<p>Hi,
I just realized that many of us who are considering BS, are also looking at or have had children accepted into day schools. </p>
<p>Anybody have a child who is attending a day school they really love?</p>
<p>My DD just finished applying to day schools for 6th grade. She will probably apply for high school locally as well (although she may change her mind as she gets older and consider boarding school as a viable option). It was a very eye opening experience. She has always gone to private religious schools (except for 1 1/2 yrs. when we lived in a great school district) but independent schools are a whole different animal…lol. </p>
<p>We live in the Bay Area, CA and have a ton of great day school options. Out of 5, she was accepted to three (one w/o FA) and waitlisted to two. We went through ABC and it was a great experience. We will be doing it again in three years when she applies to high schools.</p>
<p>Day schools are not an option for all kids/families We live 3 miles from the University of Chicago Lab School, but the danger between here and there is overwhelming. The cost is crazy and the social balance is strange, to say the least.</p>
<p>@mshopeful I am happy that ABC worked out for you, our experience was just the opposite …they did not select my d as a “scholar”. </p>
<p>Go figure, she got selected to 5 bs and will be attending DA, Exeter or L’ville in the fall.</p>
<p>the day schools in NYC are spectacular, as are some of the specialized public schools, e.g. Bronx Science, Stuyvesant. The reasons for selecting a BS are very specific and personal.</p>
<p>We are fortunate enough to live in suburban Boston area so have our pick of excellent top-notch day schools which works for our family. I have 2 children in a day school and they are absolutely thriving and loving school. It works for us because we can be involved in their school and have really enjoyed becoming part of the community as a family. Even though the kids are active at school and are sometimes there until late in the evening, they do enjoy coming home at the end of the day. So for US, it’s a win-win. I guess it all depends on your child and family.</p>
<p>isl league, Can you please recommend some academically rigorous day schools in Boston suburbs that you explored? What are your experiences like with your kids’ current day school? Thanks.</p>
<p>Well, I hate to admit it here, but for us it was all about one particular school (prefer not to say which one on public boards) - not private schools in general - so we only looked at one school. Our oldest child took it upon herself to look into prep schools (she was heading towards our local catholic high school or public school at the time) when she read in Boston Magazine that it was the best school for girls’ sports. On a whim we decided to visit and of course, loved it. Didn’t think she had much of a chance due to the fact that we hadn’t been grooming her for this since birth and we had no hooks or even any clue about prep schools all together! (I do believe that’s blasphemy on these boards :)!) I know so much more now. For our second child, we loved the school so much that it was a no-brainer. So, I’m afraid we’re not much help with explorations. We have been to all the ISL schools and find that each one has it’s own flavor and they are all considered extremely rigorous academically. It all depends on your interests and location (believe me, we’re 40 miles away from school and while I believe it’s worth the sacrifice, it’s not easy to commute every day - academically or socially). </p>
<p>I would say, pick a few and attend open houses and then attend some social activities at the school like sporting events, plays, summer camps. You’ll quickly get a feel for the culture and the fit for your child. Outside of the ISL schools (BB&N, Nobles, Thayer, Milton, etc) there are so many other choices (Roxbury Latin, BC High, BU Academy, Newton Country Day, etc). We’re so lucky to have an abundance of great options, don’t you agree? If you have questions about specific schools, I’d be happy to help you as much as I can.</p>
<p>We looked at days schools such as BBN, Commonwealth…, and ended up applying as day student in a few BS, except one (he took upon himself). I don’t think my son is ready for boarding as right now, but we still want him to have some boarding experience may be in a couple of years. At lease that is our plan.</p>
<p>ummm RL is in the ISL</p>
<p>ummm RL is in the ISL</p>
<p>You’re absolutely right, my apologies. I have daughters so you’ll have to forgive the slip. :)</p>
<p>FYI to non-locals - ISL is the most competitive of the various school sports leagues in the Boston area.</p>
<p>yup thats why i choose Middlesex great athletics along with a superb academic curriculum</p>
<p>Well, to be precise, Middlesex has a strong, compulsory, competitive sports program. For kids who are not interested in the fairly standard set of team sports, it’s less than optimal since a great deal of time will go into this area.
" ninth and tenth grade students must engage in a sport every season, at the level appropriate for them. Eleventh graders must participate in two seasons of sports, while twelfth graders are required to take one season of athletics."</p>