Hi. I am new to this forum and know very little about boarding schools. My son is in 7th grade and just beginning the BS process. He attends a very strong private school where he get mostly B’s, no C’s, and always an A in math. He struggles with staying organized, which is why he has more A’s than Bs. We’re working on that. He took the Upper Level SSAT and scored in the mid 90’s on math and mid 70’s on the others. He will take the test again next fall. His teachers love him. They frequently tell me that he is one of their more enthusiastic students. He is not competitive. His ECs are good, but nothing special. I don’t think he has any hook.
He would like to study in the New England area because he really likes US history. He needs a school that goes past Calculus. He prefers fewer longer classes over many shorter ones. We’d both strongly prefer a school with more structure, such as designated study time and lights out. He likes casual dress and no or few Saturday classes, but he’s okay with dressing up and Saturday classes. We will need at least 50% FA and probably more. I think we will qualify for that.
We are going through websites and course catalogs to find schools, but we’d love any school recommendations. Thank you!
I would suggest looking into Berkshire Peddie and Saint Marks. I believe they have strong math/science programs and are less competive than the TSAO schools.
I will always recommend The Hill School. Here is a blurb from their math page. “At the upper end of our course offerings, classes are structured to challenge the most talented students at the level of first-year and sophomore-level college mathematics, including courses in Advanced Placement Calculus, Advanced Placement Statistics, Multivariable Calculus, Graph Theory, and Advanced Math Seminar.” They do have a formal dress code, and sometimes Saturday classes, but I believe they are phasing that out. As I assume most prep school do, they have required study hall for two hours each evening, and lights our for the younger students. And they are only about 30 miles from downtown Philadelphia, Valley Forge…Gettysburg is close…lots of History! Good luck of your son’s journey.
Take a look at Portsmouth Abbey. I recall the headmaster saying they have never yet had a kid “outgrow” the math program. He was referring to an incoming freshman in BC Calculus who they were not concerned about being able to progress over the following 4 years. It is a structured school (with formal dress code and Saturday classes). Based on your description, it could be a fit.
Not New England, but fairly close - and in the middle of a lot of Civil War history sites - Mercersburg “offers four AP math courses, electives in robotics and statistics, and advanced math courses normally taught in the second and third years of college.” They also offer independent study for kids who have exceeded course offerings. Nice community, casual dress and no Saturday classes!
A second for Peddie School (in Hightstown), which is a peer school to Mercersburg (#5 above) as well as Lawrenceville. The latter and Peddie are in central New Jersey and on opposite sides of Princeton, an important town in the colonial and Revolutionary period, not to mention later on. Peddie has the attributes mentioned in opening post and may be a good fit. Around the Boston area, I’d suggest Concord Academy, Governor’s Academy and Brooks School. Try the search functions on boardingschoolreviewdotcom.
I second the motion to check out Mercersburg. The toughest math classes at each level are truly challenging, and the math gurus are held in great esteem by their young disciples. Plus there is so much else that is good and wonderful about the school.
Many boarding schools offer at least one course past calculus. If you need more than one or two course, you may need a larger school like Andover or Exeter. There are three or four years of math beyond calculus at both schools. Some schools offer at least the possibility of courses at local colleges – Lawrenceville sometimes does this but it has to work out in the schedule and it’s easier for day students.
We also looked at schools with post-calculus classes in their catalog. I think Andover and Exeter might be less of a good fit for your son. Andover has some structure for 9th graders - i.e. study time in the evening and lights out, but enforcement varies by dorm and then there is a lot less formal structure after 9th grade - sign in times in the dorm, but no lights out. Informal dress code, no Saturday classes and planned schedule change in Fall 2017. Some of the proposed changes are more of a block schedule - fewer classes and shorter terms. Berkshire has a lot of structure - and a dress code and some Saturday classes. St. Marks is a bit more structured too I think. Kent is another school to consider.
If he likes fewer but longer classes over many shorter ones he should look at NMH. The block system there would appeal to him. They have at least a couple of classes beyond calculus. No Saturday classes (I think) and on the informal end of the spectrum. Good structure and supportive of kids needing extra help with learning style/organization as well.
Andover, at least academically definitely has a decent bit of structure for the first two years, sometimes even the first three years. Also, not being organized will come back to bite you here, however the academic support system is great. In terms of Math, it is all about what you place into once you get to Andover. If you place into geometry, you are on a rigid, but extremely well taught 4 year track that will allow you to complete AP BC Calculus by the end of senior year. One thing to remember: Andover placement tests are difficult. I was 99th percentile in SSAT math, and already took a pre-calculus course in middle school before coming to Andover. I intended to go straight into pre-calculus so I could do Calc as an 11th grader, but ended up placing into Geometry, which has worked out for the better. The great thing is that there are several options available after calculus. Off the top of my head I can think of people who take Linear Algebra, Multivariable Calc, Number Theory, and even a Differential Equations Seminar. As far as pure math course offerings, I truly do not think you can do better than Andover or Exeter(Though we don’t like to mention them!).
As for FA, no need to worry about it with Andover. The school is need blind, so as long as you fill out the right forms, and your son is accepted, the school will cover whatever percentage of FA you require, based on family income.
@SculptorDad The new schedule will go into effect Fall of 2017. It will be called the 4x5 schedule, and I’ve included the link below. I am very glad to be graduating Andover before the block schedule is in place, as I think it is nowhere near as productive or practical as our current trimester system. Currently, we only have a block style schedule on Wednesdays and Thursdays, with longer classes, and less overall periods, however the longer periods tends to not work particularly well. This style of schedule simply doesn’t work at Andover due to the somewhat chronic sleep deprivation among students. We tend to lose half of our brain power if we don’t walk from class to class to stay awake every 45 minutes :). Just my $.02 http://phillipian.net/2016/01/29/4x5-schedule-to-be-implemented-in-fall-2017/
@MABlue Thanks for sharing your math experience. I now feel much better for the prospect that my dd will be placed in Geometry even though she had some advanced math already.
Andover placed new students into 22 different math classes so there are lots of choices! My son placed into pre-Calc in 9th grade. Then BC Calc in 10th and currently in Multivariable Calc & Linear Algebra in 11th. He has also take a few 600 seminars concurrently - fall was DiffEq and this term is history of Euler. He is planning an independent study next year. Maybe a seminar too depending on the topic. He did many math competitions in middle school outside of math class and this is his favorite subject.
If your son cannot perform without constant close supervision, then boarding school may NOT be the place for him. Higher math can always be obtained via a tutor or extracurricular classes.
@MABlue I think PA would be too much for him. I’m not sure he has the grades or scores to get into PA. Plus, I’m guessing a few other kids from his school will apply. He may have the scores by next year. Maybe this is unrealistic, but I would really like it if he weren’t super sleep deprived all the time. Let him save sleep deprivation for college.
