Getting into St. Albans

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Malcolm Lester's move to NPS will likely result in NPS becoming a real feed to STA and NCS.

With Lesters move to NPS, and Carrolls move to CHDS, presumably both will send more grads to the Cathedral schools. That leaves ST Pat's SOL.

[Anonymous]

Don't anyone get too caught up in this "feeder school" debate. Beauvoir is the Cathedral elementary school, and about 30 - 35 Beauvoir boys join in 4th grade. Usually St. Albans graduates a class of 75 - 80 by senior year. So that's 45 - 50 non-Beauvoir kids coming in along the way.

Bottom line: If you like the school and you think your son would do well there, apply! Don't psyche yourself out or put too much stock in where the student is coming from.

[Anonymous]

There are some very powerful folks with STRONG STA ties ( read not Beauvoir) who think the school is outsourcing too much of the admissions process to BVR. There are also some inside STA folks who think BVR kids are not as well prepared as they should be when they move over. I bet this will become a bigger deal over the next few years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Current 4th grader at Mater Dei is going to be in 4th next year at STA. Also heard a Mater Dei 6th grader was transferring. And 3 8th graders from MD are going next year. 4 got in but one is choosing Gonzaga. STA is liking those boys!

It should be no surprise that STA is accepting these boys. MD families tend to be more hard core religious, but the boys have more in common than differences. They are by and large bright, very athletic focused, polite, and committed to doing good. What is surprising to me is that so many MD boys are applying to STA, rather than the more traditional placement at Prep, Gonzaga and STJ. I wonder if the chatter on the other thread about STA aggressively looking for athletes is true. Regardless, if this is a true trend, there will be some very unhappy families at the aforementioned schools, feeling a sense of betrayal. Maybe not the right word, but will definitely be some hurt feelings.

1 4th grader and 3 or 4 8th graders from Mater Dei are very small numbers. Not much of a trend.

But they are bigger numbers than have traditionally applied to STA from MD which is has usually been "0".

Each year Mater Dei has at least one 8th grader apply. And they don't apply unless they have the grades and scores to get in. They would be counseled not to apply if they weren't qualified. The boys they get in just haven't accepted in awhile. It's been about 2 years since an MD boy went to STA. Yes this is a big year. But also those 8th graders going this year may live in DC.

One of the 8th grade MD boys started out at St Pats. Moved to MD for sports but repeated a year and does live in DC. His sister went to NCS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Malcolm Lester's move to NPS will likely result in NPS becoming a real feed to STA and NCS.

With Lesters move to NPS, and Carrolls move to CHDS, presumably both will send more grads to the Cathedral schools. That leaves ST Pat's SOL.

Ha ha ha. Not gonna happen. St Pats is academically much stronger than either of those schools and STA absolutely knows it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: So other than Beauvoir, which schools do entering fourth graders often come from?

St Pats.

No, not a single St. Pats boy was admitted into fourth at STA in the rising C Form grade or in the rising A form grade.

No St. Pats boys are in the class for C form for next year and there were none in last year's C form class.

Incorrect. At least one St Pats boy is in C form this year. H.T.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Current 4th grader at Mater Dei is going to be in 4th next year at STA. Also heard a Mater Dei 6th grader was transferring. And 3 8th graders from MD are going next year. 4 got in but one is choosing Gonzaga. STA is liking those boys!

It should be no surprise that STA is accepting these boys. MD families tend to be more hard core religious, but the boys have more in common than differences. They are by and large bright, very athletic focused, polite, and committed to doing good. What is surprising to me is that so many MD boys are applying to STA, rather than the more traditional placement at Prep, Gonzaga and STJ. I wonder if the chatter on the other thread about STA aggressively looking for athletes is true. Regardless, if this is a true trend, there will be some very unhappy families at the aforementioned schools, feeling a sense of betrayal. Maybe not the right word, but will definitely be some hurt feelings.

1 4th grader and 3 or 4 8th graders from Mater Dei are very small numbers. Not much of a trend.

But they are bigger numbers than have traditionally applied to STA from MD which is has usually been "0".

Each year Mater Dei has at least one 8th grader apply. And they don't apply unless they have the grades and scores to get in. They would be counseled not to apply if they weren't qualified. The boys they get in just haven't accepted in awhile. It's been about 2 years since an MD boy went to STA. Yes this is a big year. But also those 8th graders going this year may live in DC.

One of the 8th grade MD boys started out at St Pats. Moved to MD for sports but repeated a year and does live in DC. His sister went to NCS. [/quote
he moved to MD because the parents wanted an all boy Catholic environment for his formative years like many boys that start out at other schools and move to MD.

[Anonymous]

Is there a sibling preference at STA if your sister is at NCS. Or went to NCS. What if your mother went to NCS. Does that help you get in.

[Anonymous]

Many of the Mater Dei boys going to STA next year have siblings at the other Cathedral schools. Possibly why they are going. Usually Mater Dei boys have sisters at Holy Cross, Holy Child or Visi.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Malcolm Lester's move to NPS will likely result in NPS becoming a real feed to STA and NCS.

With Lesters move to NPS, and Carrolls move to CHDS, presumably both will send more grads to the Cathedral schools. That leaves ST Pat's SOL.

Ha ha ha. Not gonna happen. St Pats is academically much stronger than either of those schools and STA absolutely knows it.

Utter nonsense.

[Anonymous]

the only reason so many boys go to STA from St pats in 7th is Peter Barrett, who used to be at STA. He gets them in. Lester will have that kind of influence and more at NPS. It will become the feeder it used to be in the 90s

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Current 4th grader at Mater Dei is going to be in 4th next year at STA. Also heard a Mater Dei 6th grader was transferring. And 3 8th graders from MD are going next year. 4 got in but one is choosing Gonzaga. STA is liking those boys!

It should be no surprise that STA is accepting these boys. MD families tend to be more hard core religious, but the boys have more in common than differences. They are by and large bright, very athletic focused, polite, and committed to doing good. What is surprising to me is that so many MD boys are applying to STA, rather than the more traditional placement at Prep, Gonzaga and STJ. I wonder if the chatter on the other thread about STA aggressively looking for athletes is true. Regardless, if this is a true trend, there will be some very unhappy families at the aforementioned schools, feeling a sense of betrayal. Maybe not the right word, but will definitely be some hurt feelings.

1 4th grader and 3 or 4 8th graders from Mater Dei are very small numbers. Not much of a trend.

But they are bigger numbers than have traditionally applied to STA from MD which is has usually been "0".

Each year Mater Dei has at least one 8th grader apply. And they don't apply unless they have the grades and scores to get in. They would be counseled not to apply if they weren't qualified. The boys they get in just haven't accepted in awhile. It's been about 2 years since an MD boy went to STA. Yes this is a big year. But also those 8th graders going this year may live in DC.

One of the 8th grade MD boys started out at St Pats. Moved to MD for sports but repeated a year and does live in DC. His sister went to NCS.

For Sports? Maybe he moved because MD is less than half the price of St Pats. How do you know anyone's motivation at the end of the day. And why is this relevant to a discussion of getting into STA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many of the Mater Dei boys going to STA next year have siblings at the other Cathedral schools. Possibly why they are going. Usually Mater Dei boys have sisters at Holy Cross, Holy Child or Visi.

Many?

There are just three, I thought. What's "many" of three? Two?

The overwhelming majority of MD families are "committed to a Catholic Education" which is a frequently used phrase amongst them. Obviously those with children at NCS and STA are not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many of the Mater Dei boys going to STA next year have siblings at the other Cathedral schools. Possibly why they are going. Usually Mater Dei boys have sisters at Holy Cross, Holy Child or Visi.

Many?

There are just three, I thought. What's "many" of three? Two?

The overwhelming majority of MD families are "committed to a Catholic Education" which is a frequently used phrase amongst them. Obviously those with children at NCS and STA are not.

There are boys leaving lower grades at MD to go to STA. See previous post

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:the only reason so many boys go to STA from St pats in 7th is Peter Barrett, who used to be at STA. He gets them in. Lester will have that kind of influence and more at NPS. It will become the feeder it used to be in the 90s

I would add that the previous AD, Roper, had his kids at ST Pats. So it came as no surprise when St Pats boys routinely entered at 4th and 7th grades. That well has gone dry. If you are a St Pats family looking to end up at a Cathedral school, you should become increasingly concerned.