DC that they are mostly considering Maret, with GDS after that

[SpectCon]

Yeah, the exclusive private school is going to give you the better education. They choose their kids, and the parents very much want them to attend. Contrast this with a public school that has to educate everyone, whether they like it or not, whether they can hack it or not.

Plus, if you sent the president's kids to a public school it would make them total freaks. The exclusive DC schools have dealt with Secret Service before..and many of the kids have politician parents, so they can kind of sympathize.

None of this is to trash public schools, far from it. Public schools have a MUCH more difficult job to perform...trying to educate people who don't want to be educated and not letting those kids distract and take away from the kids that do. It's basically an impossible task. The fundamental problem with public education is that you cannot truly fail.

[RadicalConservative]

Maybe it's not such a good idea to broadcast the name and location of the school the girls will be attending. There are enough crazies that will be trying to get Obama, we don't want to give them any advantage if they want to get at the girls.

[Solja]

I lived in DC during the Clinton Administration and Chelsea's school was right up the street from my job and I never noticed anything different because she was there. It would not be that way in a public school. In fact, there is already a need for security in DCPS so whereever they went would need a whole new system of security for these and the other kids.

This all feels different to people because of Obama being the first black President, but it's not anything new for Presidents with children. They will be going to a private school.

I suspect they will attend either Georgetown Day School or National Cathedral School. There is no way on earth their kids will be attending DC public schools. Parents in DC have been screaming for the schools to be fixed so these highly educated ivy league graduates will not be sending their kids to a school that is possibly the worst in the country. I went to these schools, and I went to the best public school in Mont. Cnty, MD, and there is a HUGE difference in what a kid takes away from them. Any parent wants their kids to have the best education they can give them. Most parents would send their kids to the best schools if they could afford it. The Obama's are no different.

I don't think they pay for their schooling. I think we do.

[Omidal]

No public schools for those girls. Period.

Do not let critics make an issue about this.

As long as the Obamas can afford the best schools in DC that is what they should choose.

All the diplomat kids will be very happy to be friends with Malia and Sasha.

[LovelyVelocity]

The people who are trashing DC schools should inform themselves! There are some decent schools in the system. Unfortunately, the school system is a bit Apartheid-like. The good schools are in the good neighborhoods. Wilson High School has a great track record placing students out of its academy programs into top colleges. My son went to a DCPS school for eight years and got a great education!

[Tonilaw]

Wilson is the best public school in DC

And its also mixed and not just African Americans

No Ballou, Anacostia, or any of those schools