<p>We live on the West Coast and do not have a sense of which boarding schools offer a more balanced approach to athletics. Does anyone have a sense of which schools are a better fit for students who participate in athletics, but do not necessarily shine and who prefer academics, service clubs, etc?</p>
<p>Many boarding schools are welcoming of students whose life does not revolve around sports. </p>
<p>DC attends Blair, and there is no need to be an athlete to feel that one fits into the community. The school requires participation in either sports or ‘an activity’ after classes, which could be theatre or other performing arts. The idea is that the student is involved in more than just academics. </p>
<p>While some kids at Blair are athletes, there are others who are not, and it doesn’t seem to make any difference in their level of happiness. There are plenty of kids who do play sports and enjoy the experience even though they may be novices. Many students try a new sport for the first time, and this is encouraged.</p>
<p>Concord Academy has a balanced athletics program. While there is an athletic requirement, students can fulfill it in a variety of ways, including phys ed classes, being a team manager, or being in a mainstage play. My daughter was on a JV team every year she was there (including senior year) and really enjoyed it. Since students aren’t required to be on a team, those who chose to join a team are happy to be there and motivated, even if they are lacking in skills. The coaches understand that sports are not the most important thing at the school and are great with the kids. Social life at the school does not revolve around sporting events or around student athletes. Students on teams are able to participate in music ensembles and some theatre productions. </p>
<p>That said, the varsity teams can be quite competitive, so there’s room for growth or for students who are already strong athletes. A number of students continue playing sports in college, primarily at the Division III level.</p>
<p>The sports and athletic facilities are excellent; the school just opened a new athletic campus that is gorgeous. Facilities such as the gym, squash courts, tennis courts, and exercise room are open to any student during and after school and on weekends, when not in use by a team or a phys ed class.</p>
<p>I would say ALL of the BS we visited two years ago have a healthy approach to athletics and are fine even for kids who are not stars (a category my daughter would fall into).</p>
<p>Here’s the list: Choate, Exeter, Groton, Hotchkiss, Miss Porter’s, St. Paul’s, St. Andrews, and Westtown. </p>
<p>At SAS, the school I am most familiar with, there are seniors on JV teams and even options like organic gardening, forestry, and various plays/musicals that you can do instead of sports.</p>
<p>Exeter requires athletics, but this ranges from JV and varsity interscholastic teams, to club sports, to individual fitness workout, theatre or dance, and most things in between. Some students are heavily invested in athletics, but certainly not most. One appealing thing about the larger schools is the diversity of students. I know several non-athletes who are very comfortable.</p>