St. Anselm's Abbey High School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New poster here. What I have heard or get a sense from friends at the Abby is that the academics are incredibly rigorous. I almost get a sense that workload-wise, it might not be that far from if not similar to the schools deemed pressure cookers in the DMV. The fact that Abbey students enter starting in 6th grade to me implies that the student body is heavily if not completely self-selecting for this level of rigor. Most of the top schools that it is being compared to enroll students starting in Kindergarten. There's no way then that all of those grade school kids are all on top of their game come high-school. It just doesn't work that way.

Why then is Saint Anslems being shamed for not being as strong academically as these other schools where 30-50% of their student body may be those who started in elementary school and would not necessarily all be as sharp as those who self-selected the school in the more challenging middle and high school years?

The workload at SAAS would break top students at most competitors. The idea that it is “not as strong academically” is completely inconsistent with reality.

But it IS consistent with its track record of failing to send kids to top colleges on par with schools you want to view as its peers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New poster here. What I have heard or get a sense from friends at the Abby is that the academics are incredibly rigorous. I almost get a sense that workload-wise, it might not be that far from if not similar to the schools deemed pressure cookers in the DMV. The fact that Abbey students enter starting in 6th grade to me implies that the student body is heavily if not completely self-selecting for this level of rigor. Most of the top schools that it is being compared to enroll students starting in Kindergarten. There's no way then that all of those grade school kids are all on top of their game come high-school. It just doesn't work that way.

Why then is Saint Anslems being shamed for not being as strong academically as these other schools where 30-50% of their student body may be those who started in elementary school and would not necessarily all be as sharp as those who self-selected the school in the more challenging middle and high school years?

The workload at SAAS would break top students at most competitors. The idea that it is “not as strong academically” is completely inconsistent with reality.

But it IS consistent with its track record of failing to send kids to top colleges on par with schools you want to view as its peers.

“Failing” implies students are applying and being rejected or discouraged from applying in the expectation they will be rejected. As multiple PP’s have noted, there is a strong element of self-selection in Abbey students’ college choices. Some of this seems financially driven (as in middle of the pack students getting full tuition or more at top 75 schools). Some of it is cultural, in that many Abbey students are from observant Catholic families and want to continue in that milieu. An additional select-out motive for at least some students may be that the intellectual, philosophical and/or political focus of “top” schools simply does not accord with their personal values.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At 20K less than St. Albans and and co, this place sounds great for non D1 bound student athletes.

+1 perfect place if your son is not focused on attending a top 50 college.

Why are some people so insistent on bringing the Abbey down and always saying such negative things. Acceptance results are great. Sorry you must be so competitive that only if all 30 kids decide to go to a T20, would it be considered a good school. That wouldn’t even be true at any of the big 3 schools. So why should it be true for the Abbey?

Perhaps they have an axe to grind because their DS was not admitted or was admitted but did not do well there academically or socially--e.g., Jane Doe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At 20K less than St. Albans and and co, this place sounds great for non D1 bound student athletes.

+1 perfect place if your son is not focused on attending a top 50 college.

Why are some people so insistent on bringing the Abbey down and always saying such negative things. Acceptance results are great. Sorry you must be so competitive that only if all 30 kids decide to go to a T20, would it be considered a good school. That wouldn’t even be true at any of the big 3 schools. So why should it be true for the Abbey?

Perhaps they have an axe to grind because their DS was not admitted or was admitted but did not do well there academically or socially--e.g., Jane Doe.

I personally like to see just how far Abbey parents will take the whole “the college outcomes of the Abbey are so middling because our boys self select for the bottom half of the top 100 colleges” schtick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At 20K less than St. Albans and and co, this place sounds great for non D1 bound student athletes.

+1 perfect place if your son is not focused on attending a top 50 college.

Why are some people so insistent on bringing the Abbey down and always saying such negative things. Acceptance results are great. Sorry you must be so competitive that only if all 30 kids decide to go to a T20, would it be considered a good school. That wouldn’t even be true at any of the big 3 schools. So why should it be true for the Abbey?

Perhaps they have an axe to grind because their DS was not admitted or was admitted but did not do well there academically or socially--e.g., Jane Doe.

I personally like to see just how far Abbey parents will take the whole “the college outcomes of the Abbey are so middling because our boys self select for the bottom half of the top 100 colleges” schtick.

How little you know. I am not an Abbey parent, but I have a high respect for the school. Try again, Jane Doe.

[Anonymous]

It’s like the bit in (the original) Spinal Tap:

“You used to play large arenas filled with 15,000, 20,000 fans. You’re now playing half empty theaters. Is your popularity waning”

“No, no. Our appeal is becoming more selective.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s like the bit in (the original) Spinal Tap:

“You used to play large arenas filled with 15,000, 20,000 fans. You’re now playing half empty theaters. Is your popularity waning”

“No, no. Our appeal is becoming more selective.”

You sound unhinged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At 20K less than St. Albans and and co, this place sounds great for non D1 bound student athletes.

+1 perfect place if your son is not focused on attending a top 50 college.

Why are some people so insistent on bringing the Abbey down and always saying such negative things. Acceptance results are great. Sorry you must be so competitive that only if all 30 kids decide to go to a T20, would it be considered a good school. That wouldn’t even be true at any of the big 3 schools. So why should it be true for the Abbey?

Perhaps they have an axe to grind because their DS was not admitted or was admitted but did not do well there academically or socially--e.g., Jane Doe.

I personally like to see just how far Abbey parents will take the whole “the college outcomes of the Abbey are so middling because our boys self select for the bottom half of the top 100 colleges” schtick.

The envy of parent and student satisfaction at the Abbey is palpable.

[Anonymous]

Hypercompetitive parents who want to compare the Abbey's college placements with those of Sidwell and others neglect to factor in legacy and other hooks.

[Anonymous]

Right, because SAAS students couldn't possibly have any legacies or hooks!

[Anonymous]

Hey Jane Doe….do you have nothing better to do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Right, because SAAS students couldn't possibly have any legacies or hooks!

You're kidding yourself if you think the legacies/hooks at SAAS are comparable to those at St. Alban's, Sidwell, and some other elite schools. It's the SUPER well-connected legacies and deep pockets that tip the scale when it comes to college placement.

[Anonymous]

So you're saying that legacy isn't actually a hook for anyone whose family isn't super-rich?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So you're saying that legacy isn't actually a hook for anyone whose family isn't super-rich?

Exactly. Not the way it helps at the elite schools. DC was at a big 3 and middle of the road kids got into top schools bc of who the family was or bc dad was on board of Yale, etc. The regular parents who were alums of good schools couldn’t get their kids in solely bc of legacy.

[Anonymous]

They seem to have a relationship with U Chicago.