STA profile clarification

[Anonymous]

After an STA tour and watching kids and parents at drop-off, my impression was warm, welcoming, traditional, down to earth (based on kids being dropped off in non-luxury cars, though these could have been nannies), not super pushy with their religious views. Kids were wearing ties, but many were in scuffed pants, tennis shoes and even shorts. I loved everything about it. HOWEVER, after getting my friend's feedback, I'm confused. She said STA is "high high snobbery," "religiously rigid," "dowdy" and the list goes on. Her kids don't go there. Her information came from friends who attend. Also, she is Jewish, if you think that skews her opinion. Personally, I can't see how it would, but maybe I'm naive. If you have personal experience with STA, whose opinion holds truer?

[Anonymous]

Not every stereotype fits in a nice neat box OP. You'll will find everything at STA ...super rich and then some poor kids from SE on scholarship and everything in between. You will find snobby parents, nice parents, crazy parents, nice kids, entitled kids, jerk kids etc. And yes, they even have Jewish kids per your question.

[Anonymous]

the same can be said about any private school where you are paying over $35K a year to attend. welcome to private school education.

[Anonymous]

My son attends STA and I was a little worried about the snooty factor but, I have been pleasantly surprised. It doesn't happen over night but over time you discover the parent body is incredibly kind, warm, and wonderful. We live in NWDC and are well off but not anywhere near super rich. Yes, there are super rich but obvious material consumption is not the way of STA at all. There are also families that live much more modestly. There is no "class consciousness" amongst the boys at all. Cars at drop off cover the whole range. Lots of boys also ride the metro bus system, both those who live relatively nearby as well as those who live across the city. The boys do not care how much money anyone's family has. Some of the parents may but you find that everywhere, at every school.

As for religion, there is nothing rigid about it at all. Honestly that is the weirdest of all the things your friend told you. It's not really that religious although, if a boy wants more religion it's available. Really it's very individual.

[Anonymous]

First, I would encourage you to rely more on YOUR gut feeling than on your friend's impressions of St. Albans. Second, to the extent you want to do more investigation, why not talk to parents with kids who currently or formerly attend the school? Third, regardless of where you choose, somebody will probably criticize it, either overtly or by damning with faint praise. It is better to try to assess if your child likes it and not get too caught up in the reviews of others. A school with a "strong personality" -- single-sex, or well-known for some reason such as athletics or otherwise -- will also probably garner more criticism.

With that said, your friend's critique sounds quite odd. What's up with "dowdy," is she rating the clothes of the parents? How does that have anything to do with your child's potential experience? Does "dowdy" even go with "high high snobbery"? I'm sure there are snobs at STA, as there are at every institution that has a largely affluent base, but it's not the dominant "vibe" -- as noted, the boys don't "dress to impress" and care more about school achievements (sports, academics, arts) than about money.

And, as another poster said, the idea that St. Albans is "religiously rigid" is very odd. The religion classes on the curriculum are academic/inquiring in nature (for example, an ethics class that has a comparative religion component), and the chapel program is broadly inclusive -- homilies are given by student and faculty of many different faiths, and may even be moral/ethical and not overtly religious in nature. The official school mission statement welcomes students of all faiths and that is borne out in practice.

[Anonymous]

OP - I will tell you that your friend's comment on the religious aspect of STA is wrong. Religion at St Albans is about warmth, kindness, inclusion and giving. Our son recently sustained a serious injury. The lower school chaplain reached out to our family immediately and sat with us until past midnight, by her own choice, while my son waited for care in the emergency room. In perhaps the scariest and most awful night of our lives, she was there to offer support and comfort, not to proselytize or lay any rigid dogma on us. She shared a wonderful prayer with me at my request, to help me get through the night while he was in surgery. She visited my son regularly during his hospital stay and was kind and wonderful to our entire family. She is the epitome of kindness and inclusion and she personifies the religion of STA.