<p>If yall want tot ask any questions about Saint Mark's. I'm hear to answer them and
I'm sure the other SMS members will also help yall out as well.</p>
<p>What do you feel separates SMS from other boarding schools? What is SMS especially known for? What’s unique about SMS? What are SMS’s strengths?</p>
<p>These questions all kind of go together. My main goal is to find some reasons why I should choose SMS over another school. This questions will probably be answered after my tour and interview but I wanted to know what you think, beforehand. </p>
<p>Thank you!!</p>
<p>St. Mark’s School is a coeducational, Episcopal, preparatory school, situated on 250 acres (1.0 km2) in Southborough, Massachusetts, 25 miles (40 km) from Boston. It was founded in 1865 as an all-boys’ school by Joseph Burnett, a wealthy native of Southborough who developed and marketed the world-famous Burnett Vanilla Extract [1]. Girls have attended since the nineteen-seventies. St. Mark’s is a member of the Independent School League, and the second-oldest of the five elite prep schools collectively termed St. Grottlesex.</p>
<p>St. Mark’s alumni today continue to cut a broad swathe across American society—from CEOs such as Pepsi’s and Apple’s John Sculley, Whole Food’s Walter Robb, to the astronaut Story Musgrave, the artist Ingolv Helland, and the Internet business publishing pioneer David Gardner, creator of the Motley Fool, a popular website. Nor has computer innovation in itself been neglected, with the photo software entrepreneur Lars Perkins—creator of Picasa—a relatively recent alumnus.</p>
<p>St. Mark’s has retained its classical focus – indeed, even maintaining a “Classics Diploma” for classically-focused students – it has in recent years demonstrated initiative and agility as it seeks to modernize its curriculum. An example of this, given the heavy presence of former St. Markers in the banking professions, is what seems to have been the brilliant decision to found the St. Mark’s Math Institute. Changes in banking, finance, and science have made math far more of a cornerstone of contemporary professional education than knowledge of Latin or Greek. For more than a century the Trustees of St. Mark’s have battled between visions of the school as an elitist bastion and that of a center of elite education. In recent years the pendulum has swung from reinforcing elitism to one of education which seeks to develop future elites.</p>
<p>For the 2008 - 2009 academic year, according to Boarding School Review, St. Mark’s accepted approximately one applicant in four, with a student body now evenly split between girls and boys. St. Mark’s world language program is one of the nation’s best, despite the school’s small size, with 13 finalists in a nationwide French exam and five in German, according to St. Mark’s website. For the 2007 - 2008 academic year, the school newspaper, The St. Marker won an American Scholastic Press Association award for excellence. Seventy percent of St. Mark’s students taking the AP tests in 2008 earned grades of 4 or 5, according to Headmaster John Warren in a September 2008 letter to the school community. St. Mark’s 2008-2009 “Fact Sheet” notes that eight students were Commended National Merit Scholars last year. St. Mark’s music department is particularly strong, and the school runs a summer music program annually.</p>
<p>St. Mark’s remains academically focused, providing a rigorous liberal arts program stemming from a classical tradition, and prepares its students for entry to competitive colleges and universities. It is characterized by small classes, close student-teacher relationships, and a strong emphasis on the sporting life as a complement to the life of the mind. The recent completion of additional facilities for the arts and theater have greatly enhanced these possibilities on campus.</p>
<p>St. Mark’s traditional athletic rival is the younger Groton School. St. Mark’s high school football rivalry since 1886 with Groton School is one of the oldest athletic rivalries in the United States, following the Andover-Exeter rivalry. The two schools have met in regularly scheduled athletic contests for more than a century. (See the List of high school football rivalries for more information.) St. Mark’s traditionally has a “Groton Day” celebrating this rivalry with athletic games against the Groton teams, and celebrates the night before the games as “Groton Night”.</p>
<p>Check it out!</p>
<p><a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Mark’s_School_(Massachusetts)[/url]”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Mark’s_School_(Massachusetts)</a></p>
<p>St. Mark’s is a great school. My grandfather went there and 2 cousins. My 10th grade football coach left the following year to be the headmaster at SMS back in the 70’s. In 11th grade, I remember sacking the SMS QB and having the HM tell me from the sideline he taught me too well. Something that have just never forgotten.</p>
<p>I can provide some input as well! I’m a recentish alumna!</p>
<p>I love SMS(Saint Mark’s School). I will be happy to provide inputs as well !</p>
<p>The school will hold its Admissions Open House on October 30th. The school offers interviews for out-of-state families that afternoon. More information: [St</a>. Mark’s School: Admission » Open House 2010](<a href=“http://www.stmarksschool.org/admission/open-house-2010/index.aspx]St”>http://www.stmarksschool.org/admission/open-house-2010/index.aspx).</p>
<p>If you’re interested in an interview, you must set up an appointment. There’s a link at the bottom of the Open House page. The address is: <a href="mailto:admission@stmarksschool.org">admission@stmarksschool.org</a>.</p>
<p>Just arrived Southborough this afternoon for Parents’ Weekend at SMS!</p>
<p>We had a interview weeks ago and felt in love with the school. In the summer time, we kind of toured the school unofficially. The buildings were not update however during our formal campus visit, we went into the classrooms, dorms and met people. This is a gorgeous school especially it has a 9 holes golf course. After visiting a couple of school, we believe this is the right school for S. He is strong in Math and Science ( Math 99%) and Verb (65%). We will summit formal application by end of year !</p>
<p>I have a tendency to see through institutions and organizations quickly, given an unfortunate predisposition toward cynicism. That said, I must say I have come to like (and appreciate) St. Mark’s more and more with time. The usual caveats apply, including that while SMS may work for one child (and their family), it may not suit others, but this school is directing its time and talent toward the right priorities. Some facilities are down at the heel a tad in contrast to those of its peer schools, but the ethos, climate and values are terrific.</p>
<p>Couldn’t help noticing - among the 10 posts in this thread, only one is asking questions and the rest are solicitation for questions, answers and comments. Talking about low student teacher ratio. :)</p>
<p>DAndrew: I’ve always been slower than the other kids (middle aged adults now), but I don’t understand your post. Would you kindly restate it? Thanks.</p>
<p>Oh nothing important really. Just observed that in this thread there are more school “insiders” who are willing to help understand the schools (teachers) and fewer people asking questions about the school (students). Sorry.</p>
<p>I like to know if there is any special math program for talented students other than honor and AP classes. I heard that there is Math Institute. Would anybody explain in more detail baout the Institute?</p>
<p>Check it out!</p>
<p>[St</a>. Mark’s School: Academics » Mathematics » Math Institute](<a href=“http://www.stmarksschool.org/academics/mathematics/math-institute/index.aspx]St”>http://www.stmarksschool.org/academics/mathematics/math-institute/index.aspx)</p>
<p>You can request to set up an appointment with Dr. Tanton when you visit SMS.
He is a very nice and kind man. Kids love hom so much. My Daughter is taking
AP Calculus BC with him. He is a great teacher and mentor for math.</p>
<p>bump!</p>
<p>The thing that I remember SMS by and tell it apart after whirlwind tour of BS is unfortunately, “Do you remember the the school with the big hole in the middle of building with a digger in it? It’s the St. Mark’s school and they accepted you.”</p>
<p>Hopefully, the construction will be over soon ;)</p>
<p>Don’t worry 
my kids thought the giant hole was pretty cool. </p>
<p>My younger child had more fun “touring” the boarding schools and when I mentioned “the hole” he asked “You mean the library?” which I said “no, that’s Exeter.” :-(</p>
<p>We remember the schools, e.g., by the one with observatory (My younger one said, “How Cool is that?” at SPS), the one with Whale bone, the one with indoor soccer field (which one was that? Oh, that was the Cage at St. Mark’s) etc etc.</p>
<p>The “word” in the Boston educational circles is that SMS is a “school on the move” in a very good way. As the OP pointed out for years they had competing visions but a few years ago made a decisive turn toward teaching excellence and looking for top tier students rather than concentrating on “white shoe” (as they used to be called) kids. Since that time SMS has been taking off and hasn’t looked back. </p>
<p>I think the world of this school–and I have no vested interest in it.</p>
<p>It’s the day before April 10th and I cant decide. SMS was my first choice when I had my interview. I loved my student tour guide and the AO and liked the campus. I went to revisit day and was very disappointed. No one really paid any attention to me and I was put in an AP Statistics class to observe! Now I am trying to decide between Peddie and SMS? Any advice?</p>
<p>Unfortunately sometimes people will have a dud revisit at a school that’s nonetheless a great match for them. You’ll just have to try to figure out if the initial visit or the revisit was the fluke.</p>
<p>My second kid had a less than stellar revisit at the school he ended up at (had a poor host and didn’t talk to many people). However, the kid’s sibling had attended the school and we knew the culture was a perfect fit. This kid has been extremely happy there since the first day of classes and has made a lot of friends.</p>
<p>Peteri, St. Mark’s has been wonderful for my child. I don’t know you, and I don’t know Peddie well enough to try to guess which school would be a better fit for you. Whichever school you choose, you will be a member of the student body, not a super-special guest. Your happiness and success in school ultimately lie in your control. You can have an amazing high school experience by committing yourself to doing and being your best.</p>
<p>I suggest you discuss this honestly with your parents, then choose with your heart.</p>