Anonymous
05/30/2025 08:35
Subject: SSFS updates? We are thinking about it for a last minute HS switch
Anonymous wrote:What will this do for college admissions? Wont colleges know what’s going on? Won’t they question the quality of the school?
Think about the question you are asking. Do you really think colleges question the "quality" of the thousands of high schools from which they receive applicants? And if so, what is their measure of "quality"?
Anonymous
05/30/2025 08:32
Subject: SSFS updates? We are thinking about it for a last minute HS switch
Anonymous wrote:Serious question as a family choosing not to go back to high school this year. Those of you who are returning - are you not troubled that for all the talk about finances past and future, no one is talking about why the school lost 200 enrollments from fall of 2023 to Spring of 2025? 690 kids to 495 — and that’s why they thought they had to close the school. Now with reopening they are at 326.
They had to shut the school because of a huge exodus of families and there has been zero discussion of the underlying reasons for that. I have been at every board meeting, coalition call, and all over Slack.
The fact that there was something so broken that almost 1/3 of families left and no one wants to talk about that - we couldn’t overcome that. But I am finding it so amazing that so many families don’t have insurmountable problems with that.
I find it amazing that you are *this* concerned about the families that choose to stay. There are only two explanations for your bother with this - 1) You are simply hater who wants to see the school fail or 2) You don't feel secure in your own decision to leave.
Anonymous
05/29/2025 22:43
Subject: SSFS updates? We are thinking about it for a last minute HS switch
Anonymous wrote:Serious question as a family choosing not to go back to high school this year. Those of you who are returning - are you not troubled that for all the talk about finances past and future, no one is talking about why the school lost 200 enrollments from fall of 2023 to Spring of 2025? 690 kids to 495 — and that’s why they thought they had to close the school. Now with reopening they are at 326.
They had to shut the school because of a huge exodus of families and there has been zero discussion of the underlying reasons for that. I have been at every board meeting, coalition call, and all over Slack.
The fact that there was something so broken that almost 1/3 of families left and no one wants to talk about that - we couldn’t overcome that. But I am finding it so amazing that so many families don’t have insurmountable problems with that.
The school has had this issue for some time. No one talks about the elephant in the room. What happened to drive people away in the first place? Not all schools are losing 10/25/50% of their students. But ssfs did. Why? Not the same reason for everyone but clearly multiple problems existed that drove ppl away, I hope the admin at least Kate paying attention to those exit interviews even if they don’t say out loud what the answers are. Because if the problems aren’t fixed they will continue to struggle with enrollment. School can’t never recover until they can attract students.
Anonymous
05/29/2025 22:36
Subject: SSFS updates? We are thinking about it for a last minute HS switch
Anonymous wrote:What will this do for college admissions? Wont colleges know what’s going on? Won’t they question the quality of the school?
Maybe not. But there isn’t a way to know of course.
Anonymous
05/29/2025 22:35
Subject: SSFS updates? We are thinking about it for a last minute HS switch
Anonymous wrote:Serious question as a family choosing not to go back to high school this year. Those of you who are returning - are you not troubled that for all the talk about finances past and future, no one is talking about why the school lost 200 enrollments from fall of 2023 to Spring of 2025? 690 kids to 495 — and that’s why they thought they had to close the school. Now with reopening they are at 326.
They had to shut the school because of a huge exodus of families and there has been zero discussion of the underlying reasons for that. I have been at every board meeting, coalition call, and all over Slack.
The fact that there was something so broken that almost 1/3 of families left and no one wants to talk about that - we couldn’t overcome that. But I am finding it so amazing that so many families don’t have insurmountable problems with that.
Those who do are called trolls. But of course they exist.
Anonymous
05/29/2025 22:32
Subject: SSFS updates? We are thinking about it for a last minute HS switch
What will this do for college admissions? Wont colleges know what’s going on? Won’t they question the quality of the school?
Anonymous
05/29/2025 22:29
Subject: SSFS updates? We are thinking about it for a last minute HS switch
Serious question as a family choosing not to go back to high school this year. Those of you who are returning - are you not troubled that for all the talk about finances past and future, no one is talking about why the school lost 200 enrollments from fall of 2023 to Spring of 2025? 690 kids to 495 — and that’s why they thought they had to close the school. Now with reopening they are at 326.
They had to shut the school because of a huge exodus of families and there has been zero discussion of the underlying reasons for that. I have been at every board meeting, coalition call, and all over Slack.
The fact that there was something so broken that almost 1/3 of families left and no one wants to talk about that - we couldn’t overcome that. But I am finding it so amazing that so many families don’t have insurmountable problems with that.
They had to shut the school because of a huge exodus of families and there has been zero discussion of the underlying reasons for that. I have been at every board meeting, coalition call, and all over Slack.
The fact that there was something so broken that almost 1/3 of families left and no one wants to talk about that - we couldn’t overcome that. But I am finding it so amazing that so many families don’t have insurmountable problems with that.
Anonymous
05/29/2025 22:07
Subject: SSFS updates? We are thinking about it for a last minute HS switch
Anonymous wrote:Any recent updates on SSFS? Is it accurate to assume they are stable for the next 3 years? We are looking at a possible HS switch for a rising 10th grader.
There won’t be any new data for some time. You’re just going to have to decide if the risk is low enough for you and also if the experience will be worth the price tag for you. And then have a plan B if things go south next year.
Anonymous
05/29/2025 21:23
Subject: SSFS updates? We are thinking about it for a last minute HS switch
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think they feel confident financially they can stay open for 3 years, but it's unclear to me what those 3 years will be like in terms of student experience. If more people leave next year, or if they have to cut their budget even more and drop various programs and activities, will you still think it's the right fit?
They are planning to remain open indefinitely. They wouldn't have reopened at all if they didn't think they could meet that goal. We are re-enrolled and excited about the future of SSFS. This renaissance was needed and I expect great things.
They were planning to stay open indefinitely this year too, even as they ran the school into the ground.
Oh look, the haters are back. They follow from SSFS forum to forum. Get over it.
Anonymous
05/29/2025 10:12
Subject: SSFS updates? We are thinking about it for a last minute HS switch
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think they feel confident financially they can stay open for 3 years, but it's unclear to me what those 3 years will be like in terms of student experience. If more people leave next year, or if they have to cut their budget even more and drop various programs and activities, will you still think it's the right fit?
They are planning to remain open indefinitely. They wouldn't have reopened at all if they didn't think they could meet that goal. We are re-enrolled and excited about the future of SSFS. This renaissance was needed and I expect great things.
They were planning to stay open indefinitely this year too, even as they ran the school into the ground.
Anonymous
05/29/2025 09:48
Subject: SSFS updates? We are thinking about it for a last minute HS switch
Anonymous wrote:Any recent updates on SSFS? Is it accurate to assume they are stable for the next 3 years? We are looking at a possible HS switch for a rising 10th grader.
Yes, it is more than accurate. Treat SSFS as you would any other school. Visit and learn in order to see if it's a good fit because that's what matters.
Anonymous
05/29/2025 09:42
Subject: SSFS updates? We are thinking about it for a last minute HS switch
Anonymous wrote:I think they feel confident financially they can stay open for 3 years, but it's unclear to me what those 3 years will be like in terms of student experience. If more people leave next year, or if they have to cut their budget even more and drop various programs and activities, will you still think it's the right fit?
They are planning to remain open indefinitely. They wouldn't have reopened at all if they didn't think they could meet that goal. We are re-enrolled and excited about the future of SSFS. This renaissance was needed and I expect great things.
Anonymous
05/29/2025 09:35
Subject: SSFS updates? We are thinking about it for a last minute HS switch
I think they feel confident financially they can stay open for 3 years, but it's unclear to me what those 3 years will be like in terms of student experience. If more people leave next year, or if they have to cut their budget even more and drop various programs and activities, will you still think it's the right fit?
Anonymous
05/29/2025 09:22
Subject: SSFS updates? We are thinking about it for a last minute HS switch
My child is older and re-enrolled, but if they were rising 10th, we'd likely still have made the decision to re-enroll. Yes, enrollment is down because of the closure announcement, but a majority of the Board has resigned, there are new Board members that were instrumental in getting the funding to stay open and keeping morale up, and the initial messaging when the school announced they would stay open was 3 years (they have since amended that because it sounded like "only" 3 years, but they now expect to stay open indefinitely).
Obviously there is still a risk, but the footing certainly seems more solid now. My advice is to visit, ask questions, see if you can talk to the head of upper school if you have specific questions about classes, etc.
Obviously there is still a risk, but the footing certainly seems more solid now. My advice is to visit, ask questions, see if you can talk to the head of upper school if you have specific questions about classes, etc.
Anonymous
05/29/2025 09:05
Subject: SSFS updates? We are thinking about it for a last minute HS switch
Any recent updates on SSFS? Is it accurate to assume they are stable for the next 3 years? We are looking at a possible HS switch for a rising 10th grader.