Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 14:41     Subject: St Andrew's Episcopal
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Demand for co-ed private high schools in the DC area in the last few years has way outstripped demand. This has made SAES and Bullis in particular way more popular than even 3 years ago. SAES is much smaller than Bullis so this has really started to show in admissions at SAES this year and last. Where it was mostly true that admissions was less competitive if coming from a private K-8 a few years ago that is less and less true each year. Our K-8 head was surprised last year when a couple kids that normally would have been admitted in years past were waitlisted. The change is real and perverse effect of them waitlisting more kids is that it will make SAES seem more desirable and thus increase demand further. The only thing I really see countering this trend is an economic downturn, which definitely seems possible (but that is another conversation).


K-8 here. The strange thing is that the kids who were admitted were not the strongest candidates. Meanwhile the WL kids were. 🤷🏽‍♀️


yes, and you know a strong candidate because how?
Is it just the kid with straight A's and sports? Give me a break. Admissions teams aren’t splitting hairs over an A, A-, or B+. Personality, interests, and talents matter just as much—if not more. My kid is a B+ student and got into every school she applied to last week, while three "straight-A students" ended up on waitlists. She’s outgoing, connects effortlessly with adults, and the admissions team clearly took notice. After her interviews, they practically winked at us, making it obvious she was getting in—B’s and all.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 12:26     Subject: St Andrew's Episcopal
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Demand for co-ed private high schools in the DC area in the last few years has way outstripped demand. This has made SAES and Bullis in particular way more popular than even 3 years ago. SAES is much smaller than Bullis so this has really started to show in admissions at SAES this year and last. Where it was mostly true that admissions was less competitive if coming from a private K-8 a few years ago that is less and less true each year. Our K-8 head was surprised last year when a couple kids that normally would have been admitted in years past were waitlisted. The change is real and perverse effect of them waitlisting more kids is that it will make SAES seem more desirable and thus increase demand further. The only thing I really see countering this trend is an economic downturn, which definitely seems possible (but that is another conversation).


K-8 here. The strange thing is that the kids who were admitted were not the strongest candidates. Meanwhile the WL kids were. 🤷🏽‍♀️


I do think that the schools are paying closer attention to whether their school is truly the applicant's top pick vs a back up plan. Maybe they felt the "strongest kids" at your school weren't likely to attend? There are a lot of other factors that you might not see that could have come into play.

+1
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 12:20     Subject: St Andrew's Episcopal
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Demand for co-ed private high schools in the DC area in the last few years has way outstripped demand. This has made SAES and Bullis in particular way more popular than even 3 years ago. SAES is much smaller than Bullis so this has really started to show in admissions at SAES this year and last. Where it was mostly true that admissions was less competitive if coming from a private K-8 a few years ago that is less and less true each year. Our K-8 head was surprised last year when a couple kids that normally would have been admitted in years past were waitlisted. The change is real and perverse effect of them waitlisting more kids is that it will make SAES seem more desirable and thus increase demand further. The only thing I really see countering this trend is an economic downturn, which definitely seems possible (but that is another conversation).


K-8 here. The strange thing is that the kids who were admitted were not the strongest candidates. Meanwhile the WL kids were. 🤷🏽‍♀️


I do think that the schools are paying closer attention to whether their school is truly the applicant's top pick vs a back up plan. Maybe they felt the "strongest kids" at your school weren't likely to attend? There are a lot of other factors that you might not see that could have come into play.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2025 12:10     Subject: St Andrew's Episcopal
Anonymous wrote:Demand for co-ed private high schools in the DC area in the last few years has way outstripped demand. This has made SAES and Bullis in particular way more popular than even 3 years ago. SAES is much smaller than Bullis so this has really started to show in admissions at SAES this year and last. Where it was mostly true that admissions was less competitive if coming from a private K-8 a few years ago that is less and less true each year. Our K-8 head was surprised last year when a couple kids that normally would have been admitted in years past were waitlisted. The change is real and perverse effect of them waitlisting more kids is that it will make SAES seem more desirable and thus increase demand further. The only thing I really see countering this trend is an economic downturn, which definitely seems possible (but that is another conversation).


K-8 here. The strange thing is that the kids who were admitted were not the strongest candidates. Meanwhile the WL kids were. 🤷🏽‍♀️
Anonymous
Post 03/01/2025 14:32     Subject: St Andrew's Episcopal
Anonymous wrote:Demand for co-ed private high schools in the DC area in the last few years has way outstripped demand. This has made SAES and Bullis in particular way more popular than even 3 years ago. SAES is much smaller than Bullis so this has really started to show in admissions at SAES this year and last. Where it was mostly true that admissions was less competitive if coming from a private K-8 a few years ago that is less and less true each year. Our K-8 head was surprised last year when a couple kids that normally would have been admitted in years past were waitlisted. The change is real and perverse effect of them waitlisting more kids is that it will make SAES seem more desirable and thus increase demand further. The only thing I really see countering this trend is an economic downturn, which definitely seems possible (but that is another conversation).


And MCPS is not helping curb demand. 2 lockdowns in less than a week at B-CC
Anonymous
Post 03/01/2025 14:23     Subject: St Andrew's Episcopal
Demand for co-ed private high schools in the DC area in the last few years has way outstripped demand. This has made SAES and Bullis in particular way more popular than even 3 years ago. SAES is much smaller than Bullis so this has really started to show in admissions at SAES this year and last. Where it was mostly true that admissions was less competitive if coming from a private K-8 a few years ago that is less and less true each year. Our K-8 head was surprised last year when a couple kids that normally would have been admitted in years past were waitlisted. The change is real and perverse effect of them waitlisting more kids is that it will make SAES seem more desirable and thus increase demand further. The only thing I really see countering this trend is an economic downturn, which definitely seems possible (but that is another conversation).
Anonymous
Post 03/01/2025 10:52     Subject: St Andrew's Episcopal
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know of at least two K-8 kids who are waitlisted for upper school. Admissions letter says it was the most competitive admissions season in the history of the school. Wonder if that's true for other schools.


Yawn.

Yeah they say that every year


Probably because it's been true for the last 8 or 9 years. Demand for spots keeps going up.

Idk about this year
Anonymous
Post 03/01/2025 02:01     Subject: St Andrew's Episcopal
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:K-8 grade kid here also WL. Very tough day.


If it's your first choice, tell them! Wait lists do move at most schools.


Thank you. We'll try.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2025 23:26     Subject: St Andrew's Episcopal
Anonymous wrote:K-8 grade kid here also WL. Very tough day.


If it's your first choice, tell them! Wait lists do move at most schools.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2025 23:23     Subject: St Andrew's Episcopal
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know of at least two K-8 kids who are waitlisted for upper school. Admissions letter says it was the most competitive admissions season in the history of the school. Wonder if that's true for other schools.


Yawn.

Yeah they say that every year


Probably because it's been true for the last 8 or 9 years. Demand for spots keeps going up.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2025 21:26     Subject: St Andrew's Episcopal
K-8 grade kid here also WL. Very tough day.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2025 20:51     Subject: St Andrew's Episcopal
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know of at least two K-8 kids who are waitlisted for upper school. Admissions letter says it was the most competitive admissions season in the history of the school. Wonder if that's true for other schools.


Yawn.

Yeah they say that every year
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2025 20:40     Subject: St Andrew's Episcopal
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know of at least two K-8 kids who are waitlisted for upper school. Admissions letter says it was the most competitive admissions season in the history of the school. Wonder if that's true for other schools.


Yawn.


The kids we know who got in from our K-8 were not top of class, whereas others who are were WL. Go figure.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2025 19:45     Subject: St Andrew's Episcopal
Anonymous wrote:I know of at least two K-8 kids who are waitlisted for upper school. Admissions letter says it was the most competitive admissions season in the history of the school. Wonder if that's true for other schools.


Yawn.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2025 19:09     Subject: St Andrew's Episcopal
The current 8th grade is 54 kids, and the current 9th grade is 96. They were likely targeting adding only about 40-45.

It will be even more competitive next year. The current 7th grade is around 60.