Deep Racism Problems at NCS and STA: Questions/Answers we can't get through admissions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone or any school that makes decisions based on anonymous posts deserves what they get. I read some of the posts. Even the former head of Diversity at NCS gets tossed under the bus. While some of the older posts are plausible do you really believe a current student told another that if this was a few years ago I’d lynch you?

You're talking about a school where kids photoshopped black faces onto holocaust corpses in 2019. So yes, I believe these posts are plausible. Good grief.

What was so grotesque and troublesome about this event which happened TWO year ago is:

Not only did the kids do it but they felt confident enough to do it openly at school. Clearly they didn't fear repercussions or expulsion for doing this. They assumed the school would have their back or that it would just be laughed off.
It really shows how intrenched racism is in parts of this school community.

And yet they keep on admitting some of these families, despite the fact that the kids or the parents or both have records that make quite clear how they view these issues and how they have mistreated others on the basis of race, national origin, or sexual orientation. And for what? Seriously, for what?

4 years ago and they were expelled . There were those who said “ first offense “ and “ but they are young and they fell into an internet dark web parents didn’t know about “

That argument lost and they were expelled

Yeah schools have a role to set a high moral standard and educate young people , including socially, but ultimately kids comes from families and morals are learned at home - or not unlearned at home - and to blame a school - like some posters seem to relish doing is kinda unrealistic. A bad apple or two can get in . The school expelled them - the only one gloating over what they did is YOU

So, do you want improvement or more opportunities to gloat ?

Different poster. Sorry but your post is factually incorrect. It was 2.5 years ago to be exact. It was spring of 2018. Yes the boys were expelled but they received a lot of support by parents and kids. Victims received zero support. In fact a few boys put the names of the boys that did this on their helmets to honor them.

Did the school insist they take those off the helmets?

I don’t think they knew. That came out after the fact.

I am a different poster and I so not think STA encourages racism or elitism in the least. I really don’t.

I and many others think where they have failed is by admitting too many families that don’t want diversity or inclusion and who are vocally and publicly against BLM and against DEI and some against LGBTQ openly. So now they are left with a mess which will takes years to clean up after these families graduate from the Close.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are many wierdly STA-obsessed people on this messageboard that come out of the woodwork on ANY subject concerning STA. Lacrosse, racism, dating, academics, admissions--you name it, there is a group here that has an opinion on absolutely everything about the school...and likely no connection whatsoever to the place.

DP. I don’t know. I mean we are an STA family and we really love so many things about STA - the admin, the teachers, the coaches, the religious ed but we are appalled and shocked at these incidents. We as well as MANY STA families are very frustrated that so many families have been admitted that are against BLM, against DEI, are openly homophobic, make anti-Semitic comments etc... so yes you can love a school but not love those in it that are racist and anti-Semitic. NCS is more progressive but yes some of these types of families have kids in both schools or even just at NCS. What many parents at STA are asking is why are you and others so silent? Silence is complicity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone or any school that makes decisions based on anonymous posts deserves what they get. I read some of the posts. Even the former head of Diversity at NCS gets tossed under the bus. While some of the older posts are plausible do you really believe a current student told another that if this was a few years ago I’d lynch you?

You're talking about a school where kids photoshopped black faces onto holocaust corpses in 2019. So yes, I believe these posts are plausible. Good grief.

What was so grotesque and troublesome about this event which happened TWO year ago is:

Not only did the kids do it but they felt confident enough to do it openly at school. Clearly they didn't fear repercussions or expulsion for doing this. They assumed the school would have their back or that it would just be laughed off.
It really shows how intrenched racism is in parts of this school community.

And yet they keep on admitting some of these families, despite the fact that the kids or the parents or both have records that make quite clear how they view these issues and how they have mistreated others on the basis of race, national origin, or sexual orientation. And for what? Seriously, for what?

4 years ago and they were expelled . There were those who said “ first offense “ and “ but they are young and they fell into an internet dark web parents didn’t know about “

That argument lost and they were expelled

Yeah schools have a role to set a high moral standard and educate young people , including socially, but ultimately kids comes from families and morals are learned at home - or not unlearned at home - and to blame a school - like some posters seem to relish doing is kinda unrealistic. A bad apple or two can get in . The school expelled them - the only one gloating over what they did is YOU

So, do you want improvement or more opportunities to gloat ?

Different poster. Sorry but your post is factually incorrect. It was 2.5 years ago to be exact. It was spring of 2018. Yes the boys were expelled but they received a lot of support by parents and kids. Victims received zero support. In fact a few boys put the names of the boys that did this on their helmets to honor them.

Did the school insist they take those off the helmets?

I don’t think they knew. That came out after the fact.

I am a different poster and I so not think STA encourages racism or elitism in the least. I really don’t.

I and many others think where they have failed is by admitting too many families that don’t want diversity or inclusion and who are vocally and publicly against BLM and against DEI and some against LGBTQ openly. So now they are left with a mess which will takes years to clean up after these families graduate from the Close.

I'm white from upper NW and everyone I Know at STA comes from one social group (I could even say clique). The rest of us (the normal Joe's) know not to even apply. Why? Because these families have been turning their nose up at us for years in preschools, sports teams, etc.
Pick the coldest/most distant parents on your kid's team and they're bound to be STA parents. Plus we (the journalists, the government workers, the public school families) know we're not getting into STA. The school will follow the money and prestige every time. We know our place and STA knows what they want. The stupid thing
is that they keep wondering why they have such issues with race and class. Well, duh. It's obvious to anyone who has any contact with STA. Stop preferentially admitting the wealthy assholes of Washington and their friends and your problem will be reduced by half overnight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone or any school that makes decisions based on anonymous posts deserves what they get. I read some of the posts. Even the former head of Diversity at NCS gets tossed under the bus. While some of the older posts are plausible do you really believe a current student told another that if this was a few years ago I’d lynch you?

You're talking about a school where kids photoshopped black faces onto holocaust corpses in 2019. So yes, I believe these posts are plausible. Good grief.

What was so grotesque and troublesome about this event which happened TWO year ago is:

Not only did the kids do it but they felt confident enough to do it openly at school. Clearly they didn't fear repercussions or expulsion for doing this. They assumed the school would have their back or that it would just be laughed off.
It really shows how intrenched racism is in parts of this school community.

And yet they keep on admitting some of these families, despite the fact that the kids or the parents or both have records that make quite clear how they view these issues and how they have mistreated others on the basis of race, national origin, or sexual orientation. And for what? Seriously, for what?

4 years ago and they were expelled . There were those who said “ first offense “ and “ but they are young and they fell into an internet dark web parents didn’t know about “

That argument lost and they were expelled

Yeah schools have a role to set a high moral standard and educate young people , including socially, but ultimately kids comes from families and morals are learned at home - or not unlearned at home - and to blame a school - like some posters seem to relish doing is kinda unrealistic. A bad apple or two can get in . The school expelled them - the only one gloating over what they did is YOU

So, do you want improvement or more opportunities to gloat ?

Different poster. Sorry but your post is factually incorrect. It was 2.5 years ago to be exact. It was spring of 2018. Yes the boys were expelled but they received a lot of support by parents and kids. Victims received zero support. In fact a few boys put the names of the boys that did this on their helmets to honor them.

Did the school insist they take those off the helmets?

I don’t think they knew. That came out after the fact.

I am a different poster and I so not think STA encourages racism or elitism in the least. I really don’t.

I and many others think where they have failed is by admitting too many families that don’t want diversity or inclusion and who are vocally and publicly against BLM and against DEI and some against LGBTQ openly. So now they are left with a mess which will takes years to clean up after these families graduate from the Close.

I'm white from upper NW and everyone I Know at STA comes from one social group (I could even say clique). The rest of us (the normal Joe's) know not to even apply. Why? Because these families have been turning their nose up at us for years in preschools, sports teams, etc.
Pick the coldest/most distant parents on your kid's team and they're bound to be STA parents. Plus we (the journalists, the government workers, the public school families) know we're not getting into STA. The school will follow the money and prestige every time. We know our place and STA knows what they want. The stupid thing
is that they keep wondering why they have such issues with race and class. Well, duh. It's obvious to anyone who has any contact with STA. Stop preferentially admitting the wealthy assholes of Washington and their friends and your problem will be reduced by half overnight.

Similar setup, except we knew our kid would probably get in and he did. The school had a lot of pluses. The parent body was a non-starter, once we really got to see it up close. Snobby, standoffish, inherited-wealth types who are as dull as they are both self-important and not-so-quietly racist. Certainly not all families; many at sta are truly lovely people. Why this group exists and persists at a school of such academic quality with such aspirations to shine on the national stage is a mystery. This clique is an embarrasmebt.

[Anonymous]

Black NCS mom here. One graduate and one still there. Both girls had amazing experiences. This year was hard for any black person in the country and I am proud of the ladies at NCS for using their voice to identify bias, racism and microaggressions. Could the school do more? Yes. They are trying. NCS is much much more progressive than STA. NCS has had a Black Student Union for years, STA has forbidden it until this year. NCS has a special ceremony at the end of year for black graduates called the Kente ceremony that the very active Black Alumnae Association participates in. So to OP's question, it really depends on what school you are looking at because they are quite different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone or any school that makes decisions based on anonymous posts deserves what they get. I read some of the posts. Even the former head of Diversity at NCS gets tossed under the bus. While some of the older posts are plausible do you really believe a current student told another that if this was a few years ago I’d lynch you?

You're talking about a school where kids photoshopped black faces onto holocaust corpses in 2019. So yes, I believe these posts are plausible. Good grief.

What was so grotesque and troublesome about this event which happened TWO year ago is:

Not only did the kids do it but they felt confident enough to do it openly at school. Clearly they didn't fear repercussions or expulsion for doing this. They assumed the school would have their back or that it would just be laughed off.
It really shows how intrenched racism is in parts of this school community.

And yet they keep on admitting some of these families, despite the fact that the kids or the parents or both have records that make quite clear how they view these issues and how they have mistreated others on the basis of race, national origin, or sexual orientation. And for what? Seriously, for what?

4 years ago and they were expelled . There were those who said “ first offense “ and “ but they are young and they fell into an internet dark web parents didn’t know about “

That argument lost and they were expelled

Yeah schools have a role to set a high moral standard and educate young people , including socially, but ultimately kids comes from families and morals are learned at home - or not unlearned at home - and to blame a school - like some posters seem to relish doing is kinda unrealistic. A bad apple or two can get in . The school expelled them - the only one gloating over what they did is YOU

So, do you want improvement or more opportunities to gloat ?

Different poster. Sorry but your post is factually incorrect. It was 2.5 years ago to be exact. It was spring of 2018. Yes the boys were expelled but they received a lot of support by parents and kids. Victims received zero support. In fact a few boys put the names of the boys that did this on their helmets to honor them.

Did the school insist they take those off the helmets?

I don’t think they knew. That came out after the fact.

I am a different poster and I so not think STA encourages racism or elitism in the least. I really don’t.

I and many others think where they have failed is by admitting too many families that don’t want diversity or inclusion and who are vocally and publicly against BLM and against DEI and some against LGBTQ openly. So now they are left with a mess which will takes years to clean up after these families graduate from the Close.

I'm white from upper NW and everyone I Know at STA comes from one social group (I could even say clique). The rest of us (the normal Joe's) know not to even apply. Why? Because these families have been turning their nose up at us for years in preschools, sports teams, etc.
Pick the coldest/most distant parents on your kid's team and they're bound to be STA parents. Plus we (the journalists, the government workers, the public school families) know we're not getting into STA. The school will follow the money and prestige every time. We know our place and STA knows what they want. The stupid thing
is that they keep wondering why they have such issues with race and class. Well, duh. It's obvious to anyone who has any contact with STA. Stop preferentially admitting the wealthy assholes of Washington and their friends and your problem will be reduced by half overnight.

Might be your experience but mine is the exact opposite. I have seen so many nasty things done by the “average Joes”’to STA kids in NW DC. Coaches, parents etc. I am a non parent coach (still young) and have been shocked by outright offensive behavior. It’s as if the “average Joes” wanted to launch preemptive strikes against 11 and 12 year old boys. Totally inappropriate. I have no stake in the fight as I am neither a parent nor an STA alum, just seen some great kids treated really badly and the only common factor was where they went to school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Black NCS mom here. One graduate and one still there. Both girls had amazing experiences. This year was hard for any black person in the country and I am proud of the ladies at NCS for using their voice to identify bias, racism and microaggressions. Could the school do more? Yes. They are trying. NCS is much much more progressive than STA. NCS has had a Black Student Union for years, STA has forbidden it until this year. NCS has a special ceremony at the end of year for black graduates called the Kente ceremony that the very active Black Alumnae Association participates in. So to OP's question, it really depends on what school you are looking at because they are quite different.

Regardless of which school op is looking at, the schools socialize together, do sports together, learn together. Many of the ig posts referenced issues with interactions between the school. If sta is a problem, it affects ncs. Trust me... my kid went to ncs.

[Anonymous]

Sadly I think one thing seems pretty clear--sta is a very unhappy place for many boys, especially non-whites. I hope someone there is getting this message. I'm not sure how much louder or clearer it could be, and I don't just mean on dcum. That's the least of it.

[Anonymous]

Amazing. STA such a bad school with horrible unhappy students. The place is a ghost town. I hope they’re able to fill all of those empty spaces.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Amazing. STA such a bad school with horrible unhappy students. The place is a ghost town. I hope they’re able to fill all of those empty spaces.

Serious issues here and this is your sarcastic response?!?

[Anonymous]

Would you consider Madeira for her? or Holton Arms? Or Sandy Spring Friends?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Black NCS mom here. One graduate and one still there. Both girls had amazing experiences. This year was hard for any black person in the country and I am proud of the ladies at NCS for using their voice to identify bias, racism and microaggressions. Could the school do more? Yes. They are trying. NCS is much much more progressive than STA. NCS has had a Black Student Union for years, STA has forbidden it until this year. NCS has a special ceremony at the end of year for black graduates called the Kente ceremony that the very active Black Alumnae Association participates in. So to OP's question, it really depends on what school you are looking at because they are quite different.

Many of my friends with black daughters ar NCS say their daughters are happy at NCS and they are pleased with the school. We have very candid conversations about many things so I know they would be honest with me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Black NCS mom here. One graduate and one still there. Both girls had amazing experiences. This year was hard for any black person in the country and I am proud of the ladies at NCS for using their voice to identify bias, racism and microaggressions. Could the school do more? Yes. They are trying. NCS is much much more progressive than STA. NCS has had a Black Student Union for years, STA has forbidden it until this year. NCS has a special ceremony at the end of year for black graduates called the Kente ceremony that the very active Black Alumnae Association participates in. So to OP's question, it really depends on what school you are looking at because they are quite different.

Many of my friends with black daughters ar NCS say their daughters are happy at NCS and they are pleased with the school. We have very candid conversations about many things so I know they would be honest with me.

NCS mom here and I would agree. It's a more diverse and progressive school. STA has bipolar admissions: ultra wealthy preps and then financial aid kids. NCS has far more families in the middle which helps immensely with daily harmony.

From my perspective STA's problems have more to deal with who they admit than who they don't. They have the diversity piece down (they have quite a large percentage of diversity kids). Now they have to stop admitting the Chevy Chase crowd. I'm white and this crowd completely snubs me too. It's not just black people that they're toxic towards. Why the school continues to preferentially admit them I don't understand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Black NCS mom here. One graduate and one still there. Both girls had amazing experiences. This year was hard for any black person in the country and I am proud of the ladies at NCS for using their voice to identify bias, racism and microaggressions. Could the school do more? Yes. They are trying. NCS is much much more progressive than STA. NCS has had a Black Student Union for years, STA has forbidden it until this year. NCS has a special ceremony at the end of year for black graduates called the Kente ceremony that the very active Black Alumnae Association participates in. So to OP's question, it really depends on what school you are looking at because they are quite different.

Many of my friends with black daughters ar NCS say their daughters are happy at NCS and they are pleased with the school. We have very candid conversations about many things so I know they would be honest with me.

NCS mom here and I would agree. It's a more diverse and progressive school. STA has bipolar admissions: ultra wealthy preps and then financial aid kids. NCS has far more families in the middle which helps immensely with daily harmony.

From my perspective STA's problems have more to deal with who they admit than who they don't. They have the diversity piece down (they have quite a large percentage of diversity kids). Now they have to stop admitting the Chevy Chase crowd. I'm white and this crowd completely snubs me too. It's not just black people that they're toxic towards. Why the school continues to preferentially admit them I don't understand.

Some (but not total) truth to this. First, not all diverse admits are fa. By a long shot. Second, not all white admits are ultra-wealthy preps.

What is true: there is a subgroup at sta that is completely toxic. To everyone. They are, in general, classist, racist, xenophobic, sexist, clubbist and, overall, an unhappy and unpleasant lot. They're generally too distracted by the need to cut each others' throats for flower mart and house tour to notice how wretchedly their boys behave and how much everyone else there avoids them at all costs.

As countless pp's have said, neither sta's reputation--locally and nationally--nor its culture will improve until admissions gets its act together. It’s embarrassing. And on so many issues that sta proclaiming to care about and needs to do something about, inexcusable.

[Anonymous]

Does this toxic lot help float the costs of the school and future giving? Also assume some are legacy families, hard to say no to when they give the school some continuity including financially. Just curious who you would replace them with once they are secretly banned.