St Anselm’s Abbey School — an AP mill?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess some SAAS parents are insufferable, thin-skinned, and unable to debate a topic without getting defensive and lashing out for no good reason.

No school is perfect, nobody was putting down the school, yet only voicing concern about the high emphasis on AP’s in light of all the criticism and concern over AP focused teaching in recent years. SAAS is no more special than any other top school in the areas, so stop being so petty when others bring up topics of concern.

About this you are wrong-the school is very special and unique-no other place like it in the DMV. The student and parent community is amazing. For those who don’t know, just keep hating and we will keep this gem of a school to ourselves. The colleges know plenty about SAAS.

You can keep saying this, but you don’t give any proof of it being any better or more special than any other school. Not the academics, matriculation, etc. it’s not hating because others don’t subscribe to the same cult of personality that you do.

[Anonymous]

PP seems to think s/he is owed some explanation or justification about SAAA. Wrong. The school may be special but PP definitely is not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess some SAAS parents are insufferable, thin-skinned, and unable to debate a topic without getting defensive and lashing out for no good reason.

No school is perfect, nobody was putting down the school, yet only voicing concern about the high emphasis on AP’s in light of all the criticism and concern over AP focused teaching in recent years. SAAS is no more special than any other top school in the areas, so stop being so petty when others bring up topics of concern.

About this you are wrong-the school is very special and unique-no other place like it in the DMV. The student and parent community is amazing. For those who don’t know, just keep hating and we will keep this gem of a school to ourselves. The colleges know plenty about SAAS.

You can keep saying this, but you don’t give any proof of it being any better or more special than any other school. Not the academics, matriculation, etc. it’s not hating because others don’t subscribe to the same cult of personality that you do.

+ 100%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP seems to think s/he is owed some explanation or justification about SAAA. Wrong. The school may be special but PP definitely is not.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP seems to think s/he is owed some explanation or justification about SAAA. Wrong. The school may be special but PP definitely is not.

It’s a DC area private school forum we are posting on, where people discuss schools and ask detailed questions, so their is nothing wrong with expecting actual concrete evidence in this thread as well.

[Anonymous]

Except those are not metrics anyone has. You are just babbling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it because most of the faculty is old?

no, they are just very intellectual (well, okay, there are 2-3 out of like 50 faculty that should have retired long ago, but most are just people that love to think, and love to debate and have an open flow of ideas.) Also, there is the harry-potter-like British-style house system, used for games. That is pretty unusual (although the boys seem to love it and find it fun)

Aren't the teachers at many of the other top private’s also big intellectuals? Those I know of are. I am not trying to say that SAAS isn’t quirky nor great as I assume it is, but this explanation as to what makes it quirky doesn’t make sense. At least in my book.

okay, maybe it is just the house system, and also the dress code that is simultaneously very strict and very lax. And they are certainly more intellectual than my top public school teachers were. maybe other private school teachers are just as intellectual.

The dress code is fascinating. The boys wear ties and blazer, but there are no (as far as I could ever tell) restrictions on hair length or style or facial hair. It seemed to me that the message is that school is to be taken seriously, but feel free to come as you are. I always thought that was such an empowering, unspoken message.

Also any color is allowed, including loud plaid, except for the socks. The socks must be black. The headmaster said that he can often tell when a kid is starting to feel depressed when they start violating the very few rules there are. That it can be a hint that a kid needs some extra help.

You completely made that up. Socks do not have to be black.

[Anonymous]

"Dress socks or argyles."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Except those are not metrics anyone has. You are just babbling.

What specifically are not metrics anyone has?

[Anonymous]

“More special” per the prior post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Except those are not metrics anyone has. You are just babbling.

What specifically are not metrics anyone has?

I think they are metrics that parent's who go to private schools other than Saint Anselm's has. However, SAAS is a faith community. The primary concern of the vast majority of SAAS parent's top concern is that their sons grow up to be good caring decent human beings. From the list of metrics PP gave, they just are not the kind of person who will ever consider SAAS special, more's the pity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Except those are not metrics anyone has. You are just babbling.

What specifically are not metrics anyone has?

I think they are metrics that parent's who go to private schools other than Saint Anselm's has. However, SAAS is a faith community. The primary concern of the vast majority of SAAS parent's top concern is that their sons grow up to be good caring decent human beings. From the list of metrics PP gave, they just are not the kind of person who will ever consider SAAS special, more's the pity.

I agree with the above. If people are looking for metrics, specific data and outcomes to determine the benefits an education at SAAS will give their son, they might not find those on paper. Remarks that the matriculation data is not that impressive, or the grounds are not top-notch, or any number of things that people like to compare do not account for the non-quantifiable experience that the boys have there. The school is committed to providing a classical education to the boys, in the setting of a challenging, yet tremendously supportive and kind environment.

As a parent, I cannot be more grateful that my son spent his high school years there. They were transformative. That sounds a little hokey and melodramatic, but it is true. If you are at all interested, please check it out. And by check it out, I mean visit and see what the school has to offer. It will be much more informative than data points on a piece of paper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Different question: is there something similar to st anselm’s for girls? I think it would be a good fit for my son but I don’t like the idea of sending my boy to a private and sending the girls public.[/q
Brook wood in Bethesda is a small Catholic all girls school with a few similarities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Different question: is there something similar to st anselm’s for girls? I think it would be a good fit for my son but I don’t like the idea of sending my boy to a private and sending the girls public.[/q
Brook wood in Bethesda is a small Catholic all girls school with a few similarities.

What? You are confusing Anselms and Avalon. Avalon is the boys school that has similarities to Brookewood

[Anonymous]

https://issuu.com/saintanselms/docs/ar1819
see bottom of page 8 for response to other schools pulling away from AP emphasis