St Stephen's & St Agnes School

[Anonymous]

Can anyone explain to me why St Stephen's is so expensive when it seems to offer the least of the DC area private schools - at least on the simple basis of its academic and athletic facilities?

[Anonymous]

It is very expensive but they give out a lot of aid. I think the average income of families receiving aid is like $170k so there are many families making good money on aid. Full pay families subsidize this.

[Anonymous]

There is more to a school’s quality and value than the physical facilities. Have you spoken to current parents or students? Have you visited?

When my kid started the search and included Saints in the list, I was skeptical of the facilities. I’ve found that it has been a great community and for us, my child is thriving academically and socially. They have very much lived up to their mission of pursuing goodness as well as knowledge. The PP’s note about generosity with financial aid means a diverse student body. Count me as a very satisfied full-pay parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is more to a school’s quality and value than the physical facilities. Have you spoken to current parents or students? Have you visited?

When my kid started the search and included Saints in the list, I was skeptical of the facilities. I’ve found that it has been a great community and for us, my child is thriving academically and socially. They have very much lived up to their mission of pursuing goodness as well as knowledge. The PP’s note about generosity with financial aid means a diverse student body. Count me as a very satisfied full-pay parent.

TC has a very diverse student body.....and you don’t have to pay 45k to go there.

[Anonymous]

Who cares? You don't like it, don't go. The more time I spend on this board the more I realize how many truly horrible, soulless people live in this area.

[Anonymous]

There are a lot of families who work and live in Alexandria that don't want their kids commuting out of this area to go to school, so it isn't really competing with other DC area private high schools.

[Anonymous]

My neighbor's daughter goes there. We live in Del Ray. She's bright, polished, smart and athletic.

I would love to be able to send my DD there when she's school-aged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of families who work and live in Alexandria that don't want their kids commuting out of this area to go to school, so it isn't really competing with other DC area private high schools.

+1 We live in Alexandria and don’t want to move. Our kids go to high school in DC and, with all the construction (on bridges, at the airport and on the metro), the commute has become insane. We really wish we gave SSSAS a harder look.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is more to a school’s quality and value than the physical facilities. Have you spoken to current parents or students? Have you visited?

When my kid started the search and included Saints in the list, I was skeptical of the facilities. I’ve found that it has been a great community and for us, my child is thriving academically and socially. They have very much lived up to their mission of pursuing goodness as well as knowledge. The PP’s note about generosity with financial aid means a diverse student body. Count me as a very satisfied full-pay parent.

TC has a very diverse student body.....and you don’t have to pay 45k to go there.

Not in the TC district. Kid could have gone practically anywhere as we are fortunate not to be terribly cost sensitive. What we saw in Saints (not that it is the only school that exhibits it) were programs and community that fit our values and desires for her. The need for people here to crap on other people’s choices to reinforce their own is absurd.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]Can anyone explain to me why St Stephen's is so expensive when it seems to offer the least of the DC area private schools - at least on the simple basis of its academic and athletic facilities?[/quote]

And here we go.....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is very expensive but they give out a lot of aid. I think the average income of families receiving aid is like $170k so there are many families making good money on aid. Full pay families subsidize this.

Same with Oakcrest! It seems A LOT of families do not pay full freight at Oakcrest either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is very expensive but they give out a lot of aid. I think the average income of families receiving aid is like $170k so there are many families making good money on aid. Full pay families subsidize this.

Same with Oakcrest! It seems A LOT of families do not pay full freight at Oakcrest either.

Oakcrest? Is that comparable with St Stephens? Never heard of it

[Anonymous]

We have kids at the lower school and haven't experienced middle or upper yet, but we found the facilities and offerings comparable to the handful of DC privates we also considered. I'm aware that we might have to look again when our oldest reaches middle school.

But, as others said, I think most families live in the NoVA area (really, Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church) and are committed to the community feel, which most DC schools (with families from all over) can't really compete with.

[Anonymous]

Huh? SSSAS' facilities are on par with any of the Big 3s (GDS, NCS/STA, Sidwell) at least for the lower and upper schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Huh? SSSAS' facilities are on par with any of the Big 3s (GDS, NCS/STA, Sidwell) at least for the lower and upper schools.

+ 1

The lower school is beautiful. Has OP actually seen SSSAS, and other DC privates??