Bishop Ireton vs SSSA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a layperson not well versed in private schools, this thread is confusing.

Academically and from $ perspective, is SSSA a good school for folks that aren’t willing to change commute and don’t want Alexandria / south Arlington public schools?

SSSAS gets a lot of hate on this board. As far as I can tell, it’s largely because it is in VA and isn’t a big3 but still dares to have a fairly typical private school price tag. Academically it’s a very good school so if the location and cost match what you are looking for, it’s a strong choice.

Thanks!!

Maybe...just maybe it's because a lot of people had a horrible experience there and are willing to let others know so they don't make a $200K mistake?

I have seen a few people post that they’ve had a specific negative experience at SSSAS - just like any school that gets posted about here, there’s always someone for whom the school didn’t work out. And just like those other schools, there are many other families who had very positive experiences at SSSAS.

But the majority of the hate seems to be like what has been in this thread. People who never actually enrolled a child there saying it could never compare to [take your pick of some big5 school usually in NWDC] or how it’s overpriced for a mediocre education (that same complaint gets lobbed at Flint Hill all the time too - another perfectly good school that dares to be in VA and charge private school tuition). Or that it has too many days off, apparently.

If you had a specific negative experience you want to share and warn about, by all means, do so, and I’m sorry it happened. But most people hating on it don’t ever seem to have had a kid there.

I think a lot of us who had children with terrible experiences at SSSAS are reluctant to post bc people jump on us and say we are some notorious SSSAS hater or making things up. I wish we had never been at that school and am so happy to be out. We’re now at a school further away but with a better transportation department and bus services, so the commute does not feel worse. Instead of rehashing everything awful about SSSAS, I’ll just encourage everyone to look further than Alexandria. Any extra commute is more than made up by a better all around experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a layperson not well versed in private schools, this thread is confusing.

Academically and from $ perspective, is SSSA a good school for folks that aren’t willing to change commute and don’t want Alexandria / south Arlington public schools?

SSSAS gets a lot of hate on this board. As far as I can tell, it’s largely because it is in VA and isn’t a big3 but still dares to have a fairly typical private school price tag. Academically it’s a very good school so if the location and cost match what you are looking for, it’s a strong choice.

Thanks!!

Maybe...just maybe it's because a lot of people had a horrible experience there and are willing to let others know so they don't make a $200K mistake?

I have seen a few people post that they’ve had a specific negative experience at SSSAS - just like any school that gets posted about here, there’s always someone for whom the school didn’t work out. And just like those other schools, there are many other families who had very positive experiences at SSSAS.

But the majority of the hate seems to be like what has been in this thread. People who never actually enrolled a child there saying it could never compare to [take your pick of some big5 school usually in NWDC] or how it’s overpriced for a mediocre education (that same complaint gets lobbed at Flint Hill all the time too - another perfectly good school that dares to be in VA and charge private school tuition). Or that it has too many days off, apparently.

If you had a specific negative experience you want to share and warn about, by all means, do so, and I’m sorry it happened. But most people hating on it don’t ever seem to have had a kid there.

I think a lot of us who had children with terrible experiences at SSSAS are reluctant to post bc people jump on us and say we are some notorious SSSAS hater or making things up. I wish we had never been at that school and am so happy to be out. We’re now at a school further away but with a better transportation department and bus services, so the commute does not feel worse. Instead of rehashing everything awful about SSSAS, I’ll just encourage everyone to look further than Alexandria. Any extra commute is more than made up by a better all around experience.

This 100%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a layperson not well versed in private schools, this thread is confusing.

Academically and from $ perspective, is SSSA a good school for folks that aren’t willing to change commute and don’t want Alexandria / south Arlington public schools?

SSSAS gets a lot of hate on this board. As far as I can tell, it’s largely because it is in VA and isn’t a big3 but still dares to have a fairly typical private school price tag. Academically it’s a very good school so if the location and cost match what you are looking for, it’s a strong choice.

Thanks!!

Maybe...just maybe it's because a lot of people had a horrible experience there and are willing to let others know so they don't make a $200K mistake?

I have seen a few people post that they’ve had a specific negative experience at SSSAS - just like any school that gets posted about here, there’s always someone for whom the school didn’t work out. And just like those other schools, there are many other families who had very positive experiences at SSSAS.

But the majority of the hate seems to be like what has been in this thread. People who never actually enrolled a child there saying it could never compare to [take your pick of some big5 school usually in NWDC] or how it’s overpriced for a mediocre education (that same complaint gets lobbed at Flint Hill all the time too - another perfectly good school that dares to be in VA and charge private school tuition). Or that it has too many days off, apparently.

If you had a specific negative experience you want to share and warn about, by all means, do so, and I’m sorry it happened. But most people hating on it don’t ever seem to have had a kid there.

I think a lot of us who had children with terrible experiences at SSSAS are reluctant to post bc people jump on us and say we are some notorious SSSAS hater or making things up. I wish we had never been at that school and am so happy to be out. We’re now at a school further away but with a better transportation department and bus services, so the commute does not feel worse. Instead of rehashing everything awful about SSSAS, I’ll just encourage everyone to look further than Alexandria. Any extra commute is more than made up by a better all around experience.

I’m sorry you had a bad experience and it’s great you’ve found a better fit for your child.

SSSAS US (we started in 9th, and I’ve definitely heard plenty of lukewarm feedback about MS from parents with kids who have come all the way through, so I always try to make it clear that our experience is US only) has been fantastic for my child.

At any school there are going to be unhappy families who leave, ecstatic families who think it’s the best thing ever, and plenty of folks in the middle for whom it’s fine. And it should be fair game for any of them to post their experiences and thought (negative or positive) about a school without getting jumped on.

What I object to are the kinds of complaints that clearly come from people who haven’t been at the school. I’ve seen SSSAS denigrated because of what its walls look like, because it charges $50k+, because it’s in Alexandria, and now because it apparently has too many days off. For the record, I object to these kinds of “complaints” about any school. If all a person can fall back on it that school X isn’t big3 but still charges $50k tuition, they clearly aren’t actually familiar with the school, they are just status chasers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it might be harder to get into Bishop Ireton than SSSAS. SSSAS will take pretty much anyone who can pay. They can't afford to be selective since they pool only from Alexandria.

This is very false. Bishop Ireton takes the entire class from St Mary’s. SSSAS will have 20 spots at most. Half of those spots will go to athletes and the other half will go to top performers from ACDS, Grace, and Burgundy. SSSAS is a great school. It is not as much of a pressure cooker as other privates, but I constantly hear of kids leaving because it’s too academically strenuous in middle school. A few of the DC private schools are on another level- most are not. SSSAS is better than any private I’ve heard of in all of the Southeast. It’s better than all the Atlanta privates, better than Bolles in Jacksonville, the Asheville privates, the Nashville privates, the Memphis private schools, most North Carolina private schools. It’s a great school. It exists near some exceptional schools and people want to compare it to B.I.????? That is a joke. You are behind in this forum. A lot of these SSSAS complaints are old news. Legacy families are leaving because they “don’t prioritize sports like they used to”, “the teachers are too woke”, “they take too many kids from PG county”. These are all steps in the right direction for me. The new upper school campus is great. The kids are generally happy. They push the kids to want to succeed without creating a toxic environment. Comparing B.I . To SSSAS is like comparing apples to oranges. They are not the same at all or comparable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it might be harder to get into Bishop Ireton than SSSAS. SSSAS will take pretty much anyone who can pay. They can't afford to be selective since they pool only from Alexandria.

This is very false. Bishop Ireton takes the entire class from St Mary’s. SSSAS will have 20 spots at most. Half of those spots will go to athletes and the other half will go to top performers from ACDS, Grace, and Burgundy. SSSAS is a great school. It is not as much of a pressure cooker as other privates, but I constantly hear of kids leaving because it’s too academically strenuous in middle school. A few of the DC private schools are on another level- most are not. SSSAS is better than any private I’ve heard of in all of the Southeast. It’s better than all the Atlanta privates, better than Bolles in Jacksonville, the Asheville privates, the Nashville privates, the Memphis private schools, most North Carolina private schools. It’s a great school. It exists near some exceptional schools and people want to compare it to B.I.????? That is a joke. You are behind in this forum. A lot of these SSSAS complaints are old news. Legacy families are leaving because they “don’t prioritize sports like they used to”, “the teachers are too woke”, “they take too many kids from PG county”. These are all steps in the right direction for me. The new upper school campus is great. The kids are generally happy. They push the kids to want to succeed without creating a toxic environment. Comparing B.I . To SSSAS is like comparing apples to oranges. They are not the same at all or comparable.

No most of what you wrote is completely false. They have way more than 20 spots for 9th. They usually lose about 40 alone leaving for other schools after MS. And the only thing old news is SSSAS is worth the $$ and an excellent school. SSSAS used to be but is no longer. BI is closer in college prep than most SSSAS parents want to admit - they never want to think they are wasting the difference in cost. And, yes, we moved our student along with many others to a better, more cost effective option. Our student got into an excellent college that they never would have if they had stayed at SSSAS.

[Anonymous]

SSSAS does not lose 40 8th graders to other schools. That number is insane. Even if 40 kids apply out, they won’t get into schools that are better than SSSAS. I am so glad you’re happy and that it worked for your child, but thinking that B.I . is on the same level as SSSAS is delusional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SSSAS does not lose 40 8th graders to other schools. That number is insane. Even if 40 kids apply out, they won’t get into schools that are better than SSSAS. I am so glad you’re happy and that it worked for your child, but thinking that B.I . is on the same level as SSSAS is delusional.

Fact: my student's MS class lost over 40 kids to better schools than SSSAS. You are the delusional one.

[Anonymous]

I’m one of the positive SSSAS posters. When DC applied for 9th a couple years ago, we were told at one of the open houses that they expected to have about 30 spots to fill - that included anticipated 8th grade attrition as well as the expansion spots.

The MS is the weak link for SSSAS, but even so, they don’t lose 40 8th graders at a time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m one of the positive SSSAS posters. When DC applied for 9th a couple years ago, we were told at one of the open houses that they expected to have about 30 spots to fill - that included anticipated 8th grade attrition as well as the expansion spots.

The MS is the weak link for SSSAS, but even so, they don’t lose 40 8th graders at a time.

Not an SSSAS parent here but let's be honest.... middle school is the weak link for EVERY school I'm familiar with. It's an extremely difficult time for kids, parents and teachers dealing with kids and the tech boom that has overtaken school as well as homelife has introduced new challenges in the classrooms as well. Name me one middle school where parents have no complaints... hard to do. Not always the school's fault.

SSSAS and BI are both great spots that serve many people in their community. No bad answers here.

[Anonymous]

Agreed. If folks want to pay $50K, and it's a good fit for their student then go for it. The fact remains my student's class lost 40 from MS. You can pretend it didn't happen to make yourself feel better, but it's a fact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agreed. If folks want to pay $50K, and it's a good fit for their student then go for it. The fact remains my student's class lost 40 from MS. You can pretend it didn't happen to make yourself feel better, but it's a fact.

Then it’s an outlier, and likely has more to do with the dynamics of that grade cohort. They are not regularly losing so many 8th graders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed. If folks want to pay $50K, and it's a good fit for their student then go for it. The fact remains my student's class lost 40 from MS. You can pretend it didn't happen to make yourself feel better, but it's a fact.

Then it’s an outlier, and likely has more to do with the dynamics of that grade cohort. They are not regularly losing so many 8th graders.

Of course it must be an outlier to keep your narrative going. LOL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a layperson not well versed in private schools, this thread is confusing.

Academically and from $ perspective, is SSSA a good school for folks that aren’t willing to change commute and don’t want Alexandria / south Arlington public schools?

SSSAS gets a lot of hate on this board. As far as I can tell, it’s largely because it is in VA and isn’t a big3 but still dares to have a fairly typical private school price tag. Academically it’s a very good school so if the location and cost match what you are looking for, it’s a strong choice.

Thanks!!

Maybe...just maybe it's because a lot of people had a horrible experience there and are willing to let others know so they don't make a $200K mistake?

I have seen a few people post that they’ve had a specific negative experience at SSSAS - just like any school that gets posted about here, there’s always someone for whom the school didn’t work out. And just like those other schools, there are many other families who had very positive experiences at SSSAS.

But the majority of the hate seems to be like what has been in this thread. People who never actually enrolled a child there saying it could never compare to [take your pick of some big5 school usually in NWDC] or how it’s overpriced for a mediocre education (that same complaint gets lobbed at Flint Hill all the time too - another perfectly good school that dares to be in VA and charge private school tuition). Or that it has too many days off, apparently.

If you had a specific negative experience you want to share and warn about, by all means, do so, and I’m sorry it happened. But most people hating on it don’t ever seem to have had a kid there.

I think a lot of us who had children with terrible experiences at SSSAS are reluctant to post bc people jump on us and say we are some notorious SSSAS hater or making things up. I wish we had never been at that school and am so happy to be out. We’re now at a school further away but with a better transportation department and bus services, so the commute does not feel worse. Instead of rehashing everything awful about SSSAS, I’ll just encourage everyone to look further than Alexandria. Any extra commute is more than made up by a better all around experience.

I agree with this completely. This was unfortunately our experience. We regretted enrolling our kids at the lower school but they are thankfully in a much better school now. I don't want to go into further details to out myself or to rehash what is past but be wary of sending your children there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed. If folks want to pay $50K, and it's a good fit for their student then go for it. The fact remains my student's class lost 40 from MS. You can pretend it didn't happen to make yourself feel better, but it's a fact.

Then it’s an outlier, and likely has more to do with the dynamics of that grade cohort. They are not regularly losing so many 8th graders.

Of course it must be an outlier to keep your narrative going. LOL.

I know for a fact that SSSAS does not lose 40 8th graders on a regular basis. You insist your class did, and I believe that was your experience, but it is not the standard annual experience.

What year was that?