<p>Hi!</p>
<p>Just recently we've decided to look into boarding schools. No one in our family has ever attended a BS and I'm a little overwhelmed. </p>
<p>My daughter is currently in the 7th grade, attends a progressive private school in NYC where no letter grades are given. Her reports are always great but she's not the best test taker. She's had a full educational Eval and has no learning disability but has a mild issue with higher order Learning (slow processing and executive functioning). This has shown to be very mild. She has learned "tools" and has improved so much. According to her teachers she's a great student, works well with everyone and is the kid most classmates go to for help. Progressive schools aren't big with standardized test but they have given her two mock tests. She's done middle of the road. Her IQ and standardized test scored don't match (IQ is superior according to her Neuropsych Eval. Not sure if IQ means anything but just trying to give you a picture of my daughter. She will have extended time on her ISEE and SSAT. </p>
<p>She's a very talented artist (art teacher say she has raw talent) and art is her passion. She also sings with a professional chorus. Another passion is Chess which she's been training in for 6 yrs. She also is involved with community service which she loves to do. She also loves science. </p>
<p>What BS are good for the artsy kid, who has a great personality, adults love her, loves the working with others, loves to learn, good student? </p>
<p>I'm just trying to find where to start. Her teacher think she would do great in BS. </p>
<p>Thx so much for your help</p>
<p>I would suggest looking into a Quaker school, like George School. My kids have both attended a Quaker K-8 school and the way that the ideals are manifest in the schools is that there is genuine appreciation for the value that each person brings to the community. They are most definitely academically rigorous places, and my DD came out of her time at her Quaker school with excellent study skills (she’s now at a HADES school and succeeding academically, despite coming from an environment that was not very big on tests and homework). </p>
<p>We visited George and I thought it was a wonderful place. My DD felt she wanted something different after being in a Friends school through 8th grade, which I could certainly understand.</p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>Friendly mom…thanks so much! I do have the quaker schools on my radar. What I read on The George school site sounds lovely. Her progressive has done a great job with getting them used to weekly tests and what I consider heavy homework. My daughter is a self starter, homework on time and not an issue…good study habits, etc. </p>
<p>She’s very excited to look at schools and did love the virtual tour of The George school</p>
<p>I would suggest looking into Junior Boarding Schools. A list and more info can be found at [Home</a> - JUNIOR BOARDING SCHOOLS are independent elementary and middle schools with a boarding program for middle school students.](<a href=“http://www.jbsa.org%5DHome”>http://www.jbsa.org).</p>
<p>Photographermom, thanks for your suggestion but we are looking for an 9th grade entry.</p>
<p>Many kids enroll just for 9th. JBS offers expert Secondary School placement, seamless transition to SS and many, many other wonderful benefits. My kids went 7-9th and loved it. Just wanted to throw it out as an alternative. I know two kids who applied to both JBS and SS for 9th this year because they wanted more options M10 and they’d be happy either way.</p>
<p>Another option would be to apply for Stanford’s OHS. It is not a boarding school, but this would give her a flexible schedule to pursue her other interests. The con is that there is not much peer interaction.</p>
<p>Thank you…she’s really hoping for boarding school. I found her mock tests scores…she had stanine scores of 7,7,6. We will be applying to city day schools too.</p>
<p>(First a disclaimer, I am looking for advice just like you, so this advice is just from looking at Boarding School information, not first hand knowledge ;-)</p>
<p>If your daughter is a talent, and art is her passion, Interlochen Arts Academy might be a school to look at.
Best of luck, I hope you find the perfect fit!</p>
<p>Thanks Kymomndad! I just took a peak and saw the school is in Mi…too far. I just got my husband to agree to BS but he wouldn’t agree to something that far. I’m hoping to to keep her as close as 3-3.5 hrs by car.</p>
<p>Well, Blair is certainly close to you, and has been a <em>superb</em> choice for our child (current student), but it is very hard for me to say whether it would be a good fit for your daughter, as I have not met her. There are so many wonderful boarding schools. Perhaps consider meeting with an educational consultant…a good one can be invaluable in assessing your daughter and suggesting good fits.</p>
<p>Requesting viewbooks is a great way to start once you have a few schools in mind! :)</p>
<p>I would start with your school’s secondary school counselor. Most NYC private schools have lots of knowledge about different boarding schools for all kinds of kids. Also, while I don’t think it is usually necessary, I would look into a consultant who might know of schools that would provide the kind of academic environment that would support your daughter and make her shine. Do you have friends whose children remind you of your daughter? That is also a good place to start.</p>
<p>24daffodils, AmbiD77 and Ironmom1…thank you all for your suggestions!</p>
<p>24daffodils…can I ask you if your daughter boards? If so does it bother her that half of the students are day students?(as per their website).</p>
<p>Also do you know if the kids call the teachers formally or by first names? Is there a formal dress code for class? </p>
<p>I was looking on their site and didn’t see this info. It was early in the mornings so maybe I missed that.</p>
<p>Thanks so much</p>
<p>Check out Miss Porter’s School. They have a very strong arts program; small and supportive school.</p>
<p>And also look at Dana Hall (Wellesley, MA).</p>
<p>Putney is worth a look, though I think it is just outside your 3.5 hour radius. Emma Willard took my non-traditional (on and off homeschooled) student, who is thriving. One of their best flexible strengths is the Practicum program (independent study in an area of interest, whether academic, artistic, sports, etc.). Troy is about 2.5 hours from NYC.</p>