I'm sorry - I just can't read through all these posts - I am trying to figure this out......are you all saying that part of applying to STA is an actual sports try-out?

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn't it be more interesting to see two candidates playing chess, or four candidates playing Monopoly together (or even Hi-Ho Cherrio, if they are kindergarten applicants)? I bet you could learn a lot more about personality and sportsmanship than seeing them run around in a huge group chasing a ball.

High academic ability and athletics are NOT mutually exclusive.

Wouldn't it be more interesting to see two candidates playing chess, or four candidates playing Monopoly together (or even Hi-Ho Cherrio, if they are kindergarten applicants)? I bet you could learn a lot more about personality and sportsmanship than seeing them run around in a huge group chasing a ball.

My son was accepted to STA but we determined it wasn't the right fit for him. Our son is highly spirited and while we know he could handle the work, we wondered at what cost. It was gratifying to know that he was considered bright and capable enough for admission to such a fine school. BUT, there are so many different factors that determine whether a particular school is right for a particular child. While we faced criticism from those who wondered how we could possibly pass up the golden ticket that an STA education represents, we are confident that we made the right choice for our son's educational needs. That is what is so great about this area -- there are a range of excellent but philosophically different schools that families can consider. Any great school is only great if it is right for the student.

to a few posters ago: that isn't true -- there are plenty of boys there who don't like sports. they are academic studs, math whizzes, choristers, the leading role in the play, editor of one of the newspapers, etc. What is key is to find SOMETHINg you are pasisonate about, and you do OK. It is not that sporty of a school (ie Landon, Gtown Prep, Gonzaga, DeMatha all much much more sporty).

to the previous poster: i find that laughable. it is one of the most, if not the most, rigorous academic schools around. Mine is certainly challenged academically and he would be in a gifted public school program alternatively to STA.

My friends at STA complain that it is not really that rigorous. Can anyone comment objectively?

So, just how daunting is the numbers game? How many applied to STA for Fourth Grade last year? How many were accepted?

PP, it's true that just because a child is really bright does not mean he'll be able to manage any and all rigorous curricula.

At the same time, I do think STA, more so than other schools, makes every attempt to keep the boys they have accepted and work with them so they are successful. I remember hearing someone at the school say, as hard as it is to get into St. Albans, they like to think it's even harder to get out.

17:37 PP here responding to subsequent post -- trying to contain myself because I thought everyone would understand that you can have an extremely bright child who doesn't do well in a certain educational environment -- either because they have learning differences or something else. Schools can screen all they want but there are "really bright kids" who need a different kind of school in order to succeed. Not everyone at STA gets straight As. Yeah, they are all bright kids, but not everyone can be at the top of their class. And some kids at STA who are struggling probably would be at the top of their class at another, more fitting, school.

I'm sorry to get testy about this but I also have a child with an IQ through the roof who attends the McLean school because he needs a small, highly structured class. Having my other child at NCS, I know that my son's test scores (which were higher than my daughter's) would be by far higher than most kids at STA, but he would almost certainly flame out there. We all have to get away from the idea that IQ determines everything.

I would not read so much into that post on "struggling academically." You (or some other pp) raise the point that maybe non-athletes won't fit in. Another poster says, that's not really true. If there are kids who have seemd to have trouble with the school, it's the ones who have struggled academically.

Anyway, I can see that athletes definitely WOULD have an easier time there. It's a sporty school. So what? That's why parents should look around at a bunch of schools. I wouldn't chose STA if I had a son who hated all sports. That would seem like a no brainer to me.

Anonymous wrote:I don't have a child at STA, but I do have NCS, and i know a lot of STA boys who are not at all athletic and are having a good experience. I really disagree with the idea that all STA boys have the sports gene. My sense is that the boys whoa re unhappy there are the ones who struggle a bit more academically.

How does one struggle academically when rumor has it places like STA rely heavily on the standardized test scores, ERBs, and in-house administered tests. In other words, they screen for the really bright kids.

I don't have a child at STA, but I do have NCS, and i know a lot of STA boys who are not at all athletic and are having a good experience. I really disagree with the idea that all STA boys have the sports gene. My sense is that the boys whoa re unhappy there are the ones who struggle a bit more academically.

That may be PP. I don't think it's any secret that St. Albans does encourage athletics. To be sure, something to think about when applying. STA is a great school, but it's not for everyone.

Anonymous wrote:I don't think the games are all that athletic. I don't know any team board games. I think they want to see the boys can work in teams and be supportive of one another. Not sure there is anything sinister in that.

Seems fair.

But the reality is that one way or another, it seems they attempt to divine the good in sports from the not so good in sports boys. My personal observations, having had 2 sons at STA, is nearly every one fits into the former category, or at least they are very passionate about sports. There are a few not so good in sports boys in every class, who either tilt more towards the truly brainy or truly artistic. But in the main, the common thread for all of thse STA boys is a good in sports gene.

I don't think the games are all that athletic. I don't know any team board games. I think they want to see the boys can work in teams and be supportive of one another. Not sure there is anything sinister in that.