SSSAS - what is the culture like currently?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I am trying to figure out why this is 300+ posts? Would other k-12s garner such wildly different and polarized opinions? What is it about this school?

Do a search on NCS (not even just the current thread) or Flint Hill. There are many love/hate schools discussed at GREAT length on DCUM.

The schools are not fungible. We visited both and have solid connections at the Close. My children were literally turned off by both NCS and St. Albans. I wanted them to like the schools. I like them. They have well known rigor and amazing alums etc. My son did his shadow day and came out and said he would prefer to never go back. First words out of his mouth. I asked if something happened and he said no but he didn’t like how stifling it felt and the campus felt claustrophobic to him and the boys “vibe” was not the kind he liked. It was visceral and he is a mild mannered kid so I have to respect it. And my daughter’s feeling about NCS was that it was bland and joyless. she was strongly opposed to a girls school as well so we just didn’t press the issues with either and they are happily at other schools. But to think that NCS or ST Albans could be swapped for SSSAS shows a total lack of familiarity with the culture at all of the schools. Our impression of SSSAS was positive. Happy kids, engaged staff, lots of traditions, and it felt like a bigger place. It felt more like Bullis, Sidwell, Potomac. Nothing like NCS or St. Albans.

Ok, well then for the same price and similar culture but with vastly superior college outcomes I’d take Sidwell or Potomac.

But would they take you. Both get way more qualified applicants than they have spots so only the truly clueless act like getting into either of these schools is just an application away. But thanks for playing.

No the truly clueless think that SSSAS is on the same level as those DC and MD schools.

No, it’s not that we’re clueless; it’s that WE DON’T CARE.

I don’t care what “level” St Stephen’s is on. I don’t care what other parents at other DC schools think. I don’t care about some absurd “ranking” of private schools.

Many families are very happy with SSSAS, clearly. (The person saying they didn’t raise enough for the upper school project is just wrong, they fundraised more than expected and came in under budget.)

It’s like this thread is a mix of St Stephen’s parents saying they are happy with the school and other posters chiming in to say they’re wrong, or delusional. But clearly the school is doing something right. And if it’s not for you or your family, that’s truly ok. It’s not for everyone.

+2

Look at the thread history - many families left and/or were very unhappy too. And, trust me, the school definitely cares about its reputation. 20 years ago comparing to BI would be absurd. Today? It's not at all absurd.

Here’s the thing. No school is right for everyone. No school has zero students or families unhappy with their experience. I’m sorry some families didn’t find their fit at SSSAS, but it has been wonderful for our DC. I do t care how it compares to BI. We aren’t Catholic and BI is much bigger, and would have been a poor fit for DC. If BI is the better fit for your kid (or any kid), that’s wonderful! I hope they have as good an experience there as my kid is having at SSSAS. I’m not going to tell someone who had a poor experience and left that they have it all wrong and their kid should have stayed. I’m not sure why you are telling us we have it all wrong and our kid should leave.

Where did the PP say your kid should leave? They were simply stating the school's rep is not what is used to be.

SSSAS rep? Much higher than it was in the past. Nuts to think otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am trying to figure out why this is 300+ posts? Would other k-12s garner such wildly different and polarized opinions? What is it about this school?

Do a search on NCS (not even just the current thread) or Flint Hill. There are many love/hate schools discussed at GREAT length on DCUM.

The schools are not fungible. We visited both and have solid connections at the Close. My children were literally turned off by both NCS and St. Albans. I wanted them to like the schools. I like them. They have well known rigor and amazing alums etc. My son did his shadow day and came out and said he would prefer to never go back. First words out of his mouth. I asked if something happened and he said no but he didn’t like how stifling it felt and the campus felt claustrophobic to him and the boys “vibe” was not the kind he liked. It was visceral and he is a mild mannered kid so I have to respect it. And my daughter’s feeling about NCS was that it was bland and joyless. she was strongly opposed to a girls school as well so we just didn’t press the issues with either and they are happily at other schools. But to think that NCS or ST Albans could be swapped for SSSAS shows a total lack of familiarity with the culture at all of the schools. Our impression of SSSAS was positive. Happy kids, engaged staff, lots of traditions, and it felt like a bigger place. It felt more like Bullis, Sidwell, Potomac. Nothing like NCS or St. Albans.

Ok, well then for the same price and similar culture but with vastly superior college outcomes I’d take Sidwell or Potomac.

But would they take you. Both get way more qualified applicants than they have spots so only the truly clueless act like getting into either of these schools is just an application away. But thanks for playing.

No the truly clueless think that SSSAS is on the same level as those DC and MD schools.

No, it’s not that we’re clueless; it’s that WE DON’T CARE.

I don’t care what “level” St Stephen’s is on. I don’t care what other parents at other DC schools think. I don’t care about some absurd “ranking” of private schools.

Many families are very happy with SSSAS, clearly. (The person saying they didn’t raise enough for the upper school project is just wrong, they fundraised more than expected and came in under budget.)

It’s like this thread is a mix of St Stephen’s parents saying they are happy with the school and other posters chiming in to say they’re wrong, or delusional. But clearly the school is doing something right. And if it’s not for you or your family, that’s truly ok. It’s not for everyone.

+2

Look at the thread history - many families left and/or were very unhappy too. And, trust me, the school definitely cares about its reputation. 20 years ago comparing to BI would be absurd. Today? It's not at all absurd.

Here’s the thing. No school is right for everyone. No school has zero students or families unhappy with their experience. I’m sorry some families didn’t find their fit at SSSAS, but it has been wonderful for our DC. I do t care how it compares to BI. We aren’t Catholic and BI is much bigger, and would have been a poor fit for DC. If BI is the better fit for your kid (or any kid), that’s wonderful! I hope they have as good an experience there as my kid is having at SSSAS. I’m not going to tell someone who had a poor experience and left that they have it all wrong and their kid should have stayed. I’m not sure why you are telling us we have it all wrong and our kid should leave.

Where did the PP say your kid should leave? They were simply stating the school's rep is not what is used to be.

SSSAS rep? Much higher than it was in the past. Nuts to think otherwise.

You are delusional.

[Anonymous]

Our daughter is in middle school. Joined in sixth grade. I totally agree with the previous poster about it being a tight and insular community. We are financially comfortable but do not have the extreme wealth of many of the “in” families. It took a while, but daughter found friends with similar values - mostly other kids who joined in sixth. We are very happy with the teachers and are glad she is there. The alternative is our public middle school, which is overcrowded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Here’s the thing. No school is right for everyone. No school has zero students or families unhappy with their experience.

DP. I agree with the quoted text above. I am sure SSSAS is a good fit for some kids. Different kids are different. Different schools (and colleges) are different. Pick the best fit school for your DC.

At the same time, part of "fit" is whether your DC experiences bullying (verbal or otherwise at school, and also how a school handles bullying (verbal or otherwise). No school will handle all cases perfectly. Better schools will handle those situations better - overall - than less well run schools.