New poster here! I have a question. I currently attend Scarsdale High School and I am applying to some private schools in the area including Riverdale and Horace Mann. Does anyone know how the quality of education compares between the two schools? I have heard Riverdale is a “lower tier” than HM but what about Riverdale compared with Scarsdale?
Riverdale and HM are not “in the area”… But I guess it’s not too bad of a drive down the Henry Hudson…
Anyway, either will be lower pressure than Scarsdale High if you are aiming to be a top student. One of the main selling points of elite private high schools is that they can help the right student avoid the open pressure of the top suburban publics, and at least in Westchester you can’t really get more tippy top than Scarsdale High. All three would offer an excellent education, with more personal focus and smaller classes obviously at the privates. The average ability of the kids at HM and Riverdale in my opinion would be somewhat higher than at Scarsdale, though again in my opinion the very top group at Scarsdale will be quite a lot stronger than the top at the privates. Especially in STEM.
FWIW, a number of years ago a friend of mine from Scarsdale was considering having his daughter go to a private high school (they were looking at Masters and a few others). In 7th grade, they retained a very high priced consultant with a national reputation; the fees over the years went well into the low 6 figures. Goal was a top Ivy and the consultant insisted Scarsdale High was the way to go.
Over the next three years her future “presentation” to colleges was carefully curated with the consultant very involved every step of the way from ECs to courses to pulling strings with summer programs. The daughter was supposedly accepted everywhere (obviously I can’t verify that) and just recently graduated Yale. No hooks, just an upper middle class white girl.
Best of luck whatever you decide and hopefully other posters can add some more insight.
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@SatchelSF Wow thank you so much for your insight! Why do you think that the “top” crowd would be stronger at Scarsdale? Wouldn’t, or shouldn’t it be stronger in the private school since people are paying thousands of dollars a year for it?
@yello1741 - Scarsdale High is quite a lot bigger, and the many talented Indian students in particular are very strong; the intensity spills over to the whole school, especially in STEM. Moreover, the whole area is strong socioeconomically – ask your parents, the taxes paid are beyond insane, which makes parents very involved and motivated. Basically you have a much larger group than at the privates and the average of the area is very high, so you get more variation in ability but more range on the top and bottom if that makes sense.
Don’t get me wrong, the kids are strong at the privates too (as I said, on average they are somewhat stronger than at the open admission public), but there are a number of kids who get into privates on the basis of preferences, and as I said part of the raison d’etre of a private school is to tamp down competition.
How would you be getting down to the Bronx? The commute might impact your ability to connect after school with your classmates.
@SatchelSF Got it. IF I get in, my parents will sell our house because it’s a huge waste of money to pay the taxes and not go to school here. I loooveeee Manhattan and I’m trying to convince my parents to buy an apartment there but they’re leaning towards Riverdale/Fieldston
Fantastic, @yello1741. It would be hard to find a nice condo in Riverdale, so you will likely have to settle for one of the beautiful old houses. It’s an extremely nice place to live. Straight shot down Broadway to Manhattan. Give it a shot - you will find that Riverdale is actually a lot less hectic than Manhattan. Or Scarsdale for that matter! I grew up a few miles east of Horace Mann and spent many days cycling around Riverdale - the climb up the hill past HM will take your breath away. Literally. Again, best of luck, HM is great - my college roommate went there…
Thank you very much! @SatchelSF