St. Andrew ’s
Upper School
Find your PLACE
St. Andrew’s graduates are . . .
SCHOLARS WHO
• Think, speak, and write with purpose and clarity across a variety of disciplines
• Apply content knowledge, critical thinking, and communication skills
• Learn independently and with curiosity
• Synthesize and evaluate data insightfully
• Utilize established and emerging technologies to further knowledge and skills
• Approach new ideas confidently and with open minds
ARTISTS WHO
• Value a variety of perspectives
• Create and appreciate beauty
• Demonstrate poise and confidence
• Engage in authentic expression, collaboration, and human connection
ATHLETES WHO
• Compete with honesty and resilience
• Contribute as individuals and teammates
• Commit to lifelong habits of wellness
• Demonstrate accountability
SERVANTS WHO
• Respect the dignity of every human being
• Demonstrate empathy through action
• Embrace responsibility to give back to the community
• Steward their gifts and talents for local and global benefit
• Strive to create meaningful connections
Through consistent emphasis on excellence in academics, arts, athletics, and service, St. Andrew’s graduates are prepared for college and beyond.
LEADERS
• Demonstrate integrity
• Treat others with equity and respect
• Appreciate differences as strength
• Seek opportunities to include and unite
• Engage in creative problem-solving
• Inspire others through their positive examples
ETHICAL
• Courageously do what is right even when difficult
• Leverage technologies for the greater good
• Advocate for what is right and just
• Respect our natural environment and resources
• Demonstrate respect and accountability to self and others
• Value honesty and integrity
• Evolve into empathetic, engaged citizens of the world
RESILIENT
• Unafraid to learn from failure
• Lean into difficulty and challenge with stamina
• Self-reflective
• Skilled at self-advocacy
JOYFUL
• Celebrate authentic accomplishments of self and others
• Delight in the pursuit of life-long learning
• Embrace a growth mindset
• Strive for continuous improvement with enthusiasm
• Enjoy a healthy sense of self-confidence grounded in authentic accomplishment
A place to . . .
EXPLORE
SCHOLAR
St. Andrew’s seeks to graduate scholars with a well-rounded education that fosters intellectual growth, critical thinking skills, and creative problem solving. Small class sizes and outstanding teachers help students engage deeply with their material, ensuring that they are prepared for college. Our diverse range of academic offerings let students explore their passions and dive deep into what piques their interest. Through challenging and engaging coursework, our students are inspired to explore not only the world around them but also their own interests and aspirations. By encouraging students to delve deep into their passions, we empower them to develop a strong sense of purpose and a genuine curiosity about the world.
• 21 Humanities courses including: AP Comparative Government, Creative Writing, AP European History, Journalism, AP U.S. History and AP Art History, and Religious Studies
• 22 Science courses including: Engineering, Anatomy and Physiology, Forensics, AP Environmental Science, AP Chemistry, AP Biology, and AP Physics
• 15 Mathematics courses including: AP Calculus, AP Computer Science, and Multivariate Calculus
A place to . . .
PERSEVERE
ATHLETE
St. Andrew’s athletes are asked to “enter these doors, embrace the challenge, and excel in competition.” This mantra embodies what the Athletics program is all about. Our coaches inspire studentathletes to seek excellence, develop good sportsmanship, and gain an appreciation for healthy competition and harmonious teamwork. We encourage participation in multiple sports—an opportunity that allows students to learn from different coaching styles and surround themselves with different teammates. Our student-athletes are held to high standards in all areas of their sport, gaining skills like resiliency, self-discipline and being in community together.
St. Andrew’s competes in the Southwest Preparatory Conference (SPC), a highly-competitive conference comprised of 19 independent schools across Texas and Oklahoma. In the past two years, St. Andrew’s has won five 3A SPC Championships in girls’ basketball, boys’ basketball, girls’ golf, boys’ lacrosse, and boys’ tennis, one 4A SPC Championship in boys’ cross country, and the SPC Team Sportsmanship Award for the South Zone for boys’ baseball.
Our athletes regularly go on to play at the collegiate level, with student-athletes from the Class of 2024 signing to compete at The University of Texas at Austin, Rhodes College, Vassar College, University of Chicago, California Institute of Technology, Ursinus College, University of Dallas, Colorado College, and Wesleyan University.
• 22 Varsity and 17 JV athletic teams including: Football, Field Hockey, Basketball, Swimming, Soccer, Lacrosse, and Baseball
CREATE A place to . . .
ARTIST
St. Andrew’s empowers students to discover and pursue their artistic passions, whether it be sculpting and ceramics, playing in the rock band, capturing stories behind the camera lens, singing in choir, or performing in the musical. Our arts offerings are built into students’ daily curriculum, giving an education rich in artistic understanding and appreciation. Students can either focus on advancing through different levels of one discipline over their four years in the Upper School, or explore new offerings each year—their artistic path is entirely their own.
Our student-artists are talented and passionate. Our musicians and choir members are regularly represented in the TPSMEA All-State Festival, the UT Austin Jazz Festival, the Austin Youth Jazz Orchestra, and the TPSMEA Regional Concert Band. Our Select Choir has performed at places like Carnegie Hall, the Texas State Capitol, and the National Cathedral, and embark on a tour to a new U.S. city each year to study in collegiate-level clinics. Each year, our theater students put on a spectacular musical at our state-of-the art Dell Theater, often featuring a full pit orchestra. With stunning sets, colorful costumes, and breathtaking performances, St. Andrew’s theater productions are often compared to off-Broadway performances. St. Andrew’s film students are regularly selected to present their films at South by Southwest and the Aspen Film Festival, and also put on the annual St. Andrew’s Film Festival, a showcase of selected films from film students that span all sorts of genres. In visual arts classes, students discover artists from around the globe, explore techniques in ceramics, photography, and studio art, and exhibit their their work to the community. St. Andrew’s artists also participate in the Independent School Association of the Southwest Arts Festival, which St. Andrew’s hosted in 2024. Mentorship is a cornerstone of the Visual Arts program, with students meeting and working alongside real-world artists for insight and inspiration.
• 35 Fine Arts courses including: Acting, Filmmaking, Rock Band, Strings Orchestra, and Studio Art
SERVANT
Community service at St. Andrew’s is seen as a natural extension of our Episcopal identity. As students hear the spiritual messages of compassion, service, and love, they are compelled to put these lessons into action through working to improve the world around them. The opportunity to engage in meaningful service allows students to see the impact they can have on the world around them and develop into strong, caring members of society. Students are offered many opportunities to serve: on campus, through service trips, and at optional weekend events around Austin.
Rather than just being an “add-on,” service at St. Andrew’s is a key avenue for learning, growth, and contribution to the community. Through partnerships with organizations like El Buen Samaritano, Posada Esperanza, Central Texas Food Bank, and Breakthrough Central Texas, students learn that service is both relational and communal - something to be done with those you love for those you love. From the annual Hands For Hope Thanksgiving food drive with El Buen Samaritano to cleanup efforts of the Barton Creek Greenbelt to student-led school supply and backpack drives for underserved Austinites, students embrace a variety of opportunities that solidify service as a fundamental aspect of their lives at St. Andrew’s.
• Minimum of 40 hours of community service required for graduation. For students with over 100 hours at graduation, a special Servant distinction is awarded
A place to . . .
SERVE
REFLECT A place to . . .
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN EPISCOPAL SCHOOL?
Daily chapel at St. Andrew’s is a cornerstone of our community. It provides an inclusive space for interfaith worship, embracing diversity and promoting an atmosphere of unity. Through inspiring messages of justice, peace, and understanding, the chapel program instills in students the values necessary to create a more compassionate and equitable world. It emphasizes the inherent worth and beauty of every individual, fostering an environment of acceptance and respect. By guiding students in their journey towards lives of genuine purpose, meaning, and service, the chapel program encourages them to make a positive impact on society and embody the principles of empathy and social responsibility.
Worship at St. Andrew’s is rooted in the liturgical tradition of the Episcopal Church and the Christian story of God’s love and grace, but is also welcoming and inclusive of those who do not identify as Christian. Holy days from a variety of religious traditions are celebrated in chapel, and students from diverse faith backgrounds are encouraged to share about the rituals, prayers, and practices that they hold dear. All students and faculty attend daily chapel, and are invited to participate as they feel comfortable.
A place to . . .
GROW
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
9th Grade Transition and Freshman Seminar
At St. Andrew’s, we thoughtfully consider the transition from middle school to high school and put into place specific events that will help our students settle in smoothly. Events in the spring bring together incoming ninth grade students and their parents. At the start of the year and throughout the first semester, ninth graders are engaged and working with our student leaders and ambassadors, advisors, and specific administrators. All ninth graders participate in a yearlong Freshman Seminar, designed to promote the exploration of individual and community wellness. Wellness includes all aspects of being: physical, social, mental, emotional, and environmental. Students will learn to navigate difficult conversations while recognizing, understanding, and embracing differences within our own community.
Student Leadership
St. Andrew’s encourages students to lean into leadership. In the Bridge Advisors program, juniors and seniors serve as mentors to St. Andrew’s middle school students, visiting advisories to facilitate discussions on study skills, social dynamics, technology & social media, and more. The Bridge Advisors plan their own curriculum and provide valuable support and solidarity to the middle school students. Peer Mentors are a group of selected enthusiastic, innovative, and compassionate members of the senior class dedicated to fostering relationships and community among their peers at St. Andrew’s, particularly in welcoming and including new students. Many other leadership opportunities are available in programs like the Service Council, Honor Council, Student Senate, and Blue Key Ambassadors. Our Upper Schoolers are ready, willing, and able to take on the challenge of leadership.
Alumni Networking
The True Blue Alumni network is a valuable resource for St. Andrew’s graduates, providing a place to offer and benefit from career counseling and professional mentoring from fellow Highlanders. True Blue also provides a dedicated alumni job board and alumni business directory where former students can promote their businesses. The Alumni Relations Office hosts alumni events all over the country, offering special opportunities for classmates to reconnect and network.
Retreats
Each year, the Upper School hosts a two-day, grade-level retreat. The agenda for each retreat is tailored to each grade level, covering themes and introducing ideas that will be beneficial to those students throughout the year. Team-building, health and wellness topics, and relationship development are all incorporated in these retreats.
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
SEL at the Upper School is a continuation of a student’s process of self-awareness, culminating in an emphasis on service to the community. Skills such as stress management, decision-making, time management, advocacy, and gratitude are discussed through student-led advisory activities. As students mature and develop, they are asked to reflect on the question, “How can I serve my peers and the greater community with my talents and skills?” Leadership and mentoring opportunities allow our Upper School students the opportunity to practice and develop these relational skills.
Experiential Learning
At St. Andrew’s, we believe that some of the best lessons are outside the walls of our classrooms. Our commitment to learning by doing can be found in every division through partnerships, both domestic and abroad, with real world professionals and organizations that allow students to experience what they are learning. This can be as simple as seeing sustainability in action with our Lower School gardening clubs, to learning how make a living in the film industry through local film makers, to seeing in real time how experimental archeology can not only teach us about our past, but show us how to be design thinkers. Our 160+ acre SWP campus provides large sections of protected parkland where our students and faculty can explore our impact and relationship with the natural world in real time. We also invite our students to better understand themselves and their role in a greater community by deeply exploring human issues and topics by traveling within our city, country and abroad. Throughout each school year, students will have genuine chances to discover more about themselves, their connections with others, and how their lessons apply to the real world, which they can only truly grasp by fully engaging in their education.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB)
DEIB initiatives at St. Andrew’s are informed by a variety of factors: student programming, hiring and personnel, institutional policy, professional development, curriculum, and more. Each piece of our program allows the community—students, faculty, parents, staff, and administrators—to experience our mission in very real and tangible ways. Our increasingly multicultural and pluralistic community has learned that we can grow stronger only as we evolve and make steady progress towards our goals and ambitions of living into an inclusive community.
Flex Block
All Upper School students have in their schedule a period designated as Flex Block. This is a period meant for students to pursue their interests both within and beyond the school’s curriculum. Students can choose to participate in an Exploratory Course, a Stewardship (required for graduation), or an extra graded course during this block. Exploratory Courses are an opportunity for students to take a pass/fail course in an area outside of the school’s traditional curriculum. Previous courses have included Speech Pathology, Fashion Design, Artificial Intelligence, and Entrepreneurship. Exploratory Courses do not receive traditional letter grades. However, courses do appear on a student’s official transcript, intended to highlight a student’s unique interests and passions to the colleges to which they apply. Stewardships are opportunities to work alongside faculty members to care for areas or programs within the school. Stewards can choose to work as Admissions Assistant, Innovation Lab Steward, Mandarin Teaching Assistant, Theatre Steward, and so many more. Stewardships are a terrific opportunity for students to pursue their interests, learn by teaching and doing, and contribute to the vibrant life of the school.
Senior Projects
St. Andrew’s strongly believes that experiences outside the classroom are impactful and important too, especially as our seniors prepare for college and the world beyond. The St. Andrew’s Senior Project gives our students the opportunity to venture into the community and follow a dream, create a work of art, learn more about an area of interest or a career, or work in the service of others for the month preceding graduation.
UPPER SCHOOL Fast Facts
Average class size is students
425 25 different religious denominations are represented 42 different zip codes represented 16 students
awarded for need-based financial aid annually
Over $1.5M 56 63% 10
Designated Center for Innovation with 3-D printers, laser engraver, drone zone, and more
Average award is over financial aid 22 8
Conferences with students, parents, and advisors held in the fall and spring
Average faculty teaching experience of years with an average of years at St. Andrew’s full- and parttime faculty; with advanced degrees including
100 100% and $26K
Over 31% racially diverse Students are 15% of students receive
Advisory program has a group time, encouraging student connection and community participation 9:1 student to advisor ratio with daily
Ph.D.s
college representatives visit campus annually, of students are accepted to college
SUCCEED A place to . . .
THE JOURNEY TO COLLEGE
Just as you are looking for a great match for your child in high school, we aim to help students find great matches for college. Our college counseling program is personal and emphasizes thoughtfulness, time management, and student ownership of the process. Some of the program highlights are:
• Students are matched with college counselors in the second semester of freshman year
• Over 100 college reps visit St. Andrew’s each year
• Grade-level newsletters to highlight appropriate topics and suggested ‘to do’ items for each grade of high school
• Collaboration with 9th Grade Class Dean for 9th Grade Parent Program
• College Admissions Panel for 9th & 10th Graders and their Parents
• Freshman Seminar Lesson about Transcripts & Course Choices
• PSAT for 10th and 11th Graders plus test prep guidance for all students
• College Night for Sophomores & their Parents
• Case Studies Program for 10th and 11th graders and their Parents
• Application JumpStart and Essay Workshop between junior and senior year
• Essay Editing Day + Application Workday in August of senior year
• Financial Aid Session (gr. 9-11) + FAFSA Workshop (gr. 12)
• Countdown to College series for seniors
CLASS OF 2024 HIGHLIGHTS
140+
Accepted by different colleges/ universities
9 students pursuing NCAA Athletics
– 2024 (averages over 5 years)
9 50% 69%
$20K
average number of applications submitted/student of students receive merit scholarships attend colleges outside of Texas (compared to state average of 13.8%) yearly average merit scholarship award offered to SAS students different colleges and universities accepted our students over the past five years
*Light blue indicates states where SAS students have enrolled in college.
COLLEGE MATRICULATION from 2020–2024
American University (4)
Auburn University (6)
Austin Community College (3)
Bard College
Bates College
Baylor University (7)
Belmont University (8)
Bentley University
Berklee College of Music
Boston University (2)
Bowdoin College
Brown University (4)
Cal Poly (8)
California Institute of Technology
Carleton College
Carnegie Mellon University (2)
Carroll College
Centre College (2)
Chapman University (2)
Claremont McKenna College (3)
Colby College
Colgate University
College of Charleston (2)
College of the Holy Cross (2)
Colorado College (3)
Colorado School of Mines
Colorado State University (5)
Connecticut College
Creighton University
Dartmouth College
DePaul University
Duke University (5)
Eckerd College
Elon University (2)
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
Emerson College (2)
Florida Atlantic University
Furman University
Georgetown University
Georgia Institute of Technology (3)
Gordon College (2)
Hamilton College
Harvard University
Haverford College (2)
Hendrix College
Holy Cross College
Indiana University (4)
Kenyon College (2)
Lafayette College
Lamar University
Lewis & Clark College (2)
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (3)
Loyola Marymount University (3)
Loyola University New Orleans
Marist College
Maryland Institute College of Art
Miami University-Oxford
Middlebury College (2)
Millikin University
New York University (6)
Northeastern University (4)
Northwestern University (3)
Oberlin College
Occidental College
Ohio State University (4)
Oregon State University
Pace University
Pepperdine University (5)
Pomona College (2)
Pratt Institute (2)
Princeton University
Providence College
Purdue University (3)
Reed College (3)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rhodes College (3)
Rice University (6)
Rollins College
San Diego State University
Santa Clara University (2)
Savannah College of Art and Design
Smith College (2)
Southern Methodist University (9)
Southwestern University (3)
St Olaf College
St. Edward’s University (7)
St. John’s College
St. Lawrence University
Stanford University
Sul Ross State University
Syracuse University (3)
Texas A & M University (22)
Texas Christian University (18)
Texas State University (8)
Texas Tech University
The Evergreen State College
The George Washington University
The New School
The University of Alabama (6)
The University of Tampa
The University of Tennessee (4)
The University of Texas at Austin (51)
The University of Texas at San Antonio (5)
The University of the South (4)
Trinity University (10)
Tufts University (3)
Tulane University (11)
Universiteit van Amsterdam
University College Dublin
University of Arizona
University of Arkansas (4)
University of California-Berkeley (4)
University of California-Davis
University of California-Los Angeles (4)
University of California-San Diego (2)
University of California-Santa Barbara
University of Chicago (5)
University of Cincinnati - College
Conservatory of Music
University of Colorado Boulder (10)
University of Dallas
University of Denver (6)
University of Georgia (4)
University of Glasgow
University of Hawaii at Manoa
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Iowa
University of Kentucky
University of Miami (4)
University of Michigan (4)
University of Mississippi (2)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Texas (2)
University of Notre Dame
University of Oklahoma
University of Oregon (12)
University of Puget Sound
University of Rochester
University of San Diego (2)
University of San Francisco
University of Southern California (10)
University of St Andrews
University of Toronto
University of Vermont
University of Virginia (7)
University of Washington (7)
University of Waterloo
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Ursinus College
Vanderbilt University (5)
Vassar College
Villanova University
Virginia Tech (4)
Wake Forest University (6)
Washington and Lee University (2)
Washington University in St Louis
Wellesley College
Wesleyan University (2)
Western Washington University
Wheaton College - Massachusetts
Wyoming Catholic College
Yale University
