Anonymous
Post 02/28/2024 14:40     Subject: St Albans vs Sidwell
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:YES! Been waiting for this thread - but was going to hopefully post it on Friday - fingers crossed!

But IF we have a choice, both DS and parents are torn on the pros and cons. DS would thrive at either. But I feel like, according to this website, STA might be less drama......any thoughts on academics, college outcomes, grading, teachers, sports, food, etc would be welcome. This is for HS!


If your DS is really all in for the STA-experience (all boys and sports requirements etc.) and you as parents are ok with the community - I'd say STA is a better run school and a more cohesive and supportive experience (for those that fit in). Their college counseling is 100% better run. My sons weren't up for STA so they didn't apply - but we know many happy STA families. Ours ended up at Sidwell.


STA college counseling depends. They have their favorite students and families and work well for them. Others don't get the same attention.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2024 14:33     Subject: St Albans vs Sidwell
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:No A-minuses at STA. This is important for college admissions. Sidwell gives a ton of A-minuses, which bring down the GPAs.


But sidwell kids do very similarly in admissions when it's all said and done. Most top admits are hooked. Kids who have about a 3.7-3.8 at Sidwell do the same as STA kids with a 91-93.
There is no magic bullet at one school or the other.


Sidwell is much larger. STA has about 75-80 boys. Sidwell has about 125ish.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2024 14:32     Subject: St Albans vs Sidwell
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:No A-minuses at STA. This is important for college admissions. Sidwell gives a ton of A-minuses, which bring down the GPAs.


This is hardly a reason to choose one over the other.....

And - STA doesn't give letter grades at all, correct? So one might argue it hurts a straight A student with a 94 average because it is distinguishable from a 98 average.


Wrong. Letter grade goes on the transcript.

Number is used when figuring out the gpa on a 100 point scale.


So for colleges that recalculate (many do not) they put in a 4.0 for every A.....
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2024 14:32     Subject: St Albans vs Sidwell
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:No A-minuses at STA. This is important for college admissions. Sidwell gives a ton of A-minuses, which bring down the GPAs.


This is hardly a reason to choose one over the other.....

And - STA doesn't give letter grades at all, correct? So one might argue it hurts a straight A student with a 94 average because it is distinguishable from a 98 average.


Wrong. Letter grade goes on the transcript.

Number is used when figuring out the gpa on a 100 point scale.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2024 14:30     Subject: St Albans vs Sidwell
Anonymous wrote:Do people care about more than college placement? I hear 90%+ about that on DCUM and then a little about ECs.
If you know your child will be solidly hooked at one or more top college, are you still looking to go to one of these schools at full tuition?


My kids will be successful regardless of college. They are very well educated and have had a great community experience. Would not trade it.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2024 14:29     Subject: St Albans vs Sidwell
Anonymous wrote:Do people care about more than college placement? I hear 90%+ about that on DCUM and then a little about ECs.
If you know your child will be solidly hooked at one or more top college, are you still looking to go to one of these schools at full tuition?


Absolutely care more about educational experience and community for my kids from 3-18 than I do about college.

My kids were already on a college reading a writing level starting at 9th at their private.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2024 14:07     Subject: St Albans vs Sidwell
Do people care about more than college placement? I hear 90%+ about that on DCUM and then a little about ECs.
If you know your child will be solidly hooked at one or more top college, are you still looking to go to one of these schools at full tuition?
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2024 14:03     Subject: St Albans vs Sidwell
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:YES! Been waiting for this thread - but was going to hopefully post it on Friday - fingers crossed!

But IF we have a choice, both DS and parents are torn on the pros and cons. DS would thrive at either. But I feel like, according to this website, STA might be less drama......any thoughts on academics, college outcomes, grading, teachers, sports, food, etc would be welcome. This is for HS!


If your DS is really all in for the STA-experience (all boys and sports requirements etc.) and you as parents are ok with the community - I'd say STA is a better run school and a more cohesive and supportive experience (for those that fit in). Their college counseling is 100% better run. My sons weren't up for STA so they didn't apply - but we know many happy STA families. Ours ended up at Sidwell.


Only fair to note that Sidwell has a new CCO director starting in July and has built a new team over the last year. Interim CCO director this year has been fantastic and endorsed the new head. So optimism there!
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2024 14:01     Subject: St Albans vs Sidwell
Anonymous wrote:No A-minuses at STA. This is important for college admissions. Sidwell gives a ton of A-minuses, which bring down the GPAs.


Or, brings UP the GPA, in the case of my kids.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2024 13:36     Subject: St Albans vs Sidwell
You can always tell a St. Albans man ...
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2024 13:26     Subject: St Albans vs Sidwell
Anonymous wrote:No A-minuses at STA. This is important for college admissions. Sidwell gives a ton of A-minuses, which bring down the GPAs.


This is hardly a reason to choose one over the other.....

And - STA doesn't give letter grades at all, correct? So one might argue it hurts a straight A student with a 94 average because it is distinguishable from a 98 average.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2024 13:25     Subject: St Albans vs Sidwell
Anonymous wrote:No A-minuses at STA. This is important for college admissions. Sidwell gives a ton of A-minuses, which bring down the GPAs.


But sidwell kids do very similarly in admissions when it's all said and done. Most top admits are hooked. Kids who have about a 3.7-3.8 at Sidwell do the same as STA kids with a 91-93.
There is no magic bullet at one school or the other.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2024 13:20     Subject: St Albans vs Sidwell
No A-minuses at STA. This is important for college admissions. Sidwell gives a ton of A-minuses, which bring down the GPAs.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2024 12:56     Subject: St Albans vs Sidwell
Anonymous wrote:YES! Been waiting for this thread - but was going to hopefully post it on Friday - fingers crossed!

But IF we have a choice, both DS and parents are torn on the pros and cons. DS would thrive at either. But I feel like, according to this website, STA might be less drama......any thoughts on academics, college outcomes, grading, teachers, sports, food, etc would be welcome. This is for HS!


If your DS is really all in for the STA-experience (all boys and sports requirements etc.) and you as parents are ok with the community - I'd say STA is a better run school and a more cohesive and supportive experience (for those that fit in). Their college counseling is 100% better run. My sons weren't up for STA so they didn't apply - but we know many happy STA families. Ours ended up at Sidwell.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2024 12:47     Subject: St Albans vs Sidwell
Anonymous wrote:YES! Been waiting for this thread - but was going to hopefully post it on Friday - fingers crossed!

But IF we have a choice, both DS and parents are torn on the pros and cons. DS would thrive at either. But I feel like, according to this website, STA might be less drama......any thoughts on academics, college outcomes, grading, teachers, sports, food, etc would be welcome. This is for HS!


Read this thread. I have commented on all of the above at various points as this has spanned many questions. Good luck and TL;DR version is that you can't go wrong with either but STA is a really special place