Anonymous
08/13/2025 13:11
Subject: How difficult is it to get into St. Albans for 6th or 7th grade
Anonymous wrote:They're both fantastic schools but St Anselm's is a much, much easier admit.
My son was did not get into STA for 6th. We called St Anselm's in April of that year and they said they would be happy to have him. They arranged 1:1 admissions testing the following weekend. We have two family friends who had a similar experience in other years (which is why we thought to call St Anselm's)
He ended up going elsewhere due to the commute but but we loved the school.
This. Regardless of whether SAAS parents have convinced themselves that the school only caters to the brightest, most intellectually curious and rigorous boys, it's empirically materially easier to get in.
Anonymous
08/13/2025 12:27
Subject: How difficult is it to get into St. Albans for 6th or 7th grade
Anonymous wrote:The part about being an average student that is not overly academic is going to be a problem in getting into St Albans.
You might want to consider two Bethesda schools, Landon and Mater Dei. Both have strong athletic programs with many sports and have a wider range of students.
Um, OP said "not too much religion or right wing craziness"
Anonymous
08/13/2025 11:51
Subject: How difficult is it to get into St. Albans for 6th or 7th grade
They're both fantastic schools but St Anselm's is a much, much easier admit.
My son was did not get into STA for 6th. We called St Anselm's in April of that year and they said they would be happy to have him. They arranged 1:1 admissions testing the following weekend. We have two family friends who had a similar experience in other years (which is why we thought to call St Anselm's)
He ended up going elsewhere due to the commute but but we loved the school.
My son was did not get into STA for 6th. We called St Anselm's in April of that year and they said they would be happy to have him. They arranged 1:1 admissions testing the following weekend. We have two family friends who had a similar experience in other years (which is why we thought to call St Anselm's)
He ended up going elsewhere due to the commute but but we loved the school.
Anonymous
08/13/2025 11:27
Subject: Re:How difficult is it to get into St. Albans for 6th or 7th grade
They are both excellent schools. (STA and SAAS). I suggested looking at the Abbey above so that OP could have some good options. I’m not sure why there is often a DCUM food fight over these two schools. I don’t think it does either school any favors. It’s stupid to keep ranting about which one is better. They both turn out nice, well-rounded and smart kids. I have experience with both schools via husband and son. You cannot go wrong with either one.
Anonymous
08/13/2025 08:11
Subject: How difficult is it to get into St. Albans for 6th or 7th grade
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Look at St. Anselms Abbey.
Honestly, it's way more selective.
It’s smaller than STA, so more selective, but would be a better fit for a middle of the road student who isn’t a high flyer academically.
What?
Anonymous
08/13/2025 07:46
Subject: How difficult is it to get into St. Albans for 6th or 7th grade
Abbey parent of an average student accepted at 6th grade. For the student, it's a lot of work and it's certainly easier for academic standouts to succeed, but it's simply not the case that the whole incoming 6th grade class are standouts or that they need to be. It would be much harder to join at 7th (fewer spaces) and harder on the student to keep up/catch up without the 6th grade year.
Anonymous
08/12/2025 20:57
Subject: How difficult is it to get into St. Albans for 6th or 7th grade
Are the SAAS crowd really proffering that it is more competitive than St. Alban’s? I’m not debating the merits of self-perceived and loudly exclaimed rigor. Instead, regardless of whether it’s warranted or not, do you REALLY believe that the acceptance rate at St. Anselm’s is lower than St. Alban’s ?
Anonymous
08/12/2025 19:34
Subject: How difficult is it to get into St. Albans for 6th or 7th grade
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Look at St. Anselms Abbey.
Honestly, it's way more selective.
It’s smaller than STA, so more selective, but would be a better fit for a middle of the road student who isn’t a high flyer academically.
St. Anselm’s is definitely not a place where “middle of the road” students find success. It’s curriculum is famously very rigorous, and the students are very academically focused. That said, I’m not sure it would be a good fit for OP. St. Anselm’s is probably more intellectual but less athletic than STA, which sounds like it’s not what OP is looking for.
This. Academically much tougher but athletics and cachet much lower. If you can’t get into Albans you can’t get into the Abbey.
Anonymous
08/12/2025 19:33
Subject: How difficult is it to get into St. Albans for 6th or 7th grade
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Look at St. Anselms Abbey.
Honestly, it's way more selective.
It’s smaller than STA, so more selective, but would be a better fit for a middle of the road student who isn’t a high flyer academically.
St. Anselm’s is definitely not a place where “middle of the road” students find success. It’s curriculum is famously very rigorous, and the students are very academically focused. That said, I’m not sure it would be a good fit for OP. St. Anselm’s is probably more intellectual but less athletic than STA, which sounds like it’s not what OP is looking for.
Anonymous
08/12/2025 16:09
Subject: How difficult is it to get into St. Albans for 6th or 7th grade
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Look at St. Anselms Abbey.
Honestly, it's way more selective.
It’s smaller than STA, so more selective, but would be a better fit for a middle of the road student who isn’t a high flyer academically.
Anonymous
08/12/2025 14:45
Subject: How difficult is it to get into St. Albans for 6th or 7th grade
Anonymous wrote:Look at St. Anselms Abbey.
Honestly, it's way more selective.
Anonymous
08/12/2025 14:44
Subject: How difficult is it to get into St. Albans for 6th or 7th grade
6th hard, 7th not so much. We know people who got rejected in 6th and came back in 7th and had no trouble.
Anonymous
08/12/2025 11:36
Subject: How difficult is it to get into St. Albans for 6th or 7th grade
Based on what you are describing, I'd strongly look into Landon and Bullis.
Good luck with your search.
Good luck with your search.
Anonymous
08/11/2025 23:57
Subject: How difficult is it to get into St. Albans for 6th or 7th grade
Look at St. Anselms Abbey.
Anonymous
08/11/2025 22:53
Subject: Re:How difficult is it to get into St. Albans for 6th or 7th grade
Anonymous wrote:7th takes up to 10-15 students, depending on the year.
It’s considered an entry year so admissions will be very competitive.
STA is not a good fit for a mediocre student. It’s tough even for bright disciplined kids. The median overall grade in upper school is an 84-86 depending on the year.
This year they took 9 in 7th grade, almost all connected kids.