<p>My daughter is taking the SSAT even as I type. I expect her to do well, somewhere between the 80th and 99th percentile (yes, I know, big range). She made roughly a 2170 on the little practice test in the SSAT booklet. Her math score was terrible. The SSAT booklet suggests that percentiles are based on both grade and gender, so maybe this will help her. Boarding school is not likely to be possible without either some merit aid or financial aid, so how she does on the test will make a big difference on how we proceed.</p>
<p>Ive made a list of schools that I think merit further attention. I really am not plugged into this very well, and have based my opinions on what Ive found on the Internet. I would love to share my initial thoughts on some of these schools are hear any feedback, as well as suggestions for other schools that we might look into.</p>
<p>Let me go ahead and tell a little about my daughter. Shes relatively bright and in the eighth grade. She made a 27 on the ACT as a seventh-grader. Took it again in hopes of getting a 30 and made another 27. Shes not involved in sports. There really arent that many extracurriculars for her to be involved in. She in the Beta Club, volunteers at the humane society, plays cello for the middle school orchestra. She is an avid reader, and I think with encouragement she could develop the skills to be a published writer. Her math skills are terrible, but she still made a 23-24 on the math section of the ACT; I dont know how.</p>
<p>Academically my daughter had her first end-of-year B last year in Algebra I. The teacher didnt allow my daughter to make up some work that she missed on an excused absence. This is a violation of state regulations, but my daughter begged us not to do anything, as she was terrified of the mean-as-a-snake teacher (now gone). Since no courses before eighth grade would go on her high-school record we acquiesced. She had two Bs on her report card for the first nine weeks this year, but I expect these to be pulled up to As by the end of the semester.</p>
<p>Ive listed these schools in alphabetical order, but at this point the ones that have most of my attention are PEA, Asheville, and Indian Springs.</p>
<p>Asheville School, Ashville, NC
Pro: Good outdoorsy vibe; I think my daughter would love to have a horse (shes never been on one, but they are relatively cheap); Merit scholarships available; I attended summer camp near here and it is a beautiful area.
Con: Both SSAT and SAT scores seem a bit low</p>
<p>Baylor, Chattanooga, Tenn.
Pro: Big campus; Merit scholarships; a friend and his children went here; Most students from Tenn., so will use that cutoff score for National Merit competition.
Con: Low SAT scores and SSAT not available; Most students are day students</p>
<p>Episcopal High School, Alexandria, Va.
Pro: 100 percent boarding; Proximity to DC a plus, Merit scholarships
Con: Somewhat low SSAT and SAT scores</p>
<p>Indian Springs School, Birmingham, Ala.
Pro: Relatively close to home; Relatively high SSAT and SAT scores; Most students are Alabamians, so will use low cutoff score for National Merit; Overall good outdoorsy vibe
Con: No merit aid and I think financial aid is limited; Supposedly liberal, but if its in Alabama it cant be THAT liberal</p>
<p>Phillips Exeter, Exeter, NH
Pro: Academic rigor; One of the most known schools; First cousins son and a former neighbor attended here (neighbor has endowed a scholarship, and cousin was pictured in the brochure they sent us); generous financial aid for those who are merely upper middle class.
Con: I suspect it is cold in NH; No merit aid.</p>
<p>I might want to look into Madeira, but they dont have merit aid.</p>
<p>Other schools of interest, but worried about low SSAT or SAT scores:
Virginia Episcopal, Lynchburg, Va.
St. Andrews-Sewanee, Sewanee, Tenn.</p>
<p>Anyway, Id love to hear any comments or suggests about these schools, or other schools that any of you think we might be interested in based on my comments above.</p>