Anonymous
Post 01/13/2026 09:21     Subject: Culture at St Stephens and St Agnes SSSAS
What is the current 8th grade like? We're coming from a Pk-8th and applying for 9th.
Anonymous
Post 01/13/2026 07:56     Subject: Culture at St Stephens and St Agnes SSSAS
Our family experience of SSSAS high school has been wonderful. We came from another independent school in 9th grade. Both boys have thrived as SSSAS due to the amazing teachers, wonderful community and all of the opportunities that they've had. Love the culture at SSSAS of valuing being good as well as educated. Yes, we have received FA- not much, but it helped. Visit yourself and see what you think.
Anonymous
Post 01/12/2026 23:50     Subject: Culture at St Stephens and St Agnes SSSAS
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Just search any of the recent threads about the school on here... I'll give you a hint - it's not good.

On all of those threads you will find the usual haters, most of whom seem to have little to no actual experience with the school, the occasional family with a legitimately poor experience, and many people praising the school. Just as with any number of schools DCUM loves to hate one, ranging from Flint Hill to NCS.

We had a terrible experience, but when I comment on posts, I am accused of gaslighting, lying, being a student at a rival, etc, so I won’t go into detail, but we were amongst many who left at the same time for multiple issues. The k-12 we switched to is night and day better across the board. I wish we had gotten out sooner.


Sorry to hear that! I am OP. Could you share more about what caused you to leave and when this was? Recently? Could you also share what k-12 you switched to? I assume not in Alexandria as they are so limited? Thank you and sorry for your experience.


Sorry one other Q when you say many - do you know about how many other families left? Alarming!


NP. I think within the past few years there was one particular grade that had a lot of issues and saw a group of families leave.

I went into the admissions process not planning to send DC to SSSAS based on things I've heard from others. Their admissions process won us over and DC has thrived there. You never really know until you're in the situation.

I think this may be the case. I do not doubt that there are families that have had bad experiences. No school is going to have only happy families. But it really doesn’t track with our family’s experience at SSSAS.
Anonymous
Post 01/12/2026 21:57     Subject: Culture at St Stephens and St Agnes SSSAS
Anonymous wrote:Different poster, but we also had a terrible experience after being very loyal and generous to the school for years and multiple kids. I cannot tell you exactly what happened to my child because then people would know who I am, but I would encourage you to look elsewhere. This school is smoke and mirrors.

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Just search any of the recent threads about the school on here... I'll give you a hint - it's not good.

On all of those threads you will find the usual haters, most of whom seem to have little to no actual experience with the school, the occasional family with a legitimately poor experience, and many people praising the school. Just as with any number of schools DCUM loves to hate one, ranging from Flint Hill to NCS.

We had a terrible experience, but when I comment on posts, I am accused of gaslighting, lying, being a student at a rival, etc, so I won’t go into detail, but we were amongst many who left at the same time for multiple issues. The k-12 we switched to is night and day better across the board. I wish we had gotten out sooner.


+1


I’m very sorry. I hope everything is okay
Anonymous
Post 01/12/2026 09:19     Subject: Culture at St Stephens and St Agnes SSSAS
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:DC is a current junior who started in 9th and loves it. As parents, we don’t know that many parents beyond the ones we already knew well from the k-8 DC was at before, but I have met several others while volunteering for the performing arts boosters. We have an HHI of under $200k and I’d say most of DC’s friends are wealthier based on the homes I’ve dropped DC at, but not insanely so. I’m sure there are uber wealthy families here, but if any of DC’s friends are among them, they don’t act problematicly elitist. It’s a great group of kids with a wide range of interests.


Thank you - do you get the sense that a decent number of families receive financial aid?


About a year ago they had stats on their website. They don’t anymore, but you can find the archived page here. It says what percent receive FA, the average amount across the different schools, and some examples of average income and assets of families that receive FA:

http://web.archive.org/web/20250524201108/https://www.sssas.org/admissions/tuition-and-financial-assistance
Anonymous
Post 01/12/2026 09:04     Subject: Culture at St Stephens and St Agnes SSSAS
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Just search any of the recent threads about the school on here... I'll give you a hint - it's not good.

On all of those threads you will find the usual haters, most of whom seem to have little to no actual experience with the school, the occasional family with a legitimately poor experience, and many people praising the school. Just as with any number of schools DCUM loves to hate one, ranging from Flint Hill to NCS.

We had a terrible experience, but when I comment on posts, I am accused of gaslighting, lying, being a student at a rival, etc, so I won’t go into detail, but we were amongst many who left at the same time for multiple issues. The k-12 we switched to is night and day better across the board. I wish we had gotten out sooner.


Sorry to hear that! I am OP. Could you share more about what caused you to leave and when this was? Recently? Could you also share what k-12 you switched to? I assume not in Alexandria as they are so limited? Thank you and sorry for your experience.


Sorry one other Q when you say many - do you know about how many other families left? Alarming!


NP. I think within the past few years there was one particular grade that had a lot of issues and saw a group of families leave.

I went into the admissions process not planning to send DC to SSSAS based on things I've heard from others. Their admissions process won us over and DC has thrived there. You never really know until you're in the situation.
Anonymous
Post 01/12/2026 09:02     Subject: Culture at St Stephens and St Agnes SSSAS
Different poster, but we also had a terrible experience after being very loyal and generous to the school for years and multiple kids. I cannot tell you exactly what happened to my child because then people would know who I am, but I would encourage you to look elsewhere. This school is smoke and mirrors.

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Just search any of the recent threads about the school on here... I'll give you a hint - it's not good.

On all of those threads you will find the usual haters, most of whom seem to have little to no actual experience with the school, the occasional family with a legitimately poor experience, and many people praising the school. Just as with any number of schools DCUM loves to hate one, ranging from Flint Hill to NCS.

We had a terrible experience, but when I comment on posts, I am accused of gaslighting, lying, being a student at a rival, etc, so I won’t go into detail, but we were amongst many who left at the same time for multiple issues. The k-12 we switched to is night and day better across the board. I wish we had gotten out sooner.


+1
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 22:15     Subject: Culture at St Stephens and St Agnes SSSAS
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Just search any of the recent threads about the school on here... I'll give you a hint - it's not good.

On all of those threads you will find the usual haters, most of whom seem to have little to no actual experience with the school, the occasional family with a legitimately poor experience, and many people praising the school. Just as with any number of schools DCUM loves to hate one, ranging from Flint Hill to NCS.

We had a terrible experience, but when I comment on posts, I am accused of gaslighting, lying, being a student at a rival, etc, so I won’t go into detail, but we were amongst many who left at the same time for multiple issues. The k-12 we switched to is night and day better across the board. I wish we had gotten out sooner.


Sorry to hear that! I am OP. Could you share more about what caused you to leave and when this was? Recently? Could you also share what k-12 you switched to? I assume not in Alexandria as they are so limited? Thank you and sorry for your experience.


Sorry one other Q when you say many - do you know about how many other families left? Alarming!
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 22:14     Subject: Culture at St Stephens and St Agnes SSSAS
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Just search any of the recent threads about the school on here... I'll give you a hint - it's not good.

On all of those threads you will find the usual haters, most of whom seem to have little to no actual experience with the school, the occasional family with a legitimately poor experience, and many people praising the school. Just as with any number of schools DCUM loves to hate one, ranging from Flint Hill to NCS.

We had a terrible experience, but when I comment on posts, I am accused of gaslighting, lying, being a student at a rival, etc, so I won’t go into detail, but we were amongst many who left at the same time for multiple issues. The k-12 we switched to is night and day better across the board. I wish we had gotten out sooner.


Sorry to hear that! I am OP. Could you share more about what caused you to leave and when this was? Recently? Could you also share what k-12 you switched to? I assume not in Alexandria as they are so limited? Thank you and sorry for your experience.
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 21:14     Subject: Culture at St Stephens and St Agnes SSSAS
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Just search any of the recent threads about the school on here... I'll give you a hint - it's not good.

On all of those threads you will find the usual haters, most of whom seem to have little to no actual experience with the school, the occasional family with a legitimately poor experience, and many people praising the school. Just as with any number of schools DCUM loves to hate one, ranging from Flint Hill to NCS.

We had a terrible experience, but when I comment on posts, I am accused of gaslighting, lying, being a student at a rival, etc, so I won’t go into detail, but we were amongst many who left at the same time for multiple issues. The k-12 we switched to is night and day better across the board. I wish we had gotten out sooner.


+1
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 19:52     Subject: Culture at St Stephens and St Agnes SSSAS
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Just search any of the recent threads about the school on here... I'll give you a hint - it's not good.

On all of those threads you will find the usual haters, most of whom seem to have little to no actual experience with the school, the occasional family with a legitimately poor experience, and many people praising the school. Just as with any number of schools DCUM loves to hate one, ranging from Flint Hill to NCS.

We had a terrible experience, but when I comment on posts, I am accused of gaslighting, lying, being a student at a rival, etc, so I won’t go into detail, but we were amongst many who left at the same time for multiple issues. The k-12 we switched to is night and day better across the board. I wish we had gotten out sooner.
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 19:47     Subject: Culture at St Stephens and St Agnes SSSAS
We applied, toured and were accepted. DC did a shadow day and felt like it was very preppy/lots of wealth. My child also felt like everyone was very “perfect” – – their words not mine.

I’m sure there are exceptions, but we ended up going public and have been very happy. This was for high school two years ago.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2026 22:59     Subject: Culture at St Stephens and St Agnes SSSAS
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:DC is a current junior who started in 9th and loves it. As parents, we don’t know that many parents beyond the ones we already knew well from the k-8 DC was at before, but I have met several others while volunteering for the performing arts boosters. We have an HHI of under $200k and I’d say most of DC’s friends are wealthier based on the homes I’ve dropped DC at, but not insanely so. I’m sure there are uber wealthy families here, but if any of DC’s friends are among them, they don’t act problematicly elitist. It’s a great group of kids with a wide range of interests.


Thank you - do you get the sense that a decent number of families receive financial aid?

Honestly I have no idea (I have no idea how all the DCUM folks who claim to know how many and which people are getting aid at their various schools actually know this — I couldn’t begin to guess). We did not qualify. Fortunately our parents stepped in to help or we would not be able to manage it. Our parents pay about 1/3 of the tuition.


Oh man. Thank you for sharing! Does not give me hope for financial aid!

To be fair, we have some extenuating circumstances that matter to our priorities that I assume the school feels we could prioritize differently in order to afford the tuition (care for extended family that requires me to only work part time, for example). We probably don’t match the “typical family profile” for HHI under $200k. If your situation is more typical (and/or you have more kids) you might be fine. It’s worth applying for aid, I would think.
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2026 22:40     Subject: Culture at St Stephens and St Agnes SSSAS
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:DC is a current junior who started in 9th and loves it. As parents, we don’t know that many parents beyond the ones we already knew well from the k-8 DC was at before, but I have met several others while volunteering for the performing arts boosters. We have an HHI of under $200k and I’d say most of DC’s friends are wealthier based on the homes I’ve dropped DC at, but not insanely so. I’m sure there are uber wealthy families here, but if any of DC’s friends are among them, they don’t act problematicly elitist. It’s a great group of kids with a wide range of interests.


Thank you - do you get the sense that a decent number of families receive financial aid?

Honestly I have no idea (I have no idea how all the DCUM folks who claim to know how many and which people are getting aid at their various schools actually know this — I couldn’t begin to guess). We did not qualify. Fortunately our parents stepped in to help or we would not be able to manage it. Our parents pay about 1/3 of the tuition.


Oh man. Thank you for sharing! Does not give me hope for financial aid!
Anonymous
Post 01/10/2026 22:21     Subject: Culture at St Stephens and St Agnes SSSAS
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:DC is a current junior who started in 9th and loves it. As parents, we don’t know that many parents beyond the ones we already knew well from the k-8 DC was at before, but I have met several others while volunteering for the performing arts boosters. We have an HHI of under $200k and I’d say most of DC’s friends are wealthier based on the homes I’ve dropped DC at, but not insanely so. I’m sure there are uber wealthy families here, but if any of DC’s friends are among them, they don’t act problematicly elitist. It’s a great group of kids with a wide range of interests.


Thank you - do you get the sense that a decent number of families receive financial aid?

Honestly I have no idea (I have no idea how all the DCUM folks who claim to know how many and which people are getting aid at their various schools actually know this — I couldn’t begin to guess). We did not qualify. Fortunately our parents stepped in to help or we would not be able to manage it. Our parents pay about 1/3 of the tuition.