<p>I am the parent of a 9th grade girl. She had a super K-8 Waldorf education and is now enjoying a small democratic/community/progressive school. I'm looking into boarding schools (east coast only,please) for her junior and senior years. She is a very capable student,particularly in math and science, but her passion is art and music (guitar). She will need a small, casual, liberal school--someplace very artsy that can help her through the college application process with an eye toward Bennington, Skidmore, etc.
Buxton is on my radar although reviews on it are scarce. Can anyone point me toward other schools or give feedback on Buxton? Thanks!</p>
<p>You should post this question on the Prep School Forum. Lots of parents well versed on boarding schools post there. Good luck.
[Prep</a> School Admissions - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/]Prep”>Prep School Admissions - College Confidential Forums)</p>
<p>If she wants to continue in the Waldorf tradition, you might want to consider High Mowing School in New Hampshire.</p>
<p>Cambridge School of Weston; in Weston, MA or Concord Academy, Concord MA. Walnut Hill School in Natick, MA.</p>
<p>Walnut Hill is an arts boarding school - she would need to enroll either as an art or a music student.</p>
<p>[Search</a> Results for “boardingschoolreview.com”](<a href=“http://www.boardingschoolreview.com%5DSearch”>http://www.boardingschoolreview.com)
Lots of info.
Request the info directly from schools and if possible, visit campus !</p>
<p>The Peddie School in NJ is marvelous, and also very selective. Definitely small and casual and more liberal than many. Not necessarily an arts emphasis but all departments are top notch. You mention her apptitude in science. Peddie, due to extraordinary giving by Annenberg Family, has science facilities that rival those at the finest small colleges. Visit the very information web site at [Please</a> wait…](<a href=“http://www.peddie.org%5DPlease”>http://www.peddie.org).</p>
<p>High Mowing School in Wilton NH sounds like it might be a good fit. It creates an atmosphere of a small, close-knit community with a big arts focus. I’ve heard the college counseling is thorough and supportive. And if you like the waldorf curriculum, it is a waldorf school.</p>
<p>here is the link to the consortium of specialized math/science schools. my son attends the one in our state…it is residential and incredible. each school has different years you can attend, may or not be residential etc</p>
<p>[National</a> Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Mathematics, Science and Technology](<a href=“NameBright - Coming Soon”>NameBright - Coming Soon)</p>
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<p>Do you really have that snug a definition for a 9th grader? There’s an awful lot of growing and developing that occurs between 14-17, and even more between 18-22. Our Ds who are now in college went in all kinds of directions on the road to where they’ve landed. D1 was a reticent creative writer when she started 9th grade, came out of her shell and surprised us all by blossoming into a celebrated classical singer and stage performer, started towards a Voice and Opera college program, then got into her reach school and decided to study voice on the side while attending there, and subsequently became fascinated in Latin American political affairs and will graduate a Government major. We never saw most of this coming, but it was great that she had all those potential doors open to her so that she could find her own passions rather than simply being directed toward those passions that had emerged the earliest.</p>
<p>gretchenamy-If you have an questions about High Mowing specifically (it seems like you know Waldorf pretty well already), feel free to PM me-while I didn’t attend there, I went to the Waldorf N-8 school literally across the street for 10 years and almost all of my high school friends ended up at High Mowing. Consequently, I know a lot about the place and have spent a TON of time there. Good luck finding the right school!</p>
<p>What about Interlochen in Michigan? Its a great place… But, why boarding school? It’s not that hard to help your kid apply to colleges - really it isn’t. And most colleges, including the ones you’ve named, aren’t particularly selective and accept most of their candidates. And it is only a short, short time that we have our kids at home to cherish and love and share our lives…</p>
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<p>Skidmore doesn’t accept most of their candidates. The acceptance rate is 30%. Newsweek had an interesting article. 25 New Ivies. Skidmore was included.</p>
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<p>[America’s</a> 25 New Elite ‘Ivies’ - Newsweek.com](<a href=“http://www.newsweek.com/id/39401/page/1]America’s”>http://www.newsweek.com/id/39401/page/1)</p>
<p>Sorry - I stand corrected on the “most” are accepted… but I still think that (unless there are other good reasons to send child away), sending a kid away because of the “college application process”, is not a good reason. A little research here on CC about finding good safety schools, perusing the FA forum, borrow someone’s timeline and college comparison spreadsheet and you are good to go! ;)</p>
<p>On a bigger scale than Buxton, also in western MA and with excellent Arts program is NMH.</p>