Great second-tier boarding schools

<p>Thanks everyone, I realize now I should've specified what I was looking for in a school, so I'll post that now. I'm looking for a coed school with strong academics, no religious affiliation, good social life, good athletic program with opportunities for people that aren't all-americans or close to it, and not a school that's really rigid and traditional. Is all that possible?</p>

<p>Tabor Academy. Amazing marine science and sailing programs. They have a tall ship. Lots of oter good stuff, too. And happy kids.</p>

<p>My daughter went to NMH for four years and it was a fabulous school for her.If you have any questions about it you can PM me.</p>

<p>Northfield Mt. Hermon might be a good match for you. Although I did not visit it, I found much to like about it. My son did not like their unique class schedule. I think you have longer classes but take fewer classes in a marking period.<br>
Most boarding schools have JV and some thirds sports teams, so you should have a place on a team without having to compete with the college-recruitable crowd. Research this because it may vary by school.<br>
You should research the religious aspect because it really can vary by school. For example, Blair has an affiliation with the Presbyterian church. However, I think you are only required to go a service 6 times a year. One that my son went to was just a discussion by students about their religious faiths. The other 2 were all-school assemblies. Some schools with a religious affiliation require chapel twice a week with one of them a full religious ceremony (most will let you go to a service of your faith). Some without a religious affiliation will still require something. For example, at Westminster, the school goes to chapel once a week to sing hymns. At Lawrenceville, there is a requirement to attend some # of religious services, but it can be for any religion.
Based on what you wrote, here are some schools you might want to investigate: Northfield Mount Hermon, The Governor's School (was GDA), Suffield Academy, the Berkshire school, Lawrence Academy, Loomis Chaffee (has a large day population but is big enough for a large boarding group), and Tabor Academy. The only one of these we visited was Loomis. I'm sure there are MANY more. If you keep bumping up your thread, you'll get more suggestions.<br>
Good luck!</p>

<p>my cousin went to tabor. my other 2 are applying this year as freshies (aww). they love the school. they live in newport but were never really into sailing but when the eldest daughter went off to school and (on some sort of whim) tryed out for the sailing team and made varsity, the family was huge on sailing again and bought a boat (and thereafter insisted fervently that i take up sailing).. it seems like if a school can do that for a dead passion, it's worth mentioning. my cousin isn't the academic overachiever type.. she's more of the type of social butterfly that everyone adores.. seems like a lot of kids there were like that. decent students. fairly good students on wealthy public school standards, but much more laid back and for christ's sake, happy!</p>

<p>she has been insisting that i apply for ever.</p>

<p>Are you applying, Blair?</p>

<p>yeah i think so. i'm talking to her about it right now online.</p>

<p>would it be a safety for me? or do you think i should apply to another safety (thats a lot of essay writing and application work and an interiew..) if tabor isn't pretty definite (keep in mind, most kids there are of the wealthy/drug/social/preppy/somwhat hippie type.. they have a great curriculum but the school, i dont think, doesnt get a lot of applications from the overachiever type)</p>

<p>Look at Cushing and Williston-Northhampton.</p>

<p>Olivia,</p>

<p>No, Gunnery is coed now.</p>

<p>and Loophole,
I thought the acceptance rate for Gunnery was 50% or at least that's what boardingschoolreview.com says</p>

<p>Tabor's average SSAT score is 60-something, and I looked at their college list, and none of them went to top schools, so I'd say that they don't get many overachievers. That would be a safety for you, definitely.</p>

<p>Tabor Academy's average SSAT score is 65% and the acceptance rate is 62%.</p>

<p>Guys- don't get too hung up on the average SSAT scores. Some of that has to do with the number/background of internationals accepted. Same with average SAT scores.</p>

<p>And, boardingschoolreview.com is way out of date with these scores.</p>

<p>Here is a link to Tabor's college matriculation for 2005: <a href="http://www.taboracademy.org/academics_college_matlists.asp%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.taboracademy.org/academics_college_matlists.asp&lt;/a> . They got 2 to Amherst, 3 to Brown and 2 to Princeton as well as many other impressive placements. While the list is not as impressive as the list from the most competitive schools, it does indicate that their top students do very well. And at a school like Tabor, it is easier to stand out than at a school like Andover. Just something to think about...</p>

<p>A 65% SSAT does not mean that everyone there has a 65% SSAT. In general, it means that the school accepts a variety of students. If they offer honors and AP levels of classes, there should be some challenge.</p>

<p>How about Vermont Academy?</p>

<p>Look at Governor's Academy and Lawrence Academy</p>

<p>Sorry ... I think I was thinking of a different school. The school I was thinking of had no one go to any Ivys, top schools, or anything. While I do agree that college placement should determined with a good fit, I was a little put off and felt that I wouldn't be challenged competitively. Just saying.</p>

<p>My dad went to Lawrence and had to drop out after a year.. he hated it. But that was forty years ago.... is it still all-boys?</p>

<p>No, it's co-ed.</p>

<p>I'm in my third year at St. Andrew's-Sewanee School in Sewanee, TN -- great school, largely underrated I think. You can go as far and as high as you want to here. The teachers are PHENOMENAL. They make this place. Great area, kids are laid-back. We need more people...most don't realize how good of a school this is.</p>