62 • SEPTEMBER 2021
St. Andrew’sAmongTop 20% in AmericaMarlo KirkpatrickSt. Andrew’s Episcopal School ranks among the top 20percent of all private high schools in the United States and isthe #1 private high school in Mississippi. Newsweek reportedthe rankings in a February 3, 2021 article listing St. Andrew’s#178 in its ranking of the nation’s top 1,000 private schools.“The Newsweek ranking reinforces what we alreadyknew,” said Tom Sheppard, St. Andrew’s head of school.“While we’re happy to be recognized as the best in Mississippi,St. Andrew’s offers a national caliber education. Our rankingas one of the top 20 percent of schools in America isreflected in the caliber of our faculty and our programmingand in the achievements of our current students and ouralumni nationwide.”Newsweek relied on criteria provided by Niche, a privateorganization that annually ranks every K-12 school in theUnited States, in compiling the rankings. Criteria includedacademics, quality of faculty, teacher/student ratio, diversity,college prep, sports programs, and clubs and extracurricularopportunities. The national rankings were based on statisticalinformation, plus reviews by actual teachers, students,and parents at each school.Based on the Niche criteria, St. Andrew’s was the onlyprivate high school in Mississippi ranked among the top 500nationwide; the highest ranking by another Mississippiprivate high school was #861.Return on InvestmentAt $20,050, St. Andrew’s tuition was the sixth lowest onthe list of top schools in each state profiled by Newsweek.The highest tuition on Newsweek’s top schools list was$55,500. The average tuition was $30,762.According to St. Andrew’s alumni, the school delivers astrong return on that tuition investment. As senior vicepresident of digital products with Rightpoint in Boston,Ben Johnson, St. Andrew’s Class of 2007 and the school’s2021 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year, leads a team ofdesigners creating custom digital products for clients. Hisclients have included Costco, Cadillac, Macy’s, Six Flags,and Boston Dynamics.“My parents prioritized my education by sending me toSt. Andrew’s,” Johnson said. “It was important to them thatI take academics seriously, but also that I was pushed toexplore different activities. My time at St. Andrew’s helpedshape my leadership skills and laid a strong foundation forthe work I’m doing today. I’m forever indebted to myparents for seeking out the kind of education I received atSt. Andrew’s.”Josh Clark, a 1990 graduate and founder of New YorkbasedSouthpoint Capital Advisors, agreed. “I graduatedfrom St. Andrew’s Episcopal School and the University ofNorth Carolina at Chapel Hill, and then earned my MBAat Harvard. I can honestly tell you St. Andrew’s provided thebest education I ever had.”Highest Caliber FacultyA critical factor in the rankings was the caliber of the St.Andrew’ faculty. St. Andrew’s recruits locally, nationally, andinternationally to find and hire the most talented educatorsin every discipline. Almost 20 percent of faculty and staffmembers are from out-of-state or overseas.“Being part of a place that offers viewpoints that bring inbroad, worldwide perspectives is refreshing,” said ColinDunnigan, director of college counseling and associate headof St. Andrew’s Upper School. “It’s meaningful to be part ofa faculty that sees its purpose as encouraging students to takeon intellectually challenging work in all subject areas. I seeSt. Andrew’s as counter-cultural in a time when expectationstoo often seem to be lowered, or the trajectory for students’futures is narrow or self-limiting. Being part of the groupthat shepherds students through such a place is rewardingbeyond measure.”The faculty also includes St. Andrew’s alumni who chosethe school that shaped them as the best place to build arewarding career.“As an alum of St. Andrew’s, I have the privilege to workalongside many of the teachers who inspired me to teach,”said 2003 graduate Marty Kelly, upper school English teacher.“This ranking is validation for the hard work done day inand day out by our faculty, staff, coaches, administration, andespecially our students. Mississippi is oft- maligned for lackof educational achievement. I’m proud that St. Andrew’schanges that narrative and that I get to be a part of that change.”Hometown MADISON • 63