St. Andrew's Episcopal School - General Information

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School is an independent, coeducational day school in Potomac, Maryland whose purpose is to challenge and nurture students of diverse abilities and interests in grades 6-12. Study in the arts, athletics and spiritual life balance the academically rigorous curriculum. Small classes, dedicated faculty and strong service learning teach values in a safe college preparatory environment.

History of St. Andrew's
St. Andrew's has come a long way from the idea of two Episcopal elementary school heads, who saw the need for a coeducational high school for their graduates. In 1978, after three years of planning, St. Andrew's opened in the basement of Pilgrim Lutheran Church on Massachusetts Avenue with 40 students in grades seven, eight and nine, nine part-time teachers, and a school library comfortably housed on four shelves.

Growth by the 1979-80 school year necessitated a move to larger space in Clara Barton Elementary School of Cabin John and only two years later, to the former North Bethesda Junior High School. By the time St. Andrew's graduated its first senior class in the spring of 1982, it had grown to 245 students and 28 teachers and entered the ranks of full-fledged independent college-preparatory schools.

In September 1998, St. Andrew's dedicated its 19.2-acre campus in Potomac, Maryland. Shortly thereafter, the school reached its maximum enrollment of 450 students, grades six through twelve.

Because its roots stemmed from the determination of the founding trustees, St. Andrew's never has forgotten its purpose or convictions: a diversity of students, an emphasis on the arts, a sports program open to all who sincerely try to make a team, and the regular teaching and practice of religion.

About St. Andrew
St. Andrew, the patron saint of our school, was a fisherman in the Sea of Galilee and was the first apostle to be called by Jesus. His brother, Simon Peter, also was called to be an apostle.

Tradition states that St. Andrew carried the Gospel to Russia, Greece, Asia Minor and Turkey. In Patras, Greece, when he was quite old, St. Andrew refused the Roman Proconsul's order to lead the people in sacrifices to heathen gods and suffered a martyr's death in 69 A.D. His cross was X-shaped, the crux decussate. He was fastened to it by cords, not nails, so that his death was a lingering one, perhaps taking more than two days, and all the time he preached.

Legend holds that his remains were moved to Constantinople, Turkey, and in 369 A.D., the Abbot of Regulus, or Saint Rule, took parts of St. Andrew's remains on a missionary journey. The journey ended in a shipwreck off the coast of Fife, Scotland, and the bones of the saint were buried under a newly built chapel. The place was named St. Andrew's in his honor.

The St. Andrew's cross, white against a blue background, is the national symbol of Scotland.


	St. Andrew's first baseball team lines up on the back field of Clara Barton-suited up are Phillip Heller '82, Danny Strickler '83, Mario Marinucci '82, Aaron Aylor '83, and Mark Mencher '84.


	The big building and campus of North Bethesda Junior H.S. greatly expanded the St. Andrew's program. This was about 1990.


	St. Andrew's founding headmaster, Jess Borg, greeted every student by name, every morning. Pilgrim Lutheran, where St. Andrew's enjoyed its first year, housed 40 students and five teachers.