Saint Andrew’s Episcopal School Potomac “SAES “

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rising 12th grade parent here. Applications for St. Andrews continue to rise, to record levels again this year, so the increases for the last 4 years were not a Covid blip. The school was founded in the 1970s to provide a co-ed alternative to St. Albans and NCS and, IMHO, is now realizing its potential.

Pros: My DC has greatly benefited from the high quality of teaching in the Upper School. As parents, we are also impressed by the extremely low level of faculty turnover in the Upper School - other private schools we have attended have had high levels of turnover (and blamed it on a nationwide shortage of teachers). Not a problem here, likely due to the focus on faculty professional development (with an in-house, world class program). The US Admin. team is also commendable - they communicate well, are responsive to questions and concerns, handle disciplinary issues appropriately and value community. We love how the US recognizes excellence in academics, athletics and the arts. It's always a pleasure to be a part of any activity at this school.

Cons: From our perspective, the extra-curricular activities are uneven. The US thrives in lacrosse and basketball but lacks a dedicated theater for performing arts (they use a multi-purpose room), a dedicated pool for their swim team, a dedicated coach for the robotics team, and an adequate coaching for the tennis team (but new coaches start in 2024). There may be other issues. Only one of these has been an issue for us. We know from experience that no one school is perfect and are very happy overall.

Via my school, I am part of AIMS and know SPECIFICALLY, that St. Andrews had an enrollment issue this year with fewer applications than expected. Please stop lying when the truth can be verified elsewhere. Admissions people talk at these conferences and we all compare notes, especially with schools that are within our geographic region.

If you are a member of AIMS and a responsible professional, you shouldn’t be on this forum discussing the applications of another member school.

They aren’t because they are making it up. SAES applications increased last year as they did at virtually school. There is a long term upward trend post covid. Enrollment is the same as it has been for the last several years. People should stop reading these things because the amount of incorrect information posted about every school on this forum is very high. My kids attend two different schools and the stuff posted about these two schools is almost always inconsistent with reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rising 12th grade parent here. Applications for St. Andrews continue to rise, to record levels again this year, so the increases for the last 4 years were not a Covid blip. The school was founded in the 1970s to provide a co-ed alternative to St. Albans and NCS and, IMHO, is now realizing its potential.

Pros: My DC has greatly benefited from the high quality of teaching in the Upper School. As parents, we are also impressed by the extremely low level of faculty turnover in the Upper School - other private schools we have attended have had high levels of turnover (and blamed it on a nationwide shortage of teachers). Not a problem here, likely due to the focus on faculty professional development (with an in-house, world class program). The US Admin. team is also commendable - they communicate well, are responsive to questions and concerns, handle disciplinary issues appropriately and value community. We love how the US recognizes excellence in academics, athletics and the arts. It's always a pleasure to be a part of any activity at this school.

Cons: From our perspective, the extra-curricular activities are uneven. The US thrives in lacrosse and basketball but lacks a dedicated theater for performing arts (they use a multi-purpose room), a dedicated pool for their swim team, a dedicated coach for the robotics team, and an adequate coaching for the tennis team (but new coaches start in 2024). There may be other issues. Only one of these has been an issue for us. We know from experience that no one school is perfect and are very happy overall.

Via my school, I am part of AIMS and know SPECIFICALLY, that St. Andrews had an enrollment issue this year with fewer applications than expected. Please stop lying when the truth can be verified elsewhere. Admissions people talk at these conferences and we all compare notes, especially with schools that are within our geographic region.

If you are a member of AIMS and a responsible professional, you shouldn’t be on this forum discussing the applications of another member school.

They aren’t because they are making it up. SAES applications increased last year as they did at virtually school. There is a long term upward trend post covid. Enrollment is the same as it has been for the last several years. People should stop reading these things because the amount of incorrect information posted about every school on this forum is very high. My kids attend two different schools and the stuff posted about these two schools is almost always inconsistent with reality.

This. MCPS is still a sh*t show post covid. Applications at the MD private schools are up across the board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rising 12th grade parent here. Applications for St. Andrews continue to rise, to record levels again this year, so the increases for the last 4 years were not a Covid blip. The school was founded in the 1970s to provide a co-ed alternative to St. Albans and NCS and, IMHO, is now realizing its potential.

Pros: My DC has greatly benefited from the high quality of teaching in the Upper School. As parents, we are also impressed by the extremely low level of faculty turnover in the Upper School - other private schools we have attended have had high levels of turnover (and blamed it on a nationwide shortage of teachers). Not a problem here, likely due to the focus on faculty professional development (with an in-house, world class program). The US Admin. team is also commendable - they communicate well, are responsive to questions and concerns, handle disciplinary issues appropriately and value community. We love how the US recognizes excellence in academics, athletics and the arts. It's always a pleasure to be a part of any activity at this school.

Cons: From our perspective, the extra-curricular activities are uneven. The US thrives in lacrosse and basketball but lacks a dedicated theater for performing arts (they use a multi-purpose room), a dedicated pool for their swim team, a dedicated coach for the robotics team, and an adequate coaching for the tennis team (but new coaches start in 2024). There may be other issues. Only one of these has been an issue for us. We know from experience that no one school is perfect and are very happy overall.

Via my school, I am part of AIMS and know SPECIFICALLY, that St. Andrews had an enrollment issue this year with fewer applications than expected. Please stop lying when the truth can be verified elsewhere. Admissions people talk at these conferences and we all compare notes, especially with schools that are within our geographic region.

If you are a member of AIMS and a responsible professional, you shouldn’t be on this forum discussing the applications of another member school.

But yet, here I am.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rising 12th grade parent here. Applications for St. Andrews continue to rise, to record levels again this year, so the increases for the last 4 years were not a Covid blip. The school was founded in the 1970s to provide a co-ed alternative to St. Albans and NCS and, IMHO, is now realizing its potential.

Pros: My DC has greatly benefited from the high quality of teaching in the Upper School. As parents, we are also impressed by the extremely low level of faculty turnover in the Upper School - other private schools we have attended have had high levels of turnover (and blamed it on a nationwide shortage of teachers). Not a problem here, likely due to the focus on faculty professional development (with an in-house, world class program). The US Admin. team is also commendable - they communicate well, are responsive to questions and concerns, handle disciplinary issues appropriately and value community. We love how the US recognizes excellence in academics, athletics and the arts. It's always a pleasure to be a part of any activity at this school.

Cons: From our perspective, the extra-curricular activities are uneven. The US thrives in lacrosse and basketball but lacks a dedicated theater for performing arts (they use a multi-purpose room), a dedicated pool for their swim team, a dedicated coach for the robotics team, and an adequate coaching for the tennis team (but new coaches start in 2024). There may be other issues. Only one of these has been an issue for us. We know from experience that no one school is perfect and are very happy overall.

Via my school, I am part of AIMS and know SPECIFICALLY, that St. Andrews had an enrollment issue this year with fewer applications than expected. Please stop lying when the truth can be verified elsewhere. Admissions people talk at these conferences and we all compare notes, especially with schools that are within our geographic region.

If you are a member of AIMS and a responsible professional, you shouldn’t be on this forum discussing the applications of another member school.

They aren’t because they are making it up. SAES applications increased last year as they did at virtually school. There is a long term upward trend post covid. Enrollment is the same as it has been for the last several years. People should stop reading these things because the amount of incorrect information posted about every school on this forum is very high. My kids attend two different schools and the stuff posted about these two schools is almost always inconsistent with reality.

Then you should also go away. Just FYI, you sound really dumb. People likely talk badly about you once you leave the room.

[Anonymous]

SAES for Lower School is wonderful. Just make sure to go to Upper School elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

The Upper School is wonderful as well.

[Anonymous]

How is SAES on financial aid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is SAES on financial aid?

Varies based on the profile of the kid.

[Anonymous]

Not worth 50k+

[Anonymous]

Enrollment was DOWN at SAES last year and this is trending at most not big 3-5 schools. They are an ok school but not great. In that area, I would try Bullis first or if girls, one of the all girl school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Enrollment was DOWN at SAES last year and this is trending at most not big 3-5 schools. They are an ok school but not great. In that area, I would try Bullis first or if girls, one of the all girl school.

This. Just like I (the AIMS poster) said before. The SAES admissions people need to go to sleep instead of trying to defend the school all of the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Enrollment was DOWN at SAES last year and this is trending at most not big 3-5 schools. They are an ok school but not great. In that area, I would try Bullis first or if girls, one of the all girl school.

This. Just like I (the AIMS poster) said before. The SAES admissions people need to go to sleep instead of trying to defend the school all of the time.

What are you talking about? The school had 560 students when we entered in the Lower School and it's at 716 this year. You are either misinformed or you just have some axe to grind. Weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Enrollment was DOWN at SAES last year and this is trending at most not big 3-5 schools. They are an ok school but not great. In that area, I would try Bullis first or if girls, one of the all girl school.

This. Just like I (the AIMS poster) said before. The SAES admissions people need to go to sleep instead of trying to defend the school all of the time.

Yeah, the ninth grade class, for example, is 97 rather than the target of 90 because the yield was higher than expected. I don’t know why people want to make stuff up like this. There is high demand at all of the area private schools.

[Anonymous]

SAES upper school is overpriced. It's a decent school, but not worth 50k. Yes, the top students are going to great schools... but the majority of them are going to good schools that you can get into without that price tag. It's a quirky school with no school spirit.

Ultimately, it's up to you. Don't listen to me or anyone else on this thread. Visit the school and determine if your child will fit in. Then determine it's a fit.

[Anonymous]

+1. Make the best choice for YOUR kid. You will not get a straight answer from this thread. For every person that had a great experience, there is someone that had a terrible experience. Making a decision based on a forum is just bad parenting!