<p>No bashing please. This thread for parents who have gone through what i have gone through and do not have an Ivy league child or the Ivy league money.......</p>
<p>I have a daughter who is interested in a good boarding school and it doesn't have to the Preppy grand daddy of them all. She is in 6th grade. She is a little on the mature side but could use a ton of work with organization and motivation. Her grades are okay and of a normal 6th grader going through hormonal changes in our very urban area. This year her grades were mostly B's with C in math and on a good grading period a couple of A's in there. I work and so does my husband in a lower middle class job so we would have to apply for financial aid when or if the time comes. Just wondering if any of you know of a good school that is a good fit for her. A school that will teach her about being a good leader, help her socially get prepared for college, and help motivate her.
I just remember what it was like when I was in school. I was not an idiot but I just did just enough to get by and I want to make sure my daughter has more chances than I did. Any advice would be appreciated.</p>
<p>If what you are interested in is a program that is relatively more challenging in an academic sense than the standard public high school, I propose that one option is to investigate whether your public district offers an International Baccalaureate (IB) program. This refers to a curriculum that is as challenging as what most boarding schools offer. If such a program is offerred by your public district, then your daughter would be surrounded by relatively motivated, intelligent children. We looked at the IB program in our district for my son, and were impressed with the students and their parents. Most were middle or lower middle class, yet they were a step above and ahead of what one comes across in most public schools. They seemed to represent a select group. Finally, most reputable colleges have high regard for the IB curriculum.</p>
<p>Also wanted a away to socially prepare her for being out on her own. Without me constantly being her cheerleader every step of the way. I think this will prepare her better for college. Know any programs that might help us. For ex boarding school for a year?</p>
<p>Pan’s idea is a good one, but her is another.
She gets B’s in what kind of school district?
Your answer will give us an idea whether a second tier or a third tier academic BS is appropriate to start with. You know she could get all A’s in 7th & 8th grade and score 700’s in her SSAT’s right? That would change her scenario immensely.
It’s a little premature to start looking at schools. I would explain to her how getting better grades will get her into a better BS, and studying for the SSAT’s will also help alot. See what you can do to motivate her. Try to find a mentor/tutor for her at her school. This site won’t go away come back when you see what she is doing next winter.</p>
<p>Am I mistaken in interpreting your post to mean that you have to prod and coax her to do her work? That she is not intrinsically motivated, but requires encouragement? Well that could easily change with time on its own, because she is nearly three years from high school. I think any of the schools that you read about in this community (and many that you do not read about) will offer a challenging environment in which she will have the opportunity to develop in every realm. On the other hand, if she has little or no motivation, then I am doubtful that any of these schools would accept her, much less offer her aid. Did I misunderstand you?</p>
<p>She goes to Kipp Charter School in Houston. And I mean I have to constantly remind her to not do half ass work, to study, and to ask for help when she needs it…
And like I said I know she is not HADES material just trying to see what all of our options are for the best opportunities for a quality education.</p>
<p>What kind of charter school is Kipp? Is it academically challenging? If so her Bs are not so bad! You may want to consider having her repeat a year when she goes to BS which would give her time to mature for organization and motivation’s sake. </p>
<p>Also, are you looking for junior boarding schools or 9th grade bs?</p>
<p>Well, I think that Sarum will agree that if you “have to remind her not to do half ass work” she will not do well in an academically challenging environment on her own unless she changes in the next few years. Does she want to go away to school? It is probably too early to tell, right, because she is over two years away from high school?</p>
<p>I think the biggest question here is whether there would be a school that would give you enough aid. I know in the day school world it would not happen, the top schools have most of the money and the lower tier schools save what they have for athletes and students who can bring up their stats and be the ivy admits on their matriculation lists.</p>
<p>Others can tell you better if this is also the case in the BS world.</p>
<p>It seems that we are all converging on a consensus that she must improve her performance in order to get aid a boarding school. Be that as it may, she has a few years to do it in.</p>
<p>She does want to go away to school. We are researching and looking at options for 9th grade or high school. For boarding schools, summer programs, schools that will help.
Kipp is challenging. She has 2 hours or more homework a night but really most of the time she doesn’t mind it. She’ll do it but whether its her best work is another story.</p>
<p>I think that many NE boarding schools have connections with KIPP students and the KIPP program. Some even have summer programs for middle school kids. I think that Deerfield Academy has a summer program for KIPP. Check with KIPP and find out which schools have programs for your daughter. It’s great you’re looking into this now, so that your daughter can apply for a summer program next year.
Here’s an article about the KIPP program in SF (note that Deerfield has enrolled 14 kids from KIPP).
[abc7news.com:</a> KIPP Charter Schools Show Remarkable Progress 10/12/07](<a href=“http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/focus_on_solutions&id=5702563]abc7news.com:”>http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/focus_on_solutions&id=5702563)</p>
<p>Well, as far as I understand, there is no aid for summer programs, and a five week summer program runs about six thousand, excluding travel and incidentals. Houston is the second or third largest metropolis in the country. There must be SOME OUTSTANDING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE PUBLIC SYSTEM!</p>
<p>Last year there was financial aid for summer programs. </p>
<p>I know that Exeter and Andover both offered full FA for last year’s summer programs. You’d have to check this fall when you’re getting ready to apply for summer programs.</p>
<p>pan- did my homework on that a little there is aid for summer programs especially for Kipp students. I appreciate all of your input and will check this daily for more ideas. There are opportunities in the public school system also. You are absolutely right but trying to come up with as many options as we possibly can. I want her to be informed of her realistic options. I disagree I think 6th grade is an excellent time to start discussing and looking at those options. I thought of IB and early college programs also. Thanks for the input on that as well. It is good to have different opinions on those programs. This is started to become one of my favorite sites. Good info.
No excuses. No shortcuts.</p>
<p>KIPP was founded by a SPS grad and one of the admission’s officers worked at a KIPP school. </p>
<p>I think going to a summer program is a good way for your d to get a realistic taste of the high level of scholarship required to succeed at a boarding school. But don’t limit your options to just the “HADES” schools. Miss Porter’s has a summer program for girls, one is a leadership program, Mercersburg also has a summer program. But you need to make sure your d is interested in boarding school and it is not just your idea. </p>
<p>You may want to look into programs such as the ABC program, but your d is going to have to do better with her grades to be accepted by a program like ABC.</p>
<p>Boarding school is definetely not my idea. It would be easier on my family financially and emotionally with her home. KIPP has talked it up so much though that she wants to go. But she is typically a child that wants things but lacks motivation to do what has to be done. Thats why its important to look at all options. Totally agree with you emdee. Although I know it would probably be easier on our family in the short term I know there are benefits long term for boarding school. I also know HADES is not the only pretty pony at the show hence is why I am on this website looking for more and better insights for our situation. Never heard of the ABC program. Will check into that this morning.</p>
<p>Trobins5, I recommend that you begin talking with your available contacts at your daughter’s KIPP school. The KIPP people are very adept at making their case to philanthropists. They also, by this point, have placed many children into prep schools. For all I know, KIPP may not give out As easily, and your daughter could be a strong candidate. </p>
<p>I think that this site tends to set the bar very high, as to applicants’ perceived records. I would say that a sixth grader has time to grow and mature.</p>
<p>The wonderful thing about boarding schools is the peer pressure to get things done. They teach organization skills, self motivation, and that get up and go that most every teenager is short on. It is easier for neutral third parties to teach these tough lessons then nagging parents. If she is willing, go for it.</p>
<p>The HADES schools don’t have a lock on good education, growth and community. There are many many wonderful private schools.</p>