<p>Both my girls have been accepted at Newark Academy and Kent Place. One is accepted at Pingry, we are still waiting for a decision on the other who is applying at a non-entry point. </p>
<p>Both girls are academically advanced. I will not be surprised if they performed very well at any of these schools. While Pingry with its great Ivy placement and a very rigorous curriculum was always a favorite, my daughters came back extremely impressed with Kent Place as well. </p>
<p>If athletic recruitment and legacy admissions are raising Pingry's stats, then it might put the girls at a disadvantage. (Not being Ivy-centric necessarily, but a disadvantage cannot be discounted). Additionally the girls are more confident of being academically at the top, and are more nervous about sports, though both are good athletes and dream of playing for the school ( soccer, lacrosse or squash ). Is the competiton to be in a team higher at Pingry than Kent Place or Newark Academy? Any other pros and cons of these schools?</p>
<p>Appreciate your comments and thoughts very much.</p>
<p>My son applied to Newark, Pingry and Delbarton. He was accepted in Newark, Delbarton and in waiting for Pingry. We decided for Delbarton due to distance, friend, nantional recognition and better Ivy Placements.</p>
<p>Newark, Pingry, Kent Place all are good schools. Newark is latest upcoming school whereas Pingry has long history and well known so as Kent Place but it is girls only school.</p>
<p>I would look at differently. I had the same situation for my son. My son is very good in academics but average at sports. Delbarton being more sports oriented, I decided to send him to delbarton since I know no matter where he goes he will excel in academic since he is more inclined in academics but I wanted him to get better him in sports since DB can give him better competitive environment than others. I could be wrong but this was my rationale.</p>
<p>For NA, I have couple of close friends and their kids goes to NA. NA is very high academic focused and less in sports.</p>
<p>Look at the Washington Post 2013 High School Challenge Index for New Jersey. Among the private schools Newark Academy, Pingry and MKA have released the challenge index numbers. Among all schools in New Jersey, private or public, that have released its numbers Newark Academy is the most challenging school in New Jersey. Pingry is ranked 4 and MKA is ranked 28.</p>
<p>Some of the reasons why Newark Academy is the most challenging school in New Jersey are</p>
<p>1) Many students finish or start AP Calculus in their freshman year
2) Many students do AP US history in their sophomore year. They do it in one year instead of 2 years like most schools
3) There are always a couple of students that do both chemistry honors and physics honors as a sophomore
4) There are always a couple of students that do either AP language as a sophomore or senior language as a sophomore
5) There are students who do IB Physics HL and IB Chemistry HL as a junior.
6) Many students take AP english as a junior
7) NA has the strongest music program. The competition jazz band has competed in two national contest in the last two years. And has been the state Jazz champion in the last 4 or 5 years.
8) The math department always offers either differential calculus or multivariate calculus every year.</p>
<p>KP, NA, and Pingry are all great schools academically, although many would say KP is a 1/4 notch below NA and Pingry. With Pingry, you get a very blue blood, preppy, old money crowd from New Vernon, Far Hills, Bedminster. If you are in that crowd, you will love it. If not, you will feel out of synch. Newark Academy draws from eastern NJ and has a slightly differnt demographics reflective of Livingston, Essex Fells, Madison, South Orange. Both schools are about the same academically. Don’t read placements in any one or two years as gospel because some years NA does better and some years Pingry does better. NA has better sports programs and a better music/theater program. NA was the first school in NJ that offered the IB degree. As I said, KP is a bit below NA and Pingry on all measures. However, it is well known and appreciated for producing very nice, well-rounded kids and has a less intense atmosphere. I know many girls who went there and they are all poised, smart people who went on to do great things.</p>
<p>Kent place does not offer chemistry honors or physics honors. This will prevent students from taking the SAT subject tests until they take the corresponding AP class. </p>
<p>This means a student will be unable to submit SAT physics test results for college applications because physics is taught during the junior year.</p>
<p>There are a lot of tests to take for the college. It’s best to spread out all these tests throughout high school instead of cramming it in in the junior year.</p>
<p>If chemistry honors were offered then the student can take the the SAT chemistry test during the end of the sophomore year.</p>