<p>Dogersmom, thanks so much for getting on to help me out! Your suggestions are excellent. The Meeting School, while perhaps a bit too farm oriented, is the sort of school I am hoping to hear about–small and untraditional enough to not even show up on typical search sites. Thanks to all who have posted. Putney and Proctor both seem promising! I appreciate the nod to the Quaker schools but Westtown and George, while excellent, are a bit larger and more traditionally college prep/sporty than she’d prefer. Please keep the ideas coming and thanks for all the help so far!</p>
<p>Does anyone know if Proctor would take a late application?</p>
<p>My son applied to Proctor in April following his junior year in 07. Granted, he was a standout lax player who was repeating his jr. year. He was accepted within a few days, pending us getting everything in. At the end of last spring, Proctor sent out a letter saying that they were over enrolled and what a happy position to be in (because so many kids take advantage of their overseas study opportunities, Proctor was able to fit in the extra kids).<br>
Let me know if you need more info.
zp</p>
<p>In December, we visited Buxton, Putney School, NMH and Proctor with our 10th grade daughter. The schools were vastly different from each other. So different, in fact, that she decided to only apply to Putney. She decided she either wants the best or she will just settle with her current public school. Of course, Putney is only the best for certain people, but for our daughter it is a perfect match. Some of the reasons (but you really have to be there to know) are: no final exams, no teaching to the tests, great facilities, discussion based classes (which we saw in action), liked the teachers, respect for students, intellectual atmosphere, the kids obviously liked being there, non-religious, non-militaristic, a clear philosophy of respect and non-conformity, farm work could be fun. I could tell you what we did not like about the others, but maybe contact me for that.</p>
<p>If your daughter is interested in the arts and theatre, Mercersburg is a must trip for you!!! My son is a senior at Mercersburg and we looked at 9 different boarding school. Mercersburg’s arts and theatre program is THE best we saw, including competitors such as St. Pauls, Choate, St. Andrews, Hotchiss, etc. The 600-seat theatre was completed in 2006 and is state of the art. It looks like the Kennedy Center. You will not finds a better facility at ANY boarding school. You would really be doing your daughter a disservice if you didn’t at least visit the school.</p>
<p>cweller - Just curious . . . did you visit Milton and, if so, how did it compare? Their theatre isn’t quite so large (400 seats), but nonetheless impressive, as is their theatre & dance program.</p>
<p>Hey dodgersmom,</p>
<p>I signed up just to send you a reply and ask you this question. I was really impressed that you had heard of High Mowing and the Meeting School - are you from the Monadnock area? It’s the only reason I could think that you would know those school!</p>
<p>gretchenamy - did you look to see if any of the Sudbury Valley schools have a boarding option? There’s also a new boarding school opening in Antrim, NH - and I think it’s based on TM - - -</p>
<p>My son went to Putney for 4 years after going to a Waldorf School here in southern NH. There were several other students from Waldorf schools in his class. I think that the transition went very well, and he was very happy and successful at Putney. He was able to personalize his education, and pursue his interests in music, as well as do well in other academic pursuits. I agree with others that it is important to look at the fit; a number of students are very interested in the arts and the program in dance, various forms of visual art, including blacksmithing and sculpture, theater and music are all very strong. At the same time, the students get a very good liberal arts education. It is a school where the student gets out of the school what they put in, and self-motivation and drive is a useful quality. I think that it is also a place where the students can experiment and try out a lot of new things, and that through that process they may find the direction they want to head after high school. My son now is at the Oberlin Conservatory studying voice performance.</p>
<p>I hope this is helpful.</p>
<p>You could look at Governor’s Academy in Massachusetts. When we visited there was a lot of emphasis on arts education (sports is the other big thing). My daughter had to drag me out of the art building because I was having an animated discussion with the teacher. They’d just built her a new wing just to hold the new kiln for the ceramics classes. I’ve noted that a lot of their students do well in the Scholastic Arts competition and some of the drawings and paintings I saw were amazing. They also have a state-of-the art theatre</p>
<p>Worth looking at. They fly under the radar, but the campus is on 200 acres even though there are only 380 kids there. My hubby and daughter did the revisit and although my daughter ultimately chose another school, they both loved it and liked the sense of individualized attention for each child. Dorms are small (12 girls per house).</p>
<p>Plus, once accepted my daughter began getting emails from teachers in her interest areas telling her about classes and inviting more contact from her. I thought that was wonderful. Even their acceptance package in portfolio style was the best we’d received.</p>
<p>George School outside of Philadelphia is also a Quaker School with a great arts program. Dood luck to your daughter.</p>
<p>If you are looking in PA - check out The Hill School</p>
<p>[Welcome</a> to The Hill School](<a href=“http://www.thehill.org%5DWelcome”>http://www.thehill.org)</p>
<p>Dear Oregon1,
Could you elucidate on how they were different and what your daughter thought of Buxton - in detail, if at all possible? I am asking because my daughter is in 9th grade at Buxton (having gone to a Waldorf school from K-8, and appreciating its pluses but the minuses being a lack of success in implementing some of their wonderful philosophies), and is not feeling as challenged as she had hoped. At the same time, she (and I) do not want a prep school which rigidly pursues academics for the sake of acceptance to college. Aren’t there progressive prep schools (on the East Coast) which fit these criteria?
Thanks.</p>
<p>Jl1954 - take look at Putney</p>
<p>And High Mowing, George School, Westtown, the Meeting School, and Holderness. As noted above, the first of these is a Waldorf high school, the next three are Quaker, and the last one (not mentioned earlier, I don’t believe) is just interesting and different.</p>
<p>If you’re serious about a possible transfer, I’d look at all of these, and definitely Putney!</p>
<p>Westover Girls School in CT. Top in the arts!</p>
<p>I’m a CC newcomer; I hope this thoughtful community can help me. My daughter is a freshman day student at an elite day/boarding school near Boston. She’s had a miserable year and is in the wrong place. Her grades are pretty terrible, she’s feeling lousy about herself and life at home is stressful, to say the least. Her brother graduated from the same school and she was determined to follow him. The pace at the school is too fast; the academics too rigorous and it’s just not set up to help kids like her. Tests show she has executive function challenges and yet an off the chart ability for language based learning. Math is impossible for her, science is a mystery and language is tough. English is her best subject, but still it’s hard for her to get her very sophisticated ideas out of her head and onto the page. This year she hasn’t done many extracurricuars, in order to get her grades up, and this was a mistake. The school services very well the talented artists, musicians, athletes, scientists, and actors whose gifts have emerged; it’s not so great helping a kid who don’ts know what she’s good at or really what she likes. You’ve heard that quote from Yeats - “education is not about filling up the pail, it’s about lighting the fire.” My daughter has had way too much of the former and not enough of the latter. We’re looking for a school that can help.
She’s interested in changing schools; it’s probably too late for next fall. She may have to return for 10th grade and then repeat the year when she changes schools. We’re looking at some Boston area schools that offer more of the kind of academic support she needs, but we’re also thinking about a boarding school. I’m hoping you might be able to help me begin a list of places in New England. She’ll need support - organization help and help preparing for tests and writing papers. She’s a good skier but wouldn’t want to be in a place with a bunch of elite ski kids who have been racing competitively for years. She’s an okay soccer player, but is proablaby more interested in trying performance or dance, but hasn’t ever really done it so is a bit self-conscious. She’s not really outdoorsy; doesn’t care for camping or hiking. She gravitates toward authentic kids, and likes the diversity of her current school. She’s nervous about other places being too preppy and too rich. Having said all of that, she’s pretty open, and I can imagine a transformative experience in the right setting. She’s looking for a new start and a place that would help her grow and discover herself. Oh all you wise CC sages, do you have any advice?</p>
<p>How about:</p>
<p>Chapel Hill-Chauncey Hall
Ethel Walker School
Northfield Mount Hermon
Proctor Academy
Putney School
Tilton School
Wilbraham & Monson Academy</p>
<p>According to Boarding School Review, these schools all support “Learning Differences.” I think they all have rolling application deadlines, so it can’t hurt to call. Some of the schools show up on the SCCA list (schools currently considering applications) (Chapel Hill-chauncey Hall, Ethel Walker, and Wilbraham & Monson Academy): [SSAT</a> - Finding a School](<a href=“http://www.ssat.org/ssat/info/search-main.html]SSAT”>http://www.ssat.org/ssat/info/search-main.html). </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>If you are full pay, you may have a chance at a swift late transfer (because financial aid goes pretty quickly during regular admissions). I would call the schools mentioned, and see if any are willing to accept an application. 10th grade is a lot more demanding than 9th in most of the academically oriented schools, so time to move may be best now, for next fall. How about a 9th grade repeat? That will give her the best chance to plug in and find her place in the new school, and the crummy current grades may not impact college as much.</p>