Would you just look at this perennial thread? Closing in on 1200 posts...and admissions seasons is just getting underway! Is there an older thread under this section?

Anonymous wrote:Over the past 10-15 years, would you say that the quality of education and the degree to which the school is respected has increased or declined? I was surprised to see from Prepreview.com that St. Albans was ranked number 9 in the country for boarding schools (above, for example, Choate Rosemary Hall and Hotchkiss), based on admissions to colleges (Ivies + Standford and MIT) and number of AP courses offered.

I don't know how one really evaluates the full quality of a school's education, but does anyone have a sense on where the school is going, directionally? (and some evidence to actually support their view)

Honestly, I think that kind of question is hard to answer. STA's scores and college admissions, something you can look at, indicate they are attracting and admitting talented kids. (And most probably doing a good job of teaching them once they are there.) The numbers also support STA as a good place for a bright kid who wants to play college sports at an academically selective college/university. But other than those measurable things, which have confounding factors (eg legacy/sports status as a factor in college admissions), I don't know how you measure quality of education. Talk to parents, I guess. Directionally, they have had a strong and successful Headmaster respected nationally and even internationally on the subject of all-boys' education. At some point in the next decade he will presumably retire, and the choice of a new Headmaster will be key. They are not standing pat--looking at opening an international school in Korea, for example. They, like all the privates, face a tremendous challenge in trying to rein in tuition costs; that too will shape their future.

Over the past 10-15 years, would you say that the quality of education and the degree to which the school is respected has increased or declined? I was surprised to see from Prepreview.com that St. Albans was ranked number 9 in the country for boarding schools (above, for example, Choate Rosemary Hall and Hotchkiss), based on admissions to colleges (Ivies + Standford and MIT) and number of AP courses offered.

I don't know how one really evaluates the full quality of a school's education, but does anyone have a sense on where the school is going, directionally? (and some evidence to actually support their view)

metro was short for metrosexual. Note the guys with carefully arranged hair long or short.
http://www.wordspy.com/words/metrosexual.asp

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:11:10, I would take the WP mention with a grain of salt. After all, it is hard to not look preppy when you are required to wear a blazer and khakis to school!

Very true. On "free dress" (no dress code) days, the clothing is indistinguishable from what you'd see at Wilson, Churchill, or for that matter Sidwell or GDS. Not even close to the level of "prep" at prep educational Mecca: The New England Boarding School.

Some boys are finely tailored with finicky "flo" hair - more image than substance. Some have funky prep pants -colors, prints, plaids . others throw on a "uniform" of khakis and wrinkled blazer. Some look really metro and others prep and others just themselves.

"Metro"?

I think there is a parking lot on Pilgrim Road, no? When I have driven down, I see all the seniors are parking their parents' old Volvos and Mercedes there (by the football field). They are certainly preppy, quick swinging on a tweed jacket over striped shirts with plaid ties as they rush to get to a class.

The lower school pick up line is filled with women in cars. That's not preppy.

Anonymous wrote:The funniest part of the mention in the WP today was the reference to "the parking lot" at St. Albans. Parking lot? What parking lot? Sounds to me like the author has never been on campus. Maybe if she had said "Senior Circle".... or "lower school car line" .....

Or maybe she was writing for the masses and not just for the parents of St. Albans boys. If I didn't know anything about St. Albans, I wouldn't know what a Senior Circle or a lower school car line. Parking lot is perfectly acceptable. Frankly the whole Pilgrim Road is a parking lot at 3:30 pm.

The funniest part of the mention in the WP today was the reference to "the parking lot" at St. Albans. Parking lot? What parking lot? Sounds to me like the author has never been on campus. Maybe if she had said "Senior Circle".... or "lower school car line" .....

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:11:10, I would take the WP mention with a grain of salt. After all, it is hard to not look preppy when you are required to wear a blazer and khakis to school!

Very true. On "free dress" (no dress code) days, the clothing is indistinguishable from what you'd see at Wilson, Churchill, or for that matter Sidwell or GDS. Not even close to the level of "prep" at prep educational Mecca: The New England Boarding School.

Some boys are finely tailored with finicky "flo" hair - more image than substance. Some have funky prep pants -colors, prints, plaids . others throw on a "uniform" of khakis and wrinkled blazer. Some look really metro and others prep and others just themselves.

Anonymous wrote:11:10, I would take the WP mention with a grain of salt. After all, it is hard to not look preppy when you are required to wear a blazer and khakis to school!

Very true. On "free dress" (no dress code) days, the clothing is indistinguishable from what you'd see at Wilson, Churchill, or for that matter Sidwell or GDS. Not even close to the level of "prep" at prep educational Mecca: The New England Boarding School.

11:10, I would take the WP mention with a grain of salt. After all, it is hard to not look preppy when you are required to wear a blazer and khakis to school!

There are all types of boys there but yes,prep majority.

Today's Post article is all tongue firmly in cheek, right? Or is STA really as preppy as they say? Are looking at STA, but things like this seem to reinforce that stereotype.

-Mother of a Non-Prep

Anonymous wrote:How many boys in the rising 4th grade are from Beauvoir?

I was told approximately 2/3 (which is the norm), but don't know a definite number.

PP 17:38 I totally agree with you. 50% off should be enough for anyone who really wants to invest in a good private school education. The catholic high schools are not much more than 50% off. The catholic high school tuition is just affordable. With 50% off and you are not willing to swing it, maybe your child shouldn't go. All I 'm saying is tht 50% is quite an incentive.