SSFS Closing

[Anonymous]

Please stop about the college placements for seniors. We were a part of the SSFS community for 8 years and for my 2023 graduate the goal was for him to get an education in a safe place. He is on the spectrum but was in a supportive environment with his friends. College placements are not the end goal for everyone.

[Anonymous]

FCS might be a good school today but it will be an environment of secrecy, politics and manipulation once the new head takes over as she was despised in her last job -teachers couldn't stand working for her and families had enough of her wobbly leadership, favoritism when issues arose, and Machiavellian tactics. Tread carefully. The place will change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Were they giving an unusual amount of financial aid? The statement said that people weren’t as generous at this school as at other schools, but how many schools can’t run on tuition? I thought that the giving at schools usually funded the scholarships, but not the running costs.

No, sustainable independent schools generally only cover 85-90% of operating costs through tuition dollars. The rest comes form fundraising and endowment draws. Honestly, any school that is running off tuition dollars alone, or tuition + very minimal fundraising, is one you should avoid. Those schools are extremely sensitive to even small variations in enrollment, generally lack an endowment and certainly don't have a meaningful one, and lack the expertise to competently run fundraising campaigns (annual, capital, and specific needs) when the time comes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s what’s so confusing-if a marginal increase in enrollment would have made the school viable for another year, then why didn’t they go to the community hat in hand trying to raise that money when they didn’t hit those numbers? And if hitting their enrollment targets would NOT have been enough then why did they continue recruiting, not let families know they should be applying out, leave teaches in this position, etc.

Total speculation here - no evidence- just thinking through scenarios that could describe their odd timing on this decision…...

Maybe they ‘thought’ the just needed to hit aggressive new student recruitment targets - but after admissions they discovered more current students announced they were leaving than they expected and then also didn’t hit the new enrollees target either.

Poor planning, Board and senior leadership.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Untenable debt, lack of strategic financial plan, rising tuition, thin enrollment, etc. combined with a private school “surplus” in a strong public school market does not translate well. More conversation should focus on mergers in these concentrated markets where it can feel like survival of the fittest. Regardless of how compelling one school’s value is, there are not enough families to serve them all let alone afford it. At the end of the day, the board owns the school’s long term solvency.

Why did this not get aired ahead of the school’s national search for a head and searches for other key admins this year? Search firms are typically tasked with learning a school’s financial skeletons.

That is why college outcomes matter. It is tied to financial success, stability, long term goals down the road not for a few but a huge majority of the student body interested in philanthropy and eventually if still in the area returning with their own offspring as legacy. That is something that SFS, STA, NCS, GDS and Landon do very well. Their alumni still fell connected to the school many years after.

[Anonymous]

I know it may not be a fit for everyone but we have loved the Harbor School. They go from 2 yr old- 3rd grade. Great community and small class sizes which gives more attention to each child. Can’t say enough good things!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Untenable debt, lack of strategic financial plan, rising tuition, thin enrollment, etc. combined with a private school “surplus” in a strong public school market does not translate well. More conversation should focus on mergers in these concentrated markets where it can feel like survival of the fittest. Regardless of how compelling one school’s value is, there are not enough families to serve them all let alone afford it. At the end of the day, the board owns the school’s long term solvency.

Why did this not get aired ahead of the school’s national search for a head and searches for other key admins this year? Search firms are typically tasked with learning a school’s financial skeletons.

That is why college outcomes matter. It is tied to financial success, stability, long term goals down the road not for a few but a huge majority of the student body interested in philanthropy and eventually if still in the area returning with their own offspring as legacy. That is something that SFS, STA, NCS, GDS and Landon do very well. Their alumni still fell connected to the school many years after.

Read the room.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please stop about the college placements for seniors. We were a part of the SSFS community for 8 years and for my 2023 graduate the goal was for him to get an education in a safe place. He is on the spectrum but was in a supportive environment with his friends. College placements are not the end goal for everyone.

College placement does matter for an independent school to thrive. You are trying to attract a certain demographic of parents who can afford to send their child to the school and pay extra fees and donate. It pays off for the child if they become successful (in a career) and are then eventually able to consistently give back either through philanthropy or legacy. That is how most of these schools get their funding through parents, alumni and then donors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Untenable debt, lack of strategic financial plan, rising tuition, thin enrollment, etc. combined with a private school “surplus” in a strong public school market does not translate well. More conversation should focus on mergers in these concentrated markets where it can feel like survival of the fittest. Regardless of how compelling one school’s value is, there are not enough families to serve them all let alone afford it. At the end of the day, the board owns the school’s long term solvency.

Why did this not get aired ahead of the school’s national search for a head and searches for other key admins this year? Search firms are typically tasked with learning a school’s financial skeletons.

That is why college outcomes matter. It is tied to financial success, stability, long term goals down the road not for a few but a huge majority of the student body interested in philanthropy and eventually if still in the area returning with their own offspring as legacy. That is something that SFS, STA, NCS, GDS and Landon do very well. Their alumni still fell connected to the school many years after.

Alumni still feeling connected is a weird thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s what’s so confusing-if a marginal increase in enrollment would have made the school viable for another year, then why didn’t they go to the community hat in hand trying to raise that money when they didn’t hit those numbers? And if hitting their enrollment targets would NOT have been enough then why did they continue recruiting, not let families know they should be applying out, leave teaches in this position, etc.

Total speculation here - no evidence- just thinking through scenarios that could describe their odd timing on this decision…...

Maybe they ‘thought’ the just needed to hit aggressive new student recruitment targets - but after admissions they discovered more current students announced they were leaving than they expected and then also didn’t hit the new enrollees target either.

NP who knows nothing about the school’s situation but have been involved in other similar situations: it is probably less that they thought they could dig out of $14m with 20 additional students, and probably more likely that a perfect storm of insufficient yield and surprise withdrawals blew up their debt service coverage ratio.

This is also my guess as to the recent even that tipped them over the edge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Untenable debt, lack of strategic financial plan, rising tuition, thin enrollment, etc. combined with a private school “surplus” in a strong public school market does not translate well. More conversation should focus on mergers in these concentrated markets where it can feel like survival of the fittest. Regardless of how compelling one school’s value is, there are not enough families to serve them all let alone afford it. At the end of the day, the board owns the school’s long term solvency.

Why did this not get aired ahead of the school’s national search for a head and searches for other key admins this year? Search firms are typically tasked with learning a school’s financial skeletons.

That is why college outcomes matter. It is tied to financial success, stability, long term goals down the road not for a few but a huge majority of the student body interested in philanthropy and eventually if still in the area returning with their own offspring as legacy. That is something that SFS, STA, NCS, GDS and Landon do very well. Their alumni still fell connected to the school many years after.

Alumni still feeling connected is a weird thing.

Alumni, donate big to many schools. But I guess that's weird....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s what’s so confusing-if a marginal increase in enrollment would have made the school viable for another year, then why didn’t they go to the community hat in hand trying to raise that money when they didn’t hit those numbers? And if hitting their enrollment targets would NOT have been enough then why did they continue recruiting, not let families know they should be applying out, leave teaches in this position, etc.

Total speculation here - no evidence- just thinking through scenarios that could describe their odd timing on this decision…...

Maybe they ‘thought’ the just needed to hit aggressive new student recruitment targets - but after admissions they discovered more current students announced they were leaving than they expected and then also didn’t hit the new enrollees target either.

NP who knows nothing about the school’s situation but have been involved in other similar situations: it is probably less that they thought they could dig out of $14m with 20 additional students, and probably more likely that a perfect storm of insufficient yield and surprise withdrawals blew up their debt service coverage ratio.

This is also my guess as to the recent even that tipped them over the edge.

But why is there insufficient yield and withdrawals is that because of Trump?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Untenable debt, lack of strategic financial plan, rising tuition, thin enrollment, etc. combined with a private school “surplus” in a strong public school market does not translate well. More conversation should focus on mergers in these concentrated markets where it can feel like survival of the fittest. Regardless of how compelling one school’s value is, there are not enough families to serve them all let alone afford it. At the end of the day, the board owns the school’s long term solvency.

Why did this not get aired ahead of the school’s national search for a head and searches for other key admins this year? Search firms are typically tasked with learning a school’s financial skeletons.

That is why college outcomes matter. It is tied to financial success, stability, long term goals down the road not for a few but a huge majority of the student body interested in philanthropy and eventually if still in the area returning with their own offspring as legacy. That is something that SFS, STA, NCS, GDS and Landon do very well. Their alumni still fell connected to the school many years after.

Alumni still feeling connected is a weird thing.

Alumni, donate big to many schools. But I guess that's weird....

Quaker schools historically have mediocre alumni support compared to traditional prep schools. I went to a Quaker school, siblings went traditional prep schools and it's light and day when it comes to alumni support, donations, reunions, you name it. I've thought through it and conclude that the dynamics attracting certain types of people to a Quaker school are not the same dynamics that tend to foster strong alumni relationships post graduation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Untenable debt, lack of strategic financial plan, rising tuition, thin enrollment, etc. combined with a private school “surplus” in a strong public school market does not translate well. More conversation should focus on mergers in these concentrated markets where it can feel like survival of the fittest. Regardless of how compelling one school’s value is, there are not enough families to serve them all let alone afford it. At the end of the day, the board owns the school’s long term solvency.

Why did this not get aired ahead of the school’s national search for a head and searches for other key admins this year? Search firms are typically tasked with learning a school’s financial skeletons.

That is why college outcomes matter. It is tied to financial success, stability, long term goals down the road not for a few but a huge majority of the student body interested in philanthropy and eventually if still in the area returning with their own offspring as legacy. That is something that SFS, STA, NCS, GDS and Landon do very well. Their alumni still fell connected to the school many years after.

Alumni still feeling connected is a weird thing.

Alumni, donate big to many schools. But I guess that's weird....

Very few do and this is not what the pp was speaking of and you know that, weird one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The 2025 college admissions outcomes aren't even that great for SSFS. Maybe this is a blessing in disguise. Hope the families land somewhere soon and that everyone finds jobs.

Please. It's too early to even know what they are yet.

This is the class of 2025 class right here not one Top 20- https://www.instagram.com/ssfs2enior5/

First off, it's not May 1 yet.

Secondly, I see USC and Vanderbilt acceptances. Those are two incredibly selective universities. So I think SSFS kids are doing just fine.

+1 This list looks fine! Also, remember this is where students have committed to, not were accepted to. Many students will get into highly selective schools, but for various reasons, especially cost, may choose the more practical option!