<p>Hi, I'm new to this but I was just wondering why does no one talk about Brewster Academy? The campus is beautiful and its a technolgy based school. Its not very small either with almost 450 kids. I may have to decide between Brewster or NMH and that is not something I'm looking forward to (I love both schools). So if anyone could give any information on Brewster and why its not mentioned with the rest of these NE prep schools I would greatly appreciate it!</p>
<p>I can't give you much info on Brewster except to say it is a very pretty campus on Lake Wentworth. If you are a PG basketball player, their program is amazing. Sorry....that's all I have. But, as the parent of two at NMH, I can answer questions about that school.
Brewster isn't talked about on the board because the more well-known schools are the ones discussed (which makes sense because, well, more people know about them). Since you have brought it up, though, I imagine we will hear from someone with opinion/knowledge of Brewster.</p>
<p>Brewster was one of my options! But in the end I decided not to go to boarding school.</p>
<p>Brewster is on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. Strong sports, not much to speak of in the way of arts. I think that is on the list for the future, though.</p>
<p>?I thought it was on Lake Wentworth.</p>
<p>We first noticed about Brewster is their summer session - Heifetz International Music Institute.<br>
It's a very unique music program, son was think about it last year (although end-up did not go).
We visit the school two years ago. Very very beautiful campus. Teachers seem very close to students.</p>
<p>I never realized that was part of Lake Winnipesaukee. I grew up going to summer camp on Lake Wentworth and my brother-in-law and his wife live near Wolfeboro. My son even went to a baseball camp at the school. The entire time I've been thinking that body of water was Lake Wentworth.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for the responses! I am a basketball player but a sophomore not a post-grad. I have to agree Brewsters campus is amazing, but I liked NMH campus as well. I think I'm leaning more toward NMH. I'll find out which one next week!</p>
<p>Well, I guess the Varsity basketball programs are amazing at both schools...they were both top ten nationally, but Brewster was exceptional this year. I said "PG" because they tend to have a lot on the Varsity basketball teams.
I have nothing but positives to say about NMH. Any questions, PM me.</p>
<p>I have heard some disturbing things about Brewster and faculty discontent. Someone I respect very much in higher education was really down on that particular school. I knew a kid with a serious substance problem that got accepted to Brewster (strong influence by an educational consultant) and didn't stay clean. To their credit, they basically threw him out, but with a clean transcript so Gov. Dummer (as it was known a few years ago) took him in. He got kicked out of there, too. Brewster is not one I would put at the top of the list. Too many others.</p>
<p>From what I understand, Brewster has a no-tolerance policy on drugs and alcohol. We know one family who has one son at Brewster and one at NMH and are very happy with both as they are different kids. About 1/3 of Brewster's kids have a learning "need" of some kind according to this parent. His kid is dyslexic. They feel it is a wonderful program for their son and have been very happy with the school.</p>
<p>I agree with momofwildchild and Linda. Brewster has more kids with a learning difference, more who are underachieving, and a few from therapeutics or with some emotional issue. I think they do a great job with that population, and they also provide challenge for the many high-achieving kids who also attend. but on the other side, NMH is more of a regular prep school, more selective, fewer (if any) kids who are underachieving.</p>
<p>They are both great schools which I use all the time. They are just very different in their studentpopulations. Good luck with your choice</p>
<p>I’d like to weigh in on Brewster as my daughter is entering her fourth year there. Brewster is a very special place in an amazingly beautiful setting (right on Lake Winnipesaukee with the mountains framing the view). I think Brewster is often misunderstood because is is not as well-known as the “top” schools. It also enrolls a diverse population of learners because it has individuated instruction. Brewster is on the forefront of “best practices” teaching and is a leader in integration of technology and education. The faculty there are appreciative of their range of learners and all must master a summer course of the “Brewster Method” before being hired. </p>
<p>It is true that there are students there with learning disabilities (including my daughter). Of course the students are smart too (they recently sent one to Harvard). </p>
<p>A few highlights: They have good to superior athletics with a state-of-the-art field house, a solid residential life program, and a dynamic and uber-talented music director. There is lots to love about Brewster but the most impressive aspect of the school is the people. From a committed faculty to an administration that actually cares about kids, the people at Brewster are solid.</p>
<p>Is Brewster right for you or your child? Only you can say, but it is worth seeing. I know this sounds like a paid endorsement but I can assure you that for us, the money only flows one way: from us to them. :)</p>
<p>While I agree re: Music director - the rest of the arts are non-existent and this is not changing anytime soon. He is outstanding - Brewster has no idea what they have with him. But outside of music - if your student has shown any arts interest (dance, theatre, visual) steer them towards another school. That said, finding small schools with interest/focus in the arts is like a needle in a haystack - this problem is not unique to Brewster. So many small schools spend as little as possible on a comprehensive arts curriculum (I was shocked at the disgusting facilities at Brooks!) and all the money is funneled into sports. Having both sports focused and arts focused kids, it is far easier to find many schools where the former could be happy than the latter.</p>
<p>Neston- I’m glad your child has had a good experience at Brewster. Can you weigh in on the censorship of faculty issue I raised last year and which I have heard about a few more times over the past year?</p>
<p>They’ve got a good basketball team…</p>
<p>To MomofWC: I personally have never heard complaints of faculty censorship. I am very friendly with a few faculty as well as several administrators. My impression is that the work environment is positive. My theory is you have to love your job to spend 24/7 with teens in 137 inches of snow!!</p>
<p>fif is curious – other than the setting, what is beautiful about Brewster. fif saw it for the first time last summer and was ummmm, not impressed. Sitting in a rather touristy town, the yellow brick field house is ghastly and the rest of the clapboard buildings a little rundown. Even the boathouse on the water was kind of tacky.</p>
<p>I applied there and got in, it was beautiful but I was not impressed with the facilities. I think the reason no one talks about it is because it is not as popular as, lets say, Andover or Exeter, or Hotchkiss or Kent. I thought it was a great school though!</p>