St. Anselm's Abbey School - Academics

Academics

An entrance exam is required. The school attempts to create an academically challenging curriculum that offers classes in a range of subjects, including 23 Advanced Placement courses. In 1988, all but two students in the graduating class achieved semifinalist or higher ranks from the National Merit Scholar program. In 2004, roughly two-thirds of the graduating class achieved commendation or higher honors from the National Merit Scholar program. The average combined SAT I score was over 1400. In 2011, 36 of the 35 graduates achieved the AP Scholar, AP Scholar with Distinction, or National AP Scholar level as defined by the Advanced Placement Program.

Each student who has graduated from St. Anselm's Abbey School since its founding has been accepted to and attended an accredited four-year college or university. For the five-year period from 2002–2006, the five most popular destinations for St. Anselm's graduates were Georgetown University, Columbia University, the University of Maryland, College Park, the University of Chicago, and the College of William & Mary.

The school's curriculum emphasizes classics and is somewhat idiosyncratic. Grades are called "forms," in accordance with the British school system. In addition to six years of science and five years of a spǒken language, three years of Latin are required. Ancient Greek is also offered as an elective for students in the Upper School, as is Arabic for students in fifth and sixth forms. As in many other religious schools, theology is also a required course each year.

The school is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools.

In a December 2006 online discussion, Washington Post columnist and Challenge Index creator Jay Mathews said, "Saint Anselm's Abbey in NE D.C. has one of the highest ratings in the country, far above most private schools I know."

Following up in June 2011, Mathews declared that had he included private schools on his "Challenge Index," St. Anselm's Abbey School would have "a rating of 7.250 and a national ranking of 27th if put it on the list. On the Washington area list it would have been No. 1."

The Baltimore Sun has called St. Anselm's "one of the country's premier college preparatory schools."

Class sizes are 10-20 per class. The school's student-to-faculty ratio is approximately 5:1. Classes are smallest in the Upper Division (Forms V and VI), and graduating classes are typically made up of 35 or fewer students.