National Cathedral School

Mount Saint Alban

Washington, DC 20016

28 Reviews

School District
Grade

4-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by other on April 28, 2024

I attended St. Albans daycare, Beauvoir, Lower, Middle and finally left after sophomore year of upper school. What I can say about Cathedral is that it was an extremely cold, cruel, and unfair school. Favoritism was doled out to certain students based on who their parents were or what they donated. For example, I trained all winter for spring crew and performed well, but was the only person who did not make the team bc the coxswain position was given to someone whose sister had done it previously and didn’t even train with us. That kind of stuff. Minority students have an incredibly difficult time at Cathedral as well. Do not let the administration’s marketing fool you. The schools focus is fit everyone in a box, have them excel in every capacity and emotional wellbeing won’t matter. Academics were fairly good but overly competitive. To be perfectly honest, there are better schools in DC with much better cultures. My brothers attended Maret and Sidwell both much better choices. Ultimately I transferred to a boarding school which are notorious for elitism but the environment was so toxic at Cathedral that it felt like such a breath of fresh air.
Submitted by parent on May 28, 2018

The Upper School is off-the-charts good, with uncompromising standards. Rigorous and competitive, but nurturing at the same time. The sisterhood, sense of community and outstanding upperclassmen role models have been fantastic for our daughter. It's not a place for shrinking violets; Type A personalities are a better fit, and you cannot be afraid to compete each and every day. Teachers are top-notch and truly care about the girls, despite previous comments. Perhaps the best English Department anywhere in the country. Some of the best sports teams on the East Coast. College placement is second to none.
Submitted by other on November 30, 2017

I was a student at NCS and I wish my parents had made another decision for my schooling. While the academics were good, I was unhappy, stressed and socially tormented, and so were many of my classmates. I think that there are many other good schools in the DC area with happier students.
Submitted by parent on September 24, 2017

If we had to do it all over again we would not send our daughter here. We are just waiting for it to be over. This year we have a harkness mah teacher. No structure, no sullabus, no teaching . My daughter is crying in her room in despair because she doesn't know what is going on. A tutor doesn't help as they are not following a structured chapter plan. Worst teacher experience ever. Complaining doesn't help at this school. Have tried that. Head of school is not visible or engaged. Many great teachers and some very bad ones. Home work is 4 hours per day. 8 over the weekend. These girls work harder than adults in the workforce.
Submitted by parent on June 04, 2017

There is a reason the movie & book "Mean Girls" was written about NCS. It is the meanest, coldest school in the city. Probably one of the meanest in the country. Teachers are mean and don't care at all about the girls. Most of them admit they don't believe in giving As. The girls write amazing A papers and the teachers will give them a B. Just because they want to be hard core & "don't believe in giving As". Many of the girls break down in tears during finals week. It is common for girls to suffer from anxiety induced from the school. And the school doesn't care at all. As other reviews have said the head of the school is completely uninvolved & has no idea what is going on at the school. Nor does she care. Her sole interest is in raising money. The girls get 4+ hours of homework a night & they don't get out until 6:00-7:00pm. So most of the girls are falling apart because they are sleep deprived. It is a horrible place.
Submitted by parent on March 12, 2014

My daughter attended NCS and loved it. She learned to speak French fluently, play the piano, row crew, sing in a choir, and compete, yes compete. There is nothing wrong with that word! She went to a top ivy league university and a top ivy graduate school program, never distracted by wondering whether she was "good enough." I love this school and all it did for my daughter. It was truly the smartest decision my husband and I ever made.
Submitted by other on February 14, 2014

I attended NCS over a decade ago. I had only one average teacher as a lifer there which I consider to be pretty amazing. It was a hard school back then and they demanded excellence on a daily basis. You could never get away with a second rate effort which I think was a difficult, but powerful lesson in life. Amazing things happen when you expect a lot from students. It was never about memorization, but about applying what you have learned in new ways. The test were designed to keep you on your toes. press you for time and make you good at producing excellent work under pressure. It's not everybody's cup of tea...but it was mazing to be in a place where the standards were so high for so many years. We were also encouraged to use our voice and be opinionated. Without a doubt my 60 classmates were all inspiring in their own way. I'm thankful for my time at NCS. It was tough, but I'm thankful.
Submitted by parent on December 14, 2013

Leaving at the end of this year. The teachers are not at all what you would expect. Anyone considering this school should check the number of high schoolers who leave the school (like us). Obviously that is not a decision undertaken lightly. When you have ten students leave at the end of 9th grade, there's a problem. A HUGE problem. Much better schools in the area. Until the present administration is gone and the focus is on education again, forget this one.
Submitted by parent on November 05, 2013

My daughter is in her second year at NCS. If I had to summarize NCS, I would say it is the best education that money can buy. It literally, is impossible to not get a great education. The teachers are always good, and some are great. I don't want to attack anyone else's opinion or motivation for posting, but the negative experiences some recount, I have not seen. When I bring up my daughter's challenges to this school, they care deeply. The administration is first rate. I don't know the headmaster, and I am not anyone important. The one cautionary thing I would say, is this school is about educational excellence. If you are going for any other reason, this school may not be for you. It is harder than any school I have seen. But this school cares, and you should not listen to anyone that says otherwise, it is just not true. The great majority of parents I have spoken to are highly satisfied with the school.
Submitted by parent on July 29, 2013

IThe atmosphere is toxic. Very few girls in my daughter's class were happy by 11th or 12th grade. The problem at NCS is that the administration just doesn't care about the emotional well being of the students. The head is completely disengaged from the life of the school. The culture of the place is cold and competitive. If a girl has any issues, the administration's view is that she can't cut it and the other girls see any weakness as an opportunity to have one less girl to compete against. My daughter was a top student and hated being surrounded by girls who just wanted to check off the right boxes to get into the right college. She hated the fact that love of learning fell by the wayside. She hated the way girls could treat others so badly without anyone stepping in, standing up for a girl who is being victimized. (Fellow students and administrators). They give you the idea that this is somehow THE BEST school but there are so many others that engage and challenge girls, and teach them to care for each other. Stay away. You may think it will be different for you. I did and i was so wrong. Worst parenting decision I made.
Submitted by parent on July 03, 2013

Don't be fooled by the money at this school. It is NOT the school is used to be and does not deserve the reputation it once did. We changed schools because the high school is run by administrators and teachers who do not care about education or students. They care about money, elitism and power. We were shocked at the behavior we witnessed (by teachers and administrators) and there is no accountability since the Head of School is only interested in raising money. There is no, repeat NO, integrity at this school and the quality of education is not close to top level. The school needs a massive shake up before it can begin to compete with the other excellent schools in the area. Old or experienced teachers leave and young, frightened, and cowed teachers are hired. The girls suffer. Also--everyone knows the glowing reports written on this page were done as damage control by the admin. They are very worried about their reputation and think faking great reports will fool the public.
Submitted by other on June 04, 2013

I love my school, and I feel like I need to give a present-day student's POV. Looking through here, the main complaints I see are: You have to be DC elite: My mom is a middle school teacher and I've had no problem making friends. Nobody cares how much money you have. I don't even know what my friends' parents do for a living. Nobody asks, because nobody cares about status. Simply if you're friendly, kind, and outgoing, people will like you. You only memorize: If you're a procrastinator who hasn't been constantly studying for a test. If you procrastinate, you'll likely find yourself cramming and memorizing instead of learning. Yet in the classroom, we're challenged to question & voice our ideas, as long as we have solid evidence. Teachers/admin don't care about the students, only reputation: This is just not true. Our mental health is placed before all else & every teacher is totally understanding if we need to reschedule a test or step out of the room. They're aware of the sometimes-stressful atmosphere, & they do their best to make sure we're not overwhelmed. The people saying otherwise are probably just bitter. No student I know feels that way.
Submitted by parent on January 18, 2013

I have strong feelings about NCS. I attended many years ago and, while I found it very difficult, the teachers worked very hard to get me up to speed. I owe a great deal in my life to having had the privilege of going to NCS. My sister also attended and has been tremendously successful in her very technical field, which she loves. A number of years ago I sent my daughter to NCS for 4-6 grades. Unfortunately, she has a chronic illness and struggled terribly. The teachers and the administration were excellent; nurturing, incredibly patient, and really first rate, in the face of a very challenging situation. NCS is a very competitive school and the parents send their children there to succeed, so be mindful that not every girl will be at the top of the class, and the focus is on academics, rather than happiness. However, the hard work will be certain to pay off in the long run, and I have never met an NCS graduate I did not find interesting and very intelligent.
Submitted by parent on October 12, 2012

From a 2011 parent. Wonderful school, but not for everyone. My daughter thrived, but she was very social, smart and driven. If I had another daughter, I would think long and hard about sending here there, because the same place might not be right for her. We are upper middle class, but by no means rich. There are plenty of "it" girls who do not come from the Washington elite.
Submitted by parent on September 28, 2012

I had two children that attended the NCS lower school and while I loved the academics, wholesome activities, and friendships they fostered I would not recommend the lower school, if the perception of your family unit can even remotely be seen as negative by the teaching staff. The perception does not have to be based in reality, yet a collaborative of assumptions based on a narrow mined view of what the ideal preferred NCS parent/student combination should be. The will target based on a perceived physical appearance. A gang of teacher s will work together to maintain their idyllic NCS perception, by making unsubstantiated negative comments about your child in progress reports. This is their way of forcing individuals they perceive as not being a good fit from wanting to stay. They are aware that no one is going to continue to pay tuition for services when the outcome is damaging to their child s confidence. They usually win the battle to push those students they have targeted out. It is a very refined, polished version of a gang mentality.
Submitted by other on August 21, 2012

Attending NCS was a wonderful decision for me. Being in college now, I've been able to look back and identify how NCS has shaped my growth. For me, the two most striking dimensions of NCS are the community and intensity. I really cannot speak more highly of the community. The bond developed between girls here is unbreakable. Likewise, the small class sizes make it easy to get to know these devoted teachers. I actually still keep in contact with my favorite teachers, several years after graduating. Of course, the all-girls atmosphere has its highs (more openness to speak your mind, closeness with the girls) and lows (competitiveness and, let s be honest, no boys). Luckily, co-ed sports and classes keep boys in sight, but the competitiveness is more complicated. Sure, NCS was difficult the pressure to excel at your work amongst other brilliant students took mental fortitude, for lack of a better word but this aspect of NCS was largely responsible for my growth. If I could handle that, then gee, I could handle anything the world threw at me! Above all, NCS has helped me academically (its rigors prepared me well to face college standards) and given me the confidence to be a leader.
Submitted by other on August 20, 2012

As a recent graduate of NCS, I feel qualified to assess the learning environment. I am an excellent standardized test taker, and I don't mind working hard; however, dealing with the administration drained much of my potential and energy. For a place that aims to challenge every student, when I asked to push myself further in areas of interest, I was repeatedly rebuffed. Seeing the accommodations NCS would make for other students in the face of their rigid stance toward me built up a lot of resentment. From unqualified teachers to absolutely appalling college guidance, I came to regret having attended. The simple fact is that I could not have switched schools and remained competitive in the college admissions process because of my poor curricular preparation at NCS. My family has severed ties with the school and I will be attending an esteemed Ivy League university, in spite of the administration's efforts to thwart that outcome.
Submitted by other on April 29, 2012

I could not have gone to a better high school, and no, my standardized tests are not perfect nor was I an exceptional athlete. I have always struggled with test-taking - standardized or not - and I found the NCS teachers to be readily available and very willing to help me through my test-taking struggles. Additionally, I had some amazing coaches who helped shape my athletic career and discipline. When I first arrived at NCS in the ninth grade, I could not run a mile without walking. Now, the team attitude, discipline, and work ethic I gained from sports at NCS has shaped all aspects of my life. I would not be the same person without the opportunities NCS gave me at such a crucial point in my education. Sure, NCS is not for everyone, but the bonds you make with teachers and the friendships you form at an all-girls school like NCS are invaluable - to this day, my high school friends remain my best friends. NCS changed my life in the best way possible.
Submitted by parent on March 09, 2012

The National Cathedral School (NCS) is an extraordinary institution. The girls are shaped into leaders, young women who can advocate for themselves, and who believe nothing is beyond their reach. Our two daughters have thrived in this environment. The faculty and curriculum are beyond compare. The student body is highly diverse, racially and economically. The episcopal foundation provides the moral compass that turns these young girls into Women for the World. The Performing Arts program is outstanding and is a joint program with St. Albans, the affiliated all-boys school. Co-ed Choral, Dance, and Theatrical programs are created throughout the year, many of which are performed in the Cathedral itself. The Sports Complex rivals any at the collegiate level - including two rock climbing peaks soaring 60 feet. What's more, in the high school many of the classes are offered on a co-ed basis, so NCS provides the best of an all-girl education with opportunities for co-ed classroom experiences as well. Our oldest daughter is a Senior this year. Every university we visited was thrilled to learn that she was an "NCS girl." There is no question. These girls stand out in a crowd.
Submitted by parent on March 02, 2012

We have 3 daughters who graduated from NCS. Each is very different in her interests, strengths, and personality. Although each experienced NCS in her own way and took advantage of diverse opportunities, each of them thrived in the NCS environment. NCS provides an exceptional education and in my view is one of the very best schools in the Washington area. NCS not only offers a broad, deep and stimulating academic college prep curriculum but also the tools, encouragement, and support girls need to succeed. NCS students are committed to excellence in many pursuits- academic, athletic, performing and fine arts, music, community service, leadership, and more. Being part of the National Cathedral offers students a unique and special connection with a broader community, a connection which strengthens students development of character, integrity, and commitment to service. As my daughters experience the challenges of college and life beyond college, they have each articulated their appreciation of what they learned and experienced at NCS. They regularly keep in touch with certain NCS faculty and staff and their NCS friends remain and I predict will always remain- very close.