Anonymous wrote:I have heard from a few well-placed moms that there was an unusually high number of STA boys who will not be returning next year. Any truth to this rumor, and if so, was it the result of counselling out, financial strain, or something else?

Current Form 11/8th grade families?

I have heard from a few well-placed moms that there was an unusually high number of STA boys who will not be returning next year. Any truth to this rumor, and if so, was it the result of counselling out, financial strain, or something else?

Anonymous wrote:When does "counseling out" typically occur?

It does not happen often at STA (for example, not as often at Sidwell). From what I know, when it is an issue it tends to come up around the time of transition from the Lower School to the Upper School (so 7th/8th grade). If the Lower School thinks the student is going to struggle significantly in high school, I think they'll tell the family, but a family may still want their son to try for 9th grade before making a decision.

When does "counseling out" typically occur?

I wish I had known how hard it is for a boy to fit in if he does not come from Beauvoir or is not interested in sports.

Anonymous wrote:Bump. DS just got his acceptance letter!!

You're just getting an acceptance letter??? I thought they went out at the start of March. Are you getting of the waitlist?? What grade? Congratulations.

bump

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is new to the school. He is in the lower school. He has a choice to play football or soccer this fall. He likes both but would prefer to play soccer. My husband thinks that STA is a big football school and that he would be missing out if he plays soccer. If anything, I thought STA was a big baseball and lacrosse school. But for those in the know, is it true that the soccer program is weak or otherwise does not garner the attention ad support of the other sports?

STA has done very well at football lately given the talent pool, but it is not a "big" football school. Your husband doesn't know anything. Schools like Good Counsel, Gonzaga and DeMatha are "big" football schools.

Check the date of the post. The young man has been at St. Albans for six months already and already made the football/soccer post.

Anonymous wrote:My son is new to the school. He is in the lower school. He has a choice to play football or soccer this fall. He likes both but would prefer to play soccer. My husband thinks that STA is a big football school and that he would be missing out if he plays soccer. If anything, I thought STA was a big baseball and lacrosse school. But for those in the know, is it true that the soccer program is weak or otherwise does not garner the attention ad support of the other sports?

STA has done very well at football lately given the talent pool, but it is not a "big" football school. Your husband doesn't know anything. Schools like Good Counsel, Gonzaga and DeMatha are "big" football schools.

Congrats! We are new parents there, too.

Bump. DS just got his acceptance letter!!

Anonymous wrote:My son is new to the school. He is in the lower school. He has a choice to play football or soccer this fall. He likes both but would prefer to play soccer. My husband thinks that STA is a big football school and that he would be missing out if he plays soccer. If anything, I thought STA was a big baseball and lacrosse school. But for those in the know, is it true that the soccer program is weak or otherwise does not garner the attention ad support of the other sports?

As at many schools, soccer does not "garner the attention" of football simply because football is set up as a spectator sport -- all games on Friday nights ("away" games at schools with lights) or Saturday afternoons. Many of the students can attend the football games and like to do it as a social event. Most soccer games are on weekdays when the rest of the student body is playing or practicing their sport. But certainly soccer gets the same institutional support as football at STA and has a quality coaching staff (as does STA football). Last year the varsity beat Sidwell, a perennially strong program, and finished second in their league. The upper school soccer program, varsity and JV, is very enjoyable for the kids and produces tight-knit teams who compete with enjoyment during the week then paint their faces and wear silly costumes for the football games.

And funnily enough, neither football nor soccer is probably currently the "best" fall sport -- STA's cross-country program is booming (almost 1/3 of the school, 100 boys, are on cross-country) and highly successful (including sending many runners on to compete in college). They also train and often travel with the NCS girls team leading to many wonderful friendships (not a minor thing at single-sex school).

So, bottom line: no bad option in the fall at STA! Let your little guy play what he likes and things will sort themselves out by the time he gets to upper school.

For God's sake, your son is in the lower school. It's not like he'll be scouted by colleges. Let him play what he wants.

STA parent here. Your son "would prefer to play soccer." There's your answer. Anything else is irrelevant.

My son is new to the school. He is in the lower school. He has a choice to play football or soccer this fall. He likes both but would prefer to play soccer. My husband thinks that STA is a big football school and that he would be missing out if he plays soccer. If anything, I thought STA was a big baseball and lacrosse school. But for those in the know, is it true that the soccer program is weak or otherwise does not garner the attention ad support of the other sports?