<p>Does anyone have any experience with this school?</p>
<p>We looked into and considered it, however, we weren’t comfortable sending our newly minted 15-year-old at this time. It seems like a good program and a great option for some students. We just didn’t feel good about the level of supervision. They are a college and provide college level supervision and structure. For us, we still wanted a few more eyes on our child at this age. The more structured schedule of boarding school also appealed to us. If our child were older, these concerns would not have been so significant. The school has a summer writing program for teens. That might be a way to get to know the school a bit better.</p>
<p>You might check on the Davidson Academy discussion board to see if you can find parents with direct experience with the school. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Another concern for us was the ability to interact socially. We had a lot of experience with child being accepted or included in class situations but having very little opportunity to play sports or attend dances and parties with same age mates. This didn’t always matter or make a difference when younger, but as the teen years progressed it did become more of a concern. We felt boarding school provided better opportunities in this regard.</p>
<p>Thanks Pops. If you live in MA, did you look at BUA?</p>
<p>No, we live about 2,000 miles from MA. I don’t have any information or experience with BUA. Sorry.</p>
<p>02138: we live near Simon’s Rock and several of my d’s former schoolmates are freshmen there now. I have a friend on the faculty. It is an amazing program for kids who are exceptionally bright, creative, and intellectually curious – the ‘out of the box’ kids who just don’t really fit into the typical HS mold. There is a lot of freedom and way less structure than boarding school. The families I know who have sent their kids there have all been day student families, though not necessarily local – I know someone whose very gifted kid attended at 12 years old, and the parents took turns driving (it was over 90 minutes each way for them). They felt it was worth the trip.</p>
<p>It may work for a couple of years for students who need college-level challenge, but I hear mixed reviews on coursework challenge, intellectual resources and fellow students when staying there for a full 4 year degree, especially in the sciences. Starting at Simon’s Rock/Bard often means applying as a transfer student to a different university down the road, and at many schools transfer applications are notoriously unlikely to be accepted. </p>
<p>According to Hoagie’s, about 50% of students who start college as boarders who are radically accelerated (under 16) flunk out, most commonly from video gaming and “executive immaturity”.</p>
<p>Options that are increasingly offering good alternatives to HS students who want more challenge are dual enrollment in nearby colleges and universities while remaining a HS student; and also consider one of the large prep schools that offer many college level classes (we did that - worked out well).</p>
<p>We know someone who went there for all four years. As far as I know, it was a wonderful experience for her, and she is now, at the tender age of 21, well on her way to a PhD. But needless to say, she is not typical.</p>
<p>I have heard rumors of excessive drug and alcohol use at Simon’s Rock, but I don’t know how much of that is actually true. A friend’s daughter attends and has been boarding there since age 14 or 15 and doing very well. I suppose that like at any school, if you want to find trouble, you can. For those who are mature enough to maintain focus on education, it can be a great option.</p>