Bishop Ireton vs. SSSAS

[Anonymous]

Is there a list of 2021 college placement for BI? I have only seen a list that combines multiple graduating classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's a bigger issue differentiating the two schools. St Stephen's, is a toxic culture focused on money, Belle Haven and girls lacrosse. If your child doesn't fall into one of those three categories, he or she won't be very happy, and the Administration will treat you like a second class citizen. Simple as that. Ireton is half the price. More blue collar for sure. Not a country club vibe. Ireton has updated its facilities without increasing its price. St Stephen's hasn't updated its facilities and increased its fees to just under $50 k. Save yourself $100,000 and get a good education and stay away from the St. Stephen's toxic culture.

SSSAS parent here. We have had a great experience. We are Catholic but did not like the BI vibes. It has improved a lot so I think they are about the same now. BI may even have the edge in college placements. [i]We would still pick SSSAS. Have not seen the toxic culture and kids do not play lax. SSSAS college results have been so so. Again not why we went there. We are also not in Alexandria so did not flee public there. For what it is worth I agree college outcomes better at public for top 10% of class.

Doesn’t BI track your kid immediately upon entering based upon HSPT scores? Is there a way to move into Honors and AP classes if you aren’t placed in them initially Freshman year? I assume the top college placements are the kids that load up on AP and honors classes to get very high GPAs. Maybe I am wrong? SSSAS seems to allow everyone into AP classes if they want to try it. Can any current parents provide insight?

Not a current parent but I've looked into it because my DD is applying this year. The HSPT is used for placement for incoming 9th graders only. Placement in classes above that are based on the final grade in the previous year's class. For AP's, I don't think they allow kids to drop back down to Honors after the beginning of the year so they make the standards high to ensure that kids are ready and able to be successful in the class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's a bigger issue differentiating the two schools. St Stephen's, is a toxic culture focused on money, Belle Haven and girls lacrosse. If your child doesn't fall into one of those three categories, he or she won't be very happy, and the Administration will treat you like a second class citizen. Simple as that. Ireton is half the price. More blue collar for sure. Not a country club vibe. Ireton has updated its facilities without increasing its price. St Stephen's hasn't updated its facilities and increased its fees to just under $50 k. Save yourself $100,000 and get a good education and stay away from the St. Stephen's toxic culture.

SSSAS parent here. We have had a great experience. We are Catholic but did not like the BI vibes. It has improved a lot so I think they are about the same now. BI may even have the edge in college placements. [i]We would still pick SSSAS. Have not seen the toxic culture and kids do not play lax. SSSAS college results have been so so. Again not why we went there. We are also not in Alexandria so did not flee public there. For what it is worth I agree college outcomes better at public for top 10% of class.

Doesn’t BI track your kid immediately upon entering based upon HSPT scores? Is there a way to move into Honors and AP classes if you aren’t placed in them initially Freshman year? I assume the top college placements are the kids that load up on AP and honors classes to get very high GPAs. Maybe I am wrong? SSSAS seems to allow everyone into AP classes if they want to try it. Can any current parents provide insight?

Not a current parent but I've looked into it because my DD is applying this year. The HSPT is used for placement for incoming 9th graders only. Placement in classes above that are based on the final grade in the previous year's class. For AP's, I don't think they allow kids to drop back down to Honors after the beginning of the year so they make the standards high to ensure that kids are ready and able to be successful in the class.

Not a BI parent BUT I have an 8th grader also applying and this was a big concern of mine and I asked this question of admissions. I was told that if my DC was admitted and we accepted, that around June there would be placement tests to determine what level of 9th grade classes DC would take (honors, etc). I didn't ask if the child does poorly on the placement test in June, but excels his/her freshman year, can that same child then be eligible for honors in 10th. or 11th, etc.

[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.

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.

My child is not anti-religious. But I will note that the March for Life signs in the classrooms at BI made her really uncomfortable.

Why would a sign encouraging people to choose life make someone uncomfortable? She doesn't have to participate. Perhaps a sign that says choose abortion would make her more comfortable??? huh??

Give me a break. The abortion debate isn’t about life. That is gaslighting at its finest. The debate is about whether women, females, have the right to make their own healthcare decisions. If men got pregnant this would never even be an issue. Further, if the debate were honestly about life, those who claim to be be pro-life would also be about supporting single parents, about free healthcare for poor kids in this country, about getting everyone vaccines who is medically allowed in order to prevent unnecessary deaths from communicable disease, and more. Instead the so/called “right-to-life” movement is really about controlling women and girls.

I agree there are many debates wrapped up into the abortion debate, and there are undoubtably some that see it as a way to control women. However, for many it is absolutely a debate about life. Have you any idea what occurs during an abortion. It is inhumane. I am shocked at how society has desensitized much of society to what actually is occurring. And yes, Catholics support the poor and have crisis pregnancy support. They even offer post-abortion support counseling. The main theme is compassion and respect for the sanctity of life.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have a guess at admissions rates for BI and SSSAS?

[Anonymous]

Who cares? For college admissions, you’re much better off going to TC WILLIAMS bc of diversity, etc. Most colleges these days will shy away from snotty prep schools / parochial schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have a guess at admissions rates for BI and SSSAS?

99%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who cares? For college admissions, you’re much better off going to TC WILLIAMS bc of diversity, etc. Most colleges these days will shy away from snotty prep schools / parochial schools.

The public school forum called and asked that you return there where you belong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who cares? For college admissions, you’re much better off going to TC WILLIAMS bc of diversity, etc. Most colleges these days will shy away from snotty prep schools / parochial schools.

TC Williams -- which is no longer the schools name --- is a good bet if your DC can get into the top of the class. College do not shy away from snotty prep schools/parochial schools. They do give some advantage to URMs and first gen college students. But no there is no shying away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who cares? For college admissions, you’re much better off going to TC WILLIAMS bc of diversity, etc. Most colleges these days will shy away from snotty prep schools / parochial schools.

Do you even live in Alexandria? It is called Alexandria City High School.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who cares? For college admissions, you’re much better off going to TC WILLIAMS bc of diversity, etc. Most colleges these days will shy away from snotty prep schools / parochial schools.

Do you even live in Alexandria? It is called Alexandria City High School.

It’s TC Williams to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who cares? For college admissions, you’re much better off going to TC WILLIAMS bc of diversity, etc. Most colleges these days will shy away from snotty prep schools / parochial schools.

TC Williams -- which is no longer the schools name --- is a good bet if your DC can get into the top of the class. College do not shy away from snotty prep schools/parochial schools. They do give some advantage to URMs and first gen college students. But no there is no shying away.

Yes — rich kids from NOVA in elite prep schools are colleges’ top priority these days. Can’t get enough of them. Most college admissions officers are just dying to get more SSSA applicants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who cares? For college admissions, you’re much better off going to TC WILLIAMS bc of diversity, etc. Most colleges these days will shy away from snotty prep schools / parochial schools.

Do you even live in Alexandria? It is called Alexandria City High School.

It’s TC Williams to me.

There’s a reason why they changed the name. You remind me of an old neighbor who said, “ they are still colored’s to me” when talking about black’s. Smh. It’s Alexandria City High.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who cares? For college admissions, you’re much better off going to TC WILLIAMS bc of diversity, etc. Most colleges these days will shy away from snotty prep schools / parochial schools.

Do you even live in Alexandria? It is called Alexandria City High School.

It’s TC Williams to me.

There’s a reason why they changed the name. You remind me of an old neighbor who said, “ they are still colored’s to me” when talking about black’s. Smh. It’s Alexandria City High.

. Perfect analogy. Strange how ACPS — the bastion of intolerance and conservatism that it is — went so long with a high school with a “racist” name, up until last year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's a bigger issue differentiating the two schools. St Stephen's, is a toxic culture focused on money, Belle Haven and girls lacrosse. If your child doesn't fall into one of those three categories, he or she won't be very happy, and the Administration will treat you like a second class citizen. Simple as that. Ireton is half the price. More blue collar for sure. Not a country club vibe. Ireton has updated its facilities without increasing its price. St Stephen's hasn't updated its facilities and increased its fees to just under $50 k. Save yourself $100,000 and get a good education and stay away from the St. Stephen's toxic culture.

SSSAS parent here. We have had a great experience. We are Catholic but did not like the BI vibes. It has improved a lot so I think they are about the same now. BI may even have the edge in college placements. [i]We would still pick SSSAS. Have not seen the toxic culture and kids do not play lax. SSSAS college results have been so so. Again not why we went there. We are also not in Alexandria so did not flee public there. For what it is worth I agree college outcomes better at public for top 10% of class.

Doesn’t BI track your kid immediately upon entering based upon HSPT scores? Is there a way to move into Honors and AP classes if you aren’t placed in them initially Freshman year? I assume the top college placements are the kids that load up on AP and honors classes to get very high GPAs. Maybe I am wrong? SSSAS seems to allow everyone into AP classes if they want to try it. Can any current parents provide insight?

Not a current parent but I've looked into it because my DD is applying this year. The HSPT is used for placement for incoming 9th graders only. Placement in classes above that are based on the final grade in the previous year's class. For AP's, I don't think they allow kids to drop back down to Honors after the beginning of the year so they make the standards high to ensure that kids are ready and able to be successful in the class.

Not a BI parent BUT I have an 8th grader also applying and this was a big concern of mine and I asked this question of admissions. I was told that if my DC was admitted and we accepted, that around June there would be placement tests to determine what level of 9th grade classes DC would take (honors, etc). I didn't ask if the child does poorly on the placement test in June, but excels his/her freshman year, can that same child then be eligible for honors in 10th. or 11th, etc.

Just curious - how do colleges look at kids with no honors/intensified their freshman year? We are debating Catholic vs. public high school due to this concern.