Getting into St. Albans

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OK, can I change the subject? Would you send a very smart but very shy boy to STA for high school? Athletically capable (at least in the one non-contact sport he seriously plays) but uninterested in and somewhat averse to athletic competition. Studious and musical. Would he be eaten alive (or just disregarded) by more assertive, socially confident classmates? TIA.

Be sure to look at Maret -- my similar son blossomed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Comparing TJ to STA is a totally bogus comparison ... the kids admitted to TJ were screened for academics before they were even admitted. Many kids admitted to STA were admitted at an earlier age and with a portfolio that may have included strengths in many areas (sports, character, family wealth, the arts, etc.) instead of or in addition to their academic talents. If TJ didn't "outscore" STA and almost any other school in the region by any test you might choose (PSAT, SAT, or their age 4 WPPSI), then there would be a serious problem. It says nothing about the bright prospects of STA graduates.

And this is a good thing?

[Anonymous]

Please kill this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please kill this thread.

Why?

I'd like to know why STA's complete secondary school profile is not on the website. The current graduating class's SAT I & II averages, as well as, AP scores should be publicized. NCS publicizes its secondary school report as does many others in the area.

[Anonymous]

You don't know anything about me. I'm reacting to what is a maniacal interest in having some StA parent (which I am not) say, "Hey, yeah! We was robbed! TJ is better!"

Whoever you are, this is actually a thread about people interested in getting into StA. That may make you shiver, but unfortunately that is the thread. Why not start a thread about how much better TJ is? I am sure it will attract a lot of interest. But that doesn't mean it's productive to use every opportunity possible to insert your NMSF statistics on TJ.

If you want to say StA is not doing well, why not compare to a variety of schools? Why only one other school in the nation? In my view, if StA is inferior to only 1 or 2 schools, I could live with those odds. But then, maybe I'm not ambitious enough...

Nonsense. Don't despair because of this glaring statistical significant difference in NMFs at these 3 schools. Deal with reality. Why should it hurt or offend if you understand the components of this metric. If NMFs are not important to you or your child why does this issue disturb you. It's not the end of the world. My son may wish to attend STA in later years with a full understanding of why he wishes to attend. But, I will feed him your sugarcoated poppycock. Facts are the facts, handle it like A STA boy. STA is still a great school. Not all aspects of TJ or STA should be dressed up in your jocular platitudes about sports, art, and exmissions based on legacy and wealth.

[Anonymous]

Not really because 1 school, which happens to be the top school in the country has produced more NMSFs. The rest of the top schools in the area don't come close based on what people have posted. And as a parent currently looking at schools for my son, the number of NMSFs is not even a factor I have considered. And I have no intention of moving to Fairfax County. If people want to go to Sidwell or Exeter, more power to them (and as noted Sidwells percentage of NMSFs is the same/lower than STA). Those are all very different schools and I assume people are looking for more than test scores when they evaluate the fit for their child. These are children living lives, not products. I feel quite strongly that I want my children to get an excellent education and be well rounded. If they aren't NMSFs I don't care. If they don't go to an ivy league college I don't care. I suspect we have very different philosophies on this.

Great, well said. Just do it since you know what you want for your child. I'm sure others here also know what environment they wish for their children. And there is no reason on earth why it should mirror yours.

[Anonymous]

Please kill this thread.

Why?

I'd like to know why STA's complete secondary school profile is not on the website. The current graduating class's SAT I & II averages, as well as, AP scores should be publicized. NCS publicizes its secondary school report as does many others in the area.

No, it's far easier to limit discussion to toney "Marlboro men" topics like arts, sports, comeraderie, wealth, character and exmissions by decade. These are fine but where's the beef?

Where is the measurable and quantifiable beef?

Why this visceral fear and appeal to muzzle discussion on these points.

[Anonymous]

who says toney?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Not really because 1 school, which happens to be the top school in the country has produced more NMSFs. The rest of the top schools in the area don't come close based on what people have posted. And as a parent currently looking at schools for my son, the number of NMSFs is not even a factor I have considered. And I have no intention of moving to Fairfax County. If people want to go to Sidwell or Exeter, more power to them (and as noted Sidwells percentage of NMSFs is the same/lower than STA). Those are all very different schools and I assume people are looking for more than test scores when they evaluate the fit for their child. These are children living lives, not products. I feel quite strongly that I want my children to get an excellent education and be well rounded. If they aren't NMSFs I don't care. If they don't go to an ivy league college I don't care. I suspect we have very different philosophies on this.

Great, well said. Just do it since you know what you want for your child. I'm sure others here also know what environment they wish for their children. And there is no reason on earth why it should mirror yours.

Agree - and hopefully they will end up at different schools since I don't want mine to be in a school that teaches primarily to standardized tests. I will be just as happy if my son is in the 97%ile (approximately where he is predicted to test on the SATs without prep) as the 99%ile.

[Anonymous]

Agree - and hopefully they will end up at different schools since I don't want mine to be in a school that teaches primarily to standardized tests. I will be just as happy if my son is in the 97%ile (approximately where he is predicted to test on the SATs without prep) as the 99%ile.

I have news for you. In national and international arenas based not on standardised tests but deep subject expertise (Siemens, Intel, Putnam, etc, etc) Blair magnet, TJ and Phillips Exeter kids alight. But where oh where is STA? Now perhaps these areas are not as attractive to STA as lacrosse, baseball and leagacy. So be it.

[Anonymous]

The recent flurry of posts obsessing over National Merit Semifinalists and standardized test scores miss the point entirely.

Yes, entrance into TJ ensures that you will be surrounded by many National Merit Semifinalists, perfect SAT score achievers, and a fair amount of MIT/Cal Tech bound grads.

Entrance into STA means you will be surrounded by young men who are molded into the men who will lead, create, and make indelible marks in their lifetimes.

[Anonymous]

I think there is one person who seems to be obsessed with TJ, Blair and Exeter. The rest of the posts are much more balanced and not obsessed with PSAT scores. To read the one poster though apparently our children are doomed if they do not attend one of those 3 schools. 2 of them require living in specific school jurisdictions and then passing the rigorous testing to get in. The 3rd is a boarding school. So apparently those of us who are not willing to send our sons to boarding school or move to Fairfax or MoCo may as well pack it in now. Totally bizarre outlook in my opinion but to each his own. Actually I understand the school with the highest average SAT scores is actually a school in Korea. So maybe that poster better send her son there if she cares only about the scores.

[Anonymous]

But I also find it interesting that this gross deficiency with regard to NMSFs is limited to STA, as if it is the only school with a 30K pricetag. How does Landon do? The Field School? Or do we only scold the supposed Big 3 schools?

[Anonymous]

Worse, if that consolation makes you feel better or changes the landscape.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have news for you. In national and international arenas based not on standardised tests but deep subject expertise (Siemens, Intel, Putnam, etc, etc) Blair magnet, TJ and Phillips Exeter kids alight. But where oh where is STA? Now perhaps these areas are not as attractive to STA as lacrosse, baseball and leagacy. So be it.

Don't be such an utter asshole. It's pretty clear that StA graduates are pretty accomplished in lots of areas. Perhaps TJ students generally fare better in math/science (since TJ is a math/science-focused school after all), but to suggest that StA students are unable to demonstrate "deep subject expertise" is just dumb.

Indeed, I took a quick look at the most Siemens results, and it seems the two schools are pretty evenly matched:
(http://www.siemens-foundation.org/pool/siemens_competition/octsemifinalist_website_listing_2009.pdf)

TJ: 1.8% of class named Siemens semifinalists (8 of 450 in senior class)
StA: 1.3% of class named Siemens semifinalists (1 of 77 in senior class)

Or if you assume that both juniors and seniors participate in Siemens (which seems reasonable):

TJ: 0.89% of jr/sr class named Siemens semifinalists (8 of 900 in jr/sr class)
StA: 0.65% of jr/sr class named Siemens semifinalists (1 of 155 in jr/sr class)

I would have expected TJ to dominate since it's a "School of Science & Technology" (or whatever the name is), but the difference actually seems pretty negligible. No one's taking anything away from TJ -- it's a great school. But you sound like an idiot by not giving other top schools the same respect.