As the results are available a new dilemma starts. My son got accepted at Peddie school, the Hill school in Episcopal school. I likes all of the above schools. I would appreciate any input for the above 3 schools.
Here are my concerns about the above schools.
Peddie school–this is my son’s favorite school. I like the school to. I did some research and my concern is the low level of students who were at the school and liked the school. This was just 55%. And the lowest in the top 40 schools. My other concern is that starting his so vigorous that my kids will not have enough time for fun activities. It appears to me to be very competitive and in someway over challenging the kids. Although academics is very important I still want my kids to have good time to.
The Hill school–this is my favorite but my son second favorite. My impression was that the school is more friendly toward the kids has good traditions in a 5-day schedule. My son is a STEMI type of care and not good at sports. So this school has too much sports.
Episcopal school–we both like the school but somewhat less then the previous 2.
I will be happy if he goes to any of the above schools. It is very important to me though that he has to be happy. Any input would be appreciated. The final decision will be my son’s choice. Thank you
Sorry for the typos. It was dictated
Your kid likes Peddie. Perhaps he is not concerned about not having enough fun - in fact, it is possible that the challenge is his idea of fun. Is that the case, or does he like Peddie better for some shallow reason, like preferring the school colors?
Your description of Peddie above does not AT ALL fit our experience over the last 4 years at Peddie. Feel free to PM me if you have any Peddie specific questions.
Thanks! Trying to find how to “PM” you.
Seems you have plenty of insight into PEDDIE and your opinion will greatly help us.
Thanks
@Gjakub01 does not have enough posts (yet) to PM, but you, @carpoolingma , can PM him. 
I would like to know more about Peddie too.
We visited Peddie during their finals week in November. I was impressed by how relaxed the students were. At some schools, everyone would be stress cases during finals. One of the biology teachers had a prep period so she showed us around her lab. Very impressive research the students are doing there.
Hill was ok but the day we visited NONE of the students we saw walking around campus were talking to each other. And it’s not like they were all on their phones either (not great but wouldn’t have struck me as odd given today’s teens).
Episcopal wasn’t on my son’s list so I don’t know anything about it.
We would’ve chosen Peddie over Hill in a heartbeat but neither showed my son any love (he’s most likely attending Webb)
Thanks for the info. You have made a very good observation about both schools.
Interestingly, we observed the exact opposite at Peddie and Hill. Both my daughter and I spend a good amount of the tours paying attention to how the students and faculty relate to each other as we pass. At Hill, almost everyone waved to each other, said hello, or acknowledged each other in some way. At Peddie, an entire table of kids in the cafe sneered at us when the tour guide brought us in there. It was actually uncomfortable for the tour guide and us.
Episcopal has very relaxed academics. Perhaps too relaxed for a straight A, ultra high achieving student? The kids we know who go there were not strong students.
The fashion/wealth culture is in top gear here. But, at least for girls, they share their stuff so if you don’t have a Gucci belt they will let you borrow one of their’s.
Sports and school spirit is high. Pictures from their (whatever the rival day is) look super fun.
D1 athlete recruits are fairly common from what I’ve been told.
There is little supervision on the weekends. Kids are absolutely getting it on (as they are at ANY boarding school) so talk with your kids before sending them to BS!
The kids I know there really like it. They are not stressed about schoolwork at all. They also occasionally text me during class…
Respectfully, the description above does not align with our family’s experience at Episcopal. My daughter turned down Middlesex to attend Episcopal, and while she has good grades, the academics are not “very relaxed”. She has to work hard to do well, but not to an unhealthy stress level. She intentionally chose EHS because it had the right (for her) mix of excellent academics, extracurriculars, and culture of healthy balance.
I think the OP has three good choices, and can’t go wrong with any of them!
WestCoast Mom,
You are right!
My son liked all 3. I have no problem him attending any of those!
We have two daughters currently at Hill. They also had a choice to make. We went to revisit at both Hill and Peddie and the answer for them, and us, was clear. Hill truly lives up to its name as “the family boarding school”. There is a great sense of community and I can’t say enough about the headmaster and his leadership. The school is investing in its infrastructure and improvements can be seen in progress around the campus. Our family is very happy with the choice. A warm and caring community. Good luck
Hi Gjakub01, first of all, congrats to you and your son on your acceptance! Like your son, I was accepted into Peddie this year as a boarder. I am not familiar with Hill or Episcopal so I can only speak for Peddie. I highly recommend you and your son go to Congratulations! 2023 - Peddie School - Private Boarding & Day School in NJ for accepted students. There you can join and watch old webinars where students and faculty answer your questions on different topics. What website are you using for your research, is it Niche. I am NOT A FAN of niche. I don’t think it is a good resource, the false report. I understand Niche ranks Peddie the highest, but I would recommend NOT looking at the rankings and deciding that way. As it relates to academics, Peddie is NOT competitive at all. The school emphasizes community with social life and academics. There is a strong sense of community and students work side by side and don’t compete. Rigor, however, is a different story. Peddie is a very rigorous school and the workload is demanding. However, students will work and study together and each student can talk to their advisor. I don’t have anything bad to say about Hill or Episocal and wish you luck and every success in the future. Good luck!
@Peddieboy This is what my son experienced as well.
@Gjakub01 Congratulations on your son’s acceptance! I was also accepted into the Hill School and Peddie when I applied for boarding schools and I am currently a junior at Peddie now. If you or your son have any quesions please feel free to reach out to me! I am also a tour guide at Peddie so I will be able to answer many questions about the school:)
how can i reach you?
@luffy8 If you have any questions about Peddie feel free to ask! I am a junior at Peddie and a tour guide
May I consult you? I read some comments in Niche. There are 11 “terrible” experience. Why does the Peddie school have this kind of impression to the students?Thanks