in your mind, is STA worth it for high school?

[Anonymous]

If the tuition is not painful for you, then yes, it is worth it. A fantastic education that no one can take away, no matter where a boy goes after high school. I was on the fence when our son started, and for our family it has exceeded expectations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thinking things through as the binding date approaches.
My son is smart, funny, athletic, and very conscientious about his school work (in part due to anxiety which he hides well). We thought (think) STA would be a great fit
because he thrives when teachers invest in him. However, I have no doubt that he would thrive at any school. He's a kid who does what is expected of him.
Do you think STA is good investment and worth $50K a year for high school? Would welcome any thoughts and please be kind.

OP, it's impossible to answer this question for you. Is it a stretch for you to come up with $200,000 to send your kid to four years of high school, or are you made of money? What kind of "investment" are you talking about? Will it get him into a better college than if he goes to Next Door High School? No. Will he get a better high school education than if he goes to Next Door High School? Quite possibly. Will he love and thrive in the community at STA, as compared to Next Door High School? Impossible to know.

If you're really looking to put a dollar value on this decision, that's a 100% personal choice. No one can decide that but you.

Disagree. It will get him into a better college most likely. Yes the top top of Publics and others go to Ivies but even the lower tier at STA goes to pretty top notch schools. All go to 4 year college and most are in the top 30 in the country.

[Anonymous]

We put one kid through NCS and another through STA. If I had another daughter, I would have sent her to another all-girls high school in a second. If I had another boy, I would have demanded a co-ed school. It isn't specifically a problem with STA, but the kind of male bonding he learned at an all boys school, especially around sexism, troubled me. There are many nice kids at STA, but in my opinion all-male schools tend to be more toxic than serving a particular need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We put one kid through NCS and another through STA. If I had another daughter, I would have sent her to another all-girls high school in a second. If I had another boy, I would have demanded a co-ed school. It isn't specifically a problem with STA, but the kind of male bonding he learned at an all boys school, especially around sexism, troubled me. There are many nice kids at STA, but in my opinion all-male schools tend to be more toxic than serving a particular need.

Not every boys' school is like that though.

[Anonymous]

Given how college admissions are now and where they seem to be heading, my answer is no. We went in knowing that you don't pay for private HS in order to get a huge benefit for college admissions, at least not the benefit it once was. But it is almost a detriment if you are living in this area since so many top colleges have broadened their reach and aren't interested in kids from this area unless you fall into the categories people have mentioned before. Yes your son will learn a lot, be a critical thinker etc. But I have to wonder how if he's really that much more advanced than if we sent him to a good public.

[Anonymous]

Yes, we considered STA for DS and if we were staying in the area, STA would be our first choice. DS is a legacy + development case at an Ivy and a great student so will likely do fine anywhere, public or private.

We are mainly concerned about the academics particularly in writing and the school being a good fit.

[Anonymous]

The kids have been together since elementary school. Good luck breaking in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The kids have been together since elementary school. Good luck breaking in.

Is this a real concern?

Wouldn't this be the case at any private, except catholic high schools
that start at 9th? Is it a bigger issue at STA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The kids have been together since elementary school. Good luck breaking in.

Is this a real concern?

Wouldn't this be the case at any private, except catholic high schools
that start at 9th? Is it a bigger issue at STA?

It is not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It might help to know why you decided to apply out of public to STA to determine if what you are looking for is realistic. As someone mentioned, don’t go there just to get into a top college. Being at the top of the grade academically is going to be tough and if that’s what your son wants, potentially very anxiety inducing. Some kids do better when everyone around them is pushing to do better and others do better when they are comfortably ahead of others. Tough to be comfortably ahead of others at STA.

I think realistic reasons are more personal growth oriented. If you want individual attention/motivating teachers, personal accountability, tight community, confidence building, leadership, etc those are realistic wants he could get at STA and potentially not at public.

Good luck! It’s a fantastic school and you are fortunate to have the choice.

If OP's child was accepted this year to STA and Sidwell from public for 9th grade, I'm guessing her DS is a pretty stellar student who probably will do exceedingly well at STA. From the way you describe your child, OP, I'd go for it if $$ is available for the 4 years. The smaller, more tight knit community, smaller class sizes, plus leadership and sports opportunities, all sound like they'd be great for your son.

[Anonymous]

I would consider St. Anselm’s instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would consider St. Anselm’s instead.

Some don’t want Catholic even if it is lite. Episcopal lite generally fares better with people who don’t want a religious affiliation.

[Anonymous]

Our son started at St. Albans as a 9th grader several years ago. His experience has exceeded expectations in every way. His classmates were welcoming, he's made great friends, had amazing experiences, learned a lot and has grown academically and personally. And this is true even through all of the craziness of Covid (something the school has handled extremely well, BTW). Expectations are high and the boys work hard, so you just need to understand that going in. But it sounds like your son would be a great fit. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Yes OP, yes it is worth it.

-former parent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think there are few expensive schools that are worth the tuition compared to public, but STA is one that falls in the worth it category.

STA and NCS are worth the money.