Culture at St Stephens and St Agnes SSSAS

[Anonymous]

hi all - we are considering SSSAS for our children.

I am wondering if anyone can speak to the culture at the school. What it's like for families and students in general.

This is not specific to SSSAS, but I am generally concerned about uber rich or elitist vibes at private schools and don't know if that is based in reality or an irrational fear.

[Anonymous]

Nothing to worry about there. SSSAS is decidedly of average wealth among local independents. My daughter is a graduate from there. Wealth culture not and she had a mostly good experience. I'll let the haters chime in about the girls lax program.

[Anonymous]

I have a child at SSSAS. And I have a child at another local k-12. We also have k-8 experience. Very happy at SSSAS. Academics and homework are pretty rigorous. Athletics are good but not across the board. Some things are super competitive and others not much at all. Music and theater are legitimate. My child enjoys the social life and the grades are large enough that there are cliques and groups but not in a bad way. There is wealth at all 3 schools we have experienced. There has to be at 50k plus for all local privates. Expect high end cars, fancy vacations etc. but at the same time I don’t think it is off putting. And it isn’t universal. But it is prevalent. I grew up around here and went to both public and private and across the board people drive fancier cars and go on fancier vacations today than they did when I was young. Doesn’t seem to matter whether their kids are public or private. If you are self conscious about it, I might suggest Catholic or public.

[Anonymous]

DC is a current junior who started in 9th and loves it. As parents, we don’t know that many parents beyond the ones we already knew well from the k-8 DC was at before, but I have met several others while volunteering for the performing arts boosters. We have an HHI of under $200k and I’d say most of DC’s friends are wealthier based on the homes I’ve dropped DC at, but not insanely so. I’m sure there are uber wealthy families here, but if any of DC’s friends are among them, they don’t act problematicly elitist. It’s a great group of kids with a wide range of interests.

[Anonymous]

Just search any of the recent threads about the school on here... I'll give you a hint - it's not good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just search any of the recent threads about the school on here... I'll give you a hint - it's not good.

On all of those threads you will find the usual haters, most of whom seem to have little to no actual experience with the school, the occasional family with a legitimately poor experience, and many people praising the school. Just as with any number of schools DCUM loves to hate one, ranging from Flint Hill to NCS.

[Anonymous]

DC is in the lower school, and we've had a great experience. DC's grade seems to be full of mostly caring and sweet kids. We haven't had any issues with wealthy vs not wealthy. Everyone finds their own people. Some of those people might be super wealthy and some might not be.

[Anonymous]

I am acquainted with girls who graduated from there and had a wonderful time.

I also am acquainted with girls who reported that they had been a target of "mean girls" and had a very unhappy experience.

I am not sure which parts of what I have heard are real or not real, common or uncommon, but I would definitely be watching students and classrooms carefully during any tours and listening closely during any meetings with the SSSAS staff. To an extent, we approach any other school the same way.

[Anonymous]

I only know of one family who went there, and they are very, very rich.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a child at SSSAS. And I have a child at another local k-12. We also have k-8 experience. Very happy at SSSAS. Academics and homework are pretty rigorous. Athletics are good but not across the board. Some things are super competitive and others not much at all. Music and theater are legitimate. My child enjoys the social life and the grades are large enough that there are cliques and groups but not in a bad way. There is wealth at all 3 schools we have experienced. There has to be at 50k plus for all local privates. Expect high end cars, fancy vacations etc. but at the same time I don’t think it is off putting. And it isn’t universal. But it is prevalent. I grew up around here and went to both public and private and across the board people drive fancier cars and go on fancier vacations today than they did when I was young. Doesn’t seem to matter whether their kids are public or private. If you are self conscious about it, I might suggest Catholic or public.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is a current junior who started in 9th and loves it. As parents, we don’t know that many parents beyond the ones we already knew well from the k-8 DC was at before, but I have met several others while volunteering for the performing arts boosters. We have an HHI of under $200k and I’d say most of DC’s friends are wealthier based on the homes I’ve dropped DC at, but not insanely so. I’m sure there are uber wealthy families here, but if any of DC’s friends are among them, they don’t act problematicly elitist. It’s a great group of kids with a wide range of interests.

How was the transition from a different k-8? Assume it was less expensive? Any other reason why you went to another for k-8? Thank you!!

[Anonymous]

Wonderful independent school with amazing teachers and a lovely community. My kids thrived there- got into their first choice selective colleges and made friends for life!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is a current junior who started in 9th and loves it. As parents, we don’t know that many parents beyond the ones we already knew well from the k-8 DC was at before, but I have met several others while volunteering for the performing arts boosters. We have an HHI of under $200k and I’d say most of DC’s friends are wealthier based on the homes I’ve dropped DC at, but not insanely so. I’m sure there are uber wealthy families here, but if any of DC’s friends are among them, they don’t act problematicly elitist. It’s a great group of kids with a wide range of interests.

How was the transition from a different k-8? Assume it was less expensive? Any other reason why you went to another for k-8? Thank you!!

We were in a different area through 4th and needed to apply for 5th off-cycle, so we were more limited in what schools had availability. As it turned out, the k-8 was a wonderful experience, and did a great job guiding and supporting both students and parents through the HS application process. It was also less expensive than SSSAS and other k-12s we looked at, which was a nice bonus.

SSSAS has a buddy system for new 9th graders in the summer before school starts, an extra orientation just for brand new students, and a bridge program for all 9th graders that helped the transition. DC also kind of lucked into a great group of friends pretty early, by late September. A couple other kids from the same k-8 didn’t really find their people until November or even January, but they did all settle in well, after a few months at the most.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just search any of the recent threads about the school on here... I'll give you a hint - it's not good.

To which are you referring? I have not seen this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is a current junior who started in 9th and loves it. As parents, we don’t know that many parents beyond the ones we already knew well from the k-8 DC was at before, but I have met several others while volunteering for the performing arts boosters. We have an HHI of under $200k and I’d say most of DC’s friends are wealthier based on the homes I’ve dropped DC at, but not insanely so. I’m sure there are uber wealthy families here, but if any of DC’s friends are among them, they don’t act problematicly elitist. It’s a great group of kids with a wide range of interests.

Thank you - do you get the sense that a decent number of families receive financial aid?