St Andelm's Abbey

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If a kid is smart and athletic, why would you go to that school over schools like STA, Sidwell, et al?

Some of the possible reasons include:

1. Tuition at SAAS is about $25,000 per year, so $100,000 less over grades 6-12 than most other top private schools

2. It is a Catholic school (60% Roman Catholic students) for those looking for that particular religious environment

3. It is small enough to allow an athletic boy to be a real standout (rather than perhaps being a role player at a larger more athletically oriented school) or perhaps allow him to play 2 or 3 sports rather than having to focus on only one sport at another HS.

4. It is an academically-oriented school but not a "pressure cooker" type of academic environment

Of course certain families may have other reasons for considering SAAS such as geographic proximity, access to nearby metro, financial aid package, older siblings at the school, etc.

[Anonymous]

My DH is an SAAS grad who attended an Ivy and at one point in high school could have pursued a goal of going to the Olympics for his sport. He and my in-laws chose the academic route in great part due to the compassion, enthusiasm, and support of the SAAS teachers and the monks. He is the definition of a scholar-athlete but most importantly to me and to our family, he is an amazing person. He credits SAAS. Our DS isn't old enough yet, but we are looking forward to sending him when the time is right. We aren't looking for flashy facilities though their new-ish gym and performance space is cool. It's a school of substance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DH is an SAAS grad who attended an Ivy and at one point in high school could have pursued a goal of going to the Olympics for his sport. He and my in-laws chose the academic route in great part due to the compassion, enthusiasm, and support of the SAAS teachers and the monks. He is the definition of a scholar-athlete but most importantly to me and to our family, he is an amazing person. He credits SAAS. Our DS isn't old enough yet, but we are looking forward to sending him when the time is right. We aren't looking for flashy facilities though their new-ish gym and performance space is cool. It's a school of substance.

Perfectly said.

[Anonymous]

LOL. Give me a break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LOL. Give me a break.

SAAS is not the right school for every boy and for every family--much like any school private or public. It is obviously that SAAS was not the right fit for your son. However, I do hope you found a school where your son can excel in the areas that matter most to him and to you.

[Anonymous]

Any idea how many VA kids there are? Not that it's a decider for us, but looking at it for DS and wondering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any idea how many VA kids there are? Not that it's a decider for us, but looking at it for DS and wondering.

I don't know actual numbers (you can get that from admissions). We were given names of families near us for carpooling and there are also shuttlebus options. For our son, it is worth the commute.

[Anonymous]

People who attend this school appear to come from 3 camps:

1. Those families focused on attending a DC school with a strong academic reputation, but get rejected by STA, Sidwell, etc.

2. People who want their kid to attend a strong academic school, but can't afford the STA, Sidwell, etc. price tag

3. Catholic families whose kids would never see the field at STA, Sidwell, NCS, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People who attend this school appear to come from 3 camps:

1. Those families focused on attending a DC school with a strong academic reputation, but get rejected by STA, Sidwell, etc.

2. People who want their kid to attend a strong academic school, but can't afford the STA, Sidwell, etc. price tag

3. Catholic families whose kids would never see the field at STA, Sidwell, NCS, etc.

Also sons of professors who live in College Park and don't want the long commute to STA, Sidwell, etc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People who attend this school appear to come from 3 camps:

1. Those families focused on attending a DC school with a strong academic reputation, but get rejected by STA, Sidwell, etc.

2. People who want their kid to attend a strong academic school, but can't afford the STA, Sidwell, etc. price tag

3. Catholic families whose kids would never see the field at STA, Sidwell, NCS, etc.

Lots of other "camps" choosing SAAS besides the three you posit. For us it was really a choice among the many good Catholic schools in the DC area -- i.e. our local Catholic HS, Gonzaga, or SAAS. After seeing all three schools, St. Anselm's just seemed like the best fit academically and personality wise for our son.

We had absolutely no interest in even looking at STA or Sidwell, and sports team considerations likewise had nothing to do with our choice (though our son is a two sport athlete at SAAS).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any idea how many VA kids there are? Not that it's a decider for us, but looking at it for DS and wondering.

In the middle school grades VA kids are about 25-30% of each class. In the HS grades, VA boys are about 15-20 percent of each class.

The school's morning bus routes from NOVA have improved/expanded in the last few years, which has made it a more reasonable option logistically for VA families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People who attend this school appear to come from 3 camps:

1. Those families focused on attending a DC school with a strong academic reputation, but get rejected by STA, Sidwell, etc.

2. People who want their kid to attend a strong academic school, but can't afford the STA, Sidwell, etc. price tag

3. Catholic families whose kids would never see the field at STA, Sidwell, NCS, etc.

Lots of other "camps" choosing SAAS besides the three you posit. For us it was really a choice among the many good Catholic schools in the DC area -- i.e. our local Catholic HS, Gonzaga, or SAAS. After seeing all three schools, St. Anselm's just seemed like the best fit academically and personality wise for our son.

We had absolutely no interest in even looking at STA or Sidwell, and sports team considerations likewise had nothing to do with our choice (though our son is a two sport athlete at SAAS).

I agree with the above poster...The schools are just very different and none is necessarily "better" for all boys. I know kids who are very happy at STA and Sidwell, so it's no slight against them when I say that SAAS was a better fit for my son and our first choice (FWIW, he did apply and get into several other "top" schools). I'm not sure why pp is framing it as a 2nd class alternative for rejects from other schools. Also, FWIW, my son is quite athletic in addition to enjoying academics. Well rounded boys thrive at SAAS.

[Anonymous]

We chose SAAS over STA. Money was not an issue nor sports. Didn't look at Sidwell

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People who attend this school appear to come from 3 camps:

1. Those families focused on attending a DC school with a strong academic reputation, but get rejected by STA, Sidwell, etc.

2. People who want their kid to attend a strong academic school, but can't afford the STA, Sidwell, etc. price tag

3. Catholic families whose kids would never see the field at STA, Sidwell, NCS, etc.

4. Families who live close to STA and Sidwell who have a boy who got into both schools in addition to SAAS (and GP and GZ and Landon for a sport) but decided SAAS was the perfect fit.

[Anonymous]

Translation = kid is terrible at sports