<p>Trying to decide between boarding and day schools. What are the best (academically) schools in Westchester county (NY) or fairfield county (CT). Is is better to go to one of them or to an ok (hidden gem) type of boarding school? No interest in the big name boarding schools either because of size or location (have visited).</p>
<p>Many kids from Fairfield county go to Hopkins School in New Haven, very academically recognized school. Only grades 7 and up. Pierrepont School is a very quirky, small academically intense school in Westport. Brunswick schoo, which is just boys, in Greenwich is respected. Some kids from westchester go to Horace Mann.</p>
<p>Some other options in Fairfield and Westchester: Rye Country Day School, Hackley, The Masters School. There’s also Fieldston, in the Bronx. Hackley has a 5-day boarding option but is primarily day students. Masters offers full boarding, though boarders are less than 50% of the community.</p>
<p>Whether one of them (or another school) would be “better” for you or not isn’t something anybody on this board can answer for you. All of these schools - like the hidden gem boarding schools - are much, much better than “ok.”</p>
<p>Also Greens Farms Academy in Westport and king low heywood in Stamford. But those I listed on my first email are probably more academically intense.</p>
<p>Very academically intense with gorgeous facilities. Very hard to get in to. Greens Farms is, I think, less intense/more nurturing but I don’t know it personally. </p>
<p>“Prep” in Fairfield (associated with Fairfield University) is an all boys Jesuit HS with a very good reputation. Lauralton Hall in Milford is a Catholic girls’ school. </p>
<p>I think boarding vs. day is a personal preference, one is not better than the other.</p>
<p>Can anyone give advice on difference between King Low and St. Luke’s? What are the academic/social reputations?</p>
<p>How do they compare to each other? Why would you chose one over the other? Distance not a factor.</p>
<p>Well hackley has a boarding component and Hopkins doesn’t. It is my impression Hopkins has a more academically intense reputation. I also think Hopkins is more nationally known. I know Hopkins well and my dd will be attending, have heard of Hackley but don’t know much about it.</p>
<p>St. Luke’s is a great school. Small, but recognized academics. </p>
<p>I go to Fairfield Prep so if you have questions about it, I can answer.</p>
<p>Thank you, Anchser. All opinions are so very much appreciated!!!</p>
<p>We looked at St. Lukes but did not apply. I know kids there and they have spoken of the big money, rich girl/mean girl cliques at St. Lukes. If you are not from that group or an athlete it can be hard to fit in. I think it works easier if you start in 5th grade. King is bigger feeling because it has the lower school too. We were not as impressed with the academics but know that they work with bright students to create an academic path that will challenge them. Their college placement is not as illustrious as St. Luke’s but we liked the feel better. The headmaster is excellent.</p>
<p>There is also Rye Country Day in Rye. Other than Hopkins, it seems that academic reputations of these schools are fairly similar.</p>
<p>borngrace, did you/your DC already look at Masters and choose not to apply?</p>
<p>We did look at Masters and decided not to apply for several reasons. In no particular order:
-we liked Hackley better and it was marginally closer
-Masters has a lot of NYC kids and back and forth and I wanted a little more sheltered environment
-Masters was dumpy looking - needs a huge facelift and what Hackley has done has been great and they got a $45 million in the fall to do more
-I did not agree with some of the educational philosophy. love the harkness method but felt like masters forced it into all classes even when those classes did not lend itself to it.
-kids at Hackley seemed more academic and matriculation was stronger.
-did not like the ratio of boarding to day - seemed off </p>
<p>So much is “feel” and we didn’t feel Masters</p>
<p>You didn’t, and that’s absolutely fine - plenty of people don’t. Plenty of people don’t feel Hackley, either, which is also fine. It all helps to explain how two very academically challenging, pricey private schools located about five miles apart have been thriving for more than 100 years. In other words, it’s a good illustration of the importance of fit.</p>
<p>I do feel I should point out, for others reading along, that the characterization of Masters as “dumpy” isn’t one anybody hears very often. (I’ve flat-out never heard it or anything like it, but hey, I don’t talk to everybody.) Kids and families who have made the rounds of all the acronym schools plus some gorgeous west coast schools, and all kinds of places in between, are a lot more likely to call the school “beautiful” or something synonymous.</p>
<p>I’m curious what you mean by “a lot of NYC kids and back and forth” at Masters. Both schools have day students who live in the city, but it’s Hackley that runs daily buses for their NYC kids, not Masters.</p>
<p>When I answered your question about Masters I thought you were looking for information. It seems that you are affiliated with the school and therefore know more about it that we do as we looked and did not chose to pursue applying there.</p>
<p>No worries, borngrace - you had already provided the information I was looking for, which was whether or not you had looked at the school or not. Thanks!</p>