<p>My son is an 8th grader at a local school near Cambridge and was recently accepted to both Buckingham, Browne and Nichols and Belmont Hill. Both appear terrific from an academic standpoint, but how about the general school environment? Drugs? Social scene? Reputation? Your thoughts are appreciated.</p>
<p>HmmâŠI only hear little bits about both. BH seems to have a much stronger sports culture - that is, if you arenât into sports, you may not fit in well. BB&N is a very liberal place - those who are very conservative may not fit in. I strongly suggest your son revisit both - and if they have âmeet and greetâ opportunities for parents, you should go as well. Just talking to current parents will probably be very good.</p>
<p>Speaking of Boston schools, who can comment on the overall atmosphere/culture at Winsor (all girls)? Academically, it appears to be outstanding. They seem to organize a lot of events with Belmont Hill and Roxbury Latin.</p>
<p>You have 2 good choices. The obvious difference is that BB&N is coed and BH is all boys.
BH requires âformal dressâ, BB&N has a relaxed dress code. These were huge issues for my son and steered him away from BH.</p>
<p>BH does have a very strong sports culture (can I say jock w/o getting slammed?) but they do have strong arts as well. Most of my sonâs friends who attend BH are very strong in athletics. Several of them left BH and went back to their public school when they did not make the varsity team as a sophomore and juniorâit is quite competitive in some sports and they felt very alienated once they did not make the team. I donât think that is the case at BB&N.</p>
<p>Both have strong college matriculation. In terms of ârankingsâ for whatever it is worth, BB&N typically gets a higher rank than BH but I am not sure that is significant.</p>
<p>Obviously as Mom of a Knight, I have a child at BB&N. I am very happy with the school.
He is challenged with rigorous courses but is very supported when he needs help. He has made many diverse friends. He is playing his sports at a high level. He is taking Arabic which is not offered at many schools and loves it. It is a school where it is ok to be in the school play and also be a football playerâthe students wear many hats</p>
<p>He should really go back and do the revist days for both schoolsâthey do have a very different feel and culture. Academically, I donât think you can go wrong with either school. I think it will come down to how comfortable your son feels in each setting.</p>
<p>One more thingâfeel free to PM me if you have any more BB&N questions</p>
<p>thank you! Very helpful and honest.</p>
<p>We like both schools and feel that our son could do well in either. </p>
<p>As many have said, BB&N is very liberal and Belmont Hill more conservative. First of all, some perspective BHS parents have told me that they were not considering BB&N because it was too liberal for them. For example, you are expected to be sympathetic to BHS parents who hope that the current economic situation would help their sons to get into better colleges, while BB&N parents would probably find that distasteful.</p>
<p>BB&N is also more liberal than BHS in terms of academics. BB&N encourages students to explore whatever they find their passion, while BHS has more specific goals for its boys. BHS knows how to teach boys very well and focuses on character building, while BB&N gives a lot of freedom to kids. One drawback of BHS may be that its curriculum may be too rigid; on the other hand, BB&N may likely lead kids to more âfunâ subjects that have less practical relevance in having a viable career path.</p>
<p>Although BHS has the reputation being big on sports, BB&N is very into it as well. You can tell from the fact that many of BB&N 7th/8th graders do club sports in addition to school sports, and these kids find academics challenging at BB&N and often resort to finishing their homework on car rides to and from various sports events. </p>
<p>BB&N has amazing music facilities. BHS also emphasizes their art/music programs as well. I feel that each school tries to encourage kids they accepted to attend because they are genuinely interested in a well rounded student body. </p>
<p>Personally I have not heard any specific complaints about BHS, even though I have spoken to quite a few families that have kids there or are very interested in send their kids there. Some friends (coed school parents) did caution that when a boy gets older, he might be more interested in coed schools. Some BB&N parents have mentioned that their kids are heavily leaning towards liberal arts because of the school environment.</p>
<p>Good luck with your decision making! I agree that it would be very helpful to hear what your child has to say about his revisits.</p>
<p>Thank you for the commentsâall exactly in line with what Iâve heard. At this point, we are leaning toward BHS.</p>
<p>A friend told me the story of his son. Years ago, when Belmont Hill was actually not considered as good as today (new headmaster now), their son was a student at its middle school. He enjoyed the school for the two years when he was there, but was a little annoyed by the âjockâ culture. Thinking that he might prefer a coed, less âjockyâ school, he went to a HADES boarding school for high school, with the support from his Belmont Hill teachers who wrote his recommendation letters. </p>
<p>He soon realized that the âjockâ culture is no less at the HADES school (we really shouldnât be too surprised by this, as members of the Red Sox Nation). Worse still, he found it more challenging to make close friends at the HADES school, and missed his friends at Belmont Hill dearly. Since he was local, he was able to keep his friendship with the Belmont Hill kids and hang out with them often. The Belmont Hill kids remained his best friends.</p>
<p>There is âno single BB&N type.â That is one of their strengths. Belmont Hill, on the other hand, is a school for white âjocks.â There is little diversity, both in race and in the type of student at Belmont Hill. That creates a distinct culture. Many students in recent years have opted to leave Belmont Hill for other schools, including: Andover, Exeter, Groton, Nobles, St. Sebastianâs, Middlesex and BB&N. Some also left to attend their local public school. The scandals and bullying that occurred at Belmont Hill probably contributed to kidsâ departures. Charity Navigator website, which provides detailed info about non-profits states the Head of BH makes $588k; more than any of the aforementioned schools. BB&N offers great academics, diversity, athletics, and most importantly teaches kids about character. Belmont Hill doesnât.</p>
<p>Paragbul: </p>
<p>Your response to this debate is not only 4 1/2 years too late it is also absurd. </p>
<p>To say that Belmont Hill is âfor white jocksâ and that the school doesnât offer quality academics, athletics and doesnât teach its students about character, I mean really? </p>
<p>Belmont Hill is a fine school, with quality students and faculty. It offers its students a wonderful educational experience. A vastly different experience than BB&N to be sure but your assessment of the school in short, is harshly unfair.</p>
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<p>Comments about this topic are always timely, as parents and kids are constantly faced with decisions like this.</p>
<p>A recent Belmont Hill review on-line states that Belmont Hill no longer has the high academic standards, rigor or qualities of the 70s/80s. We share that opinion. Also, Wendy Murphyâs recent article in the patriotledger.com sheds light into the issue of culture. </p>
<p>Thank you.</p>