Is St. Alban's the best high school for very smart, very athletic boy? Who else?

[Anonymous]

OP here, yes I was very seriously looking for advice about my specific son. Of course I want him to develop in all aspects, but the fact is that his ostensible "type" (WASPy jock, hale fellow, etc) seems out of fashion these days and he'll need a school where they understand that those waters run deep too.

[Anonymous]

I like the use of "hale fellow"! Nice and evocative. I think your son would thrive at STA, but I believe those qualities would also be appreciated at Sidwell, SSSA, Potomac, Prep, etc. GDS is a great school but probably a little on the artsy side for you (and no football team if your son wants to play that). Maret sort of artsy too but sports seem stronger than in the past and seems like kids of all sorts are just fine. Sidwell has a nice sports program and he might like be a bit of a bigger fish in a smaller pond (unless he plays one of their strong boys' sports in which he will be the same size as the other fish).

[Anonymous]

Landon styles itself on the model of the boys "public" schools of England--muscular Christianity but without being Christian--a number of Muslims, Jew, sikhs, Catholics in the mix. Everybody has to do some sports, so they send home very tired kids between 5 and 6p.m. I was grateful for that when I drove around doing afternoon errands before pick-up and saw other high-schoolers hanging about. Then it would be back to Landon for music or theater practice or some darn thing, up early the next day--6 a.m. for an early A.P. at Holton where you can take some classes--I liked them being so busy and they find college work at two separate elite colleges rather easy by comparison--more down time! Great teachers, some Mr. Chips-y types. And the best part? the Humanities program in junior year. A turning point for many.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Landon styles itself on the model of the boys "public" schools of England--muscular Christianity but without being Christian--a number of Muslims, Jew, sikhs, Catholics in the mix. Everybody has to do some sports, so they send home very tired kids between 5 and 6p.m. I was grateful for that when I drove around doing afternoon errands before pick-up and saw other high-schoolers hanging about. Then it would be back to Landon for music or theater practice or some darn thing, up early the next day--6 a.m. for an early A.P. at Holton where you can take some classes--I liked them being so busy and they find college work at two separate elite colleges rather easy by comparison--more down time! Great teachers, some Mr. Chips-y types. And the best part? the Humanities program in junior year. A turning point for many.

Catholics are Christians as are Protestants. Bible Belt style Christianity might exclude Catholics but STA considers them Christians. Muscular Christianity was a phrase used in an article about STA. The difference many boys feel between STA and Landon is a morality and sense of decency when push comes to shove.