<p>PD: If she is really serious about both steps, maybe you could work something out with the current school for a year off, sort of like a schoolyear abroad. Call it an independent study perhaps. At least you wouldn’t have to go through the application process again if she does want to return. Also, it seems a little more thought out and may be easier to explain on the college applications. Actually, it might be turned to her advantage as a sort of sociology study; especially, if she says she plans to write a book about the differences.</p>
<p>Old1: probably ok.</p>
<p>Burb parent: Would not be on SCCM as most don’t pay deposit and then leave. As I seem to remember reading somewhere, most BS do select 15 - 25% 10th graders. I never thought of it, but is that from number that end up leaving?</p>
<p>Princess’Dad- No, it is because many feeder schools (often traditional “country day schools”) go through 9th grade. Some boarding schools actually double the class for 10th grade!</p>
<p>Good talk with her. Most of her friends are leaving which has helped her decision, but decision seemed to be made even before above.</p>
<p>Several of her teachers were new and “bad”. Also felt that after discussions with friends back home that it was not $50K better than PHS at home other than small classes. PHS at home has as many grads doing the IVYs as does Exeter, etc but not % (1/3 don’t even do college). But she also misses other things that the PHS seems to offer. </p>
<p>So, we will see.</p>
<p>Interesting set of “issues”…</p>
<p>As to the “new and bad” teachers - it can and will happen at many schools public and private. I’m sorry to hear that she couldn’t work out a better outcome. Did you know about these teachers as the year went along or is this a surprise? I think that one of the better aspects of boarding school is that with fewer students and more out-of-class time available, many more issues can be worked out.</p>
<p>I’ll admit that many boarding schools (goaliegirl’s included) bring in a steady stream of new young teachers and this does up the chances for quality issues. These issues should be more fixable at the boarding school and that is a disappointment.</p>
<p>Missing out on things at the PHS is a legit issue. Some kids do like the bigness of the PHS atmosphere and the excitement it can create. </p>
<p>Having a big turnover (over 25% after freshman year) is a red flag. It says that the school is not choosing its candidates very well or is not building a cohesive community (or both). I know that this year goaliegirl’s school had a larger turnover (much of it involuntary) than in the past, primarily among the 1st year students. However the ones who return for their 2nd year almost all end up sticking it out. </p>
<p>I know that with goaliegirl, she has had many a friend leave after 1 year. However, she never seems to brood over it and always seems to find new interesting friends each year. Perhaps it is because she has moved fairly frequently during her life that she is able to quickly adapt.</p>
<p>You might want to find out about the other kids who are leaving to find out if they are just kids who miss home cooking (ones not used to starting over) or whether there is a true binding issue between kids at the school (a significant issue).</p>
<p>And perhaps yours is one who just prefers home cooking and has had her adventure.</p>
<p>Thanks for the update and good luck coming to a resolution…</p>
<p>Kids who left: some discipline, some “right fit”, a lot secondary to economy. School is alot “tighter” on rules than some we looked at where only major are honor code and drugs/EtOH.</p>
<p>From what I can see, the new teacher issue is common and most are at the first year level. </p>
<p>However, major issue seems to be academics in comparison to sister and friends at home. Small class size is advantage and I think her writing skills have improved (but that was always her best quality).</p>
<p>Oh yea, the food is TERRIBLE so she eats pizza across the street a lot…</p>
<p>Interesting…</p>
<p>If nothing else your daughter has seen what living away at school is like - something that will likely happen again in 3 years. </p>
<p>Now going through the process of researching colleges for goaliegirl and looking at retention issues and what drives them at schools.</p>
<p>I’m finding that many private colleges have many of the same issues - violation of code of conduct, wrong fit, etc. </p>
<p>At publics, there isn’t the same degree of honor code violations, but the quality of frosh instructors are often a complaint.</p>
<p>Intstitutional food is what it is. If anything, boarding school food should be better than college food, as they are smaller scale outfits that don’t end up with Sodhexo running the kitchen. Although the college size operation will often allow the variety of “familiar foods” (i.e. pizza, pasta, burgers, etc.) that will cut down on food as an issue.</p>
<p>Goaliegirl has adapted to the food choices and finds enough things to eat that she rarely orders out, but she does keep a supply of instant mac and cheese in the dorm for emergencies.</p>
<p>If the academic experience in your public is suitable for your D’s style, then there is no point in paying big bucks for her to experience 3 more years of living away from home.</p>
<p>I agree.</p>
<p>I think she might miss the “freedom” of PS after 6 months, but then again, there is a different freedom at home. We shall see.
I am trying to get PS to do IB program, but they are still big on APs (which is also a lot cheaper). But they have more 5s on APs than most PSs.</p>
<p>D misses her BIG room / bed as compared to small room at school and privacy at home - and me doing her laundry. We shall see. She had tried it and I think the first year of learning study habits has been good for her.</p>