Academic Support
Academic Advisors
Every student has an academic advisor who will keep an eye on how their year is actually going. Not just grades, but workload, study habits, and how they're using their time outside class. Each grade level has two academic advisors, who get to know the particular pressures and milestones of that year, and who can step in with concerns about a student's academic experience.
Academic advisors help students plan for exams, think through how they're spending free time, and map out their course of study—they're a resource as students set goals and figure out their schedule. They work closely with faculty advisors, though the two roles are distinct: the faculty advisor is the broader point of contact for a student's life at school, while the academic advisor focuses specifically on the classroom side.
Parents are encouraged to reach out to academic advisors, especially about specific academic concerns—how a student is managing workload, whether a particular course is proving difficult, or anything else that comes up.
Faculty Advisors
In addition to an academic advisor, every student is assigned a faculty advisor who checks in regularly, helps them navigate school life, and gets to know them well beyond the classroom.
Study Hall
Study Hall
A two-hour period each evening, six days a week, is allotted for student study:
- 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday
- 8:30 to 10:00 p.m. on Fridays.
Freshmen may study in the Dining Hall or their rooms. Sophomores study in their rooms. Juniors and seniors may work in the library, classrooms, or other places of study.
During this time, we trust students to settle in for deep and focused work, and to make use of technology only as it is called for.
Supervised Evening Study Hall (ESH)
ESH provides a quiet, supervised place for students who may benefit from a more structured evening study hall environment away from the dormitory. Students may be recommended for ESH by their teachers, advisors, or dormitory faculty, or may choose to study in this environment as needed, notifying dormitory faculty of their desire to do so before study hall begins.
Learning Support
Every student learns differently—at St. Andrew's, that difference doesn't mean falling behind. Our academic support program gives students with learning differences the tools to meet the demands of a rigorous college-prep curriculum: executive functioning coaching, writing support, and content-specific instruction built around how each student actually learns. For new students especially, there can be a period of adjustment when first arriving at St. Andrews.
Advisors work with students to build real study strategies and habits, so that the curriculum's challenges become something to take on, not just get through. If larger academic or organizational concerns come up, learning support steps in — working with families, teachers, and the student to build a plan. The goal is to build the self-awareness and independence students need to manage their own learning in college and beyond.
How a student gets support
Teachers, advisors, and counselors can refer a student for ongoing academic coaching. When testing is recommended, results go to a review team—the dean of studies, the Academic Support Group—who build a learning plan together. That plan, along with any approved accommodations, is shared with every faculty member who teaches or advises the student.
Tutoring Support
Faculty Tutoring
Faculty members are available throughout the day for students in their classes. Many faculty also choose to make themselves available for walk-up tutoring during breakfast and Study Hall.
Peer Tutoring
Student tutors often offer "extra help" sessions in particular subjects. Students interested in working with a peer tutor should let them teacher or form advisor know.
Outside Tutoring
St. Andrew's students are not permitted to work with outside tutors. However, parents may choose to hire outside tutors to provide academic support when students are on summer break or school vacations.
Accommodations for Standardized Testing
Extended time on the SAT, ACT, and other external exams requires an application well in advance—plan to start the process several months before your desired testing date.
Registrar and Director of Testing Cynthia Poarch manages this process and can answer questions about eligibility and timing. You can also visit our Testing Info page for more on available accommodations for standardized tests.