Applying to the Lower School

List of 9 items.

• Step 1 Detail – Where do I start? How do I schedule a Tour?

  To learn more about St. Stephen's and St. Agnes Lower School, please complete the online Inquiry Form so we can mail you materials. To learn more about the Early Saints program, please contact Katherine Carbo at 703-212-2705.
  
  The best way to get to know us is by visiting our idyllic campus tucked in a quiet Alexandria neighborhood. Contact our Admission Office at 703-212-2705 to schedule your visit.
  
  Scroll below to see detailed instructions on how to make a My SSSAS account to begin the application process.

• Step 2 Detail – How do I schedule a Parent Interview?

  After you have completed your Information Session, the next step is to schedule a Parent Interview with a Lower School Admission Director.
  
  You may schedule this interview through your My SSSAS portal, by emailing HStarek@sssas.org or by calling 703-212-2705.
  
  Scroll below to see detailed instructions on how to make a My SSSAS account to begin the application process.

• Step 3 Detail – How can I get started on my child's application?

  Start an application from your My SSSAS account that was established when you requested information or through the APPLY link. Once you are in your My SSSAS account you will be guided through the admission process via checklist prompts.
  
  Hint: As with all online accounts, keep track of your secure log-in information so you can manage your application moving forward. If you have trouble remembering your log-in information, just click the Forgot Password link in the lower right corner of the log-in box.
  
  Please submit your completed application and $75 fee by January 15, 2022. After this date, call the Lower School Admission Office at 703-212-2705 for more information.
  
  

  January 15th is our priority deadline to submit your online application. We look forward to working with you to complete the process, including receiving recommendations, and school records, and completing your appointment with the Admission Office.  Applications submitted by January 15, 2022 and completed in time for review by the Admission Committee will receive a first-round admission decision on March 4, 2022.

  
  

  For applications received after January 15, the Admission Office will work closely with families to expedite the process and complete all steps of the application as soon as possible. While a first-round admission decision cannot be guaranteed, a strong partnership between the applicant family and SSSAS may allow us to process your application in time to receive a decision on March 4.  If all of the aspects of the application cannot be completed in a timely manner, second-round decisions will be made in early April, as space allows.

   

• Step 4 Detail – How and with whom do I schedule the individual aptitude test?

  Testing is optional for Early Saints through grade 5 applicants for the 2022-2023 school year due to COVID-19. Parents schedule this test directly with an independent examiner or a Testing Center. Reference list below.
  
  The independent examiner you chose will send results directly to our office.
  
  Children under the age of 6, take the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-IV)
  Children age 6 and older, take the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fifth Edition (WISC-V).
  
  If Your Child is Applying to Other Schools
  St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School has an agreement with the following schools to share standardized test results: Alexandria Country Day School, Beauvoir, Browne, Bullis, Burgundy Farm, Capitol Hill Day, Congressional, Flint Hill, Georgetown Day, Holton Arms, Langley, Maret, McLean, National Cathedral, National Presbyterian, Norwood, Potomac, St. Patrick's, Sandy Spring Friend's School, Sheridan, Sidwell Friends, Stone Ridge, Washington Episcopal, and Woods Academy.

• Step 5 Detail – What are support documents and how do I get those submitted?

  Application materials such as Teacher Evaluation and Release of Records forms are available in your My SSSAS portal account. ES through Grade 5 applicants will complete a virtual assessment in January 2022. It will be shared with families by email.
  
  We recommend submitting both forms to your school after December 1, 2021, to ensure they are received by our office by January 15, 2022.  Forms may be submitted via our My SSSAS online portal, emailed to HStarek@sssas.org or may be mailed to 400 Fontaine St. Alexandria, VA 22302.

• Do you offer before and after school care?

  Yes, Extended Day Programs are available for students in Early Saints, JK and K through grade 5. We also offer optional Enrichment activities to Lower School students including those in Extended Day.
  
  Lower School options include a morning session from 7 to 8 a.m. and afternoon options until 6 p.m. A quiet time for rest and/or homework is a part of each day. Crafts, games, and outdoor play fill the extended day afternoon. Drop-in care is available on a limited, reservation-only basis. Fees are assessed based on hours required.

• How do kids get to SSSAS? Is there bus transportation to campus?

  Some families carpool or walk to school. And many students ride one of the many bus routes to and from school or our shuttle service. Our bus fleet at SSSAS provides service to the major jurisdictions: Alexandria, Fairfax, Arlington, and Prince William Counties in Virginia; Prince George’s County in Maryland; and the District of Columbia. The service picks students up from specific locations in their communities. Please contact us for detailed information.
  
  

  Morning and afternoon shuttles run between the three SSSAS campuses to reduce the need for families to drive between campuses. This is convenient for those who live near one campus, with children attending class on another campus, to avoid traffic congestion. Each campus has morning and afternoon departures to the other two campuses and the Braddock Road Metro. There is no charge for the shuttle service for SSSAS students.

• How much is tuition and is tuition assistance available?

  We are fully aware that an independent school education is a major investment. A number of options are available to help you meet the cost of our education.
  
  Visit the Tuition and Financial Assistance page for the most accurate and detailed information.
  

• What do I do if I have students applying to different campuses?

  If you have children who may be applying to different campuses, please contact the Admission Director for your youngest child.
  
  Lower School — Early Saints, Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten-grade 5, Heather Starek
  Middle and Upper School — Grades 6-12, Alicia Blanding