<p>Hi,
I was wondering if anyone has any experience with Proctor? I have heard mixed things and not sure if it is a good fit for someone who is a strong student??
Thanks!</p>
<p>Close friend of my family sent all 4 kids there, about 15-20 years ago - covering very wide range of academic-ness - report was that the school handled them all well. And all 4 kids have turned out great. </p>
<p>He strongly recommended it for our kids because of the laid-back lack of attitude (at the time we were coming to grips with the fact that neither of of our kids were particularly happy in the edgy world of big city private day schools). </p>
<p>My daughter was thinking about it (ok, ok, the ski hill might have had a little to do with it), but ultimately decided that it would be too small for her. </p>
<p>You might want to ask the school directly how they handle someone who is not being stretched by the particular class they are in - I stumbled into that strategy a couple of weeks ago (with a different school), and was pleasantly surprised at the honesty of the replies.</p>
<p>First, for future reference, name the school in the title of your thread - it will catch more people’s attention!</p>
<p>Second, the person you want to talk to is zuzu’spetals - she has (or had) a son attending Proctor. Just send her a private message with any questions you have.</p>
<p>Hi Hammer. Yes, my son went there for two years and graduated last spring. At first, I was on the fence about Proctor–very laid back vibe with kids calling the teachers by their first names. That part was especially hard to adjust to. But then I learned that the reason they do that, is to make the teachers more approachable; to close the gap between the two groups. The kids respect the teachers greatly and seem to have great relationships with them.
My son was a strong student who scored 700 on his verbal sat. Math was not quite as high, but still up there. He did well at Proctor, but I would suggest his maturation and ability to think as an individual was more impressive than his grades (however, I thought it was cool that he could take two semesters of emergency wildernes medicine and join the volunteer fire dept as a first responder) Proctor is very community service minded and very green. My son was neither. He is a bit more community service minded, but still not the least bit green.<br>
Does your son play sports? Skiing is huge there (own ski mountain with ski jump). Hockey is also big. My son played lax. In the off seasons, he did woods team (clearing trails, chopping wood…) and weight room.
Proctor caters to all types of students. You will have uber smart kids there and you will have kids that are required to go to the learning center under the dictates of their admission. Lots of high level classes if you want them.
Proctor also pushes for studying abroad. Nearly 85% of the kids go away for a trimester. They have a semester at sea (kids sail the boat and study), semesters in France, Spain and an Outward Bound type program All of these are just for Proctor kids.
Lastly, in answer to your question, if your child is a very strong student who is competitive about grades, then Proctor might not be the best choice. It has more of a supportive than competitive vibe. But it does prepare the kids for college.
I have to run, but let me know if you have more questions.
zp</p>
<p>Funny, but we had similar concerns when looking at Proctor b/c of other people’s comments. By some, it is perceived as a school for kids with LD. While they can support kids with LD, that is not what they are all about as zuzu so aptly described their culture. We are excited about our revisit and look forward to learning more about what Proctor can offer our daughter.</p>
<p>This thread underscores the need for that “Roads Less Traveled/Hidden Gems” sub-forum.</p>
<p>When I read ZP’s description of the outdoor activities (esp. the woods team)/eco focus available at Proctor, I thought…my D would have really liked that school!</p>
<p>@SevenDad - I wholeheartedly agree. I’m amazed at how many additional schools we would have considered if we’d known they existed. She had me at “spend a trimester away.”</p>
<p>Thank you everyone! Has anyone heard of Hebron? Thoughts??</p>
<p>Sounds like a really cool school! The only thing is that I’m competitive about grades :{.
Does anyone have any other comments about the LD support with high achieving kids at Proctor? How are their classes? Academics? Teachers? Hopefully I’m not highjacking hammer5’s thread :P</p>
<p>EDIT: Sorry, I was talking about Proctor.</p>
<p>My middle son graduated High School June 2010. A boy he graduated with who was very athletic yet very smart and was in the National Honors Society and at the top of the graduating class went onto Proctor for his “PG” year. I know his parents’ well and they just loved the school and all it had to offer their son who was really quite mature and obviosuly very bright and didn’t really need a year of extra growth on the surface. As I still see the parents around town, they are very very pleased with Proctor and cannot say enough great things about the school. I never really came out and asked them why they chose “PG” instead of sending their son right onto college, but I suspect it had to do with his sports and where he could play hockey in college after the “PG”. I’ve been to the campus several times and it’s quaint and beautiful and feels very homey. The ski mountain is Boom right there outside the dorms and it is very “New England”.<br>
Hebron is in Maine, and well regarded around New England as well. I’ve never been to that campus, but I know a family from my town who sent their child there and it’s been great for that boy. There are plenty of smaller schools around this area that would serve many kids well. I will be pursuing one of these with not more than 300 kids or so schools in a year or two for my own child who would not do well in a large school.
Anyhow, I hope this is helpful. Brooks School is also a good choice, but I do see that mentioned on this site, so it appears to be fairly well known. I live a hop, skip & a jump from that campus, another great place.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>That is so very true!</p>
<p>Welcome to the board CMSwaiting and thanks for providing some great input about these schools. There really are so many in the Maine/NH/VT/MASS area.</p>
<p>Sounds like Brooks has caught on and gotten very competitive. I heard there were >800 applicants this year for just a little over 100 spots. My son was WL and was told Monday that they are overenrolled and not pulling from WL. It is a great school.</p>
<p>I’ve read positive comments about The New Hampton school in NH. They are rolling admissions.</p>
<p>Thanks CMS! It is great to hear about schools I usually do not see on these boards. I am still looking for info on Hebron? Anyone have any feedback at all? Perhaps I will start another thread as suggested earlier!</p>
<p>My daughter really liked Brooks a LOT. That’s a shame that they aren’t going to the WL, but I figured as much. :(</p>
<p>Neato- from the beginning, you’ve always seemed like one of the few prep school forum “gods”. All your advice has been amazing, but I was very shocked that your daughter was put in this place. I really Prey that something comes through for your daughter and that she will be able to enjoy boarding school. Good luck to you and your family!</p>
<p>I know this is an all-girls school, but does anyone know about westover? I know it has been mentioned here, but haven’t heard any “insider” information.</p>
<p>What would you like to know?</p>
<p>Anything would be great. How’s the academics? Is the campus pretty? Is there anything that makes west over stand out from other schools? Thank you!</p>
<p>I’ve been pretty busy this week so I will make this a bit quick - I suggest that you visit the school if you have any interest at all. It has a deliberately small student body - hovering around 225 at the moment. The class of 2014 was the largest incoming class in recent history. I believe 2/3 board - but most students are from the local New England area. There is a well represented international population however, as well as some southern states. I think the school is beautiful - the main school/dorm area is a grand Edwardian mansion. There have been several additional updated or new buildings/wings to the school, including a science wing, athletics center, and performing arts facility. The special programs - WISE, Dance (4 huge studios), and Manhattan School of Music are a huge draw for a good portion of the student population. The dorm rooms are quite spacious, and each girl has a walk in closet, with 2 additional built in closets and hutches per room (4 total closets for 2 girls). I have visited many schools over the past 5 years (2 kids in BS, 2 to go) -and this school more than many others is a case where fit matters. To some it may be too intimate - for her this was a good thing. But - it is close enough to NYC to visit easily, and very close to New Haven that the girls hung out there one weekend and visit Yale art gallery with some frequency.</p>