Bishop Ireton vs. SSSAS

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know why SSSAS is requiring the SSAT? No other school we are looking at is requiring it. None of the “top” schools will even look at it.

[Anonymous]

Some other school are still requiring- UGH. Maybe ask if I you can submit a WISC. WIAT or W-J instead?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know why SSSAS is requiring the SSAT? No other school we are looking at is requiring it. None of the “top” schools will even look at it.

Potomac wants it or it’s own admissions test.

[Anonymous]

We were told SSAS is only “strongly encouraging” the SSAT. When we pressed for more specific insight, admissions told us that it won’t hurt your application if you do not take/submit SSAT scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SSSAS is second tier private at best. Ireton is better.

NP. Looking at both because we don’t want to drive into DC for school. Why is BI better? Honestly, I thought they are both considered second tier?

Ireton is third tier at best as far as Catholic high schools. Good choice if in Alexandria. That is all. Not sure they should be throwing stones at others.

SSSAS is 2nd tier. Ireton, 3rd or 4th tier.

It's really hard to compare them though, they're so different with different reasons for existing. My DD and her friends from their Catholic parochial K-8 are really excited to apply to Ireton, PVI and O'Connell for next year. But I know we would never apply to SSSAS and we live close by, and I've never heard of anyone from their school even mentioning it. Visitation and Stone Ridge yes, and we would consider them if we could find a way to make the commute work. But not SSSAS.

OP, did you go to the Ireton Open House this past weekend? My DD is a lot like yours -- very artsy, not so much a sports person -- and she's putting Ireton as her first choice on the HSPT.

You also have a lot of very smart kids from Alexandria as well as the surrounding portions of Fairfax that are zone for terrible public high school applying to Ireton who could never afford SSSAS. The one that get in have to have stats similar to kids coming to the Big3 from public.

Just look at where seniors matriculate. The list of schools for BI is more impressive and national in scope than the one for SSSAS.

[Anonymous]

College placements for both ebb and flow with the years, but Ireton has definitely seen an uptake as of late, and being almost half as much as SSSAS, Ireton is the better value. Where else can you guarantee almost $100 k savings over the period while still having a quality high school education without going into DC? Easy choice go with BI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:College placements for both ebb and flow with the years, but Ireton has definitely seen an uptake as of late, and being almost half as much as SSSAS, Ireton is the better value. Where else can you guarantee almost $100 k savings over the period while still having a quality high school education without going into DC? Easy choice go with BI.

My child seems genuinely uncomfortable with the overly religious aspects of BI so that is something we will be mulling over more once we hear about possible acceptances from these schools. Financially, we can afford either one, but I also worry about SSSAS having a culture of too much wealthy and exclusivity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College placements for both ebb and flow with the years, but Ireton has definitely seen an uptake as of late, and being almost half as much as SSSAS, Ireton is the better value. Where else can you guarantee almost $100 k savings over the period while still having a quality high school education without going into DC? Easy choice go with BI.

My child seems genuinely uncomfortable with the overly religious aspects of BI so that is something we will be mulling over more once we hear about possible acceptances from these schools. Financially, we can afford either one, but I also worry about SSSAS having a culture of too much wealthy and exclusivity.

I looked at the college admissions and I thought SSSAS looked a lot better. Is this a wealth factor? More kids at SSSAS can afford the private SLACs etc?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College placements for both ebb and flow with the years, but Ireton has definitely seen an uptake as of late, and being almost half as much as SSSAS, Ireton is the better value. Where else can you guarantee almost $100 k savings over the period while still having a quality high school education without going into DC? Easy choice go with BI.

My child seems genuinely uncomfortable with the overly religious aspects of BI so that is something we will be mulling over more once we hear about possible acceptances from these schools. Financially, we can afford either one, but I also worry about SSSAS having a culture of too much wealthy and exclusivity.

I looked at the college admissions and I thought SSSAS looked a lot better. Is this a wealth factor? More kids at SSSAS can afford the private SLACs etc?

girls lax is a huge factor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College placements for both ebb and flow with the years, but Ireton has definitely seen an uptake as of late, and being almost half as much as SSSAS, Ireton is the better value. Where else can you guarantee almost $100 k savings over the period while still having a quality high school education without going into DC? Easy choice go with BI.

My child seems genuinely uncomfortable with the overly religious aspects of BI so that is something we will be mulling over more once we hear about possible acceptances from these schools. Financially, we can afford either one, but I also worry about SSSAS having a culture of too much wealthy and exclusivity.

I looked at the college admissions and I thought SSSAS looked a lot better. Is this a wealth factor? More kids at SSSAS can afford the private SLACs etc?

girls lax is a huge factor.

But wouldn’t that be a factor for BI’s college list as well? BI’s lax is equally strong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College placements for both ebb and flow with the years, but Ireton has definitely seen an uptake as of late, and being almost half as much as SSSAS, Ireton is the better value. Where else can you guarantee almost $100 k savings over the period while still having a quality high school education without going into DC? Easy choice go with BI.

My child seems genuinely uncomfortable with the overly religious aspects of BI so that is something we will be mulling over more once we hear about possible acceptances from these schools. Financially, we can afford either one, but I also worry about SSSAS having a culture of too much wealthy and exclusivity.

I looked at the college admissions and I thought SSSAS looked a lot better. Is this a wealth factor? More kids at SSSAS can afford the private SLACs etc?

girls lax is a huge factor.

But wouldn’t that be a factor for BI’s college list as well? BI’s lax is equally strong.

probably. But, then it looks to me that SSSAS is not at all "a lot better." Especially for the much higher cost, don't see a significant difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College placements for both ebb and flow with the years, but Ireton has definitely seen an uptake as of late, and being almost half as much as SSSAS, Ireton is the better value. Where else can you guarantee almost $100 k savings over the period while still having a quality high school education without going into DC? Easy choice go with BI.

My child seems genuinely uncomfortable with the overly religious aspects of BI so that is something we will be mulling over more once we hear about possible acceptances from these schools. Financially, we can afford either one, but I also worry about SSSAS having a culture of too much wealthy and exclusivity.

I looked at the college admissions and I thought SSSAS looked a lot better. Is this a wealth factor? More kids at SSSAS can afford the private SLACs etc?

girls lax is a huge factor.

But wouldn’t that be a factor for BI’s college list as well? BI’s lax is equally strong.

probably. But, then it looks to me that SSSAS is not at all "a lot better." Especially for the much higher cost, don't see a significant difference.

Then the choice is easy for you.

But most don’t even put BI and SSSAS in the same league. Or really, any Catholic (or other niche school like Montessori or parochial) v an Independent school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College placements for both ebb and flow with the years, but Ireton has definitely seen an uptake as of late, and being almost half as much as SSSAS, Ireton is the better value. Where else can you guarantee almost $100 k savings over the period while still having a quality high school education without going into DC? Easy choice go with BI.

My child seems genuinely uncomfortable with the overly religious aspects of BI so that is something we will be mulling over more once we hear about possible acceptances from these schools. Financially, we can afford either one, but I also worry about SSSAS having a culture of too much wealthy and exclusivity.

I looked at the college admissions and I thought SSSAS looked a lot better. Is this a wealth factor? More kids at SSSAS can afford the private SLACs etc?

girls lax is a huge factor.

But wouldn’t that be a factor for BI’s college list as well? BI’s lax is equally strong.

probably. But, then it looks to me that SSSAS is not at all "a lot better." Especially for the much higher cost, don't see a significant difference.

Then the choice is easy for you.

But most don’t even put BI and SSSAS in the same league. Or really, any Catholic (or other niche school like Montessori or parochial) v an Independent school.

Yes. But, no, most didn't used to put BI and SSSAS in the same league. They are doing it now. What does that tell you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College placements for both ebb and flow with the years, but Ireton has definitely seen an uptake as of late, and being almost half as much as SSSAS, Ireton is the better value. Where else can you guarantee almost $100 k savings over the period while still having a quality high school education without going into DC? Easy choice go with BI.

My child seems genuinely uncomfortable with the overly religious aspects of BI so that is something we will be mulling over more once we hear about possible acceptances from these schools. Financially, we can afford either one, but I also worry about SSSAS having a culture of too much wealthy and exclusivity.

I looked at the college admissions and I thought SSSAS looked a lot better. Is this a wealth factor? More kids at SSSAS can afford the private SLACs etc?

girls lax is a huge factor.

But wouldn’t that be a factor for BI’s college list as well? BI’s lax is equally strong.

probably. But, then it looks to me that SSSAS is not at all "a lot better." Especially for the much higher cost, don't see a significant difference.

Then the choice is easy for you.

But most don’t even put BI and SSSAS in the same league. Or really, any Catholic (or other niche school like Montessori or parochial) v an Independent school.

Yes. But, no, most didn't used to put BI and SSSAS in the same league. They are doing it now. What does that tell you?

Academically, in 2022, the two schools are on par with one another. The difference is the size and the vibe of the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College placements for both ebb and flow with the years, but Ireton has definitely seen an uptake as of late, and being almost half as much as SSSAS, Ireton is the better value. Where else can you guarantee almost $100 k savings over the period while still having a quality high school education without going into DC? Easy choice go with BI.

My child seems genuinely uncomfortable with the overly religious aspects of BI so that is something we will be mulling over more once we hear about possible acceptances from these schools. Financially, we can afford either one, but I also worry about SSSAS having a culture of too much wealthy and exclusivity.

BI would not be a good fit if you describe your child as "genuinely uncomfortable" with the religious nature of the school. A student being non-Catholic is not a big deal. Like, at all. Being anti-religious is a different matter altogether.