How difficult is it to get into private school in 9th grade?
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
| Our kids are in public school now, but we're looking to private for 9th grade. Will it be impossible? |
Anonymous
| It is certainly possible and many people do it. What schools interest you? How have your kids done in school? |
Anonymous
| Yes but remember you will be competing against applicants from private schools that end at Grade 8, like Lowell, Sheridan, etc., and those from other privates who are applying out, students from Maret applying to Sidwell and vice versa. And students from publics of course. The competition is fierce. Definitely do SSAT prep. It's a bear of a test. Don't get attached to one outcome, either! And be prepared to be shut out. If you child lands on a waitlist, don't expect to move off of it. It almost never happens. Some schools keep very long waitlists. |
Anonymous
| I believe the prior post is overly pessamistic. Depends on the kid and on what kind of schools you are targeting. The very academically-strong schools that are not stand alone high schools (Sidwell, GDS, NCS, St Albans, Maret, Holton) have relatively small numbers of spots, but even within that group very possible if your kid tests extremely well, has great grades, and has stellar extracurricular talents or interests (or not, the academic can be enough). But within that group the numbers vary (GDS takes in many for high school almost 50 while Sidwell takes more in at lower grades so only 25 or so for high school, Maret takes quite few, etc). So being completely focused on that group without excellent scores and grades makes it hard to count on them. On the other hand there are lots of other excellent options depending on your kid and why you want to move. Visitation , St John's and other Catholic high schools don't start until 9th in many cases, so they have lots of spots (although the feeder Catholic K-8 do make up the majority of their students). Schools such as Bullis, SSSA, St Andrew's can be great fpr many kids and are more reasonable to get into with more average grades and scores. |
Anonymous
Actually, Maret takes the least kids in 9th, think it's 8 or so most years. You don't necessarily need great grades, excellent test scores, and extraordinary talents to get into any of these schools. These things help, but sometimes a school just likes a kid. Neither of my kids had great grades, and both got into these schools. |
Anonymous
| When I last looked at yield (2 to 3 years ago) to St. Albans for 9th Grade 35% of applicants were accepted -- not bad if this helps. Sidwell at 9th Grade was around 20%. Given the economy I would wager a range from 20 to 70 percent of applicants to 9th Grade at area D.C. private schools gain acceptance. Most (including St Albans) around 30 to 40% acceptance rate for 9th Grade. |
Anonymous
|
The public school magnets (middle and high school) are much more selective in the D.C. area private schools Interesting Stats from Boarding School Review -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The following data has nothing to do with ranking. I know many people including myself don't like to rank BS. But it may be interesting to take a peek. Source: Boaring School Review (Sort Boarding Schools by Key Criteria) You can sort different data by clicking different criteria. 1)Boarding School Avg. SAT score ========================= 1. Thomas Jefferson 2150 2. Phillips Exeter 2085 3. Groton School 2080 4. Phillips Academy 2076 5. St. Paul's School 2075 6. Middlesex School 2070 7. Milton Academy 2065 8. Concord Academy 2040 9. Deerfield Academy 2020 10. The Hockaday School 2020 11. The Hotchkiss School 2013 12. Peddie School 2000 13. St. Andrew's School, 1999 14. Lawrenceville School 1998 15. Choate Rosemary Hall 1981 16. St. Mark's School 1970 17. Cate School 1970 18. The Thacher School 1970 19. Indian Springs 1965 20. Georgetown Preparatory 1950 21. The Loomis Chaffee 1945 22. The Taft School 1925 23. St. Stephen's Episcopal 1924 24. Episcopal High 1922 25. The Webb Schools 1920 26. Saint James School 1910 27. Oregon Episcopal 1910 28. Miss Porter's School 1908 29. St. George's School 1900 30. The Athenian School 1900 31. The Webb School 1894 32. Emma Willard School 1892 33. Cranbrook Schools 1891 34. The Masters School 1890 35. Santa Catalina 1886 36. Lustre Christian High 1885 37. Salem Academy 1880 38. Stevenson School 1880 39. Linden Hall 1860 40. Asheville School 1860 41. Dana Hall School 1854 42. Tabor Academy 1850 43. Westover School 1850 44. Miss Hall's School 1850 45. St. Anne's-Belfield 1848 46. Woodberry Forest 1847 47. The Stony Brook 1841 48. Hill School 1840 49. Saint Andrew's 1839 50. Mercersburg Academy 1830 2) Boarding School Avg. SSAT score ========================= X. Florida Air Academy 1550% ( I think this is an error!) 1. Phillips Academy 93% 2. Milton Academy 90% 3. Groton School 90% 4. Georgetown Preparatory 90% 5. Deerfield Academy 88% 6. Middlesex School 87% 7. St. Andrew's School, 83% 8. The Hotchkiss School 83% 9. The Thacher School 83% 10. St. Mark's School 82% 11. The Taft School 82% 12. Lawrenceville School 81% 13. St. George's School 81% 14. Cate School 80% 15. Colorado Rocky Mountain 80% 16. Concord Academy 80% 17. St. Albans School 80% 18. Episcopal High 80% 19. The Loomis Chaffee 79% 20. Linden Hall 78% 21. Hill School 77% 22. The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer 75% 23. Lake Forest Academy 74% 24. Kent School 73% 25. Indian Springs 70% 26. Peddie School 70% 27. Miss Porter's School 70% 28. Blair Academy 70% 29. CFS, The School at Church 70% 30. Westminster School 70% 31. Northfield Mount Hermon 67% 32. Stevenson School 67% 33. Westtown School 67% 34. Cranbrook Schools 66% 35. Woodberry Forest 66% 36. Holderness School 65% 37. Portsmouth Abbey 65% 38. Brooks School 65% 39. Lawrence Academy 65% 40. Emma Willard School 65% 41. Tabor Academy 65% 42. Canterbury School 64% 43. Pomfret School 62% 44. Dana Hall School 62% 45. Westover School 61% 46. Midland School 61% 47. The Ethel Walker 60% 48. Avon Old Farms 60% 49. Foxcroft School 60% 3) Acceptance Rate (In the reverse order -- higher acceptance rate first.) The lower, the tougher to get in! ================================================== ====== 1. Academy of the Holy 99% 2. Oakland School 95% 3. The King's Academy 95% 4. Hargrave Military 92% 5. Colorado Timberline 90% 6. Fenster School 90% 7. The Gow School 90% 8. Grand River Academy 90% 9. Randolph-Macon 86% 10. Leysin American School in Switzerland 85% 11. High Mowing School 85% 12. San Marcos Baptist 85% 13. Valley Forge Military 85% 14. Olney Friends School 85% 15. Oak Hill Academy 85% 16. Admiral Farragut 83% 17. Purnell School 83% 18. St. Johnsbury 83% 19. Fryeburg Academy 83% 20. Montverde Academy 82% 21. Foxcroft School 82% 22. Camden Military 80% 23. The Meeting School 80% 24. The Brook Hill 80% 25. Buffalo Seminary 80% 26. Squaw Valley Academy 80% 27. Florida Air Academy 80% 28. Andrews Osborne 80% 29. Riverside Military 80% 30. Howe Military School & Summer 80% 31. The Marvelwood 80% 32. Wasatch Academy 79% 33. Gould Academy 77% 34. Scattergood Friends 75% 35. Family First Academy 75% 36. Sedbergh School 75% 37. Ridley College 75% 38. Oldfields School 75% 39. Wayland Academy 75% 40. The Outdoor Academy 75% 41. Colorado Rocky Mountain 75% 42. Linden Hill School 75% 43. St. Thomas More 75% 44. Cardigan Mountain 74% 45. Army and Navy 73% 46. Saint John's Preparatory 73% 47. Fountain Valley School of 73% 48. St. Margaret's 72% 49. Miller School 72% 50. Cotter Schools 72% 51. The Kiski School 71% 52. Grier School 70% 53. Stuart Hall School 70% 54. Darlington School 70% 55. Monte Vista Christian 70% 56. The Forman School 70% 57. Oliverian School 70% 58. Lustre Christian High 70% 59. St. Catherine's Military 70% 60. Hillside School 70% 61. Lowell Whiteman 70% 62. The Greenwood School 70% 63. The Storm King 70% 64. Rabun Gap-Nacoochee 69% 65. North Country School 68% 66. Dublin School 68% 67. New York Military 68% 68. Hebron Academy 68% 69. Christ School 67% 70. Houghton Academy 67% 71. The Madeira School 66% 72. Woodberry Forest 66% 73. Idyllwild Arts 66% 74. Chatham Hall 65% 75. Midland School 65% 76. Blue Ridge School 65% 77. Dunn School 65% 78. Interlochen Arts 65% 79. Kimball Union 65% 80. Darrow School 65% 81. La Lumiere School 65% 82. Shattuck-St. Mary's 65% 83. Hyde-Bath 65% 84. Virginia Episcopal 65% 85. Subiaco Academy 65% 86. Woodside Priory School (The 65% 87. Ojai Valley School 64% 88. Wentworth Military Academy & 63% 89. Hyde-Woodstock 63% 90. Foxcroft Academy 62% 91. Stoneleigh-Burnham 60% 92. Rosseau Lake College 60% 93. The Winchendon 60% 94. Missouri Military 60% 95. Trinity Pawling 60% 96. Besant Hill School (Formerly Happy Valley 60% 97. Thomas Jefferson 60% 98. The Ethel Walker 60% 99. Southwestern Academy 60% 100. Villanova Preparatory 60% 101. Cushing Academy 60% 102. New Mexico Military 60% 103. Shawnigan Lake 60% 104. St. John's Northwestern Military 60% 105. Christchurch School 60% 106. St. Timothy's School 59% 107. Westtown School 59% 108. Western Reserve 58% 109. The MacDuffie School 57% 110. The Cambridge School of 57% 111. Flintridge Sacred Heart 57% 112. Cheshire Academy 56% 113. Portsmouth Abbey 55% 114. Garrison Forest 55% 115. The Knox School 55% 116. Fork Union Military 55% 117. Northwood School 55% 118. Wilbraham & Monson 55% 119. Westover School 55% 120. Oregon Episcopal 55% 121. The Webb School 55% 122. Perkiomen School 54% 123. Verde Valley School 54% 124. George School 53% 125. Lake Forest Academy 53% 126. Salem Academy 53% 127. Tilton School 52% 128. Pomfret School 52% 129. West Nottingham 52% 130. Brentwood College 50% 131. Fay School 50% 132. Vermont Academy 50% 133. Emma Willard School 50% 134. St. Anne's-Belfield 50% 135. Millbrook School 50% 136. The Gunnery 50% 137. Annie Wright School 50% 138. Hoosac School 50% 139. Tallulah Falls 50% 140. The Orme School of 50% 141. Bement School 50% 142. Lawrence Academy 50% 143. Holderness School 50% 144. Culver Academies 49% 145. Proctor Academy 48% 146. Avon Old Farms 48% 147. Northfield Mount Hermon 46% 148. South Kent School 46% 149. Miss Porter's School 46% 150. The White Mountain 45% 151. Asheville School 45% 152. Brewster Academy 45% 153. The Masters School 45% 154. Saint James School 44% 155. Kent School 44% 156. St. Stephen's Episcopal 44% 157. Miss Hall's School 43% 158. The Athenian School 43% 159. The Williston Northampton 43% 160. St. Andrew's School - 42% 161. Indian Springs 42% 162. Hawaii Preparatory 42% 163. The Webb Schools 42% 164. Cranbrook Schools 42% 165. Stevenson School 42% 166. The Stony Brook 41% 167. New Hampton School 40% 168. Brooks School 40% 169. Episcopal High 40% 170. St. Albans School 40% 171. Salisbury School 39% 172. The Pennington 39% 173. Dana Hall School 38% 174. Hill School 38% 175. Mercersburg Academy 37% 176. Berkshire School 36% 177. The Bolles School 35% 178. Canterbury School 35% 179. Concord Academy 34% 180. The Bishop Strachan 33% 181. The Loomis Chaffee 33% 182. Suffield Academy 32% 183. St. Andrew's School, 30% 184. The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer 29% 185. CFS, The School at Church 29% 186 St. Mark's School 29% 187. St. George's School 28% 188. Milton Academy 28% 189. Cate School 27% 190. Middlesex School 25% 191. The Taft School 24% 192. Peddie School 24% 193. Choate Rosemary Hall 24% 194. Westminster School 23% 195. Georgetown Preparatory 23% 196. Lawrenceville School 22% 197. St. Paul's School 22% 198. Phillips Exeter 21% 199. The Hotchkiss School 20% 200. The Hockaday School 20% 201. The Thacher School 20% 202. Groton School 19% 203. Phillips Academy 17% 204. Deerfield Academy 16% |
Anonymous
Judging from the most recent NAEP data, it looks like Maret adds approximately 23 students in 9th grade. http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/privateschoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&SchoolName=maret&NumOfStudentsRange=more&IncGrade=-1&LoGrade=-1&HiGrade=-1&ID=00253448 |
Anonymous
I see from the accompanying list I was too selective (re: admission rates) for the area D.C. private schools (save for Sidwell). I suspect Maret is around a 30% acceptance rate. Bottom line, it's certainly not insurmountable (by a long shot) and in this economy, if you complete the application process, your chances are excellent to get into a "name" area private D.C. school for the 9th Grade. Good luck! |
Anonymous
| I would not place too much weight on the pp's list, which has been posted before. I think the St Albans numbers are for boarders, not the overall class. Probably true for Gtown Prep as well. Which probably explains the high SSATs for G'town Prep - it could be influenced by the Korean boarders. Based on when we applied to St Albans a few years ago the admission rate was probably closer to 20% and there were siblings who were waitlisted. |
Anonymous
|
Sidwell about 20% (both boys and girls)
St Albans 20% (only boys) ... very unlikely in my opinion (half the captive population) |
Anonymous
| Data from Boarding School Review, and from its sister site Private School Review, is riddled with inaccuracies, in my experience. |
Anonymous
|
Admission to these schools is certainly no cake walk given imponderables: your looks, family, money, pedigree, athletic talent, and sibship; however, all things being equal -- not bad odds at all compared to the selective undergraduate college ranks.
Go for it. |
Anonymous
Please provide your more accurate alternative. If not, I guess we'll stick with the best information to date. |
Anonymous
A few errors here and there, notwithstanding, the lists are generally accurate from the 30,000 foot view. No use haggling over 2 or 3 percentage points. We're not in some foreign marketplace. |