We know nothing about prep schools but know our currently homeschooled 8th grader is going to run out of high school math soon (in calculus now, already made a perfect score on math SAT and has done very well in various math competitions)) so we thought to look around at schools for advanced math. We are open to anywhere geographically in the US or Europe, and we would consider relocating for the right school. Finances are a huge concern, so we would be especially interested in schools with awesome math programs that have financial aid packages for middle class folks (pipe dream?), geographic scholarships, or merit scholarships. Please be gentle, this is my first post here. Thank you for any suggestions on where to start.
The top prep schools have the flexibility in curriculum to handle very advanced math students.
Whether financial aid is available will depend on how you define middle class, what kind of assets you have, family size, etc. Some schools do offer geographic scholarships. What state are you in? Merit scholarships in general are few and far between.
You will be surprised by how many schools can accommodate a child with this kind of ability. Can you tell us a little bit more about what you are looking for for him? Are you looking for a place that will encourage his interests in non math fields? social life? Sports? Music?
We’re in California.
He’s not into sports, but he does love languages. He’s pretty shy unless he’s with other kids who share his interests then he’s outgoing. We most want him to have peers to do math with and teachers who can encourage him because it is becoming more and more difficult to accomplish in our small town. We’d like for him to have a well-rounded high school education…he’s kind of a polymath, so he is basically interested in any subject about which the teacher is passionate and knowledgeable.
I don’t think you will find any geographic scholarships for CA. It is a well represented state.
Start by looking at Phillips Exeter, Phillips Andover, Choate, St. Paul’s School to name a few.
In your state, Cate and Thacher are well-regarded schools but I can’t speak to their math programs.
St. Paul’s School has a regional scholarship for students from California and Wyoming: https://www.sps.edu/page/admission/regional-scholarships/burke-scholarship-california-and-wyoming
I did not find that most prep schools could handle this kind of math need. Most prep schools were quite up front about that at the time of application and more than one told us to look elsewhere. I appreciated their honesty. Andover and Exeter were the only schools we visited that could accommodate this need and felt there would be other kids with the same need as my child didn’t want to do independent study for years alone. Relocation to SF was not an option for us, but Proof School is SF is run by some fabulous folks and I know many who have been happy with it and high level math is routine there. It is a day school. If your child is entering 8th, it is too late for this, but the Caroline Bradley scholarship covers tuition at any high school and is independent of financial need. You have to be in 7th grade to apply for it though. There are special scholarships at other schools that can help – some prep schools offer merit scholarships but you have to balance the need for the math with the offerings at those schools.
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Gungablue, what did you end up doing?
It depends on what your son is looking for and how talented he is in math. Has he qualified for AIME yet? USAMO yet, or do you expect him to qualify for USAMO in the next year or two?
If he wants to be with the very most talented kids there are only a few choices, honestly. In California there is Harker and the Proof School. A few public high schools in or around Silicon Valley (Saratoga High School in particular has some extraordinarily talented kids). There are always two or three extraordinary kids at Davidson Academy in Reno.
In prep schools, there’s really only Exeter, which is literally in a different class from any other school as far as competition kids go. Andover is also strong but nowhere near Exeter. None of the other schools has a competition program worth mentioning imo.
If competition is not the focus, look for a school with a good relationship with local colleges. Andover and Exeter can both provide four years of math for kids who come in already having mastered elementary calculus. So can Harker, Proof and Davidson (where kids can go as far as they want in the regular undergraduate curriculum at University of Nevada at Reno). At most other schools, it’s going to be independent study or dual enrollment with a nearby college/university.
PM me if you want more details because I have a son who sounds similar (done with Calculus in 8th grade, 790 math SAT , etc.). Best of luck!
Stanford OHS is also an option.
I’m happy to discuss our choices further with PM. I agree with SatchelSF that Exeter has a well-developed competition math program if that is your focus and that is not a huge focus at other schools. But there are multiple kids at Andover who took calculus in middle school and there are options for courses if your child wants more access to higher level math but is not excited about spending much of high school prepping for USAMO. Typically, kids at Andover take multivariable and linear algebra after calculus and then math seminars which change every term and cover a wide variety of topics. Relationship with a college can be helpful if that is a “real” option, but you need to make sure it is a real option. At Lawrenceville, there is a Princeton relationship which sounds fabulous on paper, but in reality, it appeared almost impossible to make happen unless you lived locally and were willing to drive the student back and forth.
Totally agree that Stanford OHS would be a worthwhile option.
I would probably look for any strong STEM school, public or private, where he can continue to participate in the math competitions. While his academic/math abilities can help with admission into the top private schools, these schools tend to look for more than academics…extracurriculars/personality. This year 3 out of 12 USAMO winners are from Phillips Exeter Academy. See this: https://www.maa.org/sites/default/files/HonorableMentions2017.pdf
While there are certainly students with high level math skills at say PEA and there is definitely room for accommodation it is somewhat limited in my opinion. PEA and most of the top schools are not there to accommodate and nurture students with one-off skills,passions, aptitudes etc. The whole premise of most of these prep schools is well rounded kids with broad and deep skills sets and interests. I have observed that many very talented and exceptionally qualified students have been waitlisted or rejected at PEA and PA because they were too limited in scope of interest. So even though PEA is really into STEM skills they will also want you in a traditional Harkness classroom and playing a sport…They want little renaissance people. My comments address two things: 1)chance of admittance and 2)the ability to do truly independent work.
Thanks, Center. That’s helpful information and sets realistic expectations. I would consider him a little Renaissance guy except for the sports- he likes to participate but lacks coordination. He has significant accomplishments in volunteer work, music, and other subject areas but math is the thing where we are most seeing unmet needs.
The Math/Science magnet programs that some states offer (Illinois, VA, ??) seem best for him, but I think you’d have to already live in the state in 8th during the application process. In CA it seems like there would be a lot for these mathy kids. Does he also have interest in STEM activities like Robotics? That may keep him busy in a way that involves a team.
To me, sounds like Exeter would be good for him. With the numbers at Exeter, does every student really play a sport (and not get cut?). Do they have any non-competitive sport option?
I’d also start researching math magnet programs ASAP…maybe there is one he can get into if you move (and they may sometimes be free).
At Choate your son might be able to take math at Yale. There are many, many freshmen currently in Pre-Calc so he won’t be alone. The math team places above Andover and Exeter
The boarding schools, including several beyond Exeter, can offer your child instruction that will meet his needs. It’s more a matter of do you want him to be more one-sided, spending a lot of time competing in things like USAMO or more of that renaissance kid, getting instruction at his level but engaged in a broad array of academic and extracurricular areas.
At several of the top schools, you’re child will not be alone for his age in his level of math aptitude.
I have a student like that. She scored a perfect score on Math SAT and SAT II. It came down to Choate and Exeter as best schools. She liked the teachers better at Choate, one in particular who taught BC Calc who worked in the industry and taught in his spare time. She has tutored students at Harvey Mudd.
Exeter and most of the schools mentioned here could be a great fit for your son. We have kids who excelled at math as well and have had multiple attend and graduate from Exeter. Feel free to pm me with questions.
With the way admissions and financial aid go, it can’t hurt to apply to all the schools referenced and see how it plays out. You don’t need to make decisions until acceptances and offers are in hand- good luck. Our journey to Prep school started very much like yours- looking for a great fit for our advanced kids!
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Just to reiterate, Choate’s varsity math team outranks Andover and Exeter. They are not geographically too close to any universities, we are less than twenty minutes away from Yale