SSSAS, ACDS, GMES, Grace
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Anonymous
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After the recent abysmal report on the state of ACPS, we are evaluating our plan to send our daughter to GMES.
We are looking at SSSAS, ACDS and Grace. Would love to hear from parents at any of the four schools (George Mason included). I am leaning SSSAS to avoid the switching schools during the most awkward years but the sticker shock of all this is a lot. Is it a lot of grandparents contributing? Thanks for any feedback on the school. Mostly looking for somewhere with a nice community, variety of options and interests for the kids and no bullying or bullying taken seriously. |
Anonymous
| It’s ok to go private, of course, but do keep in mind that the new public school reporting system dreamed up by Youngkin is not helpful. |
Anonymous
Youngkin is a tool but the previous system was useless and provided no information (which is why so many educator groups liked it). Most states have separate accountability and accreditation systems, and now Virginia does too. The reality is that 66% of VA schools are on track or better, and 94% are fully accredited, and ACPS fails on both fronts with 17% of elementaries on track or better and 0% fully accredited. OP - to your question, I think it will really come down to the trade off of cost vs need to reapply. In other words, Grace is cheapest but only K-5, then ACDS as K-8, then SSSSA which gives you the most continuity but is $$$. You could also try GMES for a year or two and see. It is about to have a brand new building, isn’t overcrowded like some others, and has traditionally been one of the better schools in the system. |
Anonymous
| Is SSSSA the only non boarding private high school in Alexandria? If that’s the case, I’m surprised it’s not a lot more competitive to get into. It’s already competitive, but I would have thought it would be like Big 5 competitive just because of the location. |
Anonymous
| My DD goes to Bishop Ireton and knows a lot of students who went to ACDS. Students seem nice and we don't hear of any complaints about it or drama with the kids that continues into high school like some of the other K-8s. |
Anonymous
| We considered all three of these for DC a few years ago. Grace is very tiny by 5th grade and most of the kids end up at SSSAS for 6th. ACDS while slightly bigger is still pretty small in the middle school years. DC ended up at SSSAS, and we've had an amazing experience. SSSAS is a small school feel with larger school resources. DC's class is very kind and supportive, but that can definitely vary by grade. All three schools are great options, it's just a matter of what is important to you and your child. |
Anonymous
Do you have a sense of financial aid at SSSAS? It’s so much more expensive than the other two. |
Anonymous
It's not very competitive because it's not very good. |
Anonymous
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We have 2 ACDS alums who went on to SSSAS for high school. We were very pleased by both schools for those ages and stages.
ACDS does an incredible job developing children from sweet kindergarteners to thoughtful, engaged 8th graders who are able to advocate for themselves, speak with confidence, and compete academically. The class size starts to feel small in 8th grade, but both kids say they wouldn't have wanted to miss the experience. The school does a great job celebrating 8th graders, giving them leadership opportunities, and preparing them for the transition out of the school into the next phase of life. We found the move to SSSAS for high school to be smooth. Both kids expressed that they were grateful to change schools for high school and that being a lifer in a single school would be "weird" and make the adjustment to college harder. Academics, sports, and social life were accessible from day one. SSSAS does a strong orientation for new freshmen and then works hard to bring the entire freshman class together. |
Anonymous
We have a very generous FA package. It's definitely worth applying. |
Anonymous
| We love SSSAS for US (and have heard great things about LS, good-to-middling for MS—which seems typical among k-12s). DC was at a k-8 that was significantly less tuition than SSSAS and loved it. Can definitely recommend that path to help save a bit over the years. |
Anonymous
What are k-8 with significantly less tuition? Thank you. |
Anonymous
| I have a child at SSSAS and we are happy. It’s quite rigorous as compared to another k-12 private in Noethern Virginia where our other child goes to school. No regrets. Price is on par with others. Lots of APs and lots of international service and language opportunities. Active model UN and big music and theater program. Lots of sports opportunities but not strong in most. |
Anonymous
Westminster, Congressional, and Burgundy Farm k-8s all are less than SSSAS and frequently send graduates on to SSSAS for HS. |
Anonymous
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We are a G Mason family and divided our kids for private public since one has severe learning disabilities that ACPS would not address. Documented but as he received tutors they suggested he didn't struggle enough to warrant help. Totally insane. Anyway.. too hard to split schools so we moved both to private.
We know plenty with families still in public however - both MS and HS. What I have to say is if your kid is "perfect" in they are well adjusted with no learning disabilities, public can work. If they are tracked for honors they should be fine. We've looked into all the probates in the area and we didn't start with SSSAS but in hindsight I'm going to say - it's the fast choice in the area. The seamless transition moving grades will be a lifesaver - life is hard enough, keel things easy as much as possible - stay in one school  the different campuses really does help you feel it's a new experience even though new school.
SSSAS is a school that's great community wise. There's a place for you at whatever financial level you are and the kids are nice. I've never met a group of nicer sophomore boys and it's like a huge group who are friendly with one another. Keep in mind socially, every class differs so you'd experience is the luck of the draw anywhere you go. All in all, SSSAS gives you the best option if you wanted private in Alex. We know a ton of families who opted to B Ireton and that school runs a similar block schedule and admittedly is also improved v years past. The thing is I would never send my kids to Catholic school it's a cultural thing where they wouldn't be happy we are just not into that much religion but SSSAS runs chapel weekly and a huge service oriented culture - you can't graduate from HS without 40 hrs volunteer work prior to senior year- that's as good as we can hope without actual Catholic school if you are open though, look at both schools.
Ultimately I do think that through grade 4, public is fine. It's really starting 5th that you should consider pvt. And to the pp - I personally know ACDS families who were not accepted into SSSAS so no, they do not in fact accept everyone. This family is good friends with us so I know they had a kid who was a fairly strong applicant. |