ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL
2008 - 2009 School Profile

Robert Kosasky, Head of School
Joanne Beach, Head of Upper School
Randy Tajan, Director of College Counseling
Susan Burke, Associate Director of College Counseling
Delice Williams, Associate Director of College Counseling

CEEB Code: 210317

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School is an independent, co-educational, college preparatory day school for Preschool (two years) - Grade 12. The mission of the school is to nurture each student’s intellectual development, personal integrity, and sense of self-worth in a cooperative environment that embodies the faith and perspective of the Episcopal Church. St. Andrew’s emphasizes a supportive atmosphere and believes that the development of each individual’s potential, personal integrity, and sense of self-worth encourages each to live a creative and compassionate life. Because St. Andrew’s values the benefits of community, the school fosters in all members a desire to live a life of responsibility to each other and to the larger community.

Enrollment Upper School (9-12): 318
Male: 175
Female: 143

Class of 2009: 83
Male: 43
Female: 40

Students normally take five major academic courses per year. Courses include English, History, Language, Mathematics, and Science. In addition, Religion is required one trimester each year. St. Andrew’s participates in an academic consortium with four independent schools that enables the school to extend its course offerings. Admission to a consortium course is competitive and open to eligible seniors. Each seminar meets three times per week before school. Students also attend one evening seminar per month to meet with experts related to the topics covered.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School is on a trimester schedule. Each trimester runs twelve weeks. Year-length and trimester-length classes are available.

Campus

St. Andrew’s Upper and Middle Schools are located on a 20-acre campus in the suburban residential community of Potomac, approximately 15 miles from the District of Columbia. A 75,000 square foot classroom building, completed in 1998, features state-of-the-art classrooms, science and technology laboratories, a two-story library, a media center and combined theater and assembly hall.

Student Body

St. Andrew’s total enrollment is 550, 115 in the Lower School, 117 in the Middle school and 318 in the Upper School. Students come from the Greater Washington metropolitan area and represent diverse racial, ethnic, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds. 22% of our students are Episcopalian. Students of color make up 23% of the population. St. Andrew’s awards need-based aid to 15% of enrolled families. 100% of our graduates plan to attend a four-year college or university.

Faculty

In the Middle and Upper Schools, 66 faculty and administrators teach; 67% hold advanced degrees. Average class size is 15 and the student-faculty ratio is 7:1. Robert Kosasky was appointed the fourth headmaster of St. Andrew’s in 2002. He earned his B.A. in history and philosophy cum laude from Yale University and his M.A. from Columbia University. He also serves as a Trustee of the Association of Independent Maryland Schools and is the President-elect and a Trustee of the Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington.

Grading

As common practice among competitive independent schools, St. Andrew’s Episcopal School does not rank its students. Instead, the grade distribution chart with grades and equivalent grade points is displayed on each student’s individual transcript. Each student’s curriculum is college preparatory and grading is rigorous.

GPAs are calculated using all graded courses taken at St. Andrew’s. Accredited summer school courses that receive St. Andrew’s credit also are counted in the student’s cumulative GPA. GPAs are based on a four point scale that factors in pluses and minuses (A=4.0, A-=3.67, B+ = 3.33, B = 3.0, etc.). AP course grades receive a weight of 1 point.

Accreditations and Memberships

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School is fully accredited by the Association of Independent Maryland Schools, Maryland State Department of Education, and Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

The school is also a member of College Entrance Examination Board, Cum Laude Society, National Association of College Admissions Counseling , National Association of Independent Schools, National Association of Episcopal Schools, and Potomac & Chesapeake Association of College Admissions Counseling.

Graduation Requirements

English: Four credits, one each in grades 9-12
History: Four credits, one each in grades 9-12
Language: Two credits to include two consecutive years of the same language in grades 9-12
Mathematics: Three credits in grades 9-12
Religion: Four Trimesters, one each in grades 9-12
Science: Three credits to include Biology and two other sciences
Art: Eight trimesters
Phys Ed:
Grades 9-10: Two team sports or approved outside activity each year
Grades 11-12: One team sport or approved outside activity each year
Health and Wellness (one trimester course) required in grades 9 and 11

Senior Paper: All seniors are required to complete an independent research paper of 10-15 pages on a topic of their choice under faculty guidance.

Community Service: All students entering in 9th grade perform a minimum of 120 hours of community service, 60 of which are completed during the senior year.

Advanced Placement Program

Advanced Placement Courses are offered in all academic disciplines. In May 2008, 95 St. Andrew’s students took Advanced Placement Examinations and 85% achieved a score of 3 or above. In order to maintain a balanced schedule, students are encouraged to enroll in no more than two AP courses as juniors and three AP courses as seniors. Freshmen and sophomores traditionally do not take AP courses, although a small number of students sit for AP exams independently without taking the course.

Multivariable Calculus is available to students who successfully complete AP Calculus AB. St. Andrew’s does not designate courses as "Honors," although two "Accelerated" classes are offered: Accelerated Geometry and Accelerated Physics.