<p>Can anyone share any information regarding viable options for boarding schools in New England. My son plays hockey and we are looking to send him to a boarding school that will give him the hockey exposure he needs and develops him academically. He would be entering 10th grade and is currently an unmotivated, under achieving average student. The small classes and structured academic curriculum is an added factor that would benefit him and that we feel he can excel in given the opportunity. However, we are concerned that his current GPA (3.0) is not good enough for the academic requirements of the schools that we are currently looking into (Cushing, NMH, Westminster, Avon, etc.). Can anyone share their experiences and suggest schools that would be willing to look at the whole picture and not just GPA/SSAT scores (he will be taken the SSAT later this month)?</p>
<p>You should post this in the prep school thread.</p>
<p>We looked closely at Cushing (never got to visit). I think it is a nurturing environment and they are willing to admit kids with blips in their records. I know they accepted two basically non-English speaking running stars and spent a lot of time helping them develop their English and other academics. It’s a fine place.</p>
<p>NMH I would worry about for a student who isn’t willing to work academically.</p>
<p>Not sure about hockey program, but look at Williston Northampton, too.</p>
<p>Yes, NMH is academically rigorous, so look elsewhere.</p>
<p>Look at Shattuck St. Mary’s in Minnesota. If you want hockey this place is so good it plays in a professional league outside of all the other prep schools and has produced countless pros (Sidney Crosby). If you’re kid is good enough this is the place to be and its not too hard academically but he has to be beyond exceptional at hockey.</p>
<p>My youngest brother played hockey on the D team at Middlesex - I guess that means they have enough hockey players to field three better teams. 
Middlesex is not about hockey, it’s about being well rounded and probably more academic than what you are looking for.</p>
<p>Look at [Boarding</a> School Review - College-Prep & Jr. Boarding Schools](<a href=“http://www.boardingschoolreview.com/]Boarding”>http://www.boardingschoolreview.com/) which (among other things) gives average Sat scores, from which you can estimate academic rigor. But two that come to mind are Winchendon and Trinity Pawling.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone for your advice. I will also post in the prep school thread…</p>
<p>My two Ss have played youth/HS hockey throughout the state of CT and although they went to public school, I’m familiar with many of the prep schools in CT. The Gunnery (Washington, CT), Canterbury (New Milford, CT) & The Kent School (Kent, CT) are three that come to mind for the B student who plays hockey. Good luck!</p>
<p>You should look at Berkshire Academy.</p>
<p>Thank you ELy and anothercrazymom. The schools you mentioned are also in our short list. Hard to decide until we see the schools and meet with admissions. We’ll be making alot of trips to New England in the next couple of months.</p>
<p>St. Michael’s Academy in Worchester MA. I can’t speak to their academics, but they have a great hockey program.</p>