Hi! I graduated from SPS in 2017, and I’m happy to answer any questions you have about the school. I was there during a very tumultuous time (as I’m sure many of you have read), but going to SPS was the best decision I have ever made and I wouldn’t trade my experience there for the world. If you have questions about academics, social life, boarding, etc, just comment and I will answer!!
Also, in case people want to know, I chose SPS over Hotchkiss, Groton, Deerfield, and Lawrenceville. They are all amazing schools and I have friends who went to all of them, so I am happy to elaborate on how I made my decision and conclusions I’ve drawn from speaking to friends about their experiences (all great).
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
As with all “Ask Me Anything” threads, all students/parents/alum/staff are welcome to chime in to answer questions.
Hi we have a question about languages. Can you study e.g. French and Latin the same year, and what a bout a 3-year sequence we read about. Don’t want to give up Latin completely, but also want to study French. Entering in 9th grade. Thanks.
As parents of a former boarding school student, we found St. Paul’s School to be attractive for many reasons including Saturday classes, 100% boarding, 50/50 male to female student ratio & no PGs. Have any of these aspects changed ?
P.S. I think that it is important to note the generous financial aid grants offered by SPS. Recently I read that students from families earning less than $125,000 per year attend free of charge (as tuition includes fees, room & board).
@PurpleTulip15 yes you can, although it will be hard in terms of workload. Latin is one of the hardest classes, and so is French. (My DD is a current SPS Fifth Former in a French Honors class.) It’s doable but the student has to be really motivated. I encourage you to ask the question during revisit, if you’re attending. You could also reach out to the Language Department. I’m sure they will be happy to share their experience regarding students taking two languages.
@livy2462 and other SPS alum/students/parents, is there any one thing that you would change at SPS?
Also, for any current students/parents that have been at SPS for a few years, are there any noticeable differences in the student experience this year relative to the previous year or few? I’m also not asking in a way assuming there were problems and how have they been fixed. I’m just trying to get a sense for whether there is any different feel (i.e., more strict, rules, etc) to being a student … good or bad.
DS was fortunate to be accepted and is strongly considering SPS along with a few other schools.
@CMKDad: It may help to know which activities–such as sports or other ECs–your son enjoys.
Also, do you live within a few hours drive of the boarding schools under consideration ? If not, then a larger percentage of boarding students & Saturday classes assure that the school doesn’t empty out on the weekends.
If you live nearby, then Saturday classes may not be attractive to your family if you plan to have frequent weekends together as a family.
I’m not going there myself (didn’t apply), but here’s a question I’ve always wondered about: Does it ever get boring on campus because the school is 100% boarding? You know, you can’t, like, go to day student friends’ houses or anything.
@confusedaboutFA the opposite of boring, as the school doesn’t empty out on weekends as some schools with day students tend to. The 100% boarding also makes for a really tight community, so as far as I’m concerned it’s a positive, not a negative. Between athletic games, club activities, special events, outings, performances, school dances, etc., there is more to do than one could possibly do. There are several threads on that topic that you could search for if you’re interested to know more.
@CMKDad I can think of a few differences. This year the student council is outstanding. The theme they chose for the year was “Joy,” and all activities they’ve organized and initiatives they’ve started have been focused on enjoying one’s experience at SPS. Another difference I’ve noticed is the concerted efforts to inform and engage the parent community though webinars, virtual seated meals, etc. In terms of sports, leaving the ISL, adding rowing tanks, a new weight room, boxing, lots of fundraising for charitable causes by the sport teams. In terms of arts, the hot glass studio, the new gallery. Bunch of new clubs, particularly the activism club.
One thing I’d change at SPS? As I’ve said before, I think that the rules pendulum has swung too much to the strict side, resulting in an entire community being penalized for the mistakes of few. I think it takes away from the unique character of the school as a place that cultivates independence and responsibility. I am a believer in learning through failing, but that’s me. Others may have different perspectives, and I hope they’ll share them as well.
My son was accepted for 9th grade. We are considering other options. I am worried about whether the workload allows time for being a kid. Also do the kids sleep? How regulated is lights out and can kids finish their work and still sleep?
He needs more sleep than many, and I want him to be happy and have a rich life not just Be overwhelmed with homework each night.
How many hours of hw a night or week is typical? And how many hours of sleep?
Workload depends a lot on the classes your student is taking and the activities he is engaged in. There is room to tailor it to what works best for him. Some kids like to challenge themselves more than others, so stress and pressure are often self-imposed. In that regard, I don’t think that SPS is much different than other schools often discussed on this board. A few hours of homework a night is common. The key is time-management, and the school is very good at teaching that. Your student will learn to use a planner, stay on schedule, take advantage of free time during the day to get ahead with homework, seek teacher help and peer help, and advocate for himself. Its these new skills that make the work manageable, leaving time for socializing and having fun. Freshman year is considerably easier, giving students a chance to acclimate.
There is no strict lights out policy, but the wifi is out at midnight. If your son has a roommate, the two of them will agree, in writing, on a bunch of stuff, including a lights out time and what to do if one wants to work later but the other wants to sleep, what if one wants to get up at 5 am to hit the gym but the other wants to sleep, etc. The advisors make sure that kids are well rested, eat well, keep up with their hygiene, and do well in school. If any of these aspects falls through the cracks, action will be taken, and there are different ways to address each issue.
As you’re making your decision, I think it will be most helpful to read the student handbook for each school you’re considering. If you can attend revisits, pay attention to the kids at that school. Do they look stressed, sleep deprived, friendly, social, engaged, happy? Do they make eye contact and say hello to strangers? Would you like your son to be one of them? Just trust your gut, and particularly your son’s as he will be the one living there.
Not sure if still true, but about a decade ago it was not uncommon for students to check themselves into the infirmary to get a day of rest from the academic demands & stress of daily life at SPS. Nevertheless, the students are happy & very productive. But, in my opinion, not the optimal environment for one who just wants to be an ordinary teenage kid.
@mothere: Which other schools are under consideration ? ( Andover, Exeter, SPS & Groton all have heavy workloads, brilliant, motivated students & are academically demanding. Some very elite prep boarding schools do have a less exhausting / demanding lifestyle.)
Thanks @GoatMama for the insight. Related to the rules pendulum, can you add any color or representative examples of things maybe swinging to the too restrictive side recently?
Does anyone know how adhd medication is handled? My son is on a very low rise for mild adhd. His real issue is stamina which is why homework takes longer and volume matters a lot. He can handle rigor just not more than 3 hours a night. I am terrified about volume and sleep.
Do the sps kids in the middle and lower half also go to prestigious colleges?
Wondering if being in the top of a less competitive school might place him at a better college and let him have space to be a kid and breathe. I went to an Ivy League school from a public high school and did very well because I was always the golden kid who got every award and opportunity there. I also was really taught well as teachers appreciated my effort.
Frankly I care more about the college than the high school. He hated our public school as he was bored to tears. I know he needs a decent amount of rigor but not a ridiculous volume of homework.
Even with heavy, demanding workloads, many students put additional pressure on themselves to excel. SPS will be a competitive atmosphere for many, less so for those who have different priorities.
The trick is to use one’s time wisely throughout the day so that homework can be completed in a reasonable timeframe.
P.S. Depends upon your definition of “prestigious colleges”. I found & quickly reviewed an old SPS college matriculation list for the 150 graduates. Appears, by my definition of prestigious colleges, that over 90% went to prestigious colleges & universities. Actually closer to 95%. But again, it depends upon what you consider to be prestigious. Only 30% went to an Ivy or Stanford or MIT that year. Four (4) students went to the University of St. Andrews in Scotland and two (2) went to the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. (Our educational system in the US is based on the Scottish, not English, system. Two grads took a year off, one went to Lake Forest College & one to the University of Colorado at Boulder.
@CMKDad for example, intervisitation (visiting a friend from the opposite sex in their dorm) have become very strict. Breaking an intervisitation rule (visiting outside of permitted hours, engaging in non permitted activities, etc) would get you a DC (Disciplinary Committee), which typically goes on your record. More examples available upon request. PM only
@mothere if you have disclosed your son’s diagnosis during the application process and he was admitted, the school is confident he can handle the work. For ADHD and other medications, see the Student Handbook, which is available on the SPS website. If you still have questions, you could call the Health Center to inquire directly. They’re very helpful.
