I would like to know more about The Masters School any information is helpful. What is the community/atmosphere like? Just like the gist of it
Masters is a diverse community with kids who are passionate about pursuing lots of different interests, so it can be hard to sum up. It’s a Harkness school; student leadership and discussion is a prominent part of the culture not just in the classroom but all over campus. While Masters is very strong in the performing arts, (the winter musical was standing-room only and a huge event) there is getting to be more success and excitement around athletics. This fall, the boys soccer team had a tournament-winning season this year and students packed the bleachers for the final games and carried that practice on into basketball season. Students have the ability to propose bills to change things about the school that have made lasting change (dress code, study hall procedures, etc.) and between the fiery opinions in the student newspaper and the senior speeches in morning meeting kids are not afraid to speak up. It has much less of a preppy vibe than the schools most frequently talked about on this board, which may or may not be your thing.
One of the biggest things each year is the annual Halloween Video celebration, where the seniors pick a theme and assign each grade and the academic departments a specific subject. On Halloween, everyone gathers and watches the videos together.
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It may have changed in recent years, but many boarders leave for the weekends. If you are going to be a boarder, this could matter to you - either as a positive or negative. If you are doing a revisit, and especially if it will involve an overnight in the dorm, this is worth asking current students. It clearly doesn’t affect the energy described above!
I am doing 7 day boarding so I’m guessing that is no longer a problem, but thank you for bringing it up. I will double check with admissions thought just to be completely sure.
If you don’t mind me asking do you currently attend Master? I would like to know someone that goes to Masters.
Calling @SevenDad.
(Edited to correct my miserable memory.)
When ChoatieMom pages me, I show up!
Clarification that my daughter did not actually graduate from Masters, but did attend the school her frosh/soph years…as a 7-day boarding student. She did transfer for her junior and senior year, which should say something about her overall experience at the school. I will say that for the right student, it could be a great school. Certainly an enviable location…a short train ride to NYC.
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Thanks for clarifying, @SevenDad. An aging brain is a terrible thing.
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Was your daughters experience there good? Thank you so much for you help either way!
@sksksksk123: I think her decision to transfer after two years is probably the best answer to that question.
Was it all bad? No, of course not. But — at least for her — the negatives outweighed the positives. As I noted in my post above, I think for the right kid, it could be an amazing HS experience. As a previous poster noted, the arts programs, in particular, are very good.
gardenstategal does raise a good point…day school students and 5-day boarders (this is new since my daughter was a student) outnumber the 7-day boarders by a fair amount. Which changes the student experience, IMO. Especially vs. a 100% boarding school like St. Andrew’s or St. Paul’s. Something to consider.
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At any school, there may be a lot of 7 day boarders who leave on weekends, so this is always worth researching.
It’s fair to say that Masters has a different vibe and campus culture from a 100% Boarding School, and that SevenDad’s younger daughter attended the school more than 5 years ago. No school is right for every kid, but the question was about the current vibe and atmosphere. I’ve visited their campus recently because one of my close friends is a teacher & coach at Masters, and I hear about it a lot (albeit from a faculty and not a student perspective). I used to teach at a 100% boarding school, but work at a day school now.
I just wanted to chime in with a few thoughts on a school that I have been very impressed by and that a dear friend of mine is really happy at. Masters doesn’t get much attention or love on this board, which is geared toward more traditional boarding experiences. That’s fine. For some kids (especially smart performing arts kids who aren’t super preppy), it can be a good fit, and offers something a little different from other schools I’m familiar with.
2 posts were split to a new thread: Thoughts on Masters School