Landon vs. St. Alban's

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son got into a number of very good schools and chose Landon. While the parent body is quite different from the usual DC private school, I have to say that the school is very well run, the teachers are wonderful, the campus is just beautiful, and my son is happy and getting an excellent education. We are pleased with our choice.

Hmmm. Can you elaborate on the "parent body is quite different from the usual DC private school" comment?

[Anonymous]

The parent body is a lot more homogenous than that of many DC private schools (and I'm a DC lifer, so I know). It's less diverse, and there seems to be a more open display of wealth than you would find in DC. Also more conservative, politically, judging from the bumper stickers. (We are very liberal and live in the city.) However, the parents have been very friendly and the school could not be more welcoming, and anyway, I'm not looking to the school for my social life. Plus, the boys are extremely polite and well mannered, and that's important to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:St. Alban's a bit stronger academically. Landon more cliques more athletics. St. Alban's more diverse. Many at Landon say it's easy to not fit in.

Not easy to fit in at Landon? You mean athletic v. non-athletic. Socio-economic? Race?

[Anonymous]

How come Gonzaga CHS is not more openly discussed in this forum?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St. Alban's a bit stronger academically. Landon more cliques more athletics. St. Alban's more diverse. Many at Landon say it's easy to not fit in.

Not easy to fit in at Landon? You mean athletic v. non-athletic. Socio-economic? Race?

DH went to Landon. Granted, that was over two decades ago, but he still says that it's basically a throwback Southern school. Both DSs are at STA, which feels very WASPY, northeastern prep. In both, if you're not athletic, it'll be hard to fit in, no matter how brainy. From what I have heard, if you're not white or Protestant, it will also be harder to fit in at Landon, which is surprising as Landon has no religious affiliation. STA does, and truth be told there simply are not that many Catholics or Jewish families, but from what I can gather from these few families, it never really seems to be an issue for them.

[Anonymous]

STA is a better school hands down. Although Landon might have a better athletics program, STA has superior academic standards and programs. The kids who attend Landon tend to come from the DC suburbs, "new money" whereas STA kids generally come from the city from "older money families." It will be much harder to fit into a school like Landon if you are not athletic than it would be for a school like STA that emphasizes differences throughout a student's academic life.

[Anonymous]

I disagree. I have friends who went to both schools, and friends whose kids went to both schools, and I've heard nothing that would make me think one is better than the other. Landon definitely has more suburban kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:STA is a better school hands down. Although Landon might have a better athletics program, STA has superior academic standards and programs. The kids who attend Landon tend to come from the DC suburbs, "new money" whereas STA kids generally come from the city from "older money families." It will be much harder to fit into a school like Landon if you are not athletic than it would be for a school like STA that emphasizes differences throughout a student's academic life.

I don't know about that. Most of the STA families that I know are either first-generation money or don't actually have that much money. Really, I don't think that DC has that many "old money" families to begin with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:STA is a better school hands down. Although Landon might have a better athletics program, STA has superior academic standards and programs. The kids who attend Landon tend to come from the DC suburbs, "new money" whereas STA kids generally come from the city from "older money families." It will be much harder to fit into a school like Landon if you are not athletic than it would be for a school like STA that emphasizes differences throughout a student's academic life.

I don't know about that. Most of the STA families that I know are either first-generation money or don't actually have that much money. Really, I don't think that DC has that many "old money" families to begin with.

My father and brothers went to STA, though we are not "old money." We actually had no money, relatively speaking. My father was a long-time federal public servant. My son is now at Landon (DH's family has long-standing Landon ties). My observation is that pound for pound, or salary to salary I should say, Landon probably edges out STA. There certainly seems to be much more ostentatious displays of wealth around Wilson Lane than Pilgrim Road. But STA seems to value and seek out power and connections more than money in their families. So they probably tilt more towards the public servant types, at the expense, of the annual fund. Though the irony is that the STA alums are so devoted to the insitution, and as far as I can tell, so amazingly successful, the STA endowment does laps around that at Landon.

[Anonymous]

Help! We were lucky enough to get in for 4th grade/C Form. They both seem like excellent schools. We like everyone we've met at both. DS says to flip a coin. Tell me there must be a better way! What would you do?

[Anonymous]

If your son is not an athlete, DO NOT send him to Landon. I feel the St. Alban's boys are much more well-rounded and are accepted to better colleges. Quite frankly, I would send my son or daughter to Sidwell -- no question about it. And I spent ten years at Holton-Arms!

[Anonymous]

Which school will provide an easier commute for your son? Personally, I think STA is stronger academically and I agree with PP that you should not send your son to either school if he does not enjoy sports.

[Anonymous]

How welcoming is STA to same-sex parents?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How welcoming is STA to same-sex parents?

I've not met any same sex parents at STA. Not have I met any single parent whose ex is a same sex parent. If it means anything, two of my children's teachers are gay and out with it and living with their partners. A few upper school students have come out while we've been there. Haven't noticed any lesbian teachers at STA. A few at NCS.

Please tell me that your child was accepted and your family is coming.

[Anonymous]

We are also trying to decide where to send our DS for 4th grade. It is a very hard decision, and we just want to do make the "right" choice - whatever that means. We can see him happy at both places. I guess we are lucky to have choices.