Lovett vs Woodward (Atlanta, Buckhead: private school, college, where to live)

[nkiy]

Hello,

We have gotten into Lovett, Galloway, and Woodward. We are wait listed at Pace and Paideia.
We are mostly debating between Woodward and Lovett. Do you have any advice on which school to choose?
Thank you very much.

[CMMom]

Where do you live? That would certainly be a big factor in my decision.

[bu2]

Woodward has a broad range of programs. Great arts programs. Academically it has 4 levels-College Prep, Enhanced College Prep, Honors and AP. Its a very diverse school in many ways with kids from 23 counties. And although you have some very wealthy families, we felt like it was more down to earth than the Buckhead schools. So we didn't apply to Lovett or the others.

You have to evaluate what is important to you and what fits your child best.

[ahut2000]

I attended Woodward and I think it was a great experience overall. I can't comment on the other choices but I was accepted to Pace and Lovett (waitlisted at Westminster). I graduated back in 2004 though so take it all with a grain of salt.

[ctinatl]

My experience is that Woodward has all of the bells and whistles that the other schools have and because of its size, it can offer even more at times. If your child can find his/her place within a bigger school, I think it will be fantastic. Lovett was not on our list so I can't speak to that experience. Congratulations on the acceptances.

[nkiy]

Originally Posted by CMMom

Where do you live? That would certainly be a big factor in my decision.

We are moving to Atlanta area and will work at Georgia Tech so we can somewhat flexibly decide where to live. I like Buckhead area as well as the midtown and even old forth ward (I got a tour with a realtor).

I like that both schools have uniforms so it is not obvious who is wealthy and so on. I liked the diversity aspect at Woodward but I honestly cannot imagine a kid raised by International parents like us would be elitist regardless of the school he attends.

I felt the lunch buffet at Lovett was healthier than the Woodward's offering. I loved the staff at both schools, so warm and helpful.

I am a bit worried that Woodward has a lot more emphasis on athletics and sends more kids to ok vs Ivy schools and then there is the issue of long commute. But I could be wrong.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by nkiy

We are moving to Atlanta area and will work at Georgia Tech so we can somewhat flexibly decide where to live. I like Buckhead area as well as the midtown and even old forth ward (I got a tour with a realtor).

I like that both schools have uniforms so it is not obvious who is wealthy and so on. I liked the diversity aspect at Woodward but I honestly cannot imagine a kid raised by International parents like us would be elitist regardless of the school he attends.

I felt the lunch buffet at Lovett was healthier than the Woodward's offering. I loved the staff at both schools, so warm and helpful.

I am a bit worried that Woodward has a lot more emphasis on athletics and sends more kids to ok vs Ivy schools and then there is the issue of long commute. But I could be wrong.

It isn't that you are elitists. It would be the culture and friends.

Woodward has all kinds of food. So if you don't want your kid to have a choice of peanut butter sandwiches, then that's a problem. But they can also make healthy choices.

You don't have to be in athletics. Woodward, is however, serious about everything. If you ARE in athletics or art or performing arts, its a serious commitment.

As for the commute, lots of kids ride MARTA. That should be easy from the areas you are considering. There are buses which many elementary kids and some middle and high school kids ride, but those are expensive.

Woodward does send a lot of kids to "ok" schools. Don't know about Lovett. I think that has to do with the diversity of academic talent at Woodward. All the students are good, but they aren't all great.

[BMATL]

What grade your kids got acceptance for?

[CMMom]

Originally Posted by nkiy

We are moving to Atlanta area and will work at Georgia Tech so we can somewhat flexibly decide where to live. I like Buckhead area as well as the midtown and even old forth ward (I got a tour with a realtor).

I like that both schools have uniforms so it is not obvious who is wealthy and so on. I liked the diversity aspect at Woodward but I honestly cannot imagine a kid raised by International parents like us would be elitist regardless of the school he attends.

I felt the lunch buffet at Lovett was healthier than the Woodward's offering. I loved the staff at both schools, so warm and helpful.

I am a bit worried that Woodward has a lot more emphasis on athletics and sends more kids to ok vs Ivy schools and then there is the issue of long commute. But I could be wrong.

Please don't underestimate the commute factor. Take it from someone who's been doing a 15 mile one-way commute to a private school for 10 years. There is a bus, but it is pricey. That commute will be a killer unless you live within a reasonable distance, you send him/her on the bus, or you send him/her on Marta (a popular choice for Woodward students). As far as quality of the schools, you can't go wrong with either.

[ctinatl]

If the price of the bus isn’t a problem, lots of kids take the buses and love it. I applaud Woodward for making itself so accessible in that regard.