Hmmmm……I thought someone on this thread admonished us to stay on the OP’s topic.
The OP asked about 3 very different schools. These 3 schools have very different cultures and different levels of academic rigor. I think the mistake that some applicants and parents make is in thinking that schools attract similar kids. It has been our experience that this is not the case. I have seen a difference in culture, demographics, and faculty engagement at the 3 schools mentioned by the OP. Also, several others. BS has changed a lot - there have been many changes (eg schedules, athletics, courses) still in place since COVID.
Helpful Hint (again): Do read the school profile. They may have been updated since COVID. Check out the course lists, the distribution requirements, and the grade distributions. Usually, it’s the grades for the Junior year that are highlighted. Check out the % of kids who earn what grades. Also, check out matriculation lists.
During Revisit, you will get a better idea of the students who are with you. Check them out. Also, check out who the advancement folks and faculty are fawning over at Revisit. Spend time AFTER school is over to check out the social scene, athletics, and EC’s going on. Look at where students are congregating and what they are doing. Try to find students to talk to after school. If possible, connect with current parents and students via CC threads.
On another note regarding parents being demanding. Ummm….I don’t think its being demanding to expect accountability and communication from boarding school faculty. Most folks are paying a lot of $$ to send their kids to BS. Most folks are sending their kids far away to school. Frankly, I have met/experienced too many faculty members who are not only resentful of students and parents but also clearly frustrated by the deal they made by signing onto a BS position.
Before you bark my head off…I am a former educator at a well known public school in the NE and a former educator at the university level. I would never have the stamina to be a boarding school faculty member. That is a lifestyle commitment, not only a teaching job. So, I have respect for those that do it.