Anonymous wrote:STA is not all that it's cracked up to be. We are a current family, and while we are generally happy, the school has disappointed in multiple respects.

What grade is your son? Or can you say just upper or lower school? Roughly how long have you been there? And please specify the "multiple respects" in which you have been disappointed.

Any word yet on whether the new AD might be emphasizing or deemphasizing things the previous AD did or did not in weighing apps?

STA is not all that it's cracked up to be. We are a current family, and while we are generally happy, the school has disappointed in multiple respects.

Anonymous wrote:At least 2 possible changes with a new AD:

1) Treat Beauvoir as less of an automatic feed;

2) More lacrosse recruits. Hart was the soccer coach. Perhaps not coincidentally, the program was a winner. The incoming AD played lacrosse at Yale, and is one of the current STA varsity coaches. The program is on the upswing with great coaching and a growing pool of developing talent, but could use some unabashed recruiting to be able to truly compete at the IAC level, generally considered to be the most competitive high school lacrosse conference in the nation.

HA HA HA! The "nation?" Does the IAC play schools - public and private- in Baltimore, Long Island and NJ? Good one!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least 2 possible changes with a new AD:

1) Treat Beauvoir as less of an automatic feed;

2) More lacrosse recruits. Hart was the soccer coach. Perhaps not coincidentally, the program was a winner. The incoming AD played lacrosse at Yale, and is one of the current STA varsity coaches. The program is on the upswing with great coaching and a growing pool of developing talent, but could use some unabashed recruiting to be able to truly compete at the IAC level, generally considered to be the most competitive high school lacrosse conference in the nation.

This is INCORRECT.
1) Beauvoir will ALWAYS be the automatic feeder to St. Alban's & NCS. A new head of admissions CANNOT change this. There are by-laws in place with The Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation (PECF - which is compromised of the Washington National Cathedral, Beauvoir, St. Alban's & NCS) that both NCS & St. Alban's MUST accept at least certain percentage of the Beauvoir 3rd grade class. While the exact percentage is unknown to all but the admissions teams at the three schools, there have been whispers about it being 89-92%. This will not change.

The PP point on Lacrosse recruiting is also ludicrous. Saint Albans is an educational institution first and last The do not need to admit unqualified applicants based on their ability to throw a ball around.

Hmmm, yet, apparently it is fine to accept, perhaps 89-92% of the Beauvoir class?!? It is well known that parents of the weaker students *must* get them into Beauvoir at a young age in order to have a shot at STA. Basically, the Beauvoir tuition is viewed as an insurance policy toward STA placement for those that would, likely not gain admission based on merit. That's just how it has always been.


It seems to me that admitting students who, in fact, excel at something/anything (soccer, lacrosse, chess, math, etc.) will always be better for the school in the long run than continuing this increasingly embarrassing auto-admit of these underwhelming Beauvoir students.

Well, all three of the Cathedral schools are part of the same unified legal entity, along with the Cathedral. I think many view them a more of a unified commuity, and one in which a strong preference makes sense. Kids attending a K-12 school don't need to "re-compete" or reapply for 4th grade just to stay in the same community, Also, as reflected int several threads, and in reality, the kids from Beauvoir wh say at NCS and STA throughout 12th earn top prizes and honors, and have college admits, at the same level and frequency as non-Beauvoir kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least 2 possible changes with a new AD:

1) Treat Beauvoir as less of an automatic feed;

2) More lacrosse recruits. Hart was the soccer coach. Perhaps not coincidentally, the program was a winner. The incoming AD played lacrosse at Yale, and is one of the current STA varsity coaches. The program is on the upswing with great coaching and a growing pool of developing talent, but could use some unabashed recruiting to be able to truly compete at the IAC level, generally considered to be the most competitive high school lacrosse conference in the nation.

This is INCORRECT.
1) Beauvoir will ALWAYS be the automatic feeder to St. Alban's & NCS. A new head of admissions CANNOT change this. There are by-laws in place with The Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation (PECF - which is compromised of the Washington National Cathedral, Beauvoir, St. Alban's & NCS) that both NCS & St. Alban's MUST accept at least certain percentage of the Beauvoir 3rd grade class. While the exact percentage is unknown to all but the admissions teams at the three schools, there have been whispers about it being 89-92%. This will not change.

The PP point on Lacrosse recruiting is also ludicrous. Saint Albans is an educational institution first and last The do not need to admit unqualified applicants based on their ability to throw a ball around.

Hmmm, yet, apparently it is fine to accept, perhaps 89-92% of the Beauvoir class?!? It is well known that parents of the weaker students *must* get them into Beauvoir at a young age in order to have a shot at STA. Basically, the Beauvoir tuition is viewed as an insurance policy toward STA placement for those that would, likely not gain admission based on merit. That's just how it has always been.

It seems to me that admitting students who, in fact, excel at something/anything (soccer, lacrosse, chess, math, etc.) will always be better for the school in the long run than continuing this increasingly embarrassing auto-admit of these underwhelming Beauvoir students.

I think you are just trying to troll here. Your claim above has no basis in fact. Far from " embarrassing" the school, at least half of those winning academic honors at Prize Day attended Beauvoir

Um, no. Year after year, the lesser-able Beauvoir alums are counseled out of "make another choice" and move along. That, in truth, is why the upper school has a far lower proportion of Beauvoir alums in its ranks. It is also why parents of non-Beauvoir alums have a sense of pride and, sometimes superiority, knowing that their son actually had to compete an win his spot at STA.

As a member of the community of which you speak, I don't find this to be the case , at all. I certainly have never encountered a parent who exuded an "air of superiority for their child have quote end quote " gotten in on their own" . Most parents are very humble and often deflect when complimented on a given award a child may have received, beyond the polite " thank you".

I responded to your last post only to provide a basic fact that the top 10 % of academic performance in the class consists of many from Beauvoir. Not one or two, many. I will now add this : the Upper School adds spots to expand the class . For those genuinely interested, see the website for how many students are added to the upper school and middle school in each successive class.

While it is true that those admitted later in MS/ HS are all very bright and a good fit for the academic rigors of the school , that does not mean that those accepted in 4th grade from B are not. It means that the ideal size of a class of 4th graders is smaller than the ideal size of a class of 7th, 9th graders due to specialization and expanding course options in later years. ( you cannot offer more class options if you still only have 45 boys, you need more boys so that some can take Chinese, others latin, french or spanish. You can;t have a class with only 4 kids in it so you add spots.

Lastly, having been through the admissions process from B to STA, what I have seen is that parents themselves opt out if they feel that their child is not a good academic fit or for whatever reason. So, your point about the school needing to force people out over looks, or seems to suggest, that parents are not serving their child's own best interest.

I think you seem more invested in stirring things up, that exchanging actual information about this school

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least 2 possible changes with a new AD:

1) Treat Beauvoir as less of an automatic feed;

2) More lacrosse recruits. Hart was the soccer coach. Perhaps not coincidentally, the program was a winner. The incoming AD played lacrosse at Yale, and is one of the current STA varsity coaches. The program is on the upswing with great coaching and a growing pool of developing talent, but could use some unabashed recruiting to be able to truly compete at the IAC level, generally considered to be the most competitive high school lacrosse conference in the nation.

This is INCORRECT.
1) Beauvoir will ALWAYS be the automatic feeder to St. Alban's & NCS. A new head of admissions CANNOT change this. There are by-laws in place with The Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation (PECF - which is compromised of the Washington National Cathedral, Beauvoir, St. Alban's & NCS) that both NCS & St. Alban's MUST accept at least certain percentage of the Beauvoir 3rd grade class. While the exact percentage is unknown to all but the admissions teams at the three schools, there have been whispers about it being 89-92%. This will not change.

The PP point on Lacrosse recruiting is also ludicrous. Saint Albans is an educational institution first and last The do not need to admit unqualified applicants based on their ability to throw a ball around.

Hmmm, yet, apparently it is fine to accept, perhaps 89-92% of the Beauvoir class?!? It is well known that parents of the weaker students *must* get them into Beauvoir at a young age in order to have a shot at STA. Basically, the Beauvoir tuition is viewed as an insurance policy toward STA placement for those that would, likely not gain admission based on merit. That's just how it has always been.

It seems to me that admitting students who, in fact, excel at something/anything (soccer, lacrosse, chess, math, etc.) will always be better for the school in the long run than continuing this increasingly embarrassing auto-admit of these underwhelming Beauvoir students.

I think you are just trying to troll here. Your claim above has no basis in fact. Far from " embarrassing" the school, at least half of those winning academic honors at Prize Day attended Beauvoir

Um, no. Year after year, the lesser-able Beauvoir alums are counseled out of "make another choice" and move along. That, in truth, is why the upper school has a far lower proportion of Beauvoir alums in its ranks. It is also why parents of non-Beauvoir alums have a sense of pride and, sometimes superiority, knowing that their son actually had to compete an win his spot at STA.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least 2 possible changes with a new AD:

1) Treat Beauvoir as less of an automatic feed;

2) More lacrosse recruits. Hart was the soccer coach. Perhaps not coincidentally, the program was a winner. The incoming AD played lacrosse at Yale, and is one of the current STA varsity coaches. The program is on the upswing with great coaching and a growing pool of developing talent, but could use some unabashed recruiting to be able to truly compete at the IAC level, generally considered to be the most competitive high school lacrosse conference in the nation.

This is INCORRECT.
1) Beauvoir will ALWAYS be the automatic feeder to St. Alban's & NCS. A new head of admissions CANNOT change this. There are by-laws in place with The Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation (PECF - which is compromised of the Washington National Cathedral, Beauvoir, St. Alban's & NCS) that both NCS & St. Alban's MUST accept at least certain percentage of the Beauvoir 3rd grade class. While the exact percentage is unknown to all but the admissions teams at the three schools, there have been whispers about it being 89-92%. This will not change.

The PP point on Lacrosse recruiting is also ludicrous. Saint Albans is an educational institution first and last The do not need to admit unqualified applicants based on their ability to throw a ball around.

Hmmm, yet, apparently it is fine to accept, perhaps 89-92% of the Beauvoir class?!? It is well known that parents of the weaker students *must* get them into Beauvoir at a young age in order to have a shot at STA. Basically, the Beauvoir tuition is viewed as an insurance policy toward STA placement for those that would, likely not gain admission based on merit. That's just how it has always been.

It seems to me that admitting students who, in fact, excel at something/anything (soccer, lacrosse, chess, math, etc.) will always be better for the school in the long run than continuing this increasingly embarrassing auto-admit of these underwhelming Beauvoir students.

I think you are just trying to troll here. Your claim above has no basis in fact. Far from " embarrassing" the school, at least half of those winning academic honors at Prize Day attended Beauvoir

If you are a good lacrosse player, especially in high school, you should apply. The new AD will do for that program what the old AD did for soccer.

The St. Albans admissions year in review report on the website says the student population is 37% students of color.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think the new AD will change anything about the profile of the students and families admitted?

I doubt there will be big changes immediately. Among other things, there is a great deal of self-selection given the specific attributes of the school (all-boys, Episcopal with chapel). And of the "profile" of any given graduating class is significantly influenced by the students and families already at Beauvoir. It's less than 50% of the eventual graduating class but something like 80% of an incoming fourth grade class, right?

I don't know why people keep trying to crank out these outdated stereotypes from the 1950's. DS has been at Saint Albans for several years ( admitted by current AD) . Admitted right along with him were people of Hindu, Jewish , Agnostic and Catholic beliefs. I am sure even a few Atheists " squeeked through". None fit a " self selecting profile" you often find on here such as " sporty boy wearing Vineyard Vines must go to X school" . The only thing this vast array of boys had in common is there are pretty smart and willing to work hard.

I think you are misunderstanding PP's post. She is saying that not everyone wants to send there boys to a single sex Episcopal (and it is an element of the school) school. You disagree with that? And by profile she meant percentage from Beauvoir. Go back and read her post. I have no idea where you got your response.

As for the "vast array" of boys, really? I have one child at NCS and one at another school and I can tell you that while there is some racial and religious diversity at the Cathedral school, they are in no way a vast array. First of all, they are almost all wealthy and second of all they do not reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of this city. And there are far, far more Vineyard Vines families at the Cathedral schools than at other schools.

PP our kids classes must have a different composition ( NCS vs STA maybe) . I suspect your other child's school is less diverse than STA because you don't seem to really know much about STA's class composition and I have known most of these parents since Pre-K at B. Off the top of my head, I could count about 20 % of class as either Asian, Middle Eastern or Indian/ Pakistani . Another 10-11 % AA. Is that about a mirror os US society or is it identical to composition of CC Club ? I think its clearly the former. So stop the stereotyping.

Also, I know these families and very few are truly wealthy. Most are regular middle class and upper middle class ( upper middle class being: $250k two parent income household to 500K with 3-4 kids paying 140K in tuition for those 4 kids)

I'm sorry , but " wealth " ( annual income in 10- 100's of millions ) maybe a few but not that common.

As for the ties, now here is something we can clearly nail the school on. LOOK at those boys wearing ties and preppy clothes . The must all be WASPS. Or maybe there is a dress code ?

Per this website, the school is more than 75% white. http://www.usaschoolinfo.com/school/st-albans-school-washington-district-of-columbia.114513/enrollment.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least 2 possible changes with a new AD:

1) Treat Beauvoir as less of an automatic feed;

2) More lacrosse recruits. Hart was the soccer coach. Perhaps not coincidentally, the program was a winner. The incoming AD played lacrosse at Yale, and is one of the current STA varsity coaches. The program is on the upswing with great coaching and a growing pool of developing talent, but could use some unabashed recruiting to be able to truly compete at the IAC level, generally considered to be the most competitive high school lacrosse conference in the nation.

This is INCORRECT.
1) Beauvoir will ALWAYS be the automatic feeder to St. Alban's & NCS. A new head of admissions CANNOT change this. There are by-laws in place with The Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation (PECF - which is compromised of the Washington National Cathedral, Beauvoir, St. Alban's & NCS) that both NCS & St. Alban's MUST accept at least certain percentage of the Beauvoir 3rd grade class. While the exact percentage is unknown to all but the admissions teams at the three schools, there have been whispers about it being 89-92%. This will not change.

The PP point on Lacrosse recruiting is also ludicrous. Saint Albans is an educational institution first and last The do not need to admit unqualified applicants based on their ability to throw a ball around.

Hmmm, yet, apparently it is fine to accept, perhaps 89-92% of the Beauvoir class?!? It is well known that parents of the weaker students *must* get them into Beauvoir at a young age in order to have a shot at STA. Basically, the Beauvoir tuition is viewed as an insurance policy toward STA placement for those that would, likely not gain admission based on merit. That's just how it has always been.

It seems to me that admitting students who, in fact, excel at something/anything (soccer, lacrosse, chess, math, etc.) will always be better for the school in the long run than continuing this increasingly embarrassing auto-admit of these underwhelming Beauvoir students.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think the new AD will change anything about the profile of the students and families admitted?

I doubt there will be big changes immediately. Among other things, there is a great deal of self-selection given the specific attributes of the school (all-boys, Episcopal with chapel). And of the "profile" of any given graduating class is significantly influenced by the students and families already at Beauvoir. It's less than 50% of the eventual graduating class but something like 80% of an incoming fourth grade class, right?

I don't know why people keep trying to crank out these outdated stereotypes from the 1950's. DS has been at Saint Albans for several years ( admitted by current AD) . Admitted right along with him were people of Hindu, Jewish , Agnostic and Catholic beliefs. I am sure even a few Atheists " squeeked through". None fit a " self selecting profile" you often find on here such as " sporty boy wearing Vineyard Vines must go to X school" . The only thing this vast array of boys had in common is there are pretty smart and willing to work hard.

I think you are misunderstanding PP's post. She is saying that not everyone wants to send there boys to a single sex Episcopal (and it is an element of the school) school. You disagree with that? And by profile she meant percentage from Beauvoir. Go back and read her post. I have no idea where you got your response.

As for the "vast array" of boys, really? I have one child at NCS and one at another school and I can tell you that while there is some racial and religious diversity at the Cathedral school, they are in no way a vast array. First of all, they are almost all wealthy and second of all they do not reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of this city. And there are far, far more Vineyard Vines families at the Cathedral schools than at other schools.

PP our kids classes must have a different composition ( NCS vs STA maybe) . I suspect your other child's school is less diverse than STA because you don't seem to really know much about STA's class composition and I have known most of these parents since Pre-K at B. Off the top of my head, I could count about 20 % of class as either Asian, Middle Eastern or Indian/ Pakistani . Another 10-11 % AA. Is that about a mirror os US society or is it identical to composition of CC Club ? I think its clearly the former. So stop the stereotyping.

Also, I know these families and very few are truly wealthy. Most are regular middle class and upper middle class ( upper middle class being: $250k two parent income household to 500K with 3-4 kids paying 140K in tuition for those 4 kids)

I'm sorry , but " wealth " ( annual income in 10- 100's of millions ) maybe a few but not that common.

As for the ties, now here is something we can clearly nail the school on. LOOK at those boys wearing ties and preppy clothes . The must all be WASPS. Or maybe there is a dress code ?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least 2 possible changes with a new AD:

1) Treat Beauvoir as less of an automatic feed;

2) More lacrosse recruits. Hart was the soccer coach. Perhaps not coincidentally, the program was a winner. The incoming AD played lacrosse at Yale, and is one of the current STA varsity coaches. The program is on the upswing with great coaching and a growing pool of developing talent, but could use some unabashed recruiting to be able to truly compete at the IAC level, generally considered to be the most competitive high school lacrosse conference in the nation.

This is INCORRECT.
1) Beauvoir will ALWAYS be the automatic feeder to St. Alban's & NCS. A new head of admissions CANNOT change this. There are by-laws in place with The Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation (PECF - which is compromised of the Washington National Cathedral, Beauvoir, St. Alban's & NCS) that both NCS & St. Alban's MUST accept at least certain percentage of the Beauvoir 3rd grade class. While the exact percentage is unknown to all but the admissions teams at the three schools, there have been whispers about it being 89-92%. This will not change.

The PP point on Lacrosse recruiting is also ludicrous. Saint Albans is an educational institution first and last The do not need to admit unqualified applicants based on their ability to throw a ball around.

Anonymous wrote:At least 2 possible changes with a new AD:

1) Treat Beauvoir as less of an automatic feed;

2) More lacrosse recruits. Hart was the soccer coach. Perhaps not coincidentally, the program was a winner. The incoming AD played lacrosse at Yale, and is one of the current STA varsity coaches. The program is on the upswing with great coaching and a growing pool of developing talent, but could use some unabashed recruiting to be able to truly compete at the IAC level, generally considered to be the most competitive high school lacrosse conference in the nation.

This is INCORRECT.
1) Beauvoir will ALWAYS be the automatic feeder to St. Alban's & NCS. A new head of admissions CANNOT change this. There are by-laws in place with The Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation (PECF - which is compromised of the Washington National Cathedral, Beauvoir, St. Alban's & NCS) that both NCS & St. Alban's MUST accept at least certain percentage of the Beauvoir 3rd grade class. While the exact percentage is unknown to all but the admissions teams at the three schools, there have been whispers about it being 89-92%. This will not change.