We live on the West Coast and won’t be able to travel to visit schools before applying. We’ll have to cast a wide net, too, since we’ll be needing Financial Aid.
My daughter has come up with a very specific list of criteria, which I am happy to send via PM to anyone who considers themselves an expert and might want to lend a hand. (The criteria are so specific, it might be too easy to guess her identity.)
Alternatively, feel free to share your perspective on the cultures of the following schools. A lot of her criteria have to do with school culture, which is hard to assess from afar based on view books and websites. She wants a school with kids who really care about academics and where it is cool to be smart. (Whether or not the kids are hyper-competitive academic super-stars doesn’t matter.) She also wants a school where kids are pushed to take risks and try new things (not just encouraged to double down in the areas where they already excel). And one where there is a bit more structure for younger students to help them develop good time management habits. Finally, she wants a school where kids from minority backgrounds feel at home. Any thoughts on the cultures of the schools below?
Groton
Thacher
Cate
Berkshire
Putney
Deerfield
Saint Paul’s
St. Andrew’s School (DE)
Miss Porter’s
Emma Willard
Westover
Chatham Hall
Ethel Walker
Foxcroft
Miss Hall’s
I so appreciate all of the PMs I’m getting with ideas and advice. Keep them coming! Thank you!
One of the reasons I started this thread is because I often read comments like “Groton is great, but it is not for everyone” or “Emma Willard is wonderful for the right kind of girl,” or “Miss Porter’s is a little edgier, if you are drawn to that.”
For BS newbies, these statements are written in an impossible-to-decipher code. Can you help me crack it?
It’s not that they are written in code, it’s just that no boarding school will appeal to everyone. There are many fine boarding schools that I admit are fantastic, but I did not apply to because they were not for me. In your case, it’s just a personal decision for you and your daughter. Good luck.
Also check out the thread with the list of parents who are willing to connect about specific schools. I believe it is pinned to the top of the parent’s forum.
I’m a Buxton School parent and I can tell you that this school has an incredible community. Students across all grades are friends and truly support one another. It is one of the most progressive schools in the country. There is not that one “Buxton student” that you see at so many boarding schools. There is no particular type of student who will fit here. It is a community that has the unique beauty of being a place where any and all belong. Lots of schools say the right things about embracing diversity, but can’t quite get there. Buxton exemplifies it. I highly recommend Buxton for this reason and many more.
-Cate has a very supportive close knit culture.
-It is definitely cool to be smart and talented. kids want to do well but are not aggressively competitive.
-The school has an excellent balance of sports-music-art-outdoors program-community service which I think results in kids trying new things. Certainly been the case for DS.
-Younger kids are eased into the demands of boarding school.
-mandatory study in room for 2 hours a night I believe. The school is small and teachers and advisors know what the kids are up to. I would guess there are other schools that may have a bit more structure eg maybe mandatory study hall. However, Cate also has a very good department with a few counselors who will help any kid who has problems/issues w time management/adjusting to demands etc. Some of the younger kids, particularly it seems the boys, do. These counselors are excellent and can really help a kid. All you have to do is ask.
-Cate is one of the most diverse if not the most diverse boarding schools you will read about on this site. about 45% percent of kids are self identified students of color. good international contingent including sponsored students from places like Afghanistan and parts of Africa. about a third of students are on financial add also. DS is a minority and hard to imagine a place more welcoming actually. Been extremely impressed.
-easy access from LAX for long flights or SB airport of CA flights.
Now the school is small so “may not be for everyone”. Also has great weather and is beautiful, which may turn some people off.
Groton
Academically very rigorous and they know your kid’s strengths and weakness (school reports are several pages long with narratives that suggest a deep and thorough assessment by each teacher). Our child has enjoyed being challenged. But it is a lot of pressure for someone not accustomed to that level of academic pressure. Second formers do mandatory study hall every night except Sat. They learn time management and stress management early.
Sports: three sports required but since the school is small everyone gets to play. It is fun and good for their development so its a big part of their lives, but not in a mean-spirited or overly competitive way.
Social: tight knit community. Everyone knows everyone which was important for us since we are west coasters and didn’t want our 13 year old lost in a sea of people or too close to a city with fluid boundaries. Our child has made lifelong friends from around the world and they all support each other. Diversity is strongly emphasized by the outstanding new-ish Headmaster who is really quite inspiring and unique.
FYI Groton has a bus that takes the kids to and from the airport and direct flights from Boston to LAX.
@CaliParent1 Is your child repeating 8th grade at Groton? If so, I would love to understand the decision-making process of choosing to repeat 8th grade at Groton vs entering 9th grade elsewhere… and whether you also applied at the end of 7th grade…
So… he applied as a ninth grader to other schools even though he was still in 7th grade? Wow. He must be pretty special. Did he get into other schools as a 9th grader? Were they amenable to his skipping 8th? (You hear so many stories about repeaters… It is rare to hear about kids - especially boys – invited to skip grades when joining a high octane boarding school for high school … impressive…)
Yes, he would have been a very young 9th grader. Yes, he was accepted to other schools for 9th grade which were much bigger or closer to city (Boston) or had higher day student ratios (too permeable for us), but Groton was the perfect fit.
It’s not that unusual for kids to skip. One of mine skipped two grades when he started boarding school and the other had already skipped a grade. Both are super young for their grades but have thrived.
Clearly, lots of good community spirit and warmth in that post. About 90 students in the school, with a graduating class of 30. Might be a bit teeny tiny as compared to the other schools being considered. Also, if such matters to you, there have been no (as in “0”) placements at any – any – Ivy League school for many years now:
@CaliMex - I certainly won’t claim to be an expert but I will gladly share what I can about Saint Andrews School DE. My son has been home for less than 24 hours after finishing his sophomore or IV Form year. He loves everything about St. Andrews! The academics are challenging but engaging as are the athletics, arts and service opportunities available to students. The school values diversity and has a very generous financial aid program. This was our son’s first year in boarding school and our only regret is that we didn’t send him a year earlier as a 9th grader.
Students use the airport in Philadelphia or train station in Wilmington. The school offers shuttles to both and in case of emergency (signing up for the wrong shuttle ; ) there are wonderful teachers that who make sure students get to the station/airport on time!
Please feel free to PM me if you have specific questions about St. Andrew’s. The “about us” link from the SAS website is below. It gives a great overview of SAS and offers some additional links on the right that give even more insight into the educational philosophy of the school. Good luck in your school search!
