Getting into St. Albans

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As for the 'eyes wide open' STA parent, I'm a little surprised you would 'definitely' be pulling your son out of a school based on incomplete information posted on an anonymous parent's site. I would at least ask to speak to the administration about your concerns.

I'm not saying the information isn't relevent. It is. But I also think the posters (or single poster) who are hell bent on destroying the luster of St. Albans have their own agenda. I appreciate when test scores/NMSF percentages/college exmissions informtion is posted. I could do without the hifalutin language disparaging STA parents, though (a la Toney Marboro Man). Everyone is trying to find the right school for their kid. So when someone goes beyond presenting information to the point of denegrating anyone who foolishly chose St. Albans, I am likely to think their opinions are a little suspect. In the end, if your kid is not doing well at the school or if you feel your kid is not being challenged sufficiently, of course you should examine other schools. But I wouldn't pull a kid out of a school because a couple of other schools have finer stats. I guess I expect what is important is how my kid does in the environment, not just how the group does. My kid has a verbal/debating/history/geography bent. He's fine in math and science, but he would be like a fish out of water in TJ. I feel like I have him in the right place (St. Albans).

Actually the comments I'm reading in this thread support the warnings that I've received over the years from family friends (parents of graduating seniors from both STA & NCS). Just looking for a more academically-challenging environment for my son.

As many have said, STA is an excellent school.

[Anonymous]

As for the 'eyes wide open' STA parent, I'm a little surprised you would 'definitely' be pulling your son out of a school based on incomplete information posted on an anonymous parent's site. I would at least ask to speak to the administration about your concerns.

I'm not saying the information isn't relevent. It is. But I also think the posters (or single poster) who are hell bent on destroying the luster of St. Albans have their own agenda. I appreciate when test scores/NMSF percentages/college exmissions informtion is posted. I could do without the hifalutin language disparaging STA parents, though (a la Toney Marboro Man). Everyone is trying to find the right school for their kid. So when someone goes beyond presenting information to the point of denegrating anyone who foolishly chose St. Albans, I am likely to think their opinions are a little suspect. In the end, if your kid is not doing well at the school or if you feel your kid is not being challenged sufficiently, of course you should examine other schools. But I wouldn't pull a kid out of a school because a couple of other schools have finer stats. I guess I expect what is important is how my kid does in the environment, not just how the group does. My kid has a verbal/debating/history/geography bent. He's fine in math and science, but he would be like a fish out of water in TJ. I feel like I have him in the right place (St. Albans).

The remarks of a true diehard entitlement baby that can't fathom there are other opinions and facts besides their own. Differing opinions are neither disparaging nor denegrating. If I were the STA parent you are addressing I would be insulted by your presumptions.

[Anonymous]

To those who are "pulling their sons" in 8th grade or "looking for a more challenging environment" than STA, could you please share where you might be thinking of sending your son? Is this just another way of saying you think TJ or Blair is better? Is there a private you think is more academically challenging? This is a real question -- not trying to fan any flames.

[Anonymous]

To those who are "pulling their sons" in 8th grade or "looking for a more challenging environment" than STA, could you please share where you might be thinking of sending your son? Is this just another way of saying you think TJ or Blair is better? Is there a private you think is more academically challenging? This is a real question -- not trying to fan any flames.

There you go again ... only one poster may have said this. It seems you a making a mountain out of a mole hill. Why should you care any? You are a STA booster with diehard faith. What difference would it make if the poster told you he was homeschooling!

[Anonymous]

22:13, No, actually two people said it, and I don't have a child at STA, so I am certainly not a "booster". I "care" b/c I am researching schools for my own son, and, as I said, I genuinely want to know which schools people think are the most academically challenging because that is the kind of school my son says he would like to attend (and no, I am not making that up!). All schools say they are academically challenging, and most parents will say their kids' private schools are academically rigorous (why else would they spend the money?), so it is hard to know how to choose between them. No ill motives, really.

[Anonymous]

22:13, No, actually two people said it, and I don't have a child at STA, so I am certainly not a "booster". I "care" b/c I am researching schools for my own son, and, as I said, I genuinely want to know which schools people think are the most academically challenging because that is the kind of school my son says he would like to attend (and no, I am not making that up!). All schools say they are academically challenging, and most parents will say their kids' private schools are academically rigorous (why else would they spend the money?), so it is hard to know how to choose between them. No ill motives, really.

Then why not STA for your son. It's an academically challenging school.

[Anonymous]

TJ boosters need to go over to the VA public school thread. We get that you dislike privates. STA is a super school and I don't have any kids there. Look around at corporate, political and financial leaders. You'll find many more from STA than any public school in this area. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

TJ boosters need to go over to the VA public school thread. We get that you dislike privates. STA is a super school and I don't have any kids there. Look around at corporate, political and financial leaders. You'll find many more from STA than any public school in this area. Sorry.

Nope. I went to a private and I loved it. I 'm not a TJ booster but appreciate unemotional and objective examination of clean data. The discussion, in case you missed it, does not revolve around corporate, political and financial leaders (or job employment and social connections), but around quantifiable measures of a STA education compared to a free public one as TJ or the Blair magnet program. The measured endpoints are PSAT, SAT/ACT (multiple choice) and AP scores (written and critical thinking) -- nationally administered instruments. This discussion was fueled by the observation that the public TJ and the Blair Magnet Program had 4 fold the number of National Merit Finalists than STA and other private schools in this region -- approximating 40 percent of each class. It was unclear whether this outstanding performance on PSAT exams (I gather these are in preparation for later SAT exams and provides the basis for academic scholarship support to attend college) translated to the SAT and ACT, subject SAT exams and the AP examinations that students in AP and honours courses take across the land. This sterling performance continues throughout the TJ high school educational experience. There is no data for comparison available for STA. The endpoints chosen do not paint the full educational picture but represent quantifiable measures adopted at most high schools across the educational high school landscape.


We'll save the topic of job employment, social network and connections for another day. This too is interesting to pursue. Perhaps you might want to start a separate thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

TJ boosters need to go over to the VA public school thread. We get that you dislike privates. STA is a super school and I don't have any kids there. Look around at corporate, political and financial leaders. You'll find many more from STA than any public school in this area. Sorry.

Nope. I went to a private and I loved it. I 'm not a TJ booster but appreciate unemotional and objective examination of clean data. The discussion, in case you missed it, does not revolve around corporate, political and financial leaders (or job employment and social connections), but around quantifiable measures of a STA education compared to a free public one as TJ or the Blair magnet program. The measured endpoints are PSAT, SAT/ACT (multiple choice) and AP scores (written and critical thinking) -- nationally administered instruments. This discussion was fueled by the observation that the public TJ and the Blair Magnet Program had 4 fold the number of National Merit Finalists than STA and other private schools in this region -- approximating 40 percent of each class. It was unclear whether this outstanding performance on PSAT exams (I gather these are in preparation for later SAT exams and provides the basis for academic scholarship support to attend college) translated to the SAT and ACT, subject SAT exams and the AP examinations that students in AP and honours courses take across the land. This sterling performance continues throughout the TJ high school educational experience. There is no data for comparison available for STA. The endpoints chosen do not paint the full educational picture but represent quantifiable measures adopted at most high schools across the educational high school landscape.


We'll save the topic of job employment, social network and connections for another day. This too is interesting to pursue. Perhaps you might want to start a separate thread.

Here is a link to some quantifiable measurements - Virginia SOL tests at TJ:
http://schoolprofiles.fcps.edu/schlprfl/f?p=108:18:2771568517142029::NO:0_CURRENT_SCHOOL_ID:300

SOL's are minimum competency tests. It seems most of you have never had a child in middle or high school in FCPS. Nor have you had a child at STA. All decent math students take algebra 1 by grade 8. Proficient math students in public schools take geometry in grade 8. What is TJ? A school that has testing and an admissions process. So does STA. One is public and the other private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

As for the 'eyes wide open' STA parent, I'm a little surprised you would 'definitely' be pulling your son out of a school based on incomplete information posted on an anonymous parent's site. I would at least ask to speak to the administration about your concerns.

I'm not saying the information isn't relevent. It is. But I also think the posters (or single poster) who are hell bent on destroying the luster of St. Albans have their own agenda. I appreciate when test scores/NMSF percentages/college exmissions informtion is posted. I could do without the hifalutin language disparaging STA parents, though (a la Toney Marboro Man). Everyone is trying to find the right school for their kid. So when someone goes beyond presenting information to the point of denegrating anyone who foolishly chose St. Albans, I am likely to think their opinions are a little suspect. In the end, if your kid is not doing well at the school or if you feel your kid is not being challenged sufficiently, of course you should examine other schools. But I wouldn't pull a kid out of a school because a couple of other schools have finer stats. I guess I expect what is important is how my kid does in the environment, not just how the group does. My kid has a verbal/debating/history/geography bent. He's fine in math and science, but he would be like a fish out of water in TJ. I feel like I have him in the right place (St. Albans).

The remarks of a true diehard entitlement baby that can't fathom there are other opinions and facts besides their own. Differing opinions are neither disparaging nor denegrating. If I were the STA parent you are addressing I would be insulted by your presumptions.

I'm sorry. Is your remark not above disparaging? Is it necessary?

[Anonymous]

I provide this summary of the recent discussion on bifurcated threads for the previous poster who appears lost in space reeling like a drunkard from one baseless accusation to another.

This poster says it all.

[Anonymous]

From the STA Bulletin, here are the numbers for last year's class:

71 graduates, of which
9 were National Merit Finalists, 1 National Merit Semifinalist, and 18 Commended Students.
1 National Achievement Scholarship
1 National Achievement Semifinalist

Critical reading median SAT: 680
Math median SAT: 670
Writing Median SAT: 690
ACT Median: 30

8 scores of 800 on the critical reading section
9 scores of 800 on the math section
5 scores of 800 on the writing section

1 Presidential Scholar
1 Jefferson Scholar

SAT subject test medians:
US History: 689
Biology: 695
Literature: 648
Math I: 686
Math II: 750
Physics: 676
7 perfect scores on SAT subject tests

134 AP exams taken before senior year
45% had scores of 5
95% had scores of 3, 4, and 5

They also have information on athletics, arts, and service, if anyone is interested.

[Anonymous]

These data would confirm what all posters have said on this thread. STA is an excellent school.

[Anonymous]

I am sure that the parents who send their kids to STA (myself included) do so for a variety of reasons. To reduce the discussion to test scores is to ridiculous. Someone pointed out that by being an all boys school, the school has lost out on a potentially large applicant pool with greater qualifications. While true, it also ignores any of the rationale for an all boys education, as if the most important thing for a school is to admit the absolute best and brightest and educate them to where they have the top scores. Is that what we want out kids' education to be about?

What about sports? This is an integral part of the school experience for STA, hopefully creating a class of students who understand the value of a team (not to mention the value of daily rigorous physical activity). Is this something the TJ students will emerge with as well, or can they spend an entire high school career with only margianl involvement in sports? Should we negate the importance of the religious foundation of the school? What about public service? Is a sense of community unimportant? Do you think TJ fosters that same kind of bond among the students that STA has fostered?

And whoever is penning all the witty, cavalier responses to any attempt to talk about the positives about STA, iyou ARE disparaging. Your replies are insulting. If you don't get that, I suppose you missed some critical element of socialization in your education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From the STA Bulletin, here are the numbers for last year's class:

71 graduates, of which
9 were National Merit Finalists, 1 National Merit Semifinalist, and 18 Commended Students.
1 National Achievement Scholarship
1 National Achievement Semifinalist

Critical reading median SAT: 680
Math median SAT: 670
Writing Median SAT: 690
ACT Median: 30

8 scores of 800 on the critical reading section
9 scores of 800 on the math section
5 scores of 800 on the writing section

1 Presidential Scholar
1 Jefferson Scholar

SAT subject test medians:
US History: 689
Biology: 695
Literature: 648
Math I: 686
Math II: 750
Physics: 676
7 perfect scores on SAT subject tests

134 AP exams taken before senior year
45% had scores of 5
95% had scores of 3, 4, and 5

They also have information on athletics, arts, and service, if anyone is interested.

Thanks so much! Does last year's Bulletin mention the average SAT I score and how many guys took each subject test?

SAT subject test medians:
US History: 689
Biology: 695
Literature: 648
Math I: 686
Math II: 750
Physics: 676
7 perfect scores on SAT subject tests

Of course this year's numbers will be totally different.