If you thought St. Albans was the perfect fit for your rising 9th grader, what were your back-ups?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

LOL, STA was the back-up. They completely understood us declining our spot as our son has selected Groton. However, our DD is still at NCS. Welcome to the neighborhood.

I understand fully why STA was a back-up. Congratulations on acceptance to Groton, and good luck. Yeah, yet another Grottie! By the way Headmaster, Richard Commons, is headed back West to takeover the helm at Harvard-Westlake School in California.

HW is an excellent school. They have selected well in hiring Richard Commons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I accept your apology. Sorry your son was rejected by STA.

LOL, STA was the back-up. They completely understood us declining our spot as our son has selected Groton. However, our DD is still at NCS. Welcome to the neighborhood.

Apart from being coed and largely boarding, Groton has always seemed quite similar to STA to me. Were there factors beyond those two that you (and/or your DS) found to meaningfully distinguish the schools? TIA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I accept your apology. Sorry your son was rejected by STA.

LOL, STA was the back-up. They completely understood us declining our spot as our son has selected Groton. However, our DD is still at NCS. Welcome to the neighborhood.

Apart from being coed and largely boarding, Groton has always seemed quite similar to STA to me. Were there factors beyond those two that you (and/or your DS) found to meaningfully distinguish the schools? TIA.

Let me start by saying, I am trying to honestly answer your question and in no way do I intend to offend anyone. We allowed our son to have a substantial “say” in where he wanted to attend. I will tell you his perspective: St. Albans was “stuffier”, he felt there was a higher priority on form and tradition and less support and avenues for students who may think differently. Maybe because Groton’s focus is on boarding, he felt the Groton students were a tighter group, he witnessed some dynamics with STA students that left him a little worried. He thought Groton’s classroom was more rigorous in terms of demanding different ways of thinking. STA was very rigorous, but he said Groton made him go another level deeper. Groton appealed to his (almost hyperactive) sense of justice and empathy. Bottom line is it is hard to play tit for tat between the two schools, it came down to a matter of fit not a matter of one being “superior” to the other. Our visits to Groton were very personal, warm and inviting. The STA visits were rather impersonal. I also think the fact that he knew a couple of kids from CTY that were also going to Groton gave it an edge. Quite honestly, if you're looking for a Groton-like school (minus the boarding) look at St. Anselm's Abbey. That is the area school most similar to Groton. Don't get me wrong the cathedral schools are amazing and NCS fits our DD well. STA just didn't fit our son.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I accept your apology. Sorry your son was rejected by STA.

LOL, STA was the back-up. They completely understood us declining our spot as our son has selected Groton. However, our DD is still at NCS. Welcome to the neighborhood.

Apart from being coed and largely boarding, Groton has always seemed quite similar to STA to me. Were there factors beyond those two that you (and/or your DS) found to meaningfully distinguish the schools? TIA.

Let me start by saying, I am trying to honestly answer your question and in no way do I intend to offend anyone. We allowed our son to have a substantial “say” in where he wanted to attend. I will tell you his perspective: St. Albans was “stuffier”, he felt there was a higher priority on form and tradition and less support and avenues for students who may think differently. Maybe because Groton’s focus is on boarding, he felt the Groton students were a tighter group, he witnessed some dynamics with STA students that left him a little worried. He thought Groton’s classroom was more rigorous in terms of demanding different ways of thinking. STA was very rigorous, but he said Groton made him go another level deeper. Groton appealed to his (almost hyperactive) sense of justice and empathy. Bottom line is it is hard to play tit for tat between the two schools, it came down to a matter of fit not a matter of one being “superior” to the other. Our visits to Groton were very personal, warm and inviting. The STA visits were rather impersonal. I also think the fact that he knew a couple of kids from CTY that were also going to Groton gave it an edge. Quite honestly, if you're looking for a Groton-like school (minus the boarding) look at St. Anselm's Abbey. That is the area school most similar to Groton. Don't get me wrong the cathedral schools are amazing and NCS fits our DD well. STA just didn't fit our son.

Thanks so much for the thoughtful reply.