<p>When my kids were in elementary school and up to 6th grade they had time for everything. Sports, music, studying whatever. However, after a while things got really out of control. School got harder, EC’s got more demanding and teenager issues cheeped in. My advice is do not underestimate right now how important time will become later on. Even 1 extra hour will be great to have. You do not want your kid completely spent by the end of the day. It is not only the academics. Teenagers need sometime to short their feelings, take care of their growing bodies etc etc.
Besides a very capable, high scoring kid with interests outside of school will make it to a good college no matter what the school. My kids go to a mediocre public school and even there ALL the capable high scoring kids make it to top schools. The only reason I would ever see for the extra traveling time is if the child had a unique situation only addressed to a specific school. </p>