My son is 15 and should be a sophomore. He now goes to an alternative school to maximize the credits he can earn because he “lost” his freshman year and 8th grade due problems at home and not going to school (so credit wise he is only a freshman). He passed middle school because the teachers had a grasp of his knowledge and they were confident he would do well in high school. The problem is that he is an extremely smart kid but is stuck in an alternative school with classmates who are not motivated and are only there because they have to be. He is open to repeating a year. He is extremely athletic (basketball, lacrosse, martial arts) and is involved in some clubs at his current school and also plays the piano. Do you know of any schools that will take him even though his track record and transcripts do not show it?
None of the schools usually mentioned on this forum would accept him. Have you looked into sending him to the local public school or maybe enrolling him in some kind of summer camp over the summer? I feel like boarding school would not be a great option for your son.
Can you write a check for full pop +? Can your son take the SSAT and score well? If so, there are plenty of schools who will take him. Money talks with those smaller schools with minuscule endowment funds, but @Badgers21 is completely correct about the big-name schools usually discussed on this forum. Marvelwood School and Dublin School would be good places to start. Then schools like Wilbraham & Monson, Gould Academy, Tilton School, Cheshire Academy, South Kent School. As long as you can write the check, you can find a school.
Take a look at the Putney School, they have a unique philosophy about education and the potential of their students. . They look for motivated students not stats.
Understand that Trinity Pawling takes in some kids with learning disabilities. Repeating from another thread ]]
Below is from a thread on hidden gems about Trinity Pawling.
“Traditional Boys school known for athletics and program for students with learning disabilities. What’s less known is that the school limits the number of LD students to no more than 20% of the school population. Students run the gamut of academic ability; some go on to top LACs and occasionally the Ivies, some head for vocational training. Strong sense of school spirit, beautiful campus”
If no big name schools are ok, there will be several good schools that would accept and educate your son very well
I would not listen to the comments above. No one really knows your son’s situation and no one knows what schools would or would not accept him. I’d contact the admissions offices of the schools you are interested in.
Take a look at what Brewster Academy has to offer and see if that might be a good fit.
http://www.brewsteracademy.org/RelId/606424/ISvars/default/Academic_Support.htm
Thank you all for your recommendations! Cheshire and Trinity pawling are at the top of our list.
I live in Cheshire. Ask me anything about the town and surrounding areas, I drove through campus a few weeks ago and was amazed at how well attended the football game was. Seemed to have lots of school spirit.