Private High Schools in New Jersey

My kids didn’t play sports, but they had one major EC they were close being professions. They did the EC outside of school. I also know many students from my kid’s school who were admitted to Ivies and top 20 schools were athletic recruits and most of them did their sports outside of school (club level?). Therefore I am not sure if I would necessary choose a school because of sports.

Oldfort- couldn’t agree with you more. Exactly the point I was making. Different kids will thrive or benefit from different environments.

Sunnyschool- thanks for proving my point. The ranking you showed is a survey that has Delbarton number two with MB at one. I am sure you took note of the fact that the greatest determinant was parent and student input. Stated differently the kids and parents at Delbarton still love their athletic program while being the most successful based upon championships. If you dig a little deeper that ranking is in there as well. Not even the most fervent MB supporter would suggest they compete with Delbarton.

Here it is. That was last year but this year won both State hockey and soccer championships and ranked number one at lacrosse.

http://www.nj.com/hssn-mms/2017/06/njcoms_completely_subjective_t.html

Wait, so now Delbarton isn’t the best? I’m confused.

SevenDad- one last try. Never said Delbarton was “the best” school. If you read the entire thread you will see my comments were in response to the assertion that Pingry was “the best” and “the benchmark” for all NJ private schools. I have repeatedly said that all the schools have their niche which will serve individual kids.

I have defined Delbarton’s niche as a strong academic school that has the preeminent sports program in the state. This opinion is evidenced by both surveys above and the numerous championships mentioned. If you have a HS that you think is better athletically name it please.

This shouldn’t be so controversial.

I’m only marginally interested in this topic, but seeing NJ in the title caught my eye. I admit to not having even read the thread from start to finish.

However, I do find it amusing that you contend that you are not trying to say Delbarton is “the best” despite having also written this: “No school in NJ can match the combination of national level athletics and great academics Delbarton has.”

If no school can match it, then how is that different than saying it’s the best?

IMO, in reading your posts here, you come off as overly defensive of Delbarton. We’re all cheerleaders for the schools we love, but…

When I get some time, I promise to read the thread from start to finish.

Thanks for your admittedly uninformed comments.

I do my best.

Careful with the term “best” it triggers some folks.

Yes, so I’ve read.

Right…,Delbarton is strong in sports, no one is saying they aren’t. Regarding college admissions, I am not just talking about recruited athletes…I am including all who leave HS and play sports in college, and who are “admitted based on their entirety” – such as D3 athletes and Ivy admits based on the big picture of sports/academics.

Per the data, Pingry’s academics look to be stronger based on National Merit Semifinalists, college matriculation, AP exam scores (which DB doesn’t publish like all other schools do, hmm…), etc. The college profile form is very skimpy compared to the other schools.

Does Delbarton recruit for sports / admit based on ability to contribute in sports? And things ebb and flow…pretty sure your baseball team is dropping in rankings with each game this year after getting beat by several public schools that were unranked.

For an athletic boy, especially one who might coast on his bmoc laurels at his lps, Del Barton could be an inspired choice as the value in being a scholar athlete will be reinforced by the school and the other students.

I am not a fan of picking schools by college matriculation lists and scores. There is just too much that could influence both that may not be part of your story. If you have a kid that has a shot at a top college, none of these schools will change that. But they might change how he feels about learning and more important, himself. High school is a time of enormous growth, not an extended admissions test for college. Try to help your kid find the place where he can be his best self.

When I chose schools for my kids (yes, college too), I focused on what’s important about a school, and for me it was education. My kids could do their ECs outside of school and all other fluffs outside of school. Kids give up their sports and ECs for whatever reason, but the mission of school is academic excellence. If I am paying 40k a year for school then I would want the best education possible. I didn’t need the school to make my kids to feel warm and fuzzy (I could do that). I didnt need the school to have the best EC program my kids were interested in, I could pay for it outside of the school.
Look at those private schools profiles. The differences are significant. NJ has some of best public school systems. If those private schools do not have have better profile than your public school then why pay for it. My kids went to a private NJ. They benefited greatly from the education they received. It was probably better than their college education.

@Nocreativity1: Okay, so I read this from start to finish and still maintain that you have been inordinately defensive of Delbarton and prone to the same “My school is best” rhetoric that you are dismissing in others.

I’m sure you’ll assert that I’m “regrettably uninformed” and while I admit to not having much interest in ANY of the schools mentioned in this thread, you might be the only one on the Prep School Admissions sub-forum who would call me “regrettably uninformed” about prep schools in NJ and beyond.

From YOUR 4/1/18 post #55:
"Delbarton remains as described. The best of the best at everything they set out to do. 20+ ivy admissions plus Duke, MIT, Williams, Amherst, etc…

The school produces young men incredibly committed to one another as brothers, academic excellence, serving their communities, and being the best athletic program in the state. I am a proud father of a senior who works tirelessly to live to the amazing standard this school sets.

Anyone who suggests otherwise is regrettably uninformed or wishful in their criticism."

Not leaving much room for disagreement with that post, right? THE BEST OF THE BEST AT EVERYTHING!!! Was the date of your post intentional?

Because in post #63, you state:
“I only respond because you are making declarative statements such as ‘Pingry they are the benchmark’.”

So only you are allowed to make declarative statements about a school’s excellence?

Ok you win, enjoy.

Given your knowledge of NJ preps are there any others that have a top 5 athletic program, top 10 academic (to be generous), top 10 exclusivity of college placement, and are either Catholic faith based or as service to community oriented as a school like Delbarton.

When I say best of the best those were the criteria I was describing and readily accept that others schools may share that niche. I just can’t think of any.

Noting of course again, that others may have students that flourish in a different type of school.

Am I correct to assume you have first hand knowledge of Delbarton?

Thanks

Sevendad is objective and has no skin in the game here.

Sunnyschool why so defensive I didn’t say he was biased. I just wanted him to share his knowledge around who would be Delbarton’s peers. I had already yielded that he won the “there not the best of the best”. So I want to know who is the best contrary to my assertion that there is no best.

You had previously referred to" rumores that Delbarton has increased class size over the past few years and relaxed criteria a bit"(#77). So I was hoping to rely on his first hand knowledge rather than your self described speculation.

Not speculation…the fact is in your data you show 119 students, and the following year, according to the School Profile, there was 131 students.

Why so defensive anyway? Why do you need to prove Delbarton is “the best at everything”? IMO, no school is the best at everything and parents/students choose based on best fit, affordability, academics, sports, etc. Be thankful your family could afford a Delbarton education and use it to do good in the world.

I don’t see the part that suggests the relaxed criteria you mention so speculation. So who are the peer school’s that have the balance across the criteria described?

Also I don’t understand the relevance of “be thankful your family can afford”… Once again you are generallizing based on reputation and word of mouth.

I have affirmed that I was in error to say the “best at everything”. I stand however by the statement that Delbarton is unique in NJ in its ability to combine athletics, academics and service at the top tier level it does.

I welcome the opportunity to hear about other schools that match or excell in this regard but I personally can’t think of any. Please enlighten me.