St. Anne's-Belfield School

Data for St. Anne's-Belfield School: 915 students, a student-teacher ratio of 1:11, 10% international students, a 13% boarding rate, and 78% of teachers hold advanced degrees. Founded in 1856, St. Anne's-Belfield School was originally a girls' school. After mergers, it has evolved into today's co-educational private school. An open academic environment, small class sizes, an emphasis on personal character, and encouragement of the spiritual dimension of life are the foundational principles of St. Anne's-Belfield School. Through worship, community service, and an honor code lauded in the Judeo-Christian tradition, the school educates students to uphold a commitment to serving others and emphasizes the importance of ethical conduct. The school has a robust scholarship system that highlights the concept of service and the value of character. Boarding is available for grades 9-12. Upper grades offer AP courses, honors courses, and regular grade-level courses. The school has two campuses (Pre-K to 4th grade on the lower school campus, 5th-12th grade on the upper school campus), totaling 6 buildings, including 97 classrooms (with 3 computer labs and 8 science labs), 2 libraries, and 3 gymnasiums, occupying 60 acres. The school is located at 2132 Ivy Road in Charlottesville, Central Virginia. It offers boarding for grades 9-12 and provides ESL courses.

This is a good school, close to Washington D.C. airport and located next to the University of Virginia. The town is quiet yet vibrant, making it an ideal place for focused study. The school has a group of highly qualified teachers. For example, my daughter's homeroom teacher, during our first meeting, said, 'Don't be anxious about a moving target; instead, you should enjoy the fun of learning.' The school has strict management but organizes many relaxing activities on weekends. The admission rate for Chinese students is good; several students get into top 20 universities each year, and a few even into top 10. The University of Chicago, in particular, really likes students from this school. Rankings don't reflect the school's true level. My daughter spent her four high school years at this school. We've talked a lot, and even though studying abroad has its ups and downs, this school provided my child with safety, growth, courage, confidence, critical thinking, and independence.

【Location】The school is located in Charlottesville, Virginia, only a two-hour drive from Washington D.C., adjacent to the University of Virginia, and is one of Virginia's many cultural and historical centers;
【School Facilities】The school has two campuses, Belfield and Greenway Rise. Greenway Rise is the high school campus, featuring state-of-the-art music and art studios, laboratories, newly renovated dining halls and student common areas, a black box theater, various sports facilities, and more;
【Curriculum】The curriculum is rich and diverse, offering courses such as mathematics, laboratory sciences, and humanities, along with multiple AP and Honors courses;
【Signature Programs】Signature programs include Computer Science, Enrichment Program, Global Engagement Program, and College Counseling;
【Athletic Programs】The school boasts 25 athletic teams and offers 15 sports activities, including basketball, cross country, field hockey, golf, swimming, and other sports;
【Arts Programs】The school offers music, visual arts, and theatrical arts programs, allowing students to choose from a variety of vocal and instrumental ensembles;
【School Accommodation】Students are matched with roommates based on gender, age, and interests. Dorm rooms are fully equipped, and Wi-Fi covers the entire campus. The school arranges a wealth of weekend activities for students and also provides a host family program for boarding students to experience American family culture;

As a former student of St'Annes-Belfield School, I hope to offer some assistance with school selection.

This is an academically very strong school. The curriculum is quite challenging, with many courses offering Honor Credit. There are few AP courses, so choices are actually limited. The faculty is excellent; you can ask teachers for extra help, and many teachers offer office hours after school to answer students' questions. Academically, it can completely rival top 50 schools. Many teachers provided me with a lot of extra help, and those with a talent for science can also receive additional materials and competition support. Aside from academics, the high school campus is very small.
A more serious issue is the dormitory. The dorms are basically filled with Chinese students, accounting for over 90%. Everyone gets along well, but the academic levels among Chinese students vary greatly, with severe polarization, and not many are top-tier. If you have poor self-control or don't want to spend every day with Chinese students, consider carefully, as there are many small groups in the dorms, and it's easy to feel offended. The dorm supervisors are all very good. They provide warm assistance, but due to the sheer number of Chinese students, there are still management issues. There are many activities available on weekends, which are quite interesting. Admissions also have a more serious problem: every year, most students come through rolling admissions or are sent in by shady agencies, leading to a chaotic environment. Students getting in without standardized tests is not an isolated case; the quality of admitted students has been declining year by year, which is truly outrageous. Many have extremely poor academic abilities and bad habits.

Feedback from students enrolled at St. Anne's-Belfield via Liumei.com indicates that the school's faculty and staff show a very high level of attention to students. It is located in Charlottesville, Virginia, a university town, very close to the University of Virginia. The school boasts first-class sports facilities, including three gymnasiums, five sports fields, five squash courts, six tennis courts, a 32,000-square-foot athletic and conference center, state-of-the-art turf fields, etc.

School Features:
1) Unique Programs: Offers 16 programs including FAB Lab, Computer Science Program, Singapore Math, Humanities, Intensives, co-curricular opportunities, etc.
2) Academic Highlights: Features 10 programs such as the Ding Shi Plan, Independent Study Program, SENIOR SEMINARS, Intensive Courses, etc.
3) Prominent Visual Arts: Courses are offered at three levels: studio art, ceramics, photography, and video. Student works are regularly exhibited, there's a permanent student art collection, an annual all-school art exhibition, local and national competitions, school publications such as Mirabella, the High School Art Show at McGuffey Art Center in Charlottesville, the annual Senior Exhibition, etc.
4) Sports Achievements: Since its establishment, the school has won 30 state championships across seven sports, including Men's Lacrosse (8), Soccer (7), Men's Baseball (5), Women's Lacrosse (3), Cross Country (3), Women's Soccer (2), and Women's Basketball (2).

This school is located next to the University of Virginia, one of the top three public universities in the United States, and is the second-ranked private school in Virginia. Many Chinese international students thus apply to this school as a 'safety' university. I have visited the school and spoken with the director of admissions, and I feel it's a very good school, with white buildings and two campuses. I have a student studying there. He has also grown a lot here, becoming much more outgoing from being an introverted child.

St. Anne's is a school with a great atmosphere. Personally, I feel that the teacher-student relationships are excellent. Most of my classmates have found their favorite teachers. The drama teacher I met at school also helped me a lot. They not only provide academic assistance but also offer great support in life and mentally. When I was writing my university application essays, many teachers would proactively ask me and help me revise my essays. Overall, I feel very lucky to have come to this school and met these teachers.

From arriving in the U.S. in early 2016 until graduating in 2020, STAB was arguably the biggest surprise of my entire high school study abroad journey.
The teacher-student relationships are close, the ratio is appropriate, and each student receives a high level of attention. The overall teacher quality and teaching standards have consistently received positive feedback from students. Furthermore, the relevant curriculum design (difficulty level, coursework content, teaching methods, etc.) fully reflects the school's high academic demands, which greatly helps with standardized tests required for university applications as well as daily personal skill development.
The geographic location is very quiet and boasts a high safety factor, making it ideal for studying. Life here is very convenient; there's absolutely no need to worry about daily necessities and basic living requirements. While experiencing high school life, one can also enjoy many resources from the neighboring University of Virginia. For instance, on weekends, many students walk about 20 minutes to the University of Virginia library to study. During the semester, teachers also lead students to borrow relevant books and resources from the university library to complete academic papers, etc. During short breaks, many students choose to visit D.C., which is less than a two-hour drive from the school.
The campus's internal hardware facilities are also very comprehensive. Boarding conditions are excellent, with different residential faculty members rotating weekly to manage dormitory life and organize various dormitory activities every weekend to foster peer relationships and camaraderie. Here, you won't feel like you've come to a strange environment; instead, you'll experience a sense of familiarity and being at home.

I arrived at St. Anne's in early 2020. Although I only spent two months at the school due to the pandemic, it was also because of the pandemic that I had profound feelings.

Regarding life, St. Anne's is located on a small hill in Charlottesville. The convenience and tranquility of 'C-ville' were far beyond what I had imagined before coming. We are also close to the University of Virginia, and as a university town, it has all the supporting facilities imaginable: supermarkets, Chinese restaurants, bookstores, pharmacies, banks, the University of Virginia hospital, libraries, etc., making life very convenient. At the same time, because the entire city is not large, its natural ecological environment is also excellent, with green spaces, lawns, parks, and forests. On weekends, school teachers often organize students to go hiking outdoors, which is a perfect combination of city and nature.

Academically, teachers are very responsible in class and pay attention to every student. If there are any questions, teachers are also happy to provide 1-on-1 tutoring and answers during after-school hours. At the same time, teachers in class guide us towards independent learning, rather than rote memorization.

There is also a wide variety of extracurricular activities. After school, there are various sports activities to choose from: soccer, basketball, volleyball, swimming, tennis, golf. Different sports activities are available depending on the season. On weekends, dormitory teachers also organize students to go out of school for activities like eating, outings, shopping, and watching movies.

Before returning home due to the pandemic, school teachers thoughtfully prepared epidemic prevention supplies for every boarding international student to use on their journey. In short, STAB is a very warm family, and one does not feel like a stranger here.

A chosen graduating class, leaving school in March 2020. Looking back on the past three and a half years, I am filled with emotion.
The school is geographically located in central Virginia, with distinct four seasons. It is adjacent to the University of Virginia, sharing libraries and sports facilities. Senior students who complete school courses can pursue university courses. It's a ten-minute taxi ride or a forty-minute walk to the city center. There are various international cuisines and cinemas near the school.
The school's curriculum design and reasonable student-teacher ratio ensure humanistic care between teachers and students. The school encourages general education and multi-faceted development; all departments provide opportunities for students to join and form various clubs. Chinese graduates have stable pathways, mostly attending top 30 US undergraduate universities. In terms of sports, the school offers second and third teams, allowing students of different skill levels to showcase themselves.
All these wonderful memories collectively constitute my irreplaceable growth. For me, STAB is not just a high school, but another home. Our high school life ended abruptly with the pandemic, catching us off guard. When the sun penetrates the clouds and flowers bloom, we will gather to celebrate everything we have experienced.

As an alumnus from the Class of 2015, STAB allowed me to spend a very happy period of my life. It was only after going to university that I realized how friendly and helpful the people at STAB are. Here, you can truly experience a sense of belonging in a community. The school has a strong focus on academics and places great importance on cultivating students' character and quality. For art classes, there are many options like choir, pottery, painting, and more. In terms of sports, there are strict requirements and diverse choices every quarter; cross-country is highly recommended for students who want to challenge themselves. The school's hardware facilities have improved significantly in the past two years, with a new cafeteria, a new auditorium, and new dormitories built. The school is located near UVA, and because it's a college town, Charlottesville has many restaurants, malls, and other places to explore. In short, I highly recommend STAB.

Disclaimer: I am an alumnus from the class of 2015. After graduation, I deeply missed my alma mater and my mentors. The school emphasizes holistic development (moral, intellectual, physical, aesthetic), which provided me with lifelong improvements and changes, both academically and in life.

- STAB has a strong academic atmosphere, and the college matriculation results are excellent. Course selection is very flexible; all challenging courses are available. Classmates are very intelligent, hardworking, and contribute to a strong learning environment.
- There's a strong sense of community; teachers and classmates are very friendly, supportive, and caring towards students. Even after graduation, I maintain frequent contact with classmates and teachers, and they remain very good friends. In the long run, alumni also provide significant help in job searching.
- Regarding hardware, the school's teaching buildings, auditorium, and other facilities have been upgraded in recent years. However, the dormitory buildings don't seem to have received much upgrading, but there are no major issues for daily living.
- For daily life, there are many Chinese restaurants nearby, and it's very convenient to buy daily necessities. The proximity to the University of Virginia brings resources from that large community.