Reactions to St. Andrew’s by Boarding Students and Families


The words “thank you” do not convey the overwhelming appreciation my heart contains for what you have done for and with my daughter.  St. Andrew’s Academy has lit a bright light in her soul, and I hear in her the promise of incredible inner beauty.

When speaking with my daughter, I hear maturity, determination and wisdom.  I listen to a young woman who feels the worth of hard work; a little girl able to enjoy being a little girl; a daughter extremely respectful and loving to her mother.  I thank you for your instructions, discipline and discernment in how best to ‘raise’ a teenage girl.  I will be forever grateful for what you all are doing for my daughter.


God’s prosperous blessings on St. Andrew’s.


Sally Shoup, NC
















What I like about St. Andrew’s Academy is that it has a greater sense of community than at [other schools]. At [other schools] you are just one out of the swirling masses, and you don’t interact with your teachers very much outside of class. You could easily make your way through the school year without making any friends whatsoever. But at St. Andrew’s you have a greater sense of community with the other students.”


Josiah Bartel


St. Andrews is not a typical school.  The [small] size of the student body means close and binding relationships with everyone—with all the students and even with the teachers.  People at St. Andrew’s really care for one another.  Everyone is willing to help and encourage each other. This is really part of the whole magic of St. Andrew’s Academy.  … I LOVE ST ANDREWS!!!!


Emmaline Sampey







Colleges and Universities That Have Accepted St. Andrew’s Graduates


Biola University

California State University, Monterey Bay

Drexel University

George Fox University

Gordon College

Hillsdale College

Moody Bible Institute

New St. Andrews College

Samuel Merritt College

Seattle University 

Seattle Pacific University

Simpson University

St. Olaf College

Thomas More College

Trinity Western University

University of California, Davis

University of California, Merced

Villanova University

Western Oregon University

Whitworth College





Boarding Costs


To see the cost of a boarding experience and education at St. Andrew’s Academy, please click here: Cost



For a taste of St. Andrew’s Academy and the benefits to boarding students, please see the videos below.









Why boarding?

Finding the right school for your student can be quite a challenge. Many have found boarding to be an excellent choice, but false impressions about boarding schools still persist. The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS) commissioned a study comparing boarding school experiences to both public and private day school experiences. They found that:

Boarding students report being surrounded by motivated peers more than do students of private day and public school.

Boarding students say that their boarding experience helped them build self-discipline, independence and maturity.

More boarding students report that their school is academically challenging than do students of either public or private day schools.

They spend more time on homework per week than do their private day- and public-school  counterparts.

They also spend more time with teachers, faculty and coaches, and less time watching television.

Graduates report being “very well prepared academically” at rates higher than students public and private day schools.

All in all, 95% of boarding students surveyed reported being “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with their educational experience.(Report found at: www.ismoshi.org/boarding_truth.pdf)


Why St. Andrew’s?

Our students pray together every day, sing together, study together, work together, and play together. They are challenged to think clearly, speak persuasively, and love passionately.  Each school day begins with praying and praising God in song, and ends with the same. Worship is the most important thing we do, and academic pursuits find their meaning only within service to God.

Our academics are undertaken with seriousness and determination, and our standards are high. We find that our students thrive in this environment, and have energy and satisfaction with their work. Our classes are small, so students receive close attention.

We are shaped by what we love, however, as much as by what we know.  Spiritual formation—the right ordering of our loves—is the larger goal in which academics plays an essential part. A student whose mind is filled with facts, but is unable to answer the questions, “Who am I?” “Why am I here?” “What is life about?” has not been given a real education. Pursuing the good life is more than just an academic exercise; we want our students formed by the words, thoughts, prayers and examples of history—or, as Matthew Arnold said, by “the best that has been said and thought in the world”—rather than by the media and the soul-destroying ethos of today’s culture. Academics, worship, community living: these all play a part in seeking and living the good life, which is our pursuit at St. Andrew’s Academy.


Why now?

Our culture has lost much. Our heritage has been slowly squandered, attacked, and ignored for generations, and will take much work to repair.  The church, too, is in desperate need of young people who are thoughtful, passionate, and articulate. The world is often wiser concerning its young people than the church is, and acts strategically concerning their teaching and formation. Messages from the movies to the marketplace all scream at our youth that they are their own masters, that their desires are all that matter, and that the soul is  irrelevant.

The church must be wiser than the world. Our young people must learn to push back against the culture as hard as the culture pushes against them. The kingdom of God cannot wait. Our young people cannot wait.

We encourage parents and students to commit these things to prayer, and consider this opportunity for real education and rigorous training.  Consider attending St. Andrew’s Academy.


Details:


For the time being, until we build permanent dormitory buildings, boarding students live with families in the community, in the manner of many foreign exchange programs.


Boarding students start the year a bit earlier than non-boarders, with a short Trinity Term to build language and writing skills in anticipation of the year, and take care of any required classes they may have missed. Of course, it is also a great time to get to know one another and to enjoy the beautiful outdoors of Lake Almanor, where the school resides. Trinity Term for 2011 Begins August 30.


Once the year begins, what is it like for a boarding student? They attend classes for a good part of each school day, as in a day school. They participate in study halls during the week where faculty are available for extra help. Some weekends have hiking, snowshoeing, lake excursions, or other field trips. They get to know and become part of their host families. In addition, Sunday attendance at the collegiate Church is a requirement for boarding students.

A Boarding Opportunity

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