<p>Right now I've narrowed down my schools to the ones I can really see myself it. They are...</p>
<p>-Governor's
-NMH
-Loomis Chaffee
-Hill</p>
<p>I really want 1 or 2 more schools on my list, and a safety. I'm looking for strong academics and good arts programs. So what are some suggestions for schools like these?? Thanks :)</p>
<p>Not a safety, but good arts? Concord.</p>
<p>I’m not sure if you’ve looked at Hotchkiss already, but when I visited the campus I was blown away by their arts program! Their academics are definitely up there, as you probably already know.</p>
<p>Cate has got a fairly decent arts program. Like Concord, not a safety, but worth a look.</p>
<p>Thanks guys 
All the schools look good! Are there any less competitive schools (for safeties) with good arts programs AND solid academics? (Not Interlochen/Idllywld)</p>
<p>And preferably in New England</p>
<p>Have a look at Dana Hall. Good arts program…</p>
<p>Well, a great all girl’s school is Westover. Another is Miss Porter’s. Not sure if that’s what you’re looking for, though.</p>
<p>Pomfret, I believe is very good. But please check it out for yourself. And Portsmouth Abbey and Worcester. Other than that, not sure. I’d play it safe and make academics a more important factor than arts.</p>
<p>Check out Millbrook. Strong in the arts and great leadership.</p>
<p>Also check out Berkshire School and Suffield Academy. And The Gunnery as a possible safety.</p>
<p>I was wondering about safety schools as well, we are looking at 3 with acceptance rates over 45%, although the schools my kid likes the best are 16% and 20% acceptance rates.</p>
<p>Holderness has an “artward bound” program that I liked a lot. [Holderness</a> School ~ Special Programs](<a href=“http://www.holderness.org/specialprograms]Holderness”>http://www.holderness.org/specialprograms)</p>
<p>Anyone know anything about Pomfret’s theatre program?</p>
<p>@pinkmonograms, what about Walnut Hill?</p>
<p>Isn’t Walnut Hill along the lines of Interlochen?</p>
<p>Yes, WH is an arts high school specifically, as is Interlochen in MI and Idyllwild in CA.</p>
<p>I go to Holderness School, and we have pretty strong academics. Our art program is fairly small, but we have about 10 extremely talented students every year and the art teachers usually work with those students personally. </p>
<p>Someone mentioned the artward bound program a few posts ago. It is a 10 day program for sophomores, and everyone takes two visual arts and two performance arts. During those 10 days you don’t have classes and you spend all day doing art. In the evenings there are performances (Two student performances and then other professional performances). I really enjoyed it and I even got to learn some weirder art forms like basket making. </p>
<p>If you are interested in music, you should know that our band and choir are both really small. The choir only really performs solos, so if you want to sing in large groups, I don’t recommend Holderness.</p>