Anonymous wrote:If you care about where your child goes to college be aware that SSSAS students in the bottom half of the class will have very different options than those in the top half of the class. Also, once a student is defined as bottom half of the SSSAS class they will get the least experienced teachers resulting in a lower quality education and lower SAT scores. Parents of students who never had this experience have no idea what it is like--no matter how many years their child/children attended SSSAS. Low SAT/ACT scores plus low GPA = you will be better off at public school.

Pretty sure this is true in most schools - private and public.

If you care about where your child goes to college be aware that SSSAS students in the bottom half of the class will have very different options than those in the top half of the class. Also, once a student is defined as bottom half of the SSSAS class they will get the least experienced teachers resulting in a lower quality education and lower SAT scores. Parents of students who never had this experience have no idea what it is like--no matter how many years their child/children attended SSSAS. Low SAT/ACT scores plus low GPA = you will be better off at public school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Careful, Visi BEAT SSSAS in lacrosse this year. Just sayin'

Visitation is coached by a former SSSAS assistant and they are building a big time program. But SSSAS won the rematch 18-6 for the title. Both programs will be in the Top 10 nationally next year.

A common misconception at work here. Visitation won the league title, aka "the banner," because they finished 1st in the league during the regular season. The ISL tournament, which the Saints won, is a free-standing tournament that does not have any bearing on the league title. It's an odd system, but the ISL does it that way in every sport. So Visi is the ISL lacrosse champion.

There's no question that Visitation is building something special. But there's also no question that SSSAS is the better team.

The Saints may be the better team. But they are not the 2012 ISL AA Division lacrosse champions -- Visitation are. That's just how the ISL works. Visi won the game that counted this year, even if the Saints got some off-season bragging rights by winning the ISL tournament.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Careful, Visi BEAT SSSAS in lacrosse this year. Just sayin'

Visitation is coached by a former SSSAS assistant and they are building a big time program. But SSSAS won the rematch 18-6 for the title. Both programs will be in the Top 10 nationally next year.

A common misconception at work here. Visitation won the league title, aka "the banner," because they finished 1st in the league during the regular season. The ISL tournament, which the Saints won, is a free-standing tournament that does not have any bearing on the league title. It's an odd system, but the ISL does it that way in every sport. So Visi is the ISL lacrosse champion.

There's no question that Visitation is building something special. But there's also no question that SSSAS is the better team.

Ditto to the reply above mine. My daughter is on the track team and is part of a 4x8 relay team that just won at states and qualified for nationals. They are still training now, even though the regular season has ended. The coaches offer wonderful support and guidance and the program grew by leaps and bounds this year. My daughter is also in chorus and performs in the school plays. There really is something for every different kind of student/person at SSSAS!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Careful, Visi BEAT SSSAS in lacrosse this year. Just sayin'

Visitation is coached by a former SSSAS assistant and they are building a big time program. But SSSAS won the rematch 18-6 for the title. Both programs will be in the Top 10 nationally next year.

A common misconception at work here. Visitation won the league title, aka "the banner," because they finished 1st in the league during the regular season. The ISL tournament, which the Saints won, is a free-standing tournament that does not have any bearing on the league title. It's an odd system, but the ISL does it that way in every sport. So Visi is the ISL lacrosse champion.

Yes, SSSA is known for its girls lax program, but I think the school works hard to make sure other programs also get proper attention.

Anonymous wrote:Careful, Visi BEAT SSSAS in lacrosse this year. Just sayin'

Visitation is coached by a former SSSAS assistant and they are building a big time program. But SSSAS won the rematch 18-6 for the title. Both programs will be in the Top 10 nationally next year.

If XC/track are really important to you take a look at Athletic.net or MoCoRunning.com for coverage or XC and track meets (MoCo Running covers the WCAC and meets like the Draper too). You can look at the results in different leagues and see which schools have the strong programs. Many schools in the WCAC are of course strong for girls. Overall the ISL is not that competitive in either, although there are usually a few good runners at each school. Agree with PP that Visi is strong. Holton has had some good runners. Episcopal is usually pretty strong. The public schools are probably the most competitive for XC and track.

Careful, Visi BEAT SSSAS in lacrosse this year. Just sayin'

My friend has two daughters that went through SSSAS and were exceedingly happy with the school even though they had no involvement with the lacrosse program. In fact, they are two very different people in terms of interests and both found activities that worked for them.

My daughters are new to SSSAS and are just finishing an idyllic Freshman year. They do not play lacrosse and they don’t care. They play soccer, they play softball, they perform in the jazz ensemble and were in the winter musical. They have been recognized by the school for their accomplishments and they love SSSAS. The academic, athletic, and performing arts opportunities that they have been given this year have been challenging and each an opportunity to build self-confidence. They have a great group of friends that also have many interests. I think the thing my daughters like the best are the teachers, who are kind and demanding and want them to succeed.

It’s funny that you would mention the Spring Fling – because the special sports events I remember this year were the special events for track (co-ed Draper Track & Field Invitational) and for basketball (Sleepy Thompson boys basketball tournament). Of course, they have Homecoming for football (with a school wide festival), Arts Night (for both performing and visual arts), Multi-cultural nights (with great performances)… the list goes on and on. But back to girls’ sports, this year the girls’ softball team had an incredible year, and the two best golfers in the school are girls!

What I am saying is there are plenty of girls at SSSAS that are happy and are not on the lacrosse team. There are so many things to excel at as a student at SSSAS – and it doesn’t have to be sports either! In fact, there are plenty of kids who don’t even play sports and have found great niches (just ask the guys who are all vying to be the head techy for the auditorium events). From the outside you might think it’s a lacrosse focused school, but my daughters are not feeling that way. Oh, and almost as important, my daughters do not feel anti-lacrosse either.

If you are considering SSSAS, maybe talk to some SSSAS parents, or have your daughter talk to some other girls at the school. A shadow day visit would help too. Good Luck!

I am not affiliated with SSSAS, but only about 20 girls play varsity lacrosse. They do get a lot of attention -- the success of the program has been extraordinary over the years -- but from what I understand from some teachers I know and some SSSAS parents the idea that the lacrosse girls take up all the oxygen is overblown. So I wouldn't dismiss it out of hand if it works for you.

I do agree with the prior poster that both Visi and NCS have wonderful cross-country/track programs. At NCS they train with the St. Albans boys, if the co-ed angle would be of interest to you.

Look at both Georgetown Visitation and National Cathedral School. Both schools have terrific cross country/track programs and at both schools no one sport takes priority over others.

How do the girls do at SSSAS Upper School? The ones who don't play lacrosse? That sport is put so much on a pedestal at that school-- there is a Spring Fling dedicated to girls lacrosse...does anyone else have a problem with this? Why would I send my track/cross-country girl to this school? Is there as much pride emphasized in the other sports? I know it's a good school. I'm more interested in the social impact on the girls who don't play highly idolized lax?