<p>Thank you for the responses. Hannahbanana69 - I’m sorry you have to spend so much time on the bus. Do you get much studying done? School A gets a higher percentage of kids into the upper Ivies than School B. So the 25 to 10 % comparison is not exactly equal. But we are okay with that. We are heavily leaning toward School B. One thing we will have to deal with if she ends up at School B is the reaction from parents at our school. The few we have mentioned our thoughts to are aghast that we would consider choosing a good local school over one that shows up on lists of the top 20 prep schools in the U.S. </p>
<p>At School A, over fifty kids (out of about 270) in the class of 2014 are National Merit Semi-Finalists. In our state you need score in the 99nth percentile to make the cut-off. The competition for grades in honors and AP classes has been characterized as “fierce.” Some very bright kids in their junior year that I know are almost giving up on getting the kind of grades they want. So being totally honest, part of the appeal of School B is to be a bigger fish in a smaller pond to keep my child’s confidence and belief in herself high. Hard work should be rewarded. Thoughts?</p>
<p>Another thought we are having is that you only get to be sixteen once. Kids at school A say they rarely go out on the weekends. Shouldn’t there be some fun? Is it possible to be a high achiever anymore and have a life? Maybe I’m being naive. </p>