Mass exodus from SSSAS Middle School

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:The people leave SSSAS in a huff are almost always conservative MAGA families because they think it’s a safe space for them and it’s not.

Good riddance to them

Yeah except I think these dress code changes are pissing off progressive families. The girls basically feel like they have to wear a dress to fit in.

Good riddance to anyone that doesn’t want to be there and leaves.

That's the attitude that supports a healthy environment at SSSAS! Don't review the reasons that families are leaving to try to improve SSSAS. It's clearly perfect.

I think this entire thread is bananas. The school does make changes where it sees fit and decides it is appropriate. Just because they don’t change whenever a parent asks doesn’t mean they are unresponsive. I personally know Trump families, independents and left democrats all happily coexisting because it was the right school for their kid(s). The one thing this thread is doing is making SSSAS look bad. To those of you who don’t think it is worth it, don’t come or leave. For those who hate diversity of view points, I mean ok. Just be prepared for a lonely life cuz you will encounter people who disagree with you and if you always make it an issue, they will leave you, not the other way around. It’s a nice school with tons of opportunities that many schools simply do not offer. Find me another school with wrestling, Latin Competitions, AP classes, almost a dozen international trips per year, and a Cappie nominated theater program. I’m waiting…

Name calling: when you don't have anything intelligent to add to a discussion.
There is truly nothing at SSSAS that other privates do not all offer. I guess other independents don’t go for CAPPIES bc the only other private school in the nations cap region that even submits for those is BI. Most independent schools have better theater programs. I’m the PP who pulled our kids out of SSSAS. We stayed out of sheer laziness and only wish we had left earlier.

Ok. So this is really just a giant complaint by one unhappy family. It’s ok for you not to have liked it but you don’t need to make it a personal mission to bring the school down. Lots of us are happy and I think you should try to be ok with that.

No, it is far from one complaint. Read all of a the different comments. Glad that some of you are happy. Ignorance is bliss.

A jerk to the end. I’m done. I think you have a sad and unpleasant spirit.

Name calling: when you nothing intelligent to add to a discussion.

Ok, before insulting intelligence, make sure you write a complete sentence. And I didn’t name call. I assessed your character. And I stand by it. If you dislike SSSAS, then it’s good you are gone. You don’t need to be so vicious about it. It’s ok that it’s not for your family. Now just go away.

+1 there is one incredibly unhinged poster here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The more I hear about SSSAS the more I wonder why on earth someone would pay as much money as they do to send their child there... fools and their money, as the saying goes...

All Alexandria private schools benefit from being in a city with a large UMC population but weak, massive public schools, especially as you get to middle and high school.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Does SSSAS consistently publish its honor roll? Or is it like st Mary’s in alexandria?

I heard they coordinated with St Mary’s to agree to not publish. And to add extra assemblies this year.

Are they going to play each other at sportsball?

Hopefully they cancel all Friday classes this fall for Mass followed by sportsball.

It would be very odd for SSSAS to cancel classes for Mass since it’s Episcopalian.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:These posts feel like sock puppet it by one family upset with the administration. Most people are happy at SSSAS.

I think this is true. We have been very happy.

BUT I do know that when families face an obstacle, the admin seems happier to just let that family go than try to fix the problem. So you end up with a mix of nothing but families who love the school and those who are new, because anyone with a problem was forced to leave by an unresponsive admin.

I feel like this is true of a lot of private schools in the area. Admins don’t actually solve problems or administrate. Which is kind of strange if you’re paying over $40K in tuition.

[Anonymous]

A ton of girls always leave St Stephen’s after 8th. Middle school is hard, but that school seems to be especially rough on girls, and they never want to do anything about it or acknowledge the problem.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:We can’t get in!!! SSSAS is our best and only options if we don’t want single sex or Catholic. We have TRIED to get into GDS, Sidwell, and Potomac with extensive connections and we are NOT special enough. My kids are neurotypical and get good grades. They are very social and good in interviews. We are just not special enough to get into those schools. We didn’t start in kindergarten. Their age groups are heavily impacted by the pandemic and they are white males (private schools have too many boys). Their grandparents with money aren’t in the area. We didn’t go to ivy league schools. We’re not in commercial real estate. We don’t sit on charity boards. SSSAS is the only option for a co-ed non-Catholic. We could maybe possibly get into maret but that is a very long drive. “Settling” for SSSAS is a great option. It is a choice that has made my family very happy. It’s not a pressure cooker, the sports aren’t too competitive, and it’s five minutes away. It’s a great school and I’d say the best private co-ed non boarding school in the United States from its latitude line and south.

I could have written this. Happy at SSSAS. You could not have gotten into Maret. You said your kids are white. That is not going to cut it.

So weird. Basically you admit your kids went to SSSAS because they couldn’t get in anywhere else? Why shell out over $40k per kid per year for mediocrity?

[Anonymous]

That post said it was the best non boarding private from its latitude line south. Acknowledging it’s not the best in the DMV but still a great school. I’m from the South and it’s far better than any Atlanta options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We can’t get in!!! SSSAS is our best and only options if we don’t want single sex or Catholic. We have TRIED to get into GDS, Sidwell, and Potomac with extensive connections and we are NOT special enough. My kids are neurotypical and get good grades. They are very social and good in interviews. We are just not special enough to get into those schools. We didn’t start in kindergarten. Their age groups are heavily impacted by the pandemic and they are white males (private schools have too many boys). Their grandparents with money aren’t in the area. We didn’t go to ivy league schools. We’re not in commercial real estate. We don’t sit on charity boards. SSSAS is the only option for a co-ed non-Catholic. We could maybe possibly get into maret but that is a very long drive. “Settling” for SSSAS is a great option. It is a choice that has made my family very happy. It’s not a pressure cooker, the sports aren’t too competitive, and it’s five minutes away. It’s a great school and I’d say the best private co-ed non boarding school in the United States from its latitude line and south.

I could have written this. Happy at SSSAS. You could not have gotten into Maret. You said your kids are white. That is not going to cut it.

So weird. Basically you admit your kids went to SSSAS because they couldn’t get in anywhere else? Why shell out over $40k per kid per year for mediocrity?

Nope. Not what I said. But you have an agenda and I won’t help you with your crazy anymore. Go seek therapy.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:There was already a mass exodus for the class of 2029 with many now going somewhere else for high school. The new dean of the MS is awful (the prior one was great and is still there but now just teaches in the classroom vs being the dean). The dress code shenanigans are so ridiculous. The US dean is a nightmare and the HOS for the US is super goofy.

In what way is the US Dean of Students a nightmare? I’ve never heard my kid or any of their friend have issues, nor any of my parent friends say one word about her. She’s fine. And if by HOS for US you mean the director of US (there’s only one HOS, and she’s head of the whole school), he’s wonderful. Students love him, parents love him.

My kids are in the US. The US dean is extremely problematic and inserts herself to create drama among students, especially girls, while laughing off horrible behavior from boys. The consequences are not uniform and when there is actual conflict that should be addressed (pretty standard HS concerns, nothing extraordinary), she won't enforce rules if she doesn't feel like it. The US head is perfectly nice, but his #1 concern is the staff, not the students. He is just ok, but better than the dean, unless you have a problem with the dean and then forget it.

All students and all parents do not love him.

I agree with this. They are good at listening to your concerns, smiling, nodding - and then doing nothing. And dismissing a lot as “drama.” Instead of thinking, “wow we’ve heard these concerns before, we should do something” they seem to think, “we hear these things a lot, it’s the usual complaints, no big deal.” And yes, sometimes it just feels like staff retention is more important.

Bottom line: SSSAS' best days are in the distant past. The school is not worth $55K or whatever is the current cost. The ROI is just not worth it.

+1
We are a former family and wish we had left sooner. It’s easy to be swayed by the ok LS and proximity to Alexandria, Arlington, etc. We were intimidated by the process of trying to get multiple kids in to the same school at once as transfers when not all years are entry years, etc. We kind of ignored a lot of things that we disliked bc we didn’t have a great alternative. It got bad enough that we applied out and cannot believe how much better things are where we landed. I hear a lot of SSSAS friends saying things along the lines of all MS are bad, there’s bullying everywhere, always some bad admin, etc. This really just isn’t the case. I think they excuse a lot of things that shouldn’t be tolerated.

Where did you land? Wondering which schools are viable alternatives for Arlington/Alexandria for the academically inclined.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:To OP, if you got into another school just be happy and move on. This is obviously a troll thread. Most families that go to SSSAS don’t have other options if they don’t want Catholic or public school. I grew up in a private school and there are always things that you have to plug your nose and move on. There are no perfect schools. You should advocate for your child and if that includes uprooting and moving to another school, I’m sorry. That is a stressful and annoying process. If you did it and succeeded then I’m happy for you!

I really don’t understand this logic. If you’re going to do an independent school, you do realize SSSAS costs more than most of the local top tier ones? Most of the better schools also offer transportation, so saying you’re stuck paying a higher tuition at SSSAS bc you live in Alexandria isn’t an excuse.

Curious which top schools constitute the “most” that are less expensive?

For US (9-12 grades):
STA: $56,966
NCS: $55,920
GDS: $55,881 (9-11) or $56,217 (12th)
Potomac: $52,800

SSSAS: $55,210 (9-11) or $55,500 (12th)

Only Potomac is less expensive. Maret is also less at $53,545 if you consider that a top school. And a $2-3k price difference isn’t massive even then. All the schools are in the same ballpark.

It’s fine if you think SSSAS should not even cost as much as the top schools, but it’s completely inaccurate to say it costs more.

When we looked we found that the other top schools included more (transportation, lunch, etc). Maret and Potomac are heads and tails above SSSAS. I’d even consider Landon, visitation, prep, flint hill, etc to be better schools, and they’re all less expensive than SSSAS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, regarding transportation, I guess it depends on how you define top tier. But for the sake of discussion, let’s say it means St. Albans, NCS and Sidwell. None of them offer any transportation even for a fee. Not an option. Potomac requires it for the last mile due to their arrangement with the immediate neighborhood but if you want it from your neighborhood, you pay a fee just like at SSSAS and FH and SAES or Bullis, etc. I don’t believe Maret or GDS have buses at all but I may be wrong. In other words, you are not correct and literally just spewing garbage.

Potomac require it for everyone except k & seniors. Shuttle buses which cover md, va & dc are included in tuition. That includes bus service after sports. If you want neighborhood, there’s an additional fee, but the shuttle network is vast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was already a mass exodus for the class of 2029 with many now going somewhere else for high school. The new dean of the MS is awful (the prior one was great and is still there but now just teaches in the classroom vs being the dean). The dress code shenanigans are so ridiculous. The US dean is a nightmare and the HOS for the US is super goofy.

In what way is the US Dean of Students a nightmare? I’ve never heard my kid or any of their friend have issues, nor any of my parent friends say one word about her. She’s fine. And if by HOS for US you mean the director of US (there’s only one HOS, and she’s head of the whole school), he’s wonderful. Students love him, parents love him.

My kids are in the US. The US dean is extremely problematic and inserts herself to create drama among students, especially girls, while laughing off horrible behavior from boys. The consequences are not uniform and when there is actual conflict that should be addressed (pretty standard HS concerns, nothing extraordinary), she won't enforce rules if she doesn't feel like it. The US head is perfectly nice, but his #1 concern is the staff, not the students. He is just ok, but better than the dean, unless you have a problem with the dean and then forget it.

All students and all parents do not love him.

I agree with this. They are good at listening to your concerns, smiling, nodding - and then doing nothing. And dismissing a lot as “drama.” Instead of thinking, “wow we’ve heard these concerns before, we should do something” they seem to think, “we hear these things a lot, it’s the usual complaints, no big deal.” And yes, sometimes it just feels like staff retention is more important.

Bottom line: SSSAS' best days are in the distant past. The school is not worth $55K or whatever is the current cost. The ROI is just not worth it.

+1
We are a former family and wish we had left sooner. It’s easy to be swayed by the ok LS and proximity to Alexandria, Arlington, etc. We were intimidated by the process of trying to get multiple kids in to the same school at once as transfers when not all years are entry years, etc. We kind of ignored a lot of things that we disliked bc we didn’t have a great alternative. It got bad enough that we applied out and cannot believe how much better things are where we landed. I hear a lot of SSSAS friends saying things along the lines of all MS are bad, there’s bullying everywhere, always some bad admin, etc. This really just isn’t the case. I think they excuse a lot of things that shouldn’t be tolerated.

Where did you land? Wondering which schools are viable alternatives for Arlington/Alexandria for the academically inclined.

Potomac and couldn’t be happier

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was already a mass exodus for the class of 2029 with many now going somewhere else for high school. The new dean of the MS is awful (the prior one was great and is still there but now just teaches in the classroom vs being the dean). The dress code shenanigans are so ridiculous. The US dean is a nightmare and the HOS for the US is super goofy.

In what way is the US Dean of Students a nightmare? I’ve never heard my kid or any of their friend have issues, nor any of my parent friends say one word about her. She’s fine. And if by HOS for US you mean the director of US (there’s only one HOS, and she’s head of the whole school), he’s wonderful. Students love him, parents love him.

My kids are in the US. The US dean is extremely problematic and inserts herself to create drama among students, especially girls, while laughing off horrible behavior from boys. The consequences are not uniform and when there is actual conflict that should be addressed (pretty standard HS concerns, nothing extraordinary), she won't enforce rules if she doesn't feel like it. The US head is perfectly nice, but his #1 concern is the staff, not the students. He is just ok, but better than the dean, unless you have a problem with the dean and then forget it.

All students and all parents do not love him.

I agree with this. They are good at listening to your concerns, smiling, nodding - and then doing nothing. And dismissing a lot as “drama.” Instead of thinking, “wow we’ve heard these concerns before, we should do something” they seem to think, “we hear these things a lot, it’s the usual complaints, no big deal.” And yes, sometimes it just feels like staff retention is more important.

Bottom line: SSSAS' best days are in the distant past. The school is not worth $55K or whatever is the current cost. The ROI is just not worth it.

+1
We are a former family and wish we had left sooner. It’s easy to be swayed by the ok LS and proximity to Alexandria, Arlington, etc. We were intimidated by the process of trying to get multiple kids in to the same school at once as transfers when not all years are entry years, etc. We kind of ignored a lot of things that we disliked bc we didn’t have a great alternative. It got bad enough that we applied out and cannot believe how much better things are where we landed. I hear a lot of SSSAS friends saying things along the lines of all MS are bad, there’s bullying everywhere, always some bad admin, etc. This really just isn’t the case. I think they excuse a lot of things that shouldn’t be tolerated.

Where did you land? Wondering which schools are viable alternatives for Arlington/Alexandria for the academically inclined.

Potomac and couldn’t be happier

I’m so glad you explained, I couldn’t quite figure out what school it was even though you posted about Potomac three times in four minutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To OP, if you got into another school just be happy and move on. This is obviously a troll thread. Most families that go to SSSAS don’t have other options if they don’t want Catholic or public school. I grew up in a private school and there are always things that you have to plug your nose and move on. There are no perfect schools. You should advocate for your child and if that includes uprooting and moving to another school, I’m sorry. That is a stressful and annoying process. If you did it and succeeded then I’m happy for you!

I really don’t understand this logic. If you’re going to do an independent school, you do realize SSSAS costs more than most of the local top tier ones? Most of the better schools also offer transportation, so saying you’re stuck paying a higher tuition at SSSAS bc you live in Alexandria isn’t an excuse.

Curious which top schools constitute the “most” that are less expensive?

For US (9-12 grades):
STA: $56,966
NCS: $55,920
GDS: $55,881 (9-11) or $56,217 (12th)
Potomac: $52,800

SSSAS: $55,210 (9-11) or $55,500 (12th)

Only Potomac is less expensive. Maret is also less at $53,545 if you consider that a top school. And a $2-3k price difference isn’t massive even then. All the schools are in the same ballpark.

It’s fine if you think SSSAS should not even cost as much as the top schools, but it’s completely inaccurate to say it costs more.

When we looked we found that the other top schools included more (transportation, lunch, etc). Maret and Potomac are heads and tails above SSSAS. I’d even consider Landon, visitation, prep, flint hill, etc to be better schools, and they’re all less expensive than SSSAS.

Maret is just do different it. Much smaller, no APs. No transportation at all. None. So I am not sure what your issue is but you are just wrong a lot. Potomac costs about the same. Also no AP. Visitation and Prep are Catholic and single sex so literally totally different from a co-ed episcopal school. But yes, less expensive. Landon is … all boys. But not less expensive. Flint Hill is the most similar in terms of size and offerings. It, like SSSAS , is a great school for people looking for coed, a bit larger, APs, transportation options. TBH, none of the other schools you list fit that bill setting aside that some are less expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To OP, if you got into another school just be happy and move on. This is obviously a troll thread. Most families that go to SSSAS don’t have other options if they don’t want Catholic or public school. I grew up in a private school and there are always things that you have to plug your nose and move on. There are no perfect schools. You should advocate for your child and if that includes uprooting and moving to another school, I’m sorry. That is a stressful and annoying process. If you did it and succeeded then I’m happy for you!

I really don’t understand this logic. If you’re going to do an independent school, you do realize SSSAS costs more than most of the local top tier ones? Most of the better schools also offer transportation, so saying you’re stuck paying a higher tuition at SSSAS bc you live in Alexandria isn’t an excuse.

Curious which top schools constitute the “most” that are less expensive?

For US (9-12 grades):
STA: $56,966
NCS: $55,920
GDS: $55,881 (9-11) or $56,217 (12th)
Potomac: $52,800

SSSAS: $55,210 (9-11) or $55,500 (12th)

Only Potomac is less expensive. Maret is also less at $53,545 if you consider that a top school. And a $2-3k price difference isn’t massive even then. All the schools are in the same ballpark.

It’s fine if you think SSSAS should not even cost as much as the top schools, but it’s completely inaccurate to say it costs more.

When we looked we found that the other top schools included more (transportation, lunch, etc). Maret and Potomac are heads and tails above SSSAS. I’d even consider Landon, visitation, prep, flint hill, etc to be better schools, and they’re all less expensive than SSSAS.

Maret is just do different it. Much smaller, no APs. No transportation at all. None. So I am not sure what your issue is but you are just wrong a lot. Potomac costs about the same. Also no AP. Visitation and Prep are Catholic and single sex so literally totally different from a co-ed episcopal school. But yes, less expensive. Landon is … all boys. But not less expensive. Flint Hill is the most similar in terms of size and offerings. It, like SSSAS , is a great school for people looking for coed, a bit larger, APs, transportation options. TBH, none of the other schools you list fit that bill setting aside that some are less expensive.

The point is that SSSAS is not worth the money relative to other schools listed above that cost the same. The education, the frustration when expressing problems and the college outcomes especially. If money doesn’t matter then fine it’s great for you. Or if you have a kid w learning differences that wouldn’t do well in public then that’s understandable. We should have left earlier too.