<p>Pretty big range in terms of size, I know. All offer one of daughter's favorite sports activities and somewhat "alternative" approaches to teaching (having not visited any yet so this is just and impression from websites). I've seen some great comments on Proctor here and have a friend w/child at Holderness - very happy. Also may consider Gould and Hebron. Any input welcomed.</p>
<p>I am sure I authored some of those “great comments on Proctor” as my son just graduated from there in May. It is not for everyone, but was a great choice for my son. Proctors motto is “live to learn,learn to live” (or very close to that). They stress experiential learning and a full 85% of the kids there study in an off campus program during their years at Proctor. All are Proctor organized. Some go to a semester at sea where they are responsible for sailing the boat (small crew plus kids), some go to France, Costa Rica, out west, Spain…
My son was there for two years and was in the minority that didn’t go (mostly due to sports). Teachers are called by their first names which really put me off in the beginning, but the reason behind it is to make teachers more approachable and a partner in learning.
Dorms are mostly converted older homes with an exceptional new dorm, Peabody. The campus is very green, in all ways. My son spent a fall semester chopping and selling wood to the community with the “woods team”. With the procedes, the team all bought flannel jackets. Cool lesson in working together and marketing. </p>
<p>Overall, I would say Proctor offers a great sense of community and very caring teachers. Sports are decent, but could be emphasized more, imo. My son played lacrosse there and is now enrolled in a D1 school.<br>
also, while there are preppy kids there, and woodsy kids, and artistic kids, the distinctions seem more blurred at Proctor than perhaps at other schools we visited.
zp</p>
<p>Everything Z said about Proctor matches my impressions, having considered (and visited) it with my son. We were drawn to the experiential learning aspect, and they have had a strong football team in the past year or so, which was a consideration for my son. I don’t know your D’s favorite sport–I’m guessing girls’ ice hockey or some other wintry pursuit, such as snowboarding–but you might also consider Kents Hill (you’re already doing Gould and KH arch rival, Hebron). We visited Vermont Academy as well: nice faculty, on-campus ski slope, and a stress on experiential learning. That said, it just didn’t click with my son.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies. Freestyle skiing is her thing, so Kent’s Hill won’t fit the bill; plus they are just over our distance requirement. We have our visits over the next two weeks; looking forward to them!</p>