Questions about SPS

Just curious if anyone would like to share opinions about SPS or be able to answer any questions. All of these pertain to “non-covid times”.

How many seated meals are there? I have read conflicting amounts from several per week to six per year.

Is there still no study hall or lights out for students? What kind of academic supports are available for organizing/managing workload?

Do kids on FA get any discounts on study abroad programs, off campus experiences or private lessons? Many schools do this, but it’s not mentioned on their website.

I hear conflicting reports on the culture…I know about the past issues, wondering what it is like there now.

How is the food? Is it enough quantity/often enough for a BIG eater (teenage athletic boy)

Are boy/girl visits allowed in dorm rooms?

What are the best and worst things about this school?

Any comments or advice is appreciated!

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I read 4 seated meals per week. Correct on no study hall or lights out policy. Hopefully others can chime in on your other questions, I’m curious as well!

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Food is good, there’s a variety of it, and it’s all you can eat. There are food options outside of the main dining halls. III and IV formers (9th and 10th graders) are “encouraged” to have lights out at 10:30pm and 11pm, respectively. The support system is extensive and multi-layered and involves advisors, house masters, counselors and students. Financial aid does sometimes extend to travel money and on-campus spending (like ordering pizza with friends).

I’m not sure I can quite describe the culture today. I’m not sure the school could. It came out of leadership changes only to hit COVID. My impression from a couple of visits and talking to parents is kids are quite happy there these days. I’m not sure what the best thing would be–depends on what’s important to you and your child. I would say the school campus is insane for 530 or so students and the endowment allows the school to do a lot and for years the school has been able to maintain a larger than typical degree of socio-economic diversity through generous financial aid and recruiting of talented kids who weren’t necessarily thinking boarding school.

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The SPS Handbook is available to download from the Parents Section of the public SPS website.
It offers detailed answers to lots of the questions raised recently from intervisitation among the dorms to academic support systems and more. It’s 85 pretty dry pages…but lots of info and you don’t need to be a current parent or student to access it.

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Awesome, thanks!
I didn’t realize I could clink on the parents link! I figured it was a locked portal.

@Bodonkidunk thank you for your thoughts, I see they have great financial aid and are committed to SES diversity. Glad to hear kids seem happy!

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