Reply to Culture at St Stephens and St Agnes SSSAS

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Just search any of the recent threads about the school on here... I'll give you a hint - it's not good. [/quote]
On all of those threads you will find the usual haters, most of whom seem to have little to no actual experience with the school, the occasional family with a legitimately poor experience, and many people praising the school. Just as with any number of schools DCUM loves to hate one, ranging from Flint Hill to NCS. [/quote]
We had a terrible experience, but when I comment on posts, I am accused of gaslighting, lying, being a student at a rival, etc, so I won’t go into detail, but we were amongst many who left at the same time for multiple issues. The k-12 we switched to is night and day better across the board. I wish we had gotten out sooner. [/quote]

Sorry to hear that! I am OP. Could you share more about what caused you to leave and when this was? Recently? Could you also share what k-12 you switched to? I assume not in Alexandria as they are so limited? Thank you and sorry for your experience. [/quote]

Sorry one other Q when you say many - do you know about how many other families left? Alarming! [/quote]
I don’t want to say where we switched to just bc we would be identifiable. Look at schools that are not in Alexandria but offer buses to Alexandria. Our commute is actually easier now, to the non Alexandria school. 
Quite a few students from one of our grades didn’t return. Again, I don’t want to be specific bc it was such a large number that it would identify the class. 
Bullying in MS goes somewhat unchecked and is almost greenlightrd by some teachers. The admin is weak and just kind of ticks the box as far as dealing with anything, but the culture is there and the kids know they won’t get in trouble. It seems a lot worse with girls. There was some truly horrible behavior and kids of board members got away with things others were in trouble for. 
For the academics, you can get great grades just by memorization. At our new school, the learning and knowledge is a lot deeper, and it’s harder to just study for the test and get a good grade. The math program at SSSAS is good, and kids are well prepared if they transfer. Writing and foreign languages seem way behind. We were also disappointed in college acceptances once you strip away the lacrosse girls. Each year there seems to be one or two kids who do well and get into a bunch of good schools, but the rest of the acceptances are not great. You have to dig into their data bc they’ll show you the acceptances, and the couple of kids make it seem like many were accepted to good schools. Compared to other local schools, the acceptances across the classes are much weaker. We were also disappointed in the sports in US. Aside from boys bb and tennis and girls lacrosse, the teams are pretty much all in the lowest divisions in their leagues and don’t do great. 
The LS seemed ok. I wish there had been less electronics (kids actually watched lots of movies in the early grades) Andy worksheets, but the LS at least socially for the kids was pleasant. [/quote].

I found this list. Am I missing any?

Bishop Denis J. O’Connell High School (Grades 9-12)

Arlington, VA

This co-ed, Catholic school has an enrollment of 1,155 students. Annual tuition is approximately $17,275.

The Heights (Grades 3-12, boys only)

Potomac, MD

This all-boys school has an enrollment of 575 students. Annual tuition is approximately $25,000.

St. John’s College High School (Grades 9-12)

Washington, DC

This co-ed, Catholic school has an enrollment of 1,200 students. Annual tuition is approximately $27,500.

Saint Anselm’s Abbey School (Grades 6-12, boys only)

Washington, DC

This all-boys Catholic school has an enrollment of 247 students. Annual tuition is approximately $35,000.

Flint Hill School (Grades K-12)

Oakton, VA

This co-ed, nonsectarian school has an enrollment of 1,061 students. Annual tuition is approximately $54,775.

Congressional Schools of Virginia (Grades Pre-K – 8)

Falls Church, VA

This co-ed, nonsectarian school has an enrollment of 480 students. Annual tuition is approximately $35,000.

The Potomac School  (Grades K-12)

McLean, VA

This co-ed, nonsectarian school has an enrollment of 1,069 students. Annual tuition is approximately $47,150.[/quote]
I’m the PP who said we switched to a different k-12 (which is on the above list). I’m not sure what grade(s) you’re looking at or your appetite for a commute or which sex, but I’d probably take off The Heights (unless you’re extremely conservative catholic) and add BI, NCS, St Alban’s, Landon, Stone Ridge, Holton, GDS, Gonzaga, Visitation and Sidwell. [/quote]

Thank you!! My oldest is not yet in K so we are looking. I have boys and a girl so both but would love them all at one school that is not Catholic (I was catholic). Some religion is fine but not at all a priority. I would more prefer somewhere that has a k-12 so I am not uprooting and my appetite for commute is probably very low 🙃[/quote]

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