Boarding School Fee for Forms III–VI (grades 9–12): $66,918*
Providing students with a home away from home since 1909, St. Albans holds the distinction of being the only boarding school in the District of Columbia.
Today, the dorm houses thirty Upper School students (grades 9-12) who come from as far away as China, Northern Ireland, Palestine, the Republic of Georgia, Singapore, and South Korea. This small and dynamic mix of local, domestic, and international students adds to St. Albans’ unique community; regional and international perspectives increase the diversity of thought in our classrooms and halls. Boarders get the most out of St. Albans by living on campus, and they make St. Albans a richer, more complete school.
The dorm doesn't just allow students who live far from campus to have access to a St. Albans education. For local families overwhelmed by long commutes and busy Upper School schedules, the dorm blends day-school life with a traditional boarding experience—boys live away from home, but families are close enough to come to games, concerts, and other on-campus events.
If you are interested in our boarding program, please contact the Admissions Office at 202-537-6440.
Boarders reside in attractive single or double rooms in the school's historic Lane-Johnston Building, much as they have for a century, but with the benefits of modern-day conveniences. In addition to the students' private rooms, accommodations in the dormitory include two lounges, a foosball table and game area, a laundry room, and common rooms. Looking out from the highest ground in the District of Columbia, dormitory windows offer striking views of the Cathedral Close and the city skyline. Dorm rooms are furnished with a bed, dresser, wardrobe, desk, bookshelf, and chair, and WiFi is available in each room. Boarders share the dormitory with resident faculty, including the head of the dormitory and several other school families in adjacent apartments. A student to adult ratio of 5-to-1 creates close relationships between the dorm faculty and the boys.
WHAT IS IT LIKE STAYING AT ST. ALBANS?
You’ll be living in a comfortable room with access to recreational and study facilities, your meals are communal experiences shared with fellow students and faculty. Every aspect of school life is closer and more convenient, and the whole city of Washington, D.C., is just beyond the Close. Here's how you might spend a typical day.
7:30
It’s Thursday, which means it’s freshman laundry day. After waking up, I throw my clothes in the wash, shower, and head downstairs to breakfast—waffles and strawberries. Conversation revolves around the basketball team’s exciting victory yesterday. Mr. Crossan, the dorm master, announces that we’re all going downtown to an NBA game on Saturday night!
8:00
Classes start. In biology, I am creating an anti-biotic resistant strain of bacteria. In English, we are acting out Romeo and Juliet. I’m the director. After study hall, it’s off to history, where we role play the Council of Corinth.
11:20
In chapel, Rev. Hundley talks about wrestling with choices. Chapel offers all of us a quiet and reflective break from our fast-paced day.
11:40
After Chapel, I stop by the snack bar to grab a bagel. Then it’s off to geometry, to work on proving complex theorems. In Japanese, we practice ordering food in a restaurant. Some classmates will visit Tokyo for two weeks in the spring, so we are busy preparing for their trip.
1:25
I run into my form master (academic supervisor) on the way to lunch. She asks how my Japanese quiz went (great!) and congratulates me on our big basketball win.
1:30
Family-style lunches provide a great opportunity to get to know faculty members and students from other grades. Today, my table chats about the jazz band several of us play in as we pass around turkey and mashed potatoes.
2:30
I hand Ms. Denize a draft of my English paper and ask for suggestions on how it can be improved.
3:25
Basketball practice.
5:30
I head back to the dorm and hop in the shower before dinner.
6:30
On the menu tonight: pizza and pasta. In the refectory, I sit with a few of the dorm faculty and some guys from my hallway.
7:30
Study hall in the library. I pull out my laptop and work on a draft of my English paper. I finally finish my geometry and then practice my Japanese characters.
9:30
My roommate and I play foosball.
10:00
I call home to check in with my parents and sister—they’re coming to our basketball game this weekend—and then talk with Mr. MacIntyre, the dorm master on duty, about his fantasy football team.
11:00
Lights out! It feels good to lie down after a busy day. I'm soon fast asleep.
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