St. Andrews: Don't Buy The "Happy Kids" Marketing

[Anonymous]

I would think IAC is more highly regarded by college recruiters than MAC. Same for WCAC is probably more highly regarded than IAC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would think IAC is more highly regarded by college recruiters than MAC. Same for WCAC is probably more highly regarded than IAC.

I have 3 kids who were recruited out of area independent schools and I don't think recruiters give a darn about the conference. I don't even think the school matters that much; and neither does the club. It's all about the individual student.

[Anonymous]

Does it depend on what if it's a DI, DII or DIII college? Honest question.

[Anonymous]

sorry for the incoherence of my post - fast typing as I prep dinner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a long time SAES parent and I have two children who attend the school, one in the US and one in the MS. My older child has mild ADHD and some learning differences. She is thriving and loves it. She has never felt ostracized for being different, nor have her friends. My child in MS is NT and loves school. Her class is vibrant, diverse, and the staff and teachers emphasize kindness, tolerance, inclusion, hard work and intellectual curiosity. Is St. Andrew's a good fit for everyone? Of course not. I have a third child who attends a progressive and highly rigorous school who would be miserable at SAES. He loves his school and is also thriving. I think both schools are amazing. But they are very different, as are my kids. No one has sold me a bill of goods, nor was I bamboozled by any slick marketing.

OP, I'm sorry you had a bad experience, but clearly it wasn't a good fit. I'm sure there is a school in the area that will work for your family.

Was searching this school and saw your post. Wondered how your two kids at SAES are doing. I hear mixed things but am considering applying for Grade 9 next year.

[Anonymous]

Not the poster you were quoting, but a former parent.
My advice? Look very very carefully. We left because of bullying in MS - which the admin completely brushed it aside. That and the academics where completely lacking. Actually, about a third of the class left. Two other long time families in the US left for the same reason. We did not find it to be a happy, joyful, inclusive environment. We found the learning environment to be very traditional: Top down, teacher driven, very little room for student input or creativity. My DC has no learning issues or SN. DC was miserable and overwhelmed.

The sticker price is high, and you have lots of choices. So do your due diligence and be a careful consumer.

[Anonymous]

PP here - sorry for the typos - time for bed!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a long time SAES parent and I have two children who attend the school, one in the US and one in the MS. My older child has mild ADHD and some learning differences. She is thriving and loves it. She has never felt ostracized for being different, nor have her friends. My child in MS is NT and loves school. Her class is vibrant, diverse, and the staff and teachers emphasize kindness, tolerance, inclusion, hard work and intellectual curiosity. Is St. Andrew's a good fit for everyone? Of course not. I have a third child who attends a progressive and highly rigorous school who would be miserable at SAES. He loves his school and is also thriving. I think both schools are amazing. But they are very different, as are my kids. No one has sold me a bill of goods, nor was I bamboozled by any slick marketing.

OP, I'm sorry you had a bad experience, but clearly it wasn't a good fit. I'm sure there is a school in the area that will work for your family.

Was searching this school and saw your post. Wondered how your two kids at SAES are doing. I hear mixed things but am considering applying for Grade 9 next year.

Newer parent in US and this post nails it. Our kid is happy and thriving coming from public gifted programs and is challenged appropriately but not overwhelmed. I've talked to parents of students transferring ino US from FCPS and MCPS and they have been impressed with the teachers and rigor just as we have. It has been the perfect balance for our DK. I do think several shadow visits by prospective students can tell your kid if it's the right place for him/her. Basically our experience has been the opposite of 23:37 just above.

[Anonymous]

Our DS has been there 3 years and he likes it. From a parent's perspective, it seems very well run. The tuition is a stretch for us, and I think it's probably worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not the poster you were quoting, but a former parent.
My advice? Look very very carefully. We left because of bullying in MS - which the admin completely brushed it aside. That and the academics where completely lacking. Actually, about a third of the class left. Two other long time families in the US left for the same reason. We did not find it to be a happy, joyful, inclusive environment. We found the learning environment to be very traditional: Top down, teacher driven, very little room for student input or creativity. My DC has no learning issues or SN. DC was miserable and overwhelmed.

The sticker price is high, and you have lots of choices. So do your due diligence and be a careful consumer.

Thanks. Very helpful. Was this recent?

[Anonymous]

I don’t have any direct experience with the school but I know 2 families going there since preschool, they are now in middle school.
They really love the school. They said the school tries to accommodate each kid individual needs.
My own kid goes the cathedral school . academically a lot more pressure, very competitive environment, they don’t adjust the teaching individually either you get it or not.
It is not for everyone.
So far my child is doing very well but if that changes St Andrew ‘s seems like a great option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t have any direct experience with the school but I know 2 families going there since preschool, they are now in middle school.
They really love the school. They said the school tries to accommodate each kid individual needs.
My own kid goes the cathedral school . academically a lot more pressure, very competitive environment, they don’t adjust the teaching individually either you get it or not.
It is not for everyone.
So far my child is doing very well but if that changes St Andrew ‘s seems like a great option.

I know of at least 1 girl who transferred from NCS due to the pressure and really likes the change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not the poster you were quoting, but a former parent.
My advice? Look very very carefully. We left because of bullying in MS - which the admin completely brushed it aside. That and the academics where completely lacking. Actually, about a third of the class left. Two other long time families in the US left for the same reason. We did not find it to be a happy, joyful, inclusive environment. We found the learning environment to be very traditional: Top down, teacher driven, very little room for student input or creativity. My DC has no learning issues or SN. DC was miserable and overwhelmed.

The sticker price is high, and you have lots of choices. So do your due diligence and be a careful consumer.

Thanks. Very helpful. Was this recent?

Yes - 2016 - 2017 school year.

[Anonymous]

This PP interjects this randomly into various school threads mostly in the school forums. I hesitate to report him/her because there is certainly worse behavior here and it is sort of entertaining to try to pick out their posts. Like a where’s Waldo sort of thing. The person does need to find more productive things to do though.

[Anonymous]

This thread seems to be fueled by one family’s complaints, who left the school several years ago. My DC is probably around the same grade (judging by the dates listed), and I hope the child who left is now happy elsewhere. No school is right for every child. For my DC and family, St. Andrew’s has been lovely, and has exceeded our hopes. Check out the school for yourself—the description the PP has provided of the school and administration does not match our experience at all.