SSSAS vs. Potomac

[Anonymous]

Thoughts on the comparison of these two schools? I did search the archives but didn't pull up anything recent.
SSSAS is significantly more convenient for us, but i did love them both.

[Anonymous]

I don't have any direct experience with Potomac, but I have a young child who is incredibly happy at SSSAS. Wonderful teachers/great facilities/warm community. The impression I have is that their "pools" are more geographically defined -- while SSSAS has students from all over, the school tends to draw from Alexandria and the "eastern" suburbs of Maryland/Virginia, while Potomac students tend to come from the more westerly 'burbs. What grade will your child be in?

[Anonymous]

Like the previous person to post, I do not have direct experience with Potomac. I do, however, have three children at SSSAS, and we could not be more pleased with the school. It is a fantastic community that really values each child and does an amazing job of teaching goodness as well as knowledge. My kids are quite different from each other, and all are thriving at the school. The caliber of teachers is outstanding, and the school's leadership is both strong and stable. I gather from your post that you might have had some interactions with both of the schools, but would encourage you to spend some time on campus at SSSAS if you have not already. It is a great place!

[Anonymous]

Potomac has an elite reputation and very competitive admissions - - have never heard any parents complain about this school. SSSA has great sports, nice local community feel and can be a great option for the right kid. Social fit seems to be more critical than academic fit at this school.

[Anonymous]

I have two older children at SSSAS, a sophomore and a senior. We've been in lower, middle, and upper school here and each division has been exceptional and completely keyed into the needs of each age group. When SSSAS says they will "know" your child, they mean it. There is a place for every kind of student, from shy to social, from athletic to artistic, from totally academic to techie. Teachers, administrators, and peers often recognize possibilities in students that they don't see for themselves and draw them into trying something new. My younger son is quite shy, but his special skills and talents have recognized and encouraged. I've watched his self-confidence grow each year. Academics are a priority. The community is truly very warm, welcoming, and supportive. Now that we are deep into the college application process, I can honestly say that my senior has been well prepared for college and that the college counseling office is amazing. I agree that the most important thing a parent can do when looking at schools is to visit.

[Anonymous]

It's funny that you love them both because they are totally different schools! Just read their mission statements and you can see what I mean. We looked at Potomac and were initially wowed by the campus and curriculum too. But we quickly realized that all they talked about was intellect and "challenge." I agree with the other poster that it felt very elitist and almost robotic in a way. The parents aren't even allowed to drive their kids to school! It felt like I was being pushed out of my kid's life and we hadn't even enrolled yet!

We chose St. Stephen's/St. Agnes and have found that it is very academic, but they also talk to the kids a lot about the other things in life that matter -- compassion and respect and being a good person (they call it "goodness" and I don't like that word, but it is what it is). They have chapel once a week and it's nice for them to have a "check in" moment, as I call it. A time to reflect on what's important in life, but on their level. When researching schools, we finally realized that -- for us anyway -- it was better for our kids to be in an environment that talked about God and values on days other than Sunday. Oh, and parents are always welcomed on field trips, in the classroom, and most people drop off and pick up their kids too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: The parents aren't even allowed to drive their kids to school! It felt like I was being pushed out of my kid's life and we hadn't even enrolled yet!

Oh, and parents are always welcomed on field trips, in the classroom, and most people drop off and pick up their kids too!

Wow, are you misguided. Parents aren't allowed to drive their kids to school because the Evermay neighborhood surrounding the school has forced the school to limit the traffic going to campus. That is why everyone (except those who can drive themselves) rides a bus to school - not because of some random rule by the administration. And parents of younger children are welcome on field trips, visiting the classroom, etc.

SSSA is a great school. Potomac is a great school. I'm sure it's a great fit for your children, but get your facts straight.

[Anonymous]

I'm interested to hear about the bus experience. We live in Alexandria, and my DC is entering kindergarten next year. I'm afraid that school plus a commute is a lot of a little kid, but I'd love to hear from those who have gone this route. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

There are some Alexandria families at Potomac. I'm sure most families in Alexandria favor SSSAS because of the proximity. We know kids who are in the Lower School coming from Alexandria and it's no big deal.

[Anonymous]

Both schools offer transportation programs. We used to commute from Vienna to SSSAS. Kids get used to their commutes. That said, I wouldn't suggest subjecting them to anything over an hour if possible. The farther you are the earlier the bus has to pick you up. The MOST important thing is to find the right fit for your child.

[Anonymous]

I do not have a child at either but looked at both. I was told by a parent who's child had been at SSSA that, whe they moved the child to a public school due to financial reasons they were shocked to find out that he was far behind his public school classmates in math. There was no indictauion of a problem from SSSA. On the other hand, I have seen and heard only good things about the academics at Potomac. The have been told by parents at both schools that they tend to be very southern preppy, the kids usually have nice old fashioned manners but there is some degree of "suburban oasis" feel to both school cultures.

[Anonymous]

My kids are in the Lower School at SSSA and I think the academics are excellent. And the teachers are also really good at differentiating their teaching to different ability levels, so neither has either struggled too much or, conversely, been bored. It's truly an individualized education. Which makes it kind of hard to imagine that someone would all of a sudden find their child "behind" but sometimes different schools teach things in a different order. I remember my friend's son was learning fractions but didn't know how to do borrowing and my child was the opposite, but both kids ended up learning the same things within a few months. Anyway, for transportation, we drop them off in the morning and they take the bus home (we live in Falls Church), so we feel like we have the best of both worlds. Good luck!