A Saints education will prepare students for continued education at a wide range of top colleges, universities, and service academies

“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!

Students choose from a variety of fun, focused, and in-depth courses.

Did you know that for the past 25 years, our Middle School students embark on exciting adventures during the week before spring break for the much beloved annual mini-courses? Students choose from a variety of fun, focused, and in-depth courses that combine hands-on field trips and classroom discussions. Courses give students the opportunity to delve deep and learn about their topic in a unique, unforgettable way.

Each year, the mini-courses evolve to fit current trends and students' interests. Our teachers offer something for everyone, reflecting their own skills and interests in art, technology, global cultures, music, science, the outdoors, sustainability, service learning, and more. In the past couple of years, we have added both domestic and international overnight trips too. See what's in store for 2020. Take a look!

Students explain how the schedule provides them freedom to manage their homework, social life and clubs at school.

The Middle School schedule was developed using five guiding principles: quality learning time, healthy pace for students, access to program, collaboration time and community time.

Our schedule was designed with the interest of our students at the center, and includes exciting features such as 60 minute class periods and four classes in a day, an hour for lunch and recess, and time for collaboration with classmates and teachers. How does this transform the school experience for a middle schooler?

Teacher recommendations are a key component of most independent school admission decision making.  While grades provide a mark of actual achievement in a class, teacher recommendations provide the context and the insight a simple grade cannot.  

Imagine two scenarios.  The student has a B+ in math, which seems perfectly respectful.  In one scenario, the recommendation helps the admission committee realize that the student has missed some homework assignments and the teacher feels they are capable of much more but that the student has ‘settled’ for the B+.  In the second scenario, the admission