Culture at St Stephens and St Agnes SSSAS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is a current junior who started in 9th and loves it. As parents, we don’t know that many parents beyond the ones we already knew well from the k-8 DC was at before, but I have met several others while volunteering for the performing arts boosters. We have an HHI of under $200k and I’d say most of DC’s friends are wealthier based on the homes I’ve dropped DC at, but not insanely so. I’m sure there are uber wealthy families here, but if any of DC’s friends are among them, they don’t act problematicly elitist. It’s a great group of kids with a wide range of interests.

Thank you - do you get the sense that a decent number of families receive financial aid?

About a year ago they had stats on their website. They don’t anymore, but you can find the archived page here. It says what percent receive FA, the average amount across the different schools, and some examples of average income and assets of families that receive FA:

http://web.archive.org/web/20250524201108/https://www.sssas.org/admissions/tuition-and-financial-assistance

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Different poster, but we also had a terrible experience after being very loyal and generous to the school for years and multiple kids. I cannot tell you exactly what happened to my child because then people would know who I am, but I would encourage you to look elsewhere. This school is smoke and mirrors.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just search any of the recent threads about the school on here... I'll give you a hint - it's not good.

On all of those threads you will find the usual haters, most of whom seem to have little to no actual experience with the school, the occasional family with a legitimately poor experience, and many people praising the school. Just as with any number of schools DCUM loves to hate one, ranging from Flint Hill to NCS.

We had a terrible experience, but when I comment on posts, I am accused of gaslighting, lying, being a student at a rival, etc, so I won’t go into detail, but we were amongst many who left at the same time for multiple issues. The k-12 we switched to is night and day better across the board. I wish we had gotten out sooner.

+1

I’m very sorry. I hope everything is okay

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just search any of the recent threads about the school on here... I'll give you a hint - it's not good.

On all of those threads you will find the usual haters, most of whom seem to have little to no actual experience with the school, the occasional family with a legitimately poor experience, and many people praising the school. Just as with any number of schools DCUM loves to hate one, ranging from Flint Hill to NCS.

We had a terrible experience, but when I comment on posts, I am accused of gaslighting, lying, being a student at a rival, etc, so I won’t go into detail, but we were amongst many who left at the same time for multiple issues. The k-12 we switched to is night and day better across the board. I wish we had gotten out sooner.

Sorry to hear that! I am OP. Could you share more about what caused you to leave and when this was? Recently? Could you also share what k-12 you switched to? I assume not in Alexandria as they are so limited? Thank you and sorry for your experience.

Sorry one other Q when you say many - do you know about how many other families left? Alarming!

NP. I think within the past few years there was one particular grade that had a lot of issues and saw a group of families leave.

I went into the admissions process not planning to send DC to SSSAS based on things I've heard from others. Their admissions process won us over and DC has thrived there. You never really know until you're in the situation.

I think this may be the case. I do not doubt that there are families that have had bad experiences. No school is going to have only happy families. But it really doesn’t track with our family’s experience at SSSAS.

[Anonymous]

Our family experience of SSSAS high school has been wonderful. We came from another independent school in 9th grade. Both boys have thrived as SSSAS due to the amazing teachers, wonderful community and all of the opportunities that they've had. Love the culture at SSSAS of valuing being good as well as educated. Yes, we have received FA- not much, but it helped. Visit yourself and see what you think.

[Anonymous]

What is the current 8th grade like? We're coming from a Pk-8th and applying for 9th.

[Anonymous]

For 8th grade… The girls are mature and have gone through a few cycles of mean girl antics. The boys are pretty goofy and tend to socialize as a big group. There is very little mixing of genders socially. The conservative families are all planning to leave and some are flaunting it. Lots of kids are very active in chorus including boys. Overall, it’s a really good group- very little drama. The families that are leaving are frustrated and need to go and the rest of the kids are excited for new kids. There are a lot of high performing students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For 8th grade… The girls are mature and have gone through a few cycles of mean girl antics. The boys are pretty goofy and tend to socialize as a big group. There is very little mixing of genders socially. The conservative families are all planning to leave and some are flaunting it. Lots of kids are very active in chorus including boys. Overall, it’s a really good group- very little drama. The families that are leaving are frustrated and need to go and the rest of the kids are excited for new kids. There are a lot of high performing students.

Can you explain this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For 8th grade… The girls are mature and have gone through a few cycles of mean girl antics. The boys are pretty goofy and tend to socialize as a big group. There is very little mixing of genders socially. The conservative families are all planning to leave and some are flaunting it. Lots of kids are very active in chorus including boys. Overall, it’s a really good group- very little drama. The families that are leaving are frustrated and need to go and the rest of the kids are excited for new kids. There are a lot of high performing students.

Tik tok lady has entered the chat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For 8th grade… The girls are mature and have gone through a few cycles of mean girl antics. The boys are pretty goofy and tend to socialize as a big group. There is very little mixing of genders socially. The conservative families are all planning to leave and some are flaunting it. Lots of kids are very active in chorus including boys. Overall, it’s a really good group- very little drama. The families that are leaving are frustrated and need to go and the rest of the kids are excited for new kids. There are a lot of high performing students.

US parent so no idea about the social stuff, but the MS chorus was *amazing* at the holiday concert. Very excited to see who sticks with chorus into US in the next couple years!

[Anonymous]

The SSSAS parents who stalk DCUM think that “the Tik Tok lady” is the only liberal parent at the school.

[Anonymous]

NP. I’d heard more liberal families are leaving. A parent complained about there being too many rainbow stickers and voila, a bunch were taken down. The dress code is obviously super conservative. And they recently had an 8th grade seminar discussion about Jan 6th and approached it as if there are “two sides” with equally valid perspectives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The SSSAS parents who stalk DCUM think that “the Tik Tok lady” is the only liberal parent at the school.

Not but her writing style is easily identified.

[Anonymous]

You are obsessed with her.

[Anonymous]

We have absolutely loved the community at SSSAS. We are from Arlington (came from APS) A few of our neighbors also attend SSSAS and are quite happy. Could not be more content with the academics, the extra curricular, the teachers and overall the amazing community. The HOS is just wonderful- very present, accessible and really cares.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are obsessed with her.

Hardly.