We are trying to help our daughter pick between Lville and SGS. And I know, they could not be more different schools!! She is leaning toward one of them, and that’s where my husband and I also see her, but I want to make sure we are giving both schools a fair shot. Would love any personal experiences / advice etc!!
To help you all know what we are looking for, our daughter is smart (aren’t they all??), hard working, LOVES learning, and is at the top of her current class. While she’s dying not to be “the smartest kid in her class” anymore, we think she’d be happiest if she’s still in the top 25-30% off the class. She absolutely loves reading and prefers to do that over pretty much anything else. She is neither super social (but does have a great group of close friends who also love learning and reading), nor is she super athletic (but does play sports casually). In my head SGS is super social and Lville is super athletic, but I’m happy to hear actual experiences. She also loves art and music (clarinet), and animals! 
Our goal for all of this has been for her to find a school where she is academically challenged, but not consistently overwhelmed, and a place where she can find her “tribe”.
To me there is no better location or atmosphere than St George’s in the nation.
The students are really bright too but it will be that way for her at either school.
I’m a student at Lawrenceville. I briefly looked at SGS’s website and it was really impressive, but I’ll present the pros for going to Lawrenceville:
First, Lawrenceville academics aren’t easy for even the top of the class. At the same time, very few students are overwhelmed by the academics because teachers help a lot (there’s a designated period every day called consultation where you ask questions). I’m sure a middle school standout won’t have extreme difficulties at Lawrenceville, but she will be challenged at times, and this will help her grow as a student.
Next, if you go to Lawrenceville, your writing will improve incredibly. Lawrenceville classes hone your writing skills because you write essays in many subjects (including science and math sometimes). You also learn how to write essays for different subjects (an English paper has different focuses than a History paper for example). The focus on writing will help students later on at life.
Lawrenceville is pretty athletic I agree. About 90% of students I would say are very fit, but there’s not an extreme focus on sports and athletics. I think academics are more important than athletics for most students. There is a requirement that you have to play a sport every term, but this could be going to the gym 3 times a week for an hour and running on a treadmill for a bit or doing whatever exercise. Also, you don’t need prior experience for a lot of the JV teams, I’m sure a casual athlete will be able to find a sport and do well.
In terms of social life, Lawrenceville sets up new students really well. All freshman girls are in one dorm, and all freshman boys are in another dorm across from them. There are a lot of activities during orientation that allows students to meet.
Lawrenceville has multiple jazz bands and multiple orchestras, I think a clarinet would play in the orchestra, but I’m not exactly sure.
So helpful, @sdtkd03 !
Both great schools. As you describe your D, I see SGS as being the better fit. It sounds like she may get a little lost at Lville and that she likes to be recognized/acknowledged for her achievement /talent. Overall, this will be easier at SGS.
In any case, both awesome choices.
@stdk03
Thank you! She has in fact, chosen Lville! We are busy getting together a “must buy” list for her to work on over the next few months. A few questions, if you don’t mind. I actually went to Lville myself, but can’t remember the exact furnishings in the dorms. What furniture do the second form single rooms have?? Are you allowed to put the beds on risers? And are “fairy” lights allowed? Also how does the dorm room lottery work? My daughter will actually have legacy for Cromwell, (Dean Eldridge reminded me of that on our visit, as he and I were classmates) though I’m not sure she’ll use it . Finally, is farming really an option for a sport in the fall? That might be right up her alley.
As for dorm rooms, most rooms for 2nd form boys and girls are singles (they’ll be like 2 rooms for each gender that are doubles). All the girls are in the same dorm/house called Dawes, but Dawes is “split” between Cromwell and Perry Ross. It really doesn’t matter which one you are in that is more of an organizational thing.
The dorms have a bed, a desk, and a chest of drawers. Rooms also have a closet.
Farming is an option for a sport in the fall (and the spring). On around the third day of school, the head of athletics explains the options you have to fulfill the athletic requirement. Other than interscholastic sports, there’s “lifetime fitness” (you go to the gym 3 times a week) and things like stage crew and Big Red Farm.