<p>Hi everyone,</p>
<p>I am trying to help come up with a list of schools for a girl who is currently a freshman in public school. She is very creative, excels in photography. She is not a strong student and needs a school with structure (study halls etc). Any ideas?</p>
<p>Miss Porter's has an excellent photography program. Overall, I am impressed with the varied arts offerings. New studnets have required study halls. Not sure of the chances, though, for an underachieving student. There are many variables.</p>
<p>That is one on the list. I also thought of millbrook. possibly westover. any other thoughts?</p>
<p>What about Walnut Hill? or is that just performing arts?<br>
I really don't know much about it other than it was a potential school for a classmate of my son's who is an amazing muscian.</p>
<p>walnut hill does not have much structure- I know because my daughter applied there, did a summer session there, and also my dear friends son went there.</p>
<p>There is a small Waldorf boarding school in NH - High Mowing School. I do not know much about the structure component, but it is most certainly geared toward the artistic student. A friend of ours has a son who goes there as a day student; he is an accomplished classical guitarist.</p>
<p>thank you keylyme, that is one I have never heard of!</p>
<p>Have you checked out Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan? According to their website:
***"Located in Michigan, Interlochen Arts Academy visual and performing arts high school is a close-knit community of the world's most talented and motivated student artists. Students immerse themselves in music, theatre, dance, visual arts, creative writing, motion picture arts and rigorous academics in a college-like setting.</p>
<p>The Academy is a fast-paced, creative environment that challenges and inspires. Under the guidance of an exceptional faculty of artists and educators, the Academy offers students the resources they need to achieve the highest possible artistic, intellectual and ethical standards as individuals and as responsible members of a diverse community."***</p>
<p>interlochen sounds the best, in my opinion, for her needs.</p>
<p>I second Shelly's comments re: MPS. </p>
<p>Friends (whose Ds are current MPS students) have urged us to appy and we probab will - - but I worry b/c the literature doesn't suggest that is has the support I want for D. DH was troubled by what he characterized as "repeated references to 'rigor' and 'Ivy League' matriculations. Our frineds, insist that the Ivy League matrics are overstated [not uncommon occurance among BSs]. But the fact that "Academic Support" rec'd so little space in the viewbook and on the website still gives me pause. (I will be discussing this w/ MPS parents next week and I am happy to report back, if anyone is interested).</p>
<p>I also like Miss Hall's - - same % of boarders as MPS and also in a small city (Pittsfield, MA), but smaller and w/ a special (extra fee) academic support prgm. I don't anticipate D needing such a prgm, but the presence of such suggests less reliance on peer tutors than other schs - - and maybe a bit less rigorous than MPS.</p>
<p>Finally, I recall there being at least a few interesting schs in NH and VT (not too small or too "loose," some w/ great art). A quick TABS search by state will generate a full list (about 20 shcs). I don't recall the names b/c we dropped NH/VT early on, primarily b/c of location (we want D w/i a 3-4 hr drive from home).</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>NMH has historically had a strong arts/music program and they have a beautiful new facility. </p>
<p>Also, Concord Academy has an artistic bent.</p>
<p>Miss Hall's is not artsy. Although it has a range of students and some academic support, it's cirriculum is very traditional and traditionally taught. I know "out of the box" kinds of girls who have been very unhappy there. I'm not saying it's a bad school, but I wouldn't put it on list for an "artsy" kid.</p>
<p>Does NMH still have block-type progrqamming? If so, I'm not sure NMH would be a good match for a not-so-academic kid - - especially if the student is weak in a academic area where sequencing is important (ie: too much of a gap b/c intro and intermed lang courses, or gap b/c sci and the prereq or coreq math class).</p>
<p>Yes, NMH operates on a semester system with 3 blocks per semester.</p>
<p>Yes! Interlochen is a school I HIGHLY recommend for the type of student you're describing! I have some friends (including my own mother!) who have gone to Interlochen for their marching band/performing arts summer courses, and have absolutely loved it! </p>
<p>If the girl seems to be interested in continuing with an arts major in college, I think you should ask her to consider Interlochen. If she seems unsure, though, I wouldn't be as encouraging, considering Interlochen has left me with the opinion that they are a bit more arts-oriented than academically focused. I can't be sure of this, though, as I have never actually visited the school on my own.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>my daughter went to NMH for four years and it would not work for this kid. she needs a much smaller school with a lot of support.
I also should have stated that she needs to stay in new england- thus interlochen is not a possibility although I agree with you all that it is a great school. </p>
<p>nyc- do you remember which in vermont etc looked very artsy?</p>
<p>Is it Putney, maybe, in Vermont?</p>
<p>The Cambridge School of Weston is very artsy, progressive, and I don't know how structured it is, but I'm sure you could find out.</p>
<p>drnancie,</p>
<p>Walnut Hill lacks a certain amount of academic structure, I think, but its fine arts and performing arts programs are pretty rigorous and well-defined. I have heard from WH students that the school is typically very successful in getting its students admitted to top fine arts programs at the college level, and the students I know who have graduated have gotten some really impressive acceptances from top design schools. I don't say this because college acceptance is the be-all end-all of a high school experience :) , but because it suggests that the arts programs at WH has at least some real quality and rigor. (I've tutored several kids from WH in various academic subjects.)</p>
<p>To the OP, one thing you may want to consider. Fine arts programs are a great fit for many students but they tend to be something of a high-risk, high-return proposition in my experience. In order to spend a lot of time on arts, students have to spend less time on academics, which means that when it comes to applying to college, their choices are limited. </p>
<p>I had one really excellent student, for instance, who decided the summer before her senior year that she wanted to go to a good four-year university with a strong arts program instead of going to an all-arts or all-design program like RISD. After spending four years in an arts-focused high school, she wasn't sure any more that she wanted to be a designer for the rest of her life, and she wanted a chance to explore other options. But at that point, her academic skills were weak enough that she didn't get in to the good four-year universities to which she applied, even though she worked really hard to raise her SATs. (Her top choice was Carnegie Mellon.) At the same time, she got into several of the most prestigious fine arts schools in the nation. . . although, ironically, they weren't her top choices. She's now at a truly excellent industrial design program, and I think she's happy. But she really felt that she had paid a price for specializing at an early age.</p>
<p>Who knows how she will feel about her choice when she's forty? :) It may have been the perfect decision for her. It's just something to keep in mind.</p>
<p>It's possible that some arts schools have great academics as well as great fine arts programs. A school like that would really enable your student to keep her options open. But I would ask around and make sure before committing. If you can get your hands on a high school's college matriculation data, and there are a ton of top arts programs but very few strong four-year colleges and universities, you can also be pretty sure that your D will be putting all her eggs in one basket if she chooses to attend that school. But again, this is not necessarily the wrong choice--only something for you and her to weigh. :)</p>
<p>Good luck finding a great fit!</p>
<p>CSW is quite progressive and has a block schedule (at least it did until very recently, don't have a student there this year). Block schedules are both structured and progressive, I guess; in my opinion, they can be perfect for creative thinkers because they provide variety and room to pursue passions. I did have a student there who did photography and loved the program, but it wasn't his great passion in life (more of a hobby), so I can't be sure how your daughter would find it. I think the school is worth considering for sure, though.</p>
<p>And, as per my earlier post :) , if your daughter isn't super-certain about committing to a fine arts college/career, CSW might give her a chance to be herself, develop her artistic talents, and excel on her own terms <em>while</em> building an academic foundation.</p>