SSFS Closing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Responding as an independent school administrator. Many independent schools enter an “arms race” to ramp up facilities and renovate — to stay competitive and attractive in the market. Boards make decisions to borrow money for costly projects w/o much strategy to generate revenue beyond tuition. This can happen when a campaign won’t be able to meet its goal. Philanthropy is a critical piece of how independent schools achieve long term sustainability.

With 140 acres, was there talk of ever selling some land to right size?

Also an administrator and it’s scary to see what’s going on at SSFS…and at my former colleagues’ schools up and down the East coast. We see philanthropy concentrating itself at schools that are already stable, and families coming to our school are just not willing to donate at a level that covers the true cost of educating their student, so forget major gifts. But meanwhile they are demanding all the things- arts programs as broad as those in public schools, extensive sports facilities, multiple languages regardless of class size, etc.

There will be a few schools untouched by this climate- the Sidwells, NCSs, etc. The rest of us are going to blow ourselves up no matter what we do. It sounds fatalistic but that’s how I feel. I can’t reconcile what parents expect vs. what we have the funds to offer. Either we’ll fail because enrollment declines when everyone jumps ship for more bells and whistles, or we’ll fail because we spend money we don’t have on more bells and whistles.

There is a market for a leaner private school without all the bells and whistles, but it has to have lower tuition to match. This is like the new car manufacturers who are all chasing the most affluent purchasers, new cars languishing on lots, while ignoring the upper middle class.

I'm really curious what that market is. Who wants to send their kids to a school that doesn't have certain amenities. What if they don't offer extracurriculars? What if there are no AP classes? What would that look like? Who is out there saying I'll pay more than public to send my kid to a private school that has way fewer amenities than the public school?

Catholics are saying that.

I’m one of the independent school administrator PPs. You can’t compare the culture of Catholic schools or use it to demonstrate what independent schools should do. Catholic schools work because families use them as a community and an extension of their family, have cultural expectations that drive their school choice toward them, and most importantly: they are subsidized by parishes.

Even that isn’t a given. In areas with archdioceses that are making huge legal settlement payouts, Catholic schools are certainly collapsing as parish closures gut their pool of future students and eliminate neighborhood Catholic schools. My childhood archdiocese in the Midwest and my friend’s archdiocese on the west coast are both in the midst of closures and consolidations, and their schools had high enrollment and full grades.

It’s an ugly landscape and it all seems to keep circling back to debt.

[Anonymous]

School consolidation is a solution for the future of independent education as well as partial land sell-offs. A decade or so ago, further away, Severn consolidated with Chesapeake Academy. Successful. School surplus is real, and the DMV is saturated. Value prop has to be compellingly clear to attract and retain today’s families for long term investment. Small class size, community feel won’t always cut it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Responding as an independent school administrator. Many independent schools enter an “arms race” to ramp up facilities and renovate — to stay competitive and attractive in the market. Boards make decisions to borrow money for costly projects w/o much strategy to generate revenue beyond tuition. This can happen when a campaign won’t be able to meet its goal. Philanthropy is a critical piece of how independent schools achieve long term sustainability.

With 140 acres, was there talk of ever selling some land to right size?

Also an administrator and it’s scary to see what’s going on at SSFS…and at my former colleagues’ schools up and down the East coast. We see philanthropy concentrating itself at schools that are already stable, and families coming to our school are just not willing to donate at a level that covers the true cost of educating their student, so forget major gifts. But meanwhile they are demanding all the things- arts programs as broad as those in public schools, extensive sports facilities, multiple languages regardless of class size, etc.

There will be a few schools untouched by this climate- the Sidwells, NCSs, etc. The rest of us are going to blow ourselves up no matter what we do. It sounds fatalistic but that’s how I feel. I can’t reconcile what parents expect vs. what we have the funds to offer. Either we’ll fail because enrollment declines when everyone jumps ship for more bells and whistles, or we’ll fail because we spend money we don’t have on more bells and whistles.

There is a market for a leaner private school without all the bells and whistles, but it has to have lower tuition to match. This is like the new car manufacturers who are all chasing the most affluent purchasers, new cars languishing on lots, while ignoring the upper middle class.

I'm really curious what that market is. Who wants to send their kids to a school that doesn't have certain amenities. What if they don't offer extracurriculars? What if there are no AP classes? What would that look like? Who is out there saying I'll pay more than public to send my kid to a private school that has way fewer amenities than the public school?

Catholics are saying that.

I’m one of the independent school administrator PPs. You can’t compare the culture of Catholic schools or use it to demonstrate what independent schools should do. Catholic schools work because families use them as a community and an extension of their family, have cultural expectations that drive their school choice toward them, and most importantly: they are subsidized by parishes.

Even that isn’t a given. In areas with archdioceses that are making huge legal settlement payouts, Catholic schools are certainly collapsing as parish closures gut their pool of future students and eliminate neighborhood Catholic schools. My childhood archdiocese in the Midwest and my friend’s archdiocese on the west coast are both in the midst of closures and consolidations, and their schools had high enrollment and full grades.

It’s an ugly landscape and it all seems to keep circling back to debt.

Are you unaware of all the Catholic schools in the DMV that are not diocesan but independent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your kid’s school doesn’t have to be absolutely everything, but it should be an environment for them. You live in an area where their interests can be met easily outside of school as needed.

Couldn't agree more with this! We have a neighbor whose son goes to Barrie and while they don't seem to have many programs (though they have some amazing experiential travel) their son has just blossomed in the middle school theater program and enjoys not having constant activities. He was welcomed at Barrie in a way that just wasn't happening at his previous school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:School consolidation is a solution for the future of independent education as well as partial land sell-offs. A decade or so ago, further away, Severn consolidated with Chesapeake Academy. Successful. School surplus is real, and the DMV is saturated. Value prop has to be compellingly clear to attract and retain today’s families for long term investment. Small class size, community feel won’t always cut it.

+1 There has to be something more. Sadly these SSFS students are going through a consolidation of their own with no planning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Responding as an independent school administrator. Many independent schools enter an “arms race” to ramp up facilities and renovate — to stay competitive and attractive in the market. Boards make decisions to borrow money for costly projects w/o much strategy to generate revenue beyond tuition. This can happen when a campaign won’t be able to meet its goal. Philanthropy is a critical piece of how independent schools achieve long term sustainability.

With 140 acres, was there talk of ever selling some land to right size?

Also an administrator and it’s scary to see what’s going on at SSFS…and at my former colleagues’ schools up and down the East coast. We see philanthropy concentrating itself at schools that are already stable, and families coming to our school are just not willing to donate at a level that covers the true cost of educating their student, so forget major gifts. But meanwhile they are demanding all the things- arts programs as broad as those in public schools, extensive sports facilities, multiple languages regardless of class size, etc.

There will be a few schools untouched by this climate- the Sidwells, NCSs, etc. The rest of us are going to blow ourselves up no matter what we do. It sounds fatalistic but that’s how I feel. I can’t reconcile what parents expect vs. what we have the funds to offer. Either we’ll fail because enrollment declines when everyone jumps ship for more bells and whistles, or we’ll fail because we spend money we don’t have on more bells and whistles.

There is a market for a leaner private school without all the bells and whistles, but it has to have lower tuition to match. This is like the new car manufacturers who are all chasing the most affluent purchasers, new cars languishing on lots, while ignoring the upper middle class.

I'm really curious what that market is. Who wants to send their kids to a school that doesn't have certain amenities. What if they don't offer extracurriculars? What if there are no AP classes? What would that look like? Who is out there saying I'll pay more than public to send my kid to a private school that has way fewer amenities than the public school?

Catholics are saying that.

I’m one of the independent school administrator PPs. You can’t compare the culture of Catholic schools or use it to demonstrate what independent schools should do. Catholic schools work because families use them as a community and an extension of their family, have cultural expectations that drive their school choice toward them, and most importantly: they are subsidized by parishes.

Even that isn’t a given. In areas with archdioceses that are making huge legal settlement payouts, Catholic schools are certainly collapsing as parish closures gut their pool of future students and eliminate neighborhood Catholic schools. My childhood archdiocese in the Midwest and my friend’s archdiocese on the west coast are both in the midst of closures and consolidations, and their schools had high enrollment and full grades.

It’s an ugly landscape and it all seems to keep circling back to debt.

Are you unaware of all the Catholic schools in the DMV that are not diocesan but independent?

Also Protestant religious schools that aren't subsidized by a church. But for many of these people are paying for:

1) a more old-school education with spelling, grammar, phonics, explicit writing instruction, and more homework
2) discipline
3) religion in education

And for that they are often willing to sacrifice sports teams, performing arts opportunities, extra languages, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Responding as an independent school administrator. Many independent schools enter an “arms race” to ramp up facilities and renovate — to stay competitive and attractive in the market. Boards make decisions to borrow money for costly projects w/o much strategy to generate revenue beyond tuition. This can happen when a campaign won’t be able to meet its goal. Philanthropy is a critical piece of how independent schools achieve long term sustainability.

With 140 acres, was there talk of ever selling some land to right size?

Also an administrator and it’s scary to see what’s going on at SSFS…and at my former colleagues’ schools up and down the East coast. We see philanthropy concentrating itself at schools that are already stable, and families coming to our school are just not willing to donate at a level that covers the true cost of educating their student, so forget major gifts. But meanwhile they are demanding all the things- arts programs as broad as those in public schools, extensive sports facilities, multiple languages regardless of class size, etc.

There will be a few schools untouched by this climate- the Sidwells, NCSs, etc. The rest of us are going to blow ourselves up no matter what we do. It sounds fatalistic but that’s how I feel. I can’t reconcile what parents expect vs. what we have the funds to offer. Either we’ll fail because enrollment declines when everyone jumps ship for more bells and whistles, or we’ll fail because we spend money we don’t have on more bells and whistles.

There is a market for a leaner private school without all the bells and whistles, but it has to have lower tuition to match. This is like the new car manufacturers who are all chasing the most affluent purchasers, new cars languishing on lots, while ignoring the upper middle class.

I'm really curious what that market is. Who wants to send their kids to a school that doesn't have certain amenities. What if they don't offer extracurriculars? What if there are no AP classes? What would that look like? Who is out there saying I'll pay more than public to send my kid to a private school that has way fewer amenities than the public school?

Catholics are saying that.

I’m one of the independent school administrator PPs. You can’t compare the culture of Catholic schools or use it to demonstrate what independent schools should do. Catholic schools work because families use them as a community and an extension of their family, have cultural expectations that drive their school choice toward them, and most importantly: they are subsidized by parishes.

Even that isn’t a given. In areas with archdioceses that are making huge legal settlement payouts, Catholic schools are certainly collapsing as parish closures gut their pool of future students and eliminate neighborhood Catholic schools. My childhood archdiocese in the Midwest and my friend’s archdiocese on the west coast are both in the midst of closures and consolidations, and their schools had high enrollment and full grades.

It’s an ugly landscape and it all seems to keep circling back to debt.

Are you unaware of all the Catholic schools in the DMV that are not diocesan but independent?

Also Protestant religious schools that aren't subsidized by a church. But for many of these people are paying for:

1) a more old-school education with spelling, grammar, phonics, explicit writing instruction, and more homework
2) discipline
3) religion in education

And for that they are often willing to sacrifice sports teams, performing arts opportunities, extra languages, etc.

True

[Anonymous]

Catholic independent schools can’t be compared to parish schools. They’re not all thriving, either. Some have huge endowments left from the days when their religious orders were still there, but others are hanging on by a thread.

For every Visi or Gonzaga, there’s a Woods Academy that could easily be the next SSFS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Responding as an independent school administrator. Many independent schools enter an “arms race” to ramp up facilities and renovate — to stay competitive and attractive in the market. Boards make decisions to borrow money for costly projects w/o much strategy to generate revenue beyond tuition. This can happen when a campaign won’t be able to meet its goal. Philanthropy is a critical piece of how independent schools achieve long term sustainability.

With 140 acres, was there talk of ever selling some land to right size?

Also an administrator and it’s scary to see what’s going on at SSFS…and at my former colleagues’ schools up and down the East coast. We see philanthropy concentrating itself at schools that are already stable, and families coming to our school are just not willing to donate at a level that covers the true cost of educating their student, so forget major gifts. But meanwhile they are demanding all the things- arts programs as broad as those in public schools, extensive sports facilities, multiple languages regardless of class size, etc.

There will be a few schools untouched by this climate- the Sidwells, NCSs, etc. The rest of us are going to blow ourselves up no matter what we do. It sounds fatalistic but that’s how I feel. I can’t reconcile what parents expect vs. what we have the funds to offer. Either we’ll fail because enrollment declines when everyone jumps ship for more bells and whistles, or we’ll fail because we spend money we don’t have on more bells and whistles.

There is a market for a leaner private school without all the bells and whistles, but it has to have lower tuition to match. This is like the new car manufacturers who are all chasing the most affluent purchasers, new cars languishing on lots, while ignoring the upper middle class.

I'm really curious what that market is. Who wants to send their kids to a school that doesn't have certain amenities. What if they don't offer extracurriculars? What if there are no AP classes? What would that look like? Who is out there saying I'll pay more than public to send my kid to a private school that has way fewer amenities than the public school?

Agree with this. The only no-bells-and-whistles schools seem to be really specific programs with either 1:1 learning or for kids with neurodivergence or specific learning needs. I don’t see the general population clamoring to pay tuition, however small, to get less than they would get at even their mediocre zoned public school.

We are one of those families. Our daughter has only attended private schools (tuition $35-$40k) with the large campus, gyms/athletic centers, multiple building, etc. we’ve decide to transfer her to a small school that focus on academics not amenities. We are paying $15k less and can put the savings towards selective enrichment activities outside from school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Responding as an independent school administrator. Many independent schools enter an “arms race” to ramp up facilities and renovate — to stay competitive and attractive in the market. Boards make decisions to borrow money for costly projects w/o much strategy to generate revenue beyond tuition. This can happen when a campaign won’t be able to meet its goal. Philanthropy is a critical piece of how independent schools achieve long term sustainability.

With 140 acres, was there talk of ever selling some land to right size?

Also an administrator and it’s scary to see what’s going on at SSFS…and at my former colleagues’ schools up and down the East coast. We see philanthropy concentrating itself at schools that are already stable, and families coming to our school are just not willing to donate at a level that covers the true cost of educating their student, so forget major gifts. But meanwhile they are demanding all the things- arts programs as broad as those in public schools, extensive sports facilities, multiple languages regardless of class size, etc.

There will be a few schools untouched by this climate- the Sidwells, NCSs, etc. The rest of us are going to blow ourselves up no matter what we do. It sounds fatalistic but that’s how I feel. I can’t reconcile what parents expect vs. what we have the funds to offer. Either we’ll fail because enrollment declines when everyone jumps ship for more bells and whistles, or we’ll fail because we spend money we don’t have on more bells and whistles.

There is a market for a leaner private school without all the bells and whistles, but it has to have lower tuition to match. This is like the new car manufacturers who are all chasing the most affluent purchasers, new cars languishing on lots, while ignoring the upper middle class.

I'm really curious what that market is. Who wants to send their kids to a school that doesn't have certain amenities. What if they don't offer extracurriculars? What if there are no AP classes? What would that look like? Who is out there saying I'll pay more than public to send my kid to a private school that has way fewer amenities than the public school?

Agree with this. The only no-bells-and-whistles schools seem to be really specific programs with either 1:1 learning or for kids with neurodivergence or specific learning needs. I don’t see the general population clamoring to pay tuition, however small, to get less than they would get at even their mediocre zoned public school.

We are one of those families. Our daughter has only attended private schools (tuition $35-$40k) with the large campus, gyms/athletic centers, multiple building, etc. we’ve decide to transfer her to a small school that focus on academics not amenities. We are paying $15k less and can put the savings towards selective enrichment activities outside from school.

which school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Responding as an independent school administrator. Many independent schools enter an “arms race” to ramp up facilities and renovate — to stay competitive and attractive in the market. Boards make decisions to borrow money for costly projects w/o much strategy to generate revenue beyond tuition. This can happen when a campaign won’t be able to meet its goal. Philanthropy is a critical piece of how independent schools achieve long term sustainability.

With 140 acres, was there talk of ever selling some land to right size?

Also an administrator and it’s scary to see what’s going on at SSFS…and at my former colleagues’ schools up and down the East coast. We see philanthropy concentrating itself at schools that are already stable, and families coming to our school are just not willing to donate at a level that covers the true cost of educating their student, so forget major gifts. But meanwhile they are demanding all the things- arts programs as broad as those in public schools, extensive sports facilities, multiple languages regardless of class size, etc.

There will be a few schools untouched by this climate- the Sidwells, NCSs, etc. The rest of us are going to blow ourselves up no matter what we do. It sounds fatalistic but that’s how I feel. I can’t reconcile what parents expect vs. what we have the funds to offer. Either we’ll fail because enrollment declines when everyone jumps ship for more bells and whistles, or we’ll fail because we spend money we don’t have on more bells and whistles.

There is a market for a leaner private school without all the bells and whistles, but it has to have lower tuition to match. This is like the new car manufacturers who are all chasing the most affluent purchasers, new cars languishing on lots, while ignoring the upper middle class.

I'm really curious what that market is. Who wants to send their kids to a school that doesn't have certain amenities. What if they don't offer extracurriculars? What if there are no AP classes? What would that look like? Who is out there saying I'll pay more than public to send my kid to a private school that has way fewer amenities than the public school?

Agree with this. The only no-bells-and-whistles schools seem to be really specific programs with either 1:1 learning or for kids with neurodivergence or specific learning needs. I don’t see the general population clamoring to pay tuition, however small, to get less than they would get at even their mediocre zoned public school.

Not a big market, but it’s there. Some avoid public school not to surround their kids in the fanciest of privilege but to be part of a smaller, intentional community that shares values and has an environment where their kids can be well. Standardized testing, big size, anonymity are just a few aspects of large public schools that can be downsides for some kids.

You are correct. We are one of those families. We transferred from a large private schools to a small school for the exact reasons you stated.

[Anonymous]

Another school admin here. Could be that SSFS was just not having the right convos at the right time about its governance, solvency, real vs perceived leadership needs. Vital to build strong and business-savvy boards who hold the school’s needs at the forefront of decisions.

What a loss to our independent school community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Catholic independent schools can’t be compared to parish schools. They’re not all thriving, either. Some have huge endowments left from the days when their religious orders were still there, but others are hanging on by a thread.

For every Visi or Gonzaga, there’s a Woods Academy that could easily be the next SSFS.

Or a Good Counsel or SJCHS which are thriving. No religious orders left them huge endowments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Responding as an independent school administrator. Many independent schools enter an “arms race” to ramp up facilities and renovate — to stay competitive and attractive in the market. Boards make decisions to borrow money for costly projects w/o much strategy to generate revenue beyond tuition. This can happen when a campaign won’t be able to meet its goal. Philanthropy is a critical piece of how independent schools achieve long term sustainability.

With 140 acres, was there talk of ever selling some land to right size?

Also an administrator and it’s scary to see what’s going on at SSFS…and at my former colleagues’ schools up and down the East coast. We see philanthropy concentrating itself at schools that are already stable, and families coming to our school are just not willing to donate at a level that covers the true cost of educating their student, so forget major gifts. But meanwhile they are demanding all the things- arts programs as broad as those in public schools, extensive sports facilities, multiple languages regardless of class size, etc.

There will be a few schools untouched by this climate- the Sidwells, NCSs, etc. The rest of us are going to blow ourselves up no matter what we do. It sounds fatalistic but that’s how I feel. I can’t reconcile what parents expect vs. what we have the funds to offer. Either we’ll fail because enrollment declines when everyone jumps ship for more bells and whistles, or we’ll fail because we spend money we don’t have on more bells and whistles.

There is a market for a leaner private school without all the bells and whistles, but it has to have lower tuition to match. This is like the new car manufacturers who are all chasing the most affluent purchasers, new cars languishing on lots, while ignoring the upper middle class.

I'm really curious what that market is. Who wants to send their kids to a school that doesn't have certain amenities. What if they don't offer extracurriculars? What if there are no AP classes? What would that look like? Who is out there saying I'll pay more than public to send my kid to a private school that has way fewer amenities than the public school?

My family made this decision. We left the fancy big private schools for a much smaller school that focuses on academics and values we support. Less fussy, straightforward and intentional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Catholic independent schools can’t be compared to parish schools. They’re not all thriving, either. Some have huge endowments left from the days when their religious orders were still there, but others are hanging on by a thread.

For every Visi or Gonzaga, there’s a Woods Academy that could easily be the next SSFS.

Or a Good Counsel or SJCHS which are thriving. No religious orders left them huge endowments.

To be clear, the endowments typically weren’t from the orders but reflect the relationship students and families had with them. They’re from wealthy people annd even small donors at a time when donating whatever money you had to your parish or school was very much expected. A lot of these big endowments grew from 1-2 rich families who felt a connection to the sisters, or situations like a single woman graduate never marrying and giving her entire net worth to her alma mater after her death. $10k here or there in 1920 or 1940 is a robust endowed fund today.