Reply to Looking into St. Andrew's Episcopal in Potomac for HS

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I would say that SAES affords high school students a range of classes /degrees of homework/stress.

When my kids were there, they did some things systemically that really helped, like a mandatory open period/study hall on certain days so kids could get a head start on homework to have less to do at night.  One of my kids always used that free time like that and was able to get through 9th and 10th grade without much stress at all.  Some kids don't use the free period that way, so it is less helpful to them.  I don't know if they still have that structure, but I would be surprised if they don't.

But don't kid yourself.  If your child intends to apply to the most selective colleges that he/she can get into, then he/she will push to take as many of the most challenging courses possible.  One of my kids took I think 9 APs, and another I think took 10 or 11, and that's not including other advanced classes that just didn't follow the AP curriculum.  (I know there is a controversy as to whether privates should offer APs or only other challenging classes that don't have to follow the AP curriculum, but that's not very relevant here to the question of homework and stress.) My point is just that if a kid elects to challenge himself/herself as much as possible, even at St. Andrew's that junior year can be a bear, as can that first semester of senior year when they are also filling out college apps.  [/quote]

Our DC was one of those SAES students who pushed her/his self to do 11 APs/ multiv cal … junior year was indeed highly stressful. However, it did help that there was emphasis on balance at SAES and the students all did athletics and art as well as academics. Also the students are honored for genuine efforts to do their best in school and the cultural emphasis on intention and effort helps foster healthy mind sets. The college counseling office is very sensible and helps them to prepare for different stages of college applications and test taking in timely ways.

I do think it sounds like it could be a great for OP DC but PPs caveat that high achievers still
Face stress especially in junior year is wise. [/quote]

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