If you are reading this information, you are likely beginning to consider providing your child a private education. Whether you have already registered your child to take the SSAT or are considering registering for the SSAT, this information will serve to answer some of your questions regarding the SSAT directly from an admission officer’s point of view. 

I have heard that the SSAT is a “common measure” of academic ability.  What about the SSAT is “common”?

When you hear an admission officer refer to “common measure,” he or she is simply stating that the SSAT provides schools the ability to measure student academic abilities in verbal, math, and reading skills which students need for successful performance in independent schools. These test results are typically used in addition to the subjective components of the admission process such as teacher recommendations, interview, and

“Life is a journey, not a destination,” wrote Ralph Waldo Emerson and so, too, is the Upper School at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes. Our faculty, program offerings and curricula provide our students with deep knowledge, incredible skills, confidence, breadth of exposure and balance. All of these will serve our students well and are not simply a stepping stone towards college. That said, we share the expectations of our students and their parents that a Saints education will prepare students for continued education at a wide range of top colleges, universities, and service academies that reflect the diversity of our students.

So, how do we approach and do it?  There are two key elements to the success of our seniors in their college admission process: the commitment and dedication of our experts and our college counseling program, which is actually introduced in the Middle School!

We are so fortunate to have many wonderful primary public, independent and parochial school options in the Northern Virginia / Washington D.C. / Maryland area. This blessing does not come without challenges. You are left to wonder...

What is the right match for my child?
What would it be like for my child to attend an independent school? 
When is the right time to apply?
Should we wait until Middle School or Upper School? 

Here are some tips on questions to ask when searching for a school?  

Did you miss our Upper School Parent Information Night? Relive the voice of one of the presenters, Father Sean Cavanaugh, as he extols the Value of an Episcopal Education.