Mass exodus from SSSAS Middle School

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:The people leave SSSAS in a huff are almost always conservative MAGA families because they think it’s a safe space for them and it’s not.

Good riddance to them

Yeah except I think these dress code changes are pissing off progressive families. The girls basically feel like they have to wear a dress to fit in.

Good riddance to anyone that doesn’t want to be there and leaves.

That's the attitude that supports a healthy environment at SSSAS! Don't review the reasons that families are leaving to try to improve SSSAS. It's clearly perfect.

I think this entire thread is bananas. The school does make changes where it sees fit and decides it is appropriate. Just because they don’t change whenever a parent asks doesn’t mean they are unresponsive. I personally know Trump families, independents and left democrats all happily coexisting because it was the right school for their kid(s). The one thing this thread is doing is making SSSAS look bad. To those of you who don’t think it is worth it, don’t come or leave. For those who hate diversity of view points, I mean ok. Just be prepared for a lonely life cuz you will encounter people who disagree with you and if you always make it an issue, they will leave you, not the other way around. It’s a nice school with tons of opportunities that many schools simply do not offer. Find me another school with wrestling, Latin Competitions, AP classes, almost a dozen international trips per year, and a Cappie nominated theater program. I’m waiting…

There is truly nothing at SSSAS that other privates do not all offer. I guess other independents don’t go for CAPPIES bc the only other private school in the nations cap region that even submits for those is BI. Most independent schools have better theater programs. I’m the PP who pulled our kids out of SSSAS. We stayed out of sheer laziness and only wish we had left earlier.

Ok. So this is really just a giant complaint by one unhappy family. It’s ok for you not to have liked it but you don’t need to make it a personal mission to bring the school down. Lots of us are happy and I think you should try to be ok with that.

No, it is far from one complaint. Read all of a the different comments. Glad that some of you are happy. Ignorance is bliss.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:We have 1 in US and 1 in MS. I think teachers at both are outstanding for most part and the HOS US is terrific. I agree that if your kids are super motivated academically talented, the money at SSSAS is too much to spend. I'm not sure if you work, where more convenient you'd go if you lived in Alexandria or Arlington however unless you were OK with Catholic school or then public. That's Linda a huge problem for older kids. No way can we move but neither willing to commute and maid out kids rise at 5am to go to school daily - that is a torture in itself. We didn't want public HS in Alexandria for our kid with learning disabilities and honestly they will likely head to art school - we were never on the ivy track so it's less the ROI for college and more the culture fit for our kids. That's hard anywhere due to specific classes but on US, our kid and us are happy enough. In MS, I do think it could be a lot better. I agree as well that the admin is more interested in keeping a happy staff v kids but I understand - to me it's the practical approach. The customers are going to line up as long as the teachers are good and stable tenure. I think the dress code change is truly ridiculous this year and can't say I understand why! But if you're in Arl or Alex and need a private school for your kids who are middle of the road - looking for private non Catholic that works - despite price tag, SSSAS fits the bill

Thank you for acknowledging that if you have reasonably academic kids SSSAS is not worth it. We spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on our kids education there with the hope of solid college outcomes. They did okay but could have done the same at a less expensive privates (thinking Gonzaga, Stone Ridge, Visi, St Johns) or better at equally expensive privates. It’s not a bad education it’s just not 55k. We should have left earlier - by the time we realized this at Upper School it was too complicated to leave. Lesson learned.

So what if you had spent less and gotten the same results? Or had spent the same at a supposedly “worth it” school and gotten the same results? I think that there so many factors in college applications and acceptances that to lay the blame (or credit) for each child’s college results solely on the school is really unfair. Each school has a different mix of kids applying to a different mix of schools. I think 9 going to W & M from SSSAS is amazing. But hey, maybe those kids wanted UVA so they feel let down. Or maybe they wanted Harvard. There is a very well regarded school in the area that has many going to UVA but couldn’t get a single one accepted at Florida. Those kids were disappointed! I bet their parents were relieved! Point is that the school your kids attend is only one piece of the pie. Maybe blaming SSSAS for disappointing results help avoid accepting reality. Reality is that even awesome kids sometimes don’t get the best college results. And people cannot endlessly ask for equity and diversity in schools and then squawk when the white kid who plays soccer doesn’t get into the primo schools. Doesn’t work that way.

Then you have very low expectations. And 9 to one school most likely means some kind of connection between schools that provides normally rejected kids with an acceptance.

This is just a dumb comment. W&M is not an easy school to get into and has no such relationship with any school. Make sense please.

W&M has an in state acceptance rate of 44%, so not exactly difficult. And if you don't think some private high schools have special relationships with some colleges, then you are very naive. Oh, also, that was a very dumb reply.

It’s actually 34%.

People also ask
What is the acceptance rate for William and Mary in state?
The William and Mary acceptance rate for the class of 2025 was 37%. However, the William and Mary acceptance rate for in-state students was slightly higher at 44%, implying a preference for Virginia residents. In addition, the William and Mary average GPA for the middle 50% of enrolled students is a 4.1-4.5.
William & Mary has a higher acceptance rate for early decision applicants, which is around 52%.

So, nope, you are simply wrong. And it's is not hard to get into. Maybe it was harder a while back...kind of just like SSSAS!

Lots of shots being fired at SSSAS.

[Anonymous]

To OP, if you got into another school just be happy and move on. This is obviously a troll thread. Most families that go to SSSAS don’t have other options if they don’t want Catholic or public school. I grew up in a private school and there are always things that you have to plug your nose and move on. There are no perfect schools. You should advocate for your child and if that includes uprooting and moving to another school, I’m sorry. That is a stressful and annoying process. If you did it and succeeded then I’m happy for you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The people leave SSSAS in a huff are almost always conservative MAGA families because they think it’s a safe space for them and it’s not.

Good riddance to them

Yeah except I think these dress code changes are pissing off progressive families. The girls basically feel like they have to wear a dress to fit in.

Good riddance to anyone that doesn’t want to be there and leaves.

That's the attitude that supports a healthy environment at SSSAS! Don't review the reasons that families are leaving to try to improve SSSAS. It's clearly perfect.

I think this entire thread is bananas. The school does make changes where it sees fit and decides it is appropriate. Just because they don’t change whenever a parent asks doesn’t mean they are unresponsive. I personally know Trump families, independents and left democrats all happily coexisting because it was the right school for their kid(s). The one thing this thread is doing is making SSSAS look bad. To those of you who don’t think it is worth it, don’t come or leave. For those who hate diversity of view points, I mean ok. Just be prepared for a lonely life cuz you will encounter people who disagree with you and if you always make it an issue, they will leave you, not the other way around. It’s a nice school with tons of opportunities that many schools simply do not offer. Find me another school with wrestling, Latin Competitions, AP classes, almost a dozen international trips per year, and a Cappie nominated theater program. I’m waiting…

There is truly nothing at SSSAS that other privates do not all offer. I guess other independents don’t go for CAPPIES bc the only other private school in the nations cap region that even submits for those is BI. Most independent schools have better theater programs. I’m the PP who pulled our kids out of SSSAS. We stayed out of sheer laziness and only wish we had left earlier.

Ok. So this is really just a giant complaint by one unhappy family. It’s ok for you not to have liked it but you don’t need to make it a personal mission to bring the school down. Lots of us are happy and I think you should try to be ok with that.

No, it is far from one complaint. Read all of a the different comments. Glad that some of you are happy. Ignorance is bliss.

A jerk to the end. I’m done. I think you have a sad and unpleasant spirit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have 1 in US and 1 in MS. I think teachers at both are outstanding for most part and the HOS US is terrific. I agree that if your kids are super motivated academically talented, the money at SSSAS is too much to spend. I'm not sure if you work, where more convenient you'd go if you lived in Alexandria or Arlington however unless you were OK with Catholic school or then public. That's Linda a huge problem for older kids. No way can we move but neither willing to commute and maid out kids rise at 5am to go to school daily - that is a torture in itself. We didn't want public HS in Alexandria for our kid with learning disabilities and honestly they will likely head to art school - we were never on the ivy track so it's less the ROI for college and more the culture fit for our kids. That's hard anywhere due to specific classes but on US, our kid and us are happy enough. In MS, I do think it could be a lot better. I agree as well that the admin is more interested in keeping a happy staff v kids but I understand - to me it's the practical approach. The customers are going to line up as long as the teachers are good and stable tenure. I think the dress code change is truly ridiculous this year and can't say I understand why! But if you're in Arl or Alex and need a private school for your kids who are middle of the road - looking for private non Catholic that works - despite price tag, SSSAS fits the bill

Thank you for acknowledging that if you have reasonably academic kids SSSAS is not worth it. We spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on our kids education there with the hope of solid college outcomes. They did okay but could have done the same at a less expensive privates (thinking Gonzaga, Stone Ridge, Visi, St Johns) or better at equally expensive privates. It’s not a bad education it’s just not 55k. We should have left earlier - by the time we realized this at Upper School it was too complicated to leave. Lesson learned.

So what if you had spent less and gotten the same results? Or had spent the same at a supposedly “worth it” school and gotten the same results? I think that there so many factors in college applications and acceptances that to lay the blame (or credit) for each child’s college results solely on the school is really unfair. Each school has a different mix of kids applying to a different mix of schools. I think 9 going to W & M from SSSAS is amazing. But hey, maybe those kids wanted UVA so they feel let down. Or maybe they wanted Harvard. There is a very well regarded school in the area that has many going to UVA but couldn’t get a single one accepted at Florida. Those kids were disappointed! I bet their parents were relieved! Point is that the school your kids attend is only one piece of the pie. Maybe blaming SSSAS for disappointing results help avoid accepting reality. Reality is that even awesome kids sometimes don’t get the best college results. And people cannot endlessly ask for equity and diversity in schools and then squawk when the white kid who plays soccer doesn’t get into the primo schools. Doesn’t work that way.

Then you have very low expectations. And 9 to one school most likely means some kind of connection between schools that provides normally rejected kids with an acceptance.

This is just a dumb comment. W&M is not an easy school to get into and has no such relationship with any school. Make sense please.

W&M has an in state acceptance rate of 44%, so not exactly difficult. And if you don't think some private high schools have special relationships with some colleges, then you are very naive. Oh, also, that was a very dumb reply.

It’s actually 34%.

People also ask
What is the acceptance rate for William and Mary in state?
The William and Mary acceptance rate for the class of 2025 was 37%. However, the William and Mary acceptance rate for in-state students was slightly higher at 44%, implying a preference for Virginia residents. In addition, the William and Mary average GPA for the middle 50% of enrolled students is a 4.1-4.5.
William & Mary has a higher acceptance rate for early decision applicants, which is around 52%.

So, nope, you are simply wrong. And it's is not hard to get into. Maybe it was harder a while back...kind of just like SSSAS!

Lots of shots being fired at SSSAS.

What else is new? DCUM loves to crap on SSSAS (and Flint Hill - maybe it’s just that VA schools are second-class citizens).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The people leave SSSAS in a huff are almost always conservative MAGA families because they think it’s a safe space for them and it’s not.

Good riddance to them

Yeah except I think these dress code changes are pissing off progressive families. The girls basically feel like they have to wear a dress to fit in.

Good riddance to anyone that doesn’t want to be there and leaves.

That's the attitude that supports a healthy environment at SSSAS! Don't review the reasons that families are leaving to try to improve SSSAS. It's clearly perfect.

I think this entire thread is bananas. The school does make changes where it sees fit and decides it is appropriate. Just because they don’t change whenever a parent asks doesn’t mean they are unresponsive. I personally know Trump families, independents and left democrats all happily coexisting because it was the right school for their kid(s). The one thing this thread is doing is making SSSAS look bad. To those of you who don’t think it is worth it, don’t come or leave. For those who hate diversity of view points, I mean ok. Just be prepared for a lonely life cuz you will encounter people who disagree with you and if you always make it an issue, they will leave you, not the other way around. It’s a nice school with tons of opportunities that many schools simply do not offer. Find me another school with wrestling, Latin Competitions, AP classes, almost a dozen international trips per year, and a Cappie nominated theater program. I’m waiting…

There is truly nothing at SSSAS that other privates do not all offer. I guess other independents don’t go for CAPPIES bc the only other private school in the nations cap region that even submits for those is BI. Most independent schools have better theater programs. I’m the PP who pulled our kids out of SSSAS. We stayed out of sheer laziness and only wish we had left earlier.

Ok. So this is really just a giant complaint by one unhappy family. It’s ok for you not to have liked it but you don’t need to make it a personal mission to bring the school down. Lots of us are happy and I think you should try to be ok with that.

No, it is far from one complaint. Read all of a the different comments. Glad that some of you are happy. Ignorance is bliss.

DP. It’s not ignorance when one family’s experience is different than yours. The school didn’t work for you, and it did work for them. No one is ignorant, they just had a better experience - maybe you got unlucky and they got lucky.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have 1 in US and 1 in MS. I think teachers at both are outstanding for most part and the HOS US is terrific. I agree that if your kids are super motivated academically talented, the money at SSSAS is too much to spend. I'm not sure if you work, where more convenient you'd go if you lived in Alexandria or Arlington however unless you were OK with Catholic school or then public. That's Linda a huge problem for older kids. No way can we move but neither willing to commute and maid out kids rise at 5am to go to school daily - that is a torture in itself. We didn't want public HS in Alexandria for our kid with learning disabilities and honestly they will likely head to art school - we were never on the ivy track so it's less the ROI for college and more the culture fit for our kids. That's hard anywhere due to specific classes but on US, our kid and us are happy enough. In MS, I do think it could be a lot better. I agree as well that the admin is more interested in keeping a happy staff v kids but I understand - to me it's the practical approach. The customers are going to line up as long as the teachers are good and stable tenure. I think the dress code change is truly ridiculous this year and can't say I understand why! But if you're in Arl or Alex and need a private school for your kids who are middle of the road - looking for private non Catholic that works - despite price tag, SSSAS fits the bill

Thank you for acknowledging that if you have reasonably academic kids SSSAS is not worth it. We spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on our kids education there with the hope of solid college outcomes. They did okay but could have done the same at a less expensive privates (thinking Gonzaga, Stone Ridge, Visi, St Johns) or better at equally expensive privates. It’s not a bad education it’s just not 55k. We should have left earlier - by the time we realized this at Upper School it was too complicated to leave. Lesson learned.

So what if you had spent less and gotten the same results? Or had spent the same at a supposedly “worth it” school and gotten the same results? I think that there so many factors in college applications and acceptances that to lay the blame (or credit) for each child’s college results solely on the school is really unfair. Each school has a different mix of kids applying to a different mix of schools. I think 9 going to W & M from SSSAS is amazing. But hey, maybe those kids wanted UVA so they feel let down. Or maybe they wanted Harvard. There is a very well regarded school in the area that has many going to UVA but couldn’t get a single one accepted at Florida. Those kids were disappointed! I bet their parents were relieved! Point is that the school your kids attend is only one piece of the pie. Maybe blaming SSSAS for disappointing results help avoid accepting reality. Reality is that even awesome kids sometimes don’t get the best college results. And people cannot endlessly ask for equity and diversity in schools and then squawk when the white kid who plays soccer doesn’t get into the primo schools. Doesn’t work that way.

Then you have very low expectations. And 9 to one school most likely means some kind of connection between schools that provides normally rejected kids with an acceptance.

This is just a dumb comment. W&M is not an easy school to get into and has no such relationship with any school. Make sense please.

W&M has an in state acceptance rate of 44%, so not exactly difficult. And if you don't think some private high schools have special relationships with some colleges, then you are very naive. Oh, also, that was a very dumb reply.

It’s actually 34%.

People also ask
What is the acceptance rate for William and Mary in state?
The William and Mary acceptance rate for the class of 2025 was 37%. However, the William and Mary acceptance rate for in-state students was slightly higher at 44%, implying a preference for Virginia residents. In addition, the William and Mary average GPA for the middle 50% of enrolled students is a 4.1-4.5.
William & Mary has a higher acceptance rate for early decision applicants, which is around 52%.

So, nope, you are simply wrong. And it's is not hard to get into. Maybe it was harder a while back...kind of just like SSSAS!

There have been several years of admissions since the class of 2025. For the latest year available (the class of 2028) it was 34%. You can find this easily on W&M’s website if you know how to use the internet.

The trolls here are not only trolls, but also stupid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The people leave SSSAS in a huff are almost always conservative MAGA families because they think it’s a safe space for them and it’s not.

Good riddance to them

Yeah except I think these dress code changes are pissing off progressive families. The girls basically feel like they have to wear a dress to fit in.

Good riddance to anyone that doesn’t want to be there and leaves.

That's the attitude that supports a healthy environment at SSSAS! Don't review the reasons that families are leaving to try to improve SSSAS. It's clearly perfect.

I think this entire thread is bananas. The school does make changes where it sees fit and decides it is appropriate. Just because they don’t change whenever a parent asks doesn’t mean they are unresponsive. I personally know Trump families, independents and left democrats all happily coexisting because it was the right school for their kid(s). The one thing this thread is doing is making SSSAS look bad. To those of you who don’t think it is worth it, don’t come or leave. For those who hate diversity of view points, I mean ok. Just be prepared for a lonely life cuz you will encounter people who disagree with you and if you always make it an issue, they will leave you, not the other way around. It’s a nice school with tons of opportunities that many schools simply do not offer. Find me another school with wrestling, Latin Competitions, AP classes, almost a dozen international trips per year, and a Cappie nominated theater program. I’m waiting…

There is truly nothing at SSSAS that other privates do not all offer. I guess other independents don’t go for CAPPIES bc the only other private school in the nations cap region that even submits for those is BI. Most independent schools have better theater programs. I’m the PP who pulled our kids out of SSSAS. We stayed out of sheer laziness and only wish we had left earlier.

Ok. So this is really just a giant complaint by one unhappy family. It’s ok for you not to have liked it but you don’t need to make it a personal mission to bring the school down. Lots of us are happy and I think you should try to be ok with that.

No, it is far from one complaint. Read all of a the different comments. Glad that some of you are happy. Ignorance is bliss.

A jerk to the end. I’m done. I think you have a sad and unpleasant spirit.

New poster here. I’m a parent of three saints, one in the MS, and I am profoundly upset with the administration about the MS dress code, and have made my feelings known. I am intentionally writing things here that will make me easily identifiable to those in the know.

My deep fear is that, despite having been a long time advocate for the school and its community, there might be people at the school who think that the complaints posted here have emanated from me. They have not.

When we first looked at schools 7 years ago, I was so influenced by negative comments on this website that we almost dismissed SSSAS outright. KC convinced us of the schools warmth and care, and we have been extremely happy with the schools teachers and how the administration works to cultivate community. I have over the years occasionally come back to dcum to post positive things about the school, because I hate thinking that a new parent somewhere might be turned off by the negativity sometimes found here.

At the moment there are parents who are upset about the way the MS scrutinizes girls’ clothing and these parents feel that the confusing new dress code hurts and does not help. Some of those parents are clearly posting here. The majority are upset because they care, not because they are vengeful. I would never disparage the school, and disparaging the dress code is not equivalent to disparaging the school as a whole. There are real issues to be addressed at the MS and I wish the admin would work with parents to understand those issues and solve them, rather than dismissing them outright.

For anyone reading this who is tempted to write off the school, please consider this: all schools, like all people, make mistakes and have to course correct. Of course there are families who have had a negative experience at SSSAS. But whatever you read here, including this message, can ever only represent the experience of one person at one point in time. The school is bigger than any one issue or family or policy or teacher, and the SSSAS is, as a whole, a truly wonderful place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To OP, if you got into another school just be happy and move on. This is obviously a troll thread. Most families that go to SSSAS don’t have other options if they don’t want Catholic or public school. I grew up in a private school and there are always things that you have to plug your nose and move on. There are no perfect schools. You should advocate for your child and if that includes uprooting and moving to another school, I’m sorry. That is a stressful and annoying process. If you did it and succeeded then I’m happy for you!

I really don’t understand this logic. If you’re going to do an independent school, you do realize SSSAS costs more than most of the local top tier ones? Most of the better schools also offer transportation, so saying you’re stuck paying a higher tuition at SSSAS bc you live in Alexandria isn’t an excuse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To OP, if you got into another school just be happy and move on. This is obviously a troll thread. Most families that go to SSSAS don’t have other options if they don’t want Catholic or public school. I grew up in a private school and there are always things that you have to plug your nose and move on. There are no perfect schools. You should advocate for your child and if that includes uprooting and moving to another school, I’m sorry. That is a stressful and annoying process. If you did it and succeeded then I’m happy for you!

I really don’t understand this logic. If you’re going to do an independent school, you do realize SSSAS costs more than most of the local top tier ones? Most of the better schools also offer transportation, so saying you’re stuck paying a higher tuition at SSSAS bc you live in Alexandria isn’t an excuse.

Curious which top schools constitute the “most” that are less expensive?

For US (9-12 grades):
STA: $56,966
NCS: $55,920
GDS: $55,881 (9-11) or $56,217 (12th)
Potomac: $52,800

SSSAS: $55,210 (9-11) or $55,500 (12th)

Only Potomac is less expensive. Maret is also less at $53,545 if you consider that a top school. And a $2-3k price difference isn’t massive even then. All the schools are in the same ballpark.

It’s fine if you think SSSAS should not even cost as much as the top schools, but it’s completely inaccurate to say it costs more.

[Anonymous]

FWIW, the two most expensive schools in the area are Bullis and Sidwell. Both are turning people away because people think they are worth it. And SSSAS and FH have increased their class sizes due to demand. People do think these schools are worth it. I agree.

[Anonymous]

Also, regarding transportation, I guess it depends on how you define top tier. But for the sake of discussion, let’s say it means St. Albans, NCS and Sidwell. None of them offer any transportation even for a fee. Not an option. Potomac requires it for the last mile due to their arrangement with the immediate neighborhood but if you want it from your neighborhood, you pay a fee just like at SSSAS and FH and SAES or Bullis, etc. I don’t believe Maret or GDS have buses at all but I may be wrong. In other words, you are not correct and literally just spewing garbage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, the two most expensive schools in the area are Bullis and Sidwell. Both are turning people away because people think they are worth it. And SSSAS and FH have increased their class sizes due to demand. People do think these schools are worth it. I agree.

Sidwell! Thank you. I’m the pp who listed the tuitions and I knew I was forgetting one I should check.

[Anonymous]

We can’t get in!!! SSSAS is our best and only options if we don’t want single sex or Catholic. We have TRIED to get into GDS, Sidwell, and Potomac with extensive connections and we are NOT special enough. My kids are neurotypical and get good grades. They are very social and good in interviews. We are just not special enough to get into those schools. We didn’t start in kindergarten. Their age groups are heavily impacted by the pandemic and they are white males (private schools have too many boys). Their grandparents with money aren’t in the area. We didn’t go to ivy league schools. We’re not in commercial real estate. We don’t sit on charity boards. SSSAS is the only option for a co-ed non-Catholic. We could maybe possibly get into maret but that is a very long drive. “Settling” for SSSAS is a great option. It is a choice that has made my family very happy. It’s not a pressure cooker, the sports aren’t too competitive, and it’s five minutes away. It’s a great school and I’d say the best private co-ed non boarding school in the United States from its latitude line and south.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We can’t get in!!! SSSAS is our best and only options if we don’t want single sex or Catholic. We have TRIED to get into GDS, Sidwell, and Potomac with extensive connections and we are NOT special enough. My kids are neurotypical and get good grades. They are very social and good in interviews. We are just not special enough to get into those schools. We didn’t start in kindergarten. Their age groups are heavily impacted by the pandemic and they are white males (private schools have too many boys). Their grandparents with money aren’t in the area. We didn’t go to ivy league schools. We’re not in commercial real estate. We don’t sit on charity boards. SSSAS is the only option for a co-ed non-Catholic. We could maybe possibly get into maret but that is a very long drive. “Settling” for SSSAS is a great option. It is a choice that has made my family very happy. It’s not a pressure cooker, the sports aren’t too competitive, and it’s five minutes away. It’s a great school and I’d say the best private co-ed non boarding school in the United States from its latitude line and south.

We're at SSSAS and love it, but please stop saying your kids aren't special enough to get in to those other schools. It isn't about special. There's more demand than seats at almost all the first and even second-tier privates in the DMV. It's a bit of a crapshoot even for absolutely stellar students, and often comes down to small details that help build a rounded class.