Top Penn & Princeton Feeder Schools

<p>Does anyone know what the top feeder high schools are to University of Pennsylvania and Princeton University?</p>

<p>The top feeder of Princeton os Lawrenceville.</p>

<p>Peddie School is a feeder to UPenn.</p>

<p>To the OP: Please keep in mind that even the schools which send a number of kids to Penn (Come all ye loyal classmen now…) to Princeton are not “Feeders” in the old school sense of the word, where the BS college counselor called up the college admission office and put forth a palette of candidates for the college to admit.</p>

<p>In other words, going to Lawrenceville will NOT guarantee you admission to Princeton. In fact, as has been discussed here often, going to a BS may reduce your likelihood of admission to an Ivy, because they are only going to admit so many from a given high school and the level of competition at these rigorous boarding schools will blow you mind.</p>

<p>If I told you that a small day school in NJ has sent 20% of it’s senior class to Princeton for two years running now, would that make you rush to apply?</p>

<p>I am more interested in day schools that send a high % of students to Penn and Princeton. Thank you for your replies.</p>

<p>@aebellon: If you/your child is a girl, look at Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart in Princeton. That is the school I mentioned above with 20% Princeton matric. for past 2 years.</p>

<p>@SevenDad - Thank you, I will look into it. I am looking for my two boys and one girl.</p>

<p>@aebellon: I would look at Princeton Day School (PDS) and Hun as well (co-ed). And note that Lawrenceville does have some day students. I bet that Princeton High and West Windsor/Plainsboro and Montgomery (all public schools) send a number of kids to Princeton as well.</p>

<p>I am not really that familiar with schools that might send a high percentage/number to Penn. I assume some of Friends schools in the Philly/Bucks County area would have a relatively high matric.</p>

<p>Again, I want to reiterate that attending any of the schools mentioned above (by myself or other posters) does not guarantee or even increase the odds of any child getting into the ultra selective schools you mention. In fact, some may argue, attending a “feeder” (quotes intentional) may reduce a child’s chances. I would choose a high school based on the experience you think your child will have at there…not at what the possible college admission opportunities are. But different strokes for different folks…</p>

<p>What I said is that Lawrenceville send many students to Princeton and probably is the school that most students to there. But, it does NOT mean that if you attend Lawrenceville you are going to get into Princeton.</p>

<p>@7dad do one of your kids attend lawerenceville? Hun school may have good matriculation but I don’t tHink its a great school.</p>

<p>@squashisawesome: I do not have kids at Hun. But I know a few families with kids there. I only included it (along with PDS) because I assume that due to geography it might have a convivial relationship with Princeton.</p>

<p>PDS & Stuart Country Day are outstanding schools. As a parent of a private school studentwho does not attend either; but who competes against both in sports; if both were closer to where we live, the DD (darling daughter) would have made application to both.</p>

<p>Peddie has matriculated a good number of its graduates to Penn over the last fifteen years and maybe more. You can look up the (recent) statistics for yourself, though I’d agree that no number connotes “feeder” in the sense that the term used to be used. Day students make up about 35-40% of the total at Peddie, and come from all directions in a wide region, including Bucks County in PA. People travel far distances to Peddie because the available local day and day/boarding schools all have such distinct environments and cultures, as well as facilities, and, for some, Peddie is a better fit than the others. </p>

<p>I think that boarding faculty as an aggregate group, nationally, are probably “stronger” than the day group, nationally, but where an area or region is exceptionally attractive to live, and/or with a vibrant higher ed presence, you will find exceptional day faculty. Greater Princeton/Philly is of course one of those areas. Faculties are generally strong across all of these schools. </p>

<p>What’s interesting is whether the extra (sticker) cost of an L’ville or Peddie could be considered worthwhile because of the more diverse student body, more impressive facilities and more numerous opportunities than are generally evident at these day schools. (I know that any school may have some one thing that drives a family’s decision making and precludes competitors without “it”.) OP might give consideration to the day option at these two larger and very well respected “boarding” schools. If a small school feel at PDS or Stuart is desired, keep in mind that their freshmen classes will be heavily populated with kids who have been together for many years, some since kindergarten; the ability to “make friends” in that situation is very helpful. Peddie and L’ville’s freshmen will be on a more equal footing as newcomers. </p>

<p>OP may find much variation in the competitiveness of admissions at all of these schools, as well as possible financial aid packages. </p>

<p>Princeton’s freshmen class has a fairly high percentage of New Jersey residents. One wonders how much that has to do with faculty children who go to these local public and private schools. In-state legacies are also a factor, I would think. In effect, it’s debatable how much attending one of these Philly/Princeton area schools might affect admission to Penn or Princeton, though succeeding at a well-regarded local school and being “related” certainly improves the long odds a bit.</p>

<p>Many faculty children at local Princeton schools probably slant admissions and matriculation statistics to Princeton several ways:

  1. legacy benefit in admission
  2. matriculation more likely at Princeton due to location near family
  3. possible participation in Princeton sports camps/special classes during high school increasing familiarity between school and student</p>

<p>In Boston the same is true for Harvard.</p>

<p>Couldn’t go wrong with Exeter</p>