WWYD? Alexandria George Mason vs SSSAS. Is the money really worth it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our child is at SSSAS and we have another at a different major private. For us it is worth it for the opportunities our child is offered. Maybe it’s a small pond thing but we think that is worth it. Comparing the academics to other privates we are personally experiencing and others we know of anecdotally, SSSAS is rigorous. Lots of homework. Hard grading. Kids will be very prepared for a hard college. That said, access to Honors and AP is limited to higher achieving students. So grades matter both for college but also for immediate opportunities. This may sour people. It is a place that has done away with grade inflation almost to a fault. But again, we are happy. Our child is working hard and learning a lot and feeling very motivated.

They don’t offer Algebra 1 in 7th grade as SSSAS. My Freshman at an FCPS school is taking AP social studies SSSAS doesn’t offer until 11th or 12 th grade. Almost all public schools do. I just don’t see the ‘rigor.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our child is at SSSAS and we have another at a different major private. For us it is worth it for the opportunities our child is offered. Maybe it’s a small pond thing but we think that is worth it. Comparing the academics to other privates we are personally experiencing and others we know of anecdotally, SSSAS is rigorous. Lots of homework. Hard grading. Kids will be very prepared for a hard college. That said, access to Honors and AP is limited to higher achieving students. So grades matter both for college but also for immediate opportunities. This may sour people. It is a place that has done away with grade inflation almost to a fault. But again, we are happy. Our child is working hard and learning a lot and feeling very motivated.

They don’t offer Algebra 1 in 7th grade as SSSAS. My Freshman at an FCPS school is taking AP social studies SSSAS doesn’t offer until 11th or 12 th grade. Almost all public schools do. I just don’t see the ‘rigor.”

They don’t offer Algebra 1 in 7th in ACPS anymore either. This thread isn’t about FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our child is at SSSAS and we have another at a different major private. For us it is worth it for the opportunities our child is offered. Maybe it’s a small pond thing but we think that is worth it. Comparing the academics to other privates we are personally experiencing and others we know of anecdotally, SSSAS is rigorous. Lots of homework. Hard grading. Kids will be very prepared for a hard college. That said, access to Honors and AP is limited to higher achieving students. So grades matter both for college but also for immediate opportunities. This may sour people. It is a place that has done away with grade inflation almost to a fault. But again, we are happy. Our child is working hard and learning a lot and feeling very motivated.

They don’t offer Algebra 1 in 7th grade as SSSAS. My Freshman at an FCPS school is taking AP social studies SSSAS doesn’t offer until 11th or 12 th grade. Almost all public schools do. I just don’t see the ‘rigor.”

They don’t offer Algebra 1 in 7th in ACPS anymore either. This thread isn’t about FCPS.

Sounds like you regret your investmdnt on a technicality. LOL.

There are huge swaths of us here in Del Ray and Rosemont sending our kids to AC and placing them in much better ranked universities than their peers at SSSAS. Everyone that really lives here knows this. Private schools are about insulating kids in homogenus wealth. There is no such ting as a true classical education at 90% of the privates anyway. Save your money. Buy a beach house, and let your kid walk amongst the public.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our child is at SSSAS and we have another at a different major private. For us it is worth it for the opportunities our child is offered. Maybe it’s a small pond thing but we think that is worth it. Comparing the academics to other privates we are personally experiencing and others we know of anecdotally, SSSAS is rigorous. Lots of homework. Hard grading. Kids will be very prepared for a hard college. That said, access to Honors and AP is limited to higher achieving students. So grades matter both for college but also for immediate opportunities. This may sour people. It is a place that has done away with grade inflation almost to a fault. But again, we are happy. Our child is working hard and learning a lot and feeling very motivated.

They don’t offer Algebra 1 in 7th grade as SSSAS. My Freshman at an FCPS school is taking AP social studies SSSAS doesn’t offer until 11th or 12 th grade. Almost all public schools do. I just don’t see the ‘rigor.”

They don’t offer Algebra 1 in 7th in ACPS anymore either. This thread isn’t about FCPS.

Sounds like you regret your investmdnt on a technicality. LOL.

There are huge swaths of us here in Del Ray and Rosemont sending our kids to AC and placing them in much better ranked universities than their peers at SSSAS. Everyone that really lives here knows this. Private schools are about insulating kids in homogenus wealth. There is no such ting as a true classical education at 90% of the privates anyway. Save your money. Buy a beach house, and let your kid walk amongst the public.

? My kids aren’t at SSSAS. I’m just pointing out that ACPS doesn’t offer Algebra 1 in 7th anymore either. This was a big issue a year or two ago when they changed it. What an unhinged response.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our child is at SSSAS and we have another at a different major private. For us it is worth it for the opportunities our child is offered. Maybe it’s a small pond thing but we think that is worth it. Comparing the academics to other privates we are personally experiencing and others we know of anecdotally, SSSAS is rigorous. Lots of homework. Hard grading. Kids will be very prepared for a hard college. That said, access to Honors and AP is limited to higher achieving students. So grades matter both for college but also for immediate opportunities. This may sour people. It is a place that has done away with grade inflation almost to a fault. But again, we are happy. Our child is working hard and learning a lot and feeling very motivated.

They don’t offer Algebra 1 in 7th grade as SSSAS. My Freshman at an FCPS school is taking AP social studies SSSAS doesn’t offer until 11th or 12 th grade. Almost all public schools do. I just don’t see the ‘rigor.”

They don’t offer Algebra 1 in 7th in ACPS anymore either. This thread isn’t about FCPS.

Sounds like you regret your investmdnt on a technicality. LOL.

There are huge swaths of us here in Del Ray and Rosemont sending our kids to AC and placing them in much better ranked universities than their peers at SSSAS. Everyone that really lives here knows this. Private schools are about insulating kids in homogenus wealth. There is no such ting as a true classical education at 90% of the privates anyway. Save your money. Buy a beach house, and let your kid walk amongst the public.

? My kids aren’t at SSSAS. I’m just pointing out that ACPS doesn’t offer Algebra 1 in 7th anymore either. This was a big issue a year or two ago when they changed it. What an unhinged response.

People who would never sacrifice a beach house, prestige cars/plastic surgery/designer clothes/etc. for their children's education get very sensitive about those who would--or don't have to. They dress it up as concern that children will be "too sheltered" in a wealthy environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our child is at SSSAS and we have another at a different major private. For us it is worth it for the opportunities our child is offered. Maybe it’s a small pond thing but we think that is worth it. Comparing the academics to other privates we are personally experiencing and others we know of anecdotally, SSSAS is rigorous. Lots of homework. Hard grading. Kids will be very prepared for a hard college. That said, access to Honors and AP is limited to higher achieving students. So grades matter both for college but also for immediate opportunities. This may sour people. It is a place that has done away with grade inflation almost to a fault. But again, we are happy. Our child is working hard and learning a lot and feeling very motivated.

They don’t offer Algebra 1 in 7th grade as SSSAS. My Freshman at an FCPS school is taking AP social studies SSSAS doesn’t offer until 11th or 12 th grade. Almost all public schools do. I just don’t see the ‘rigor.”

They don’t offer Algebra 1 in 7th in ACPS anymore either. This thread isn’t about FCPS.

Sounds like you regret your investmdnt on a technicality. LOL.

There are huge swaths of us here in Del Ray and Rosemont sending our kids to AC and placing them in much better ranked universities than their peers at SSSAS. Everyone that really lives here knows this. Private schools are about insulating kids in homogenus wealth. There is no such ting as a true classical education at 90% of the privates anyway. Save your money. Buy a beach house, and let your kid walk amongst the public.

? My kids aren’t at SSSAS. I’m just pointing out that ACPS doesn’t offer Algebra 1 in 7th anymore either. This was a big issue a year or two ago when they changed it. What an unhinged response.

DP, but there is mothing unhinged abour defending AC from the usual racist classists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:George Mason vs SSSAS. Is the money really worth it?

OP- we went through a similar journey with our eldest before entering K, though different ACPS elementary school and different local private. We ended up deciding private school was not worth the substantial investment at the elementary level, and we do not regret that decision. There were definitely points of frustration in elementary school, and advocacy is needed to ensure your kids’ needs are being met, but both our kids received a great education. There are also more support services in public, that you may not anticipate needing. There are many dedicated teachers in ACPS, but of course, not all. Kid is now in a local private in middle school and they are more academically prepared than most of their peers.

Private school has typical student population- some great families, but many more kids (than public) who come from wealthy families and clearly get whatever they want. We (including kids) connected more with the ACPS community.

Biggest benefit of private for us is more individualized attention and decreased screen usage.

Considering what has been coming out for years now about the impact of screen "learning" on young brains, this is a major consideration. Personalized attention is also important to the child's social development and mental health.

It used to be that you could get both of those in public schools. Likely, you still can in some places. But your kid gets one childhood and one shot at brain development. I'd spend the money (or homeschool and supplement with tutors/enrichment classes where necessary).

At another ACPS ES (not GM) and there is not much screen time at our school. But because ACPS is ACPS and there are no universal curricula, what one gets at one school may be completely different. No way would I pay to put an elementary school child in private school. One of my children is on an IEP and gets robust resources. If your child is gifted, there is nothing. The gifted program has gone the way of the dinosaurs in the name of equity, but we enrich our gifted child in other ways.

I'm a PP who posted about leaving SSSAS and going to a different (better) private. While the transition was a bit rocky b/c my kids were behind in a lot of things, they have now fully adjusted and had a great year. I would realy encourage any alexandria residents to look further than SSSAS if they are looking at private. Our new private is leagues ahead and actually lower priced. I did want to chime in here and say I was really surprised and disappointed at how much screentime they have in the LS at SSSAS. I feel like parents there are in denial. I don't know how it compares to ACPS, but compared to our new private, it is a shocking amount at SSSAS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our child is at SSSAS and we have another at a different major private. For us it is worth it for the opportunities our child is offered. Maybe it’s a small pond thing but we think that is worth it. Comparing the academics to other privates we are personally experiencing and others we know of anecdotally, SSSAS is rigorous. Lots of homework. Hard grading. Kids will be very prepared for a hard college. That said, access to Honors and AP is limited to higher achieving students. So grades matter both for college but also for immediate opportunities. This may sour people. It is a place that has done away with grade inflation almost to a fault. But again, we are happy. Our child is working hard and learning a lot and feeling very motivated.

They don’t offer Algebra 1 in 7th grade as SSSAS. My Freshman at an FCPS school is taking AP social studies SSSAS doesn’t offer until 11th or 12 th grade. Almost all public schools do. I just don’t see the ‘rigor.”

They don’t offer Algebra 1 in 7th in ACPS anymore either. This thread isn’t about FCPS.

Sounds like you regret your investmdnt on a technicality. LOL.

There are huge swaths of us here in Del Ray and Rosemont sending our kids to AC and placing them in much better ranked universities than their peers at SSSAS. Everyone that really lives here knows this. Private schools are about insulating kids in homogenus wealth. There is no such ting as a true classical education at 90% of the privates anyway. Save your money. Buy a beach house, and let your kid walk amongst the public.

? My kids aren’t at SSSAS. I’m just pointing out that ACPS doesn’t offer Algebra 1 in 7th anymore either. This was a big issue a year or two ago when they changed it. What an unhinged response.

People who would never sacrifice a beach house, prestige cars/plastic surgery/designer clothes/etc. for their children's education get very sensitive about those who would--or don't have to. They dress it up as concern that children will be "too sheltered" in a wealthy environment.

Plastic surgery? LOL. Told on yourself, loser.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our child is at SSSAS and we have another at a different major private. For us it is worth it for the opportunities our child is offered. Maybe it’s a small pond thing but we think that is worth it. Comparing the academics to other privates we are personally experiencing and others we know of anecdotally, SSSAS is rigorous. Lots of homework. Hard grading. Kids will be very prepared for a hard college. That said, access to Honors and AP is limited to higher achieving students. So grades matter both for college but also for immediate opportunities. This may sour people. It is a place that has done away with grade inflation almost to a fault. But again, we are happy. Our child is working hard and learning a lot and feeling very motivated.

They don’t offer Algebra 1 in 7th grade as SSSAS. My Freshman at an FCPS school is taking AP social studies SSSAS doesn’t offer until 11th or 12 th grade. Almost all public schools do. I just don’t see the ‘rigor.”

They don’t offer Algebra 1 in 7th in ACPS anymore either. This thread isn’t about FCPS.

Right but if you are asking if SSSAS is worth 55k for a middling education that is worse than many many kids get for free, the answer is No. The PP said, “SSSAS is rigorous”. That claim is false. It is false when compared to other privates. In fact, it isn’t even rigorous compared to most public schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our child is at SSSAS and we have another at a different major private. For us it is worth it for the opportunities our child is offered. Maybe it’s a small pond thing but we think that is worth it. Comparing the academics to other privates we are personally experiencing and others we know of anecdotally, SSSAS is rigorous. Lots of homework. Hard grading. Kids will be very prepared for a hard college. That said, access to Honors and AP is limited to higher achieving students. So grades matter both for college but also for immediate opportunities. This may sour people. It is a place that has done away with grade inflation almost to a fault. But again, we are happy. Our child is working hard and learning a lot and feeling very motivated.

They don’t offer Algebra 1 in 7th grade as SSSAS. My Freshman at an FCPS school is taking AP social studies SSSAS doesn’t offer until 11th or 12 th grade. Almost all public schools do. I just don’t see the ‘rigor.”

They don’t offer Algebra 1 in 7th in ACPS anymore either. This thread isn’t about FCPS.

Right but if you are asking if SSSAS is worth 55k for a middling education that is worse than many many kids get for free, the answer is No. The PP said, “SSSAS is rigorous”. That claim is false. It is false when compared to other privates. In fact, it isn’t even rigorous compared to most public schools.

+1. And stating that ACHS doesn't offer X, when SSSAS doesn't either...... is a really odd defense of a middling school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our child is at SSSAS and we have another at a different major private. For us it is worth it for the opportunities our child is offered. Maybe it’s a small pond thing but we think that is worth it. Comparing the academics to other privates we are personally experiencing and others we know of anecdotally, SSSAS is rigorous. Lots of homework. Hard grading. Kids will be very prepared for a hard college. That said, access to Honors and AP is limited to higher achieving students. So grades matter both for college but also for immediate opportunities. This may sour people. It is a place that has done away with grade inflation almost to a fault. But again, we are happy. Our child is working hard and learning a lot and feeling very motivated.

They don’t offer Algebra 1 in 7th grade as SSSAS. My Freshman at an FCPS school is taking AP social studies SSSAS doesn’t offer until 11th or 12 th grade. Almost all public schools do. I just don’t see the ‘rigor.”

They don’t offer Algebra 1 in 7th in ACPS anymore either. This thread isn’t about FCPS.

Right but if you are asking if SSSAS is worth 55k for a middling education that is worse than many many kids get for free, the answer is No. The PP said, “SSSAS is rigorous”. That claim is false. It is false when compared to other privates. In fact, it isn’t even rigorous compared to most public schools.

+1. And stating that ACHS doesn't offer X, when SSSAS doesn't either...... is a really odd defense of a middling school

Again, I’m the one who made that comment and I wasn’t defending SSSAS. My kids don’t go there. But “it doesn’t even offer X which is offered at my FCPS school and many others” is misleading because ACPS doesn’t offer it either. If this is something you care about, you aren’t getting it at SSSAS…but you aren’t getting it in ACPS either.

[Anonymous]

OP - this is such a unanswerable question to anyone but you.

It's entirely dependent on the kids you have.

If you're seeking a private school to gain entry into an Ivy or goal is to get your kids into a top college - no SSSAS is not worth it. Actually, no pvt school unless you're going to Exter or a top boarding school is worth it. If your kid can perform academically, being #1 in public beats being #50 in most pvt schools.

If you're seeking a private school to offer your kids a "better" environment v Alex public HS, no it's not worth it from the perspective that if your kid is well adjusted and easy going, motivated academically with no learning disabilities and are able to test into honors classes, they will be fine in public.

If you're seeking a private school because neither the above is true and need an alternative option to public where the kids are not a good fit for whatever social, academic or personal reason they and you have, then yes, SSSAS is worth it.

t's convenient to Alexandria commute wise, offers a diverse community of well to do and middle class families, have very nice families with a strong school administration, teachers and curriculum. We have friends in Alex HS and friends in various pvt schools around NOVA. We are a SSSAS family. It can be better but it can be worse, like most things in life. It's a matter of priorities.

Is it worth the cost? Hell, no! But neither is your Volvo XC90 or Gwagon, Rivian or BMW SUV. Neither is flying on Business for a 7 hr flight to Europe at $3k one way. Nothing is "worth it" except if you desire it

[Anonymous]

If you are curious about privates but concerned if the tuition is worth it, I might look at ACDS or Grace Episcopal and reconsider SSSAS later! Both are wonderful communities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - this is such a unanswerable question to anyone but you.

It's entirely dependent on the kids you have.

If you're seeking a private school to gain entry into an Ivy or goal is to get your kids into a top college - no SSSAS is not worth it. Actually, no pvt school unless you're going to Exter or a top boarding school is worth it. If your kid can perform academically, being #1 in public beats being #50 in most pvt schools.

If you're seeking a private school to offer your kids a "better" environment v Alex public HS, no it's not worth it from the perspective that if your kid is well adjusted and easy going, motivated academically with no learning disabilities and are able to test into honors classes, they will be fine in public.

If you're seeking a private school because neither the above is true and need an alternative option to public where the kids are not a good fit for whatever social, academic or personal reason they and you have, then yes, SSSAS is worth it.

t's convenient to Alexandria commute wise, offers a diverse community of well to do and middle class families, have very nice families with a strong school administration, teachers and curriculum. We have friends in Alex HS and friends in various pvt schools around NOVA. We are a SSSAS family. It can be better but it can be worse, like most things in life. It's a matter of priorities.

Is it worth the cost? Hell, no! But neither is your Volvo XC90 or Gwagon, Rivian or BMW SUV. Neither is flying on Business for a 7 hr flight to Europe at $3k one way. Nothing is "worth it" except if you desire it

Well said!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:George Mason vs SSSAS. Is the money really worth it?

OP- we went through a similar journey with our eldest before entering K, though different ACPS elementary school and different local private. We ended up deciding private school was not worth the substantial investment at the elementary level, and we do not regret that decision. There were definitely points of frustration in elementary school, and advocacy is needed to ensure your kids’ needs are being met, but both our kids received a great education. There are also more support services in public, that you may not anticipate needing. There are many dedicated teachers in ACPS, but of course, not all. Kid is now in a local private in middle school and they are more academically prepared than most of their peers.

Private school has typical student population- some great families, but many more kids (than public) who come from wealthy families and clearly get whatever they want. We (including kids) connected more with the ACPS community.

Biggest benefit of private for us is more individualized attention and decreased screen usage.

Considering what has been coming out for years now about the impact of screen "learning" on young brains, this is a major consideration. Personalized attention is also important to the child's social development and mental health.

It used to be that you could get both of those in public schools. Likely, you still can in some places. But your kid gets one childhood and one shot at brain development. I'd spend the money (or homeschool and supplement with tutors/enrichment classes where necessary).

At another ACPS ES (not GM) and there is not much screen time at our school. But because ACPS is ACPS and there are no universal curricula, what one gets at one school may be completely different. No way would I pay to put an elementary school child in private school. One of my children is on an IEP and gets robust resources. If your child is gifted, there is nothing. The gifted program has gone the way of the dinosaurs in the name of equity, but we enrich our gifted child in other ways.

I'm a PP who posted about leaving SSSAS and going to a different (better) private. While the transition was a bit rocky b/c my kids were behind in a lot of things, they have now fully adjusted and had a great year. I would realy encourage any alexandria residents to look further than SSSAS if they are looking at private. Our new private is leagues ahead and actually lower priced. I did want to chime in here and say I was really surprised and disappointed at how much screentime they have in the LS at SSSAS. I feel like parents there are in denial. I don't know how it compares to ACPS, but compared to our new private, it is a shocking amount at SSSAS.

PP where do you sent your kids? I agree the prices for SSSAS are insane.