Admission

Frequently Asked Questions

About St. Andrew's

List of 10 frequently asked questions.

  • What are some of the traditions of St. Andrew’s?

    At St. Andrew’s there is a strong importance of a warm welcome and a strong feeling of belonging. There is a deep history of traditions that can be found throughout the school from the Opening Chapel where the school community gathers together at the Washington National Cathedral, to Spirit Weeks, and a community-wide Homecoming celebration each October. Some other events include: Spirit Days; Parents of Students of Color Dinner; Upper School Quiz Bowl; Oral History Night; Taste of St. Andrew’s; Cum Laude Ceremony.

  • What is the uniform and dress code?

    Students in Kindergarten through Grade 5 wear a uniform consisting of blue or chino pants or shorts, polo shirt with the St. Andrew's logo or blouse, skort or dress, and St. Andrew's sweater or sweatshirt, along with athletic shoes. Click here to see the Lower School Uniform Guidelines. Students in grades 6 through 12 follow a school dress code and wear comfortable, neat, and presentable clothes as defined in our Student Handbook. Click here to see the Middle and Upper School Dress Code.

  • What are your standard entry points and grade sizes?

    We accept applications for all grades and enrollment will be offered to qualified applicants if a space is available. Our main entry points are Preschool, Kindergarten, and Grades 6 and 9. 

    Enrollment numbers increase in the older grades. In the Lower School, our preschool grades are intentionally small, typically 12-16 students. Elementary grades include around 32 students in two sections. In the Middle School, grades typically grow from 45 students in the 6th grade to around 57 in the 8th grade, and in the Upper School grades sizes are around 95 students.

  • What is your median class size?

    Class sizes vary by grade and subject, but the average class size is around 15 students. The smallest classes are around 8 students, and the largest 19 students. The faculty/student ratio is 6:1.

  • Do you provide lunch?

    Yes, lunch is included in the school tuition for students in Kindergarten-12th grades. Kindergarten through Grade 5 receive a hot meal served family-style. Students in Grades 6-12 enjoy an amazing, nutritionally balanced array of options including a hot entree, a vegetarian entree, salad bar, sandwich bar, pasta bar, soup bar, and beverages. Gluten-free options are always available as well. The food as St. Andrew’s is provided by Sage Dining, and you can view weekly menus and find more information here. Preschool students bring their own packed lunch.

  • Where do students go after they graduate from St. Andrew’s?

    St. Andrew’s is 100 percent college preparatory and our students attend a variety of schools, ranging from Ivy League schools to small liberal arts colleges to state schools or schools of art, engineering, and design. For a full list, click here.

  • Do you have a bus service?

    Yes. St. Andrew’s has morning and afternoon shuttle bus routes to and from points in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. Afternoon bus departures from St. Andrew’s are either 4 pm or 6 pm. For a list of bus stops click here.

  • What clubs do you offer?

    Lower School Clubs - After school clubs are organized by faculty sponsors each trimester based on student interest. They are fee-based. 

    Middle School Clubs - Clubs meet during the academic day a few times per month and change each trimester based upon the students' interests. Students interested in starting a club need to find a faculty sponsor and receive approval from the appropriate division administrator. 

    Upper School Clubs - Clubs and organizations meet during scheduled activity periods twice per week, or occasionally before or after school. Any student wishing to form a new club or organization may do so by finding a faculty sponsor and submitting a club application.

  • Do you offer a before or after school program?

    Yes. Our extended day services provide a safe and stimulating environment before school and until 6 pm. Please see the website for details on times and programs provided by each division. 

  • What is St. Andrew's vaccination/immunization policy?

    All students attending St. Andrew's must be fully immunized in accordance with immunization requirements against contagious diseases as published by the local department of health. All families must provide complete vaccination records. St. Andrew’s does not accept religious or ethical exemptions for vaccinations, medical exams, or required testing. Only a documented bona fide medical exemption will be granted a waiver. Families must submit documentation to the school nurse and ask for a waiver prior to the start of school. 
     
    St. Andrew’s Episcopal School strongly encourages all eligible students and employees to stay up to date on the COVID-19 and flu vaccinations and boosters. We encourage individuals and families to work closely with their healthcare providers to stay on track with timelines based on their last boosters, age, and health history.

    If you have questions about vaccinations and documentation, please contact the school nurses via the Admission Office.

Application & Admission

List of 9 frequently asked questions.

  • What is the Admission timeline?

    Our Admission Office is open all year long to help assist families wherever you are in the search process. Here is the general timeline many families follow:

    August - DecemberMake an inquiry and begin an online application
    October - DecemberVisit campus by registering for a group tour, open house, information session, shadow visit or an interview.
    October - January Complete admission application and supporting documents (transcripts, teacher recommendations, essay/student project or SSAT/ISEE test results)
    January - February Wrap up campus visits, interviews, and shadow visits
    Mid-JanuaryApplications and supporting documents due
    Mid-JanuaryFinancial Aid documents due
    First Friday in MarchAdmission decisions are posted in Ravenna
    Mid-MarchNew student enrollment contracts due two weeks after notification
    April-May Meet and celebrate with some of your new classmates
    JuneEnjoy the last month at your current school - happy summer!

  • How will I know when my application is complete?

    The status of your child’s application will be reflected through your Ravenna account. As the Admission Office receives documents your application status will be updated through the portal. Reminders will be sent periodically to notify you if you are missing any documents as deadlines approach. If you believe that an item was submitted and it is not reflected in Ravenna, please contact the Admission Office at admission@saes.org or call us at 240-477-1700. Please allow 48 hours for documents to be processed.

  • What happens during the required admission interview?

    This is an opportunity for someone on the admission team to learn more about your family and the applicant. We will first speak with the applicant for 15 minutes and hear about their interests, passions, and fun activities they enjoy with their friends/family. Following the interview with the applicant, we will also speak for 15 minutes with the parent/guardian.

  • What does St. Andrew’s look for when evaluating candidates for admission?

    Our selection is based on both academic and non-academic considerations. We welcome students with a range of interests, talents and perspectives. The admission committee looks for students who love to learn, are curious and have varied interests. A strong applicant demonstrates academic preparedness, strong character and integrity, and has a desire to engage in both the St. Andrew’s and the greater communities.

  • When will I know if my child is offered Admission?

    St. Andrew’s will release decisions through Ravenna, our online application portal, on the first Friday in March at 4 pm. Application and decision notification dates are established by the Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington (AISGW).

  • What are the possible admission decisions?

    All completed applications will receive one of the following admission decisions:
    • Acceptance: An offer of admission is extended, and the applicant is invited to enroll.
    • Waitlist: When an applicant meets our qualifications, but space is not available, they will be placed on the waitlist. Students are not ranked or in any order on the waitlist. Should space become available between March and late summer, the admission committee will review all applicants and select one who best fits the composition of that grade. The waitlist will remain active until the first day of school, and does not carry forward into the next admission season. Applicants will need to reapply if they are interested in exploring admission for a future school year. 
    • Regrets: St. Andrew’s cannot offer admission at this time. Reasons for this decision may include space in the grade, or concerns about the school’s ability to provide the support the student may need. Some students will be stronger applicants when re-applying for a later grade level.

  • Can I defer my offer of admission to the following year?

    Offers of admission cannot be deferred to the following year. Because many considerations go into each admission decision, including the number of spaces available and the strength of the applicant pool for a particular grade level, we are not able to defer offers of admission to the following school year. If you decline the offer of admission for this year, you may reapply for admission next year.

  • Can international students apply to St. Andrew’s?

    We welcome international students to consider our program. St. Andrew’s is an SEVP-certified school and can issue an I-20 to international students accepted into our program. We work in partnership with Ivy International Group to provide homestays and additional support for international students (grades 9-12). Click here  to learn more about our international student program.
     
    Students and families living internationally who will not require a student visa (American citizens living abroad, for example) should use the application form for the grade/division you are applying to, not the international student application. St. Andrew’s works frequently with families applying from overseas, and will be happy to work with you to complete the application process. We offer online ‘virtual’ Open House programs, interviews via Zoom, and provide opportunities to connect via our website to members of the St. Andrew’s community. Please contact the Admission Office to learn more.

  • Does applying for financial aid influence the admission decision?

    St. Andrew’s accepts students based on their academic achievement and potential, personal qualities, and references. Financial aid files are reviewed and awards are made only after a student is recommended for admission. St. Andrew’s has a generous financial aid budget and strong institutional commitment to economic diversity. Most years we receive more requests for funding than we are able to provide. In some instances students may receive notification that although they were recommended for admission, they have been added to a financial aid waitlist in the hopes that more funding will become available. Click here  to learn more about affording a St. Andrew’s education.
St. Andrew’s Episcopal School is a private, coeducational college preparatory day school for students in preschool (Age 2) through grade 12, located in Potomac, Maryland.