Thanks for posting, @mexusa!
To be a top math student at Choate, is it not bad to join Alg 2 in freshman year. I am repeat freshy. (ofcourse excluding the geniuses that does calc in freshman year)
Future and current Choaties! We have a few scheduling questions. Firstly, does anyone know if the mandatory two seasons of sports that Freshmen are also their elective choices in second and third quarter (son is salivating at reverse engineering and other amazing elective choices). Or, are sports separate and not counted as electives? Also, my son is slightly accelerated in math, but by no means a math whiz. Wondering what some current Choate student/mom opinions may be on Honors vs. Regular Geometry for 9th grade placement. He is at a small public K-8 school in a large class (38), earning all As and A-s in algebra one currently. Or, do they send the placement test and then we are just placed into honors vs. standard geometry?
Thanks in advance for your time!
Sports are not electives, they have their own time slot and do not conflict with classes. While I have no particular insight on your math question, I can say that Choate is extremely flexible about moving kids up and down in the first few weeks if they are not satisfactorily placed. So don’t worry too much. (Moving down is of course always easier than moving up!)
I will say this again – your student will not take any amazing electives until the upper years unless s/he is approved for a sixth course and that is not likely to happen freshman year as kids are getting their sea legs. After eleven terms, ChoatieKid has had time in his schedule to take a sixth course only three times (winter term each time), but his sport is all-consuming. Has taken exactly zero of those fantasy courses so far but is hoping to take one in his final term. YMMV.
+1 to @Quenn’s comment about math placement. Don’t worry about it; Choate does a great job of placing students where they will do best.
Placement test will determine his level. Was told by Head of Math Department that if a student is in between levels, gets placed down initially. Once on Honors track, easier to stay on Honors track. Reverse Engineering is not something a freshman will ever get as a class.
Placement test for Math will be sent out in early May, but they also look at teacher rec and scores on the SSAT to get a better idea of ability and student’s work ethic. Honors classes really are harder, according to the students on the panel at revisit day.
Language tests are also coming in early May. If you want to be tested in two languages, contact the Head of Languages.
Department Head info is online, so have your son drop them an intro and a specific question.
The sports practices and play practices are after classes, beginning at 3:15, I believe, and last 2 hours (at least swimming does!). They do not interfere with classes and are not electives. I am not sure about how long the crew/regatta practice lasts, as they need to take the bus to Lake Quonnipaug in Guilford.
Does anyone know the crew practice schedule?
Good luck!
Honestly, is it better to have a roommate
Crew never ends. Practice every day (often miss dinner), regattas on weekends in the fall, erg practice all winter (no water time, so maybe some time for that sixth course), pre-season in Miami over spring break, practice and races in the spring leading up to the NEIRA championships in May, erg all summer, repeat.
Crew is not a sport; it’s a calling.
Sounds like swimming…EAT SLEEP SWIM.
There’s a quote I’ve heard of that says: “Swimming…it’s more than a sport, it’s a lifestyle.”
@mexusa, you are always so informed, thank you!
@choatiemom, thanks for all of the information and for answering our questions!
What? Swimmers get to eat? Decadent sport. 
@ChoatieMom Swimmers eat A LOT!!! I probably could list it as one of my EC’s…
To the point of Crew never ending…would it be possible for DS to play a winter sport (squash) whilst maintaining a spot on the crew team during the no-water/off season?
Not only possible, but required.
Aha. Attempting a 6th/elective course during (almost) off-season of crew is not looking feasible. . . assuming that he sticks with crew, which of course is my hope (although I am sure his would be robotics. . )
He can choose fitness, the play, etc. Did your son connect with Math Head about when is robotics?
Yes, your son certainly can choose another sport or activity winter term but, if he becomes serious about crew (and is not a coxswain), he will choose to erg (Fitness Rowing) with the team all winter. CK chose rock climbing his first winter term. He took robotics third term freshman year.
@mexusa, he has not connected with any department heads yet., although he has contact info for some of the robotics guys. I am feeling a little passive in this whole process at this point, in that I thought I’d let him go to the activities fair in the Fall and find his own way!