Flint Hill vs. SSSAS for high school?

[Anonymous]

This will probably be our choice this year for DS, currently in public grade 8. He is very smart and does great academically, a bit quirky, and artistic. We live a bit closer to FH but could get to either school. Assuming he gets in at both, what are the pros and cons.

[Anonymous]

neither

[Anonymous]

I would go with the closer option since they are pretty comparable schools. We know kids at both and families seem pleased overall at both. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Don’t know much about SSSAS,
But no to Flint Hill!


I have seen the student body at a few football and basketball games. Kids were rude, yelling and swearing. No administration there to deal with it. Even had onetheir kids throw a bottle at an opposing payer during a basketball game. Got escorted out by security.

It doesn’t represent all of the kids there, but when we play against other schools like Landon, GDS, Maret, Bullis, we see nothing like the horrible Flint Hill behavior of their student bodies that show up at the games.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t know much about SSSAS,
But no to Flint Hill!


I have seen the student body at a few football and basketball games. Kids were rude, yelling and swearing. No administration there to deal with it. Even had onetheir kids throw a bottle at an opposing payer during a basketball game. Got escorted out by security.

It doesn’t represent all of the kids there, but when we play against other schools like Landon, GDS, Maret, Bullis, we see nothing like the horrible Flint Hill behavior of their student bodies that show up at the games.

FH parent of two here and that definitely is not representative of what I have observed over six years.

[Anonymous]

They’re both soooo second tier. Can’t imagine living in Fairfax County and paying for either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They’re both soooo second tier. Can’t imagine living in Fairfax County and paying for either.

a very informed take

[Anonymous]

Both are great. Current parent at one but we considered both.
DC thrives in smaller classes. Gets to know teachers, writes a lot, presents a lot, is part of a close knit community. Is able to be on sports teams and definitely wouldn’t at public. Is challenged without it being a pressure cooker, which is what posters here seem to equate with “top tier” private schools. So far, it has been exactly what we hoped for!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t know much about SSSAS,
But no to Flint Hill!


I have seen the student body at a few football and basketball games. Kids were rude, yelling and swearing. No administration there to deal with it. Even had onetheir kids throw a bottle at an opposing payer during a basketball game. Got escorted out by security.

It doesn’t represent all of the kids there, but when we play against other schools like Landon, GDS, Maret, Bullis, we see nothing like the horrible Flint Hill behavior of their student bodies that show up at the games.

FH parent of two here and that definitely is not representative of what I have observed over six years.

Another FH parent here, and I've always felt like FH kids are the nicest of all. Clearly I'm biased- I have two high school kids in sports at FH! But, I have to say that most kids at all these schools are well behaved. I've never been to a game where a group of students are behaving truly poorly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t know much about SSSAS,
But no to Flint Hill!


I have seen the student body at a few football and basketball games. Kids were rude, yelling and swearing. No administration there to deal with it. Even had onetheir kids throw a bottle at an opposing payer during a basketball game. Got escorted out by security.

It doesn’t represent all of the kids there, but when we play against other schools like Landon, GDS, Maret, Bullis, we see nothing like the horrible Flint Hill behavior of their student bodies that show up at the games.

I have two kids at Flint Hill and we go to a lot of basketball games. Never saw any bad sportsmanship by the FH players or any bad behavior by the fans.

Idk what pp is talking about. Maybe they are talking about the school in Flint, Michigan because FH in Oakton is phenomenal. Great academics and good kids who get along well with each other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t know much about SSSAS,
But no to Flint Hill!


I have seen the student body at a few football and basketball games. Kids were rude, yelling and swearing. No administration there to deal with it. Even had onetheir kids throw a bottle at an opposing payer during a basketball game. Got escorted out by security.

It doesn’t represent all of the kids there, but when we play against other schools like Landon, GDS, Maret, Bullis, we see nothing like the horrible Flint Hill behavior of their student bodies that show up at the games.

I have two kids at Flint Hill and we go to a lot of basketball games. Never saw any bad sportsmanship by the FH players or any bad behavior by the fans.

Idk what pp is talking about. Maybe they are talking about the school in Flint, Michigan because FH in Oakton is phenomenal. Great academics and good kids who get along well with each other.

You missed the game against Potomac where a FH student threw a full water bottle in the court during active play during the game. Security had to escort him out.

Fans and parents were cursing at Potomac players and many parents were sitting next to FH parents.

Oh, after the game FH refused to shake hands with the Potomac players. And then the team and students who came to the game stormed the court after FH won. Stomped on the Potomac logo and then ran over to the other side the bleachers and taunted the Potomac students who were just standing at the bleachers watching this behavior. None of them stepped on court. Security had to force the FH kids off the court. Potomac had administrators there while it seemed FH did not.

So yeah, you missed that nice display of sportsmanship by FH…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They’re both soooo second tier. Can’t imagine living in Fairfax County and paying for either.

Not really helpful. First not second tier -- who would be in first tier. There is no one else. And why can't you imagine living in Fairfax and going private? SSSAS is also not in Fairfax.

[Anonymous]

My three kids have been at FH for many years and love it. We love the dedication of the teachers and staff and how nice the families are. You wont regret your choice!

[Anonymous]

actually I can imagine living in fairfax and gladly pay for private at FH. The small class size and personal attention are worth every penny.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They’re both soooo second tier. Can’t imagine living in Fairfax County and paying for either.

Not really helpful. First not second tier -- who would be in first tier. There is no one else. And why can't you imagine living in Fairfax and going private? SSSAS is also not in Fairfax.

[Anonymous]

SSSAS has a stronger athletic program.

The learning specialists at Flint Hill have an outsized role in the academic life of the school; not true at SSSAS.

More entitled behavior at Flint Hill amongst students than at SSSAS.

SSSAS has a better lunch (before construction).

SSSAS has a stronger athletic program.

SSSAS has an upper school building project underway which should finish in the next year or so.

SSSAS wins unless Flint Hill is very, very close to where you live. Then I’d visit to see if it was a fit for DC.