Potomac vs St. Albans

[Anonymous]

I'm the OP of this thread from 2 years ago and my son ended up choosing STA.
His choices were Potomac, Sidwell and STA.

He's had a great experience-I do think he made the right choice. I toured Potomac
again this fall for a younger sibling and while I liked it, it consistently seems like more of a generic high school.
STA has all the history and traditions that I really don't think you find anywhere else. The teachers
are fantastic. My son is doing fine with the single gender thing--he's fairly social and meets girls
through social media, etc.

OP, my son has the exact same choices and also chose STA. I wasn’t thrilled but he was adamant, and now we are so happy that he knew what was right for him. We have been so impressed with the faculty - unbelievably smart and invested in the students - and academics, and we have enjoyed the community. Our son also appreciates the traditions, so much so that he would like to find a college with a similar environment.

[Anonymous]

I truly believe, knowing many families at both, that you can't go wrong with these two schools. Both have wonderful teachers and admin, engaged students, lovely campuses, decent athletics programs, good college destinations for the unhooked. Kids who are happy with one would be happy with the other. Both schools celebrate achievement and encourage students to be the best they can be and both have some exceptionally bright and studious kids that will make you question your parenting decisions. One is coed and feels newer and striving. The other is into traditions and legacy. Which feels right to you as a parent depends more on you than your child.

[Anonymous]

Just an anecdote...can't really help the OP. Both seem nice, been to Potomac for some sports events and its astonishing the number of busses they have for a school that size. Does every kid get his/her own bus?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just an anecdote...can't really help the OP. Both seem nice, been to Potomac for some sports events and its astonishing the number of busses they have for a school that size. Does every kid get his/her own bus?

Potomac has an agreement with the neighborhood to bus students to keep down traffic. My kid doesn’t attend Potomac (he goes to STA) but my understanding is a lot of Potomac families like the bus system there.

[Anonymous]

Would appreciate further, updated thoughts on this thread. Especially interested in the "pressure cooker" discussion of Potomac and STA that appears in earlier comments and thoughts on the expected nightly homework obligations at either and whether one or the other has lessened their "pressure cooker" reputation?

[Anonymous]

St. Albans absolutely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just an anecdote...can't really help the OP. Both seem nice, been to Potomac for some sports events and its astonishing the number of busses they have for a school that size. Does every kid get his/her own bus?

Potomac has an agreement with the neighborhood to bus students to keep down traffic. My kid doesn’t attend Potomac (he goes to STA) but my understanding is a lot of Potomac families like the bus system there.

Fairfax County imposed the bus system on Potomac School because Evermay's HOA lobbied the county board. The school really had no choice. The irony is that multiple families living there chose Evermay because their kids attend Potomac.

[Anonymous]

Interesting enough, Potomac was built about a decade before Evermay was ever developed. It was farmland when Potomac moved there.

Issue was in the 90’s, Potomac wanted to build a HS. Essentially doubling the school size. By the Evermay resisted, and the compromise was that Potomac would have to Bus the kids into reduce traffic.