<p>@photoOp: you “were just posting your opinion of Cate and Thacher” and were surprised to learn you’d given offense? Puleeeeze! You insulted west coast schools, claiming they didn’t have the prestige and academics of the east coast schools, you were patronizing with your use of the word “adorable,” you were insinuating that Cate was a run down schoolnwith pot heads doing a bunch of yard work. Then you finished with your “But Exeter rules! And my daughter wouldn’t go anywhere else.” All in all, a pretty good self-portrait of ignorance, arrogance and juvie homeboy chatter from an Exeter parent. I wonder if you represent Exeter parents generally. I hope not.</p>
<p>I would have to agree that the west coast schools are less prestigious, not because their classes are worse or their campuses are bad, but simple because less people know about them.</p>
<p>For those who are haranguing people who didn’t like west coast schools, I would think that it’s equally offensive to characterize east coast schools as being filled with “smarmy, sarcastic humor at the other guys expense.”</p>
<p>Fewer people knowing about something makes it less prestigious? Don’t you think the contrary is frequently true? Often the most exclusive, best places are known by the fewest people, who are usually happy to keep it that way. As far as TP’s comment about smarmy, sarcasm at the other guy’s expense, maybe that could have been said better, but as an east coast bs grad, I have to confess that I knew what he meant immediately. I don’t know if it’s different in California, but there does tend to be a harshness in peer relations in the old east coast boarding schools. I always took it to be a leftover vestige of the pecking order / hazing mentality you read about among British schools. In some ways, I think it toughens you up for the real world.</p>
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<p>I agree and can think of a number of examples outside of the realm of schools. The example that comes to mind is with pianos. Steinway is known by non-musicians as an excellent piano (and it IS), but serious pianists know of other makers that are considered more prestigious and in many ways, superior. I can think of three off the top of my head that the general public has either never heard of, or didn’t realize were as sought after as they are.</p>
<p>To the OP: My daughter would love to visit Cate and it would probably suit her very well, but my husband will not hear of having our children on opposite coasts.</p>
<p>So you think its okay to attack me for posting my opinion? You call me a NE BS cheerleader. You insinuate that I am a NE snob. I happen to be a Californian as if that were anyone’s business. I responded to this thread because I have actually visited Cate and Thacher on more than one occasion. I happen to really like Thacher. I happen to really dislike Cate. I’m sorry you don’t like me calling Thacher “adorable.” But it is. My comment about “west coast schools lacking prestige and academic rigor” was a reference to ALL west coast schools in general. Are you familiar with the Dunn school? Are you familiar with any other west coast schools? I am aware of five boarding options on the west coast. Four are located within the general proximity of Cate and Thacher. Off the top of my head I can’t even remember the name of one of them, it is so unknown. Cate and Thacher are easily the most recognizable of those. But my statement was a reference to all of the west coast boarding schools that I am familiar with. When a boarding school lists community colleges in their college matriculation list wouldn’t you agree that they lack academic rigor?</p>
<p>Its really sad that you as a group have decided to gang up on me because I am a cheerleader for my child’s school, yet its perfectly okay for the Thacher chearleader to say disparaging things to me when I didn’t even say one negative thing about Thacher. How ugly can a board get? I doubt any of you would say any of this to me in person. And yet if you ask me in person my opinion of west coast boarding schools I would unashamably say “they lack the prestige and academic rigor of the east coast schools.” What on earth is wrong with that statement? Do you even know the definition of the word “prestige?” Look it up.</p>
<p>pres·tige (pr-stzh, -stj)
n.
- The level of respect at which one is regarded by others; standing.
- A person’s high standing among others; honor or esteem.
- Widely recognized prominence, distinction, or importance: a position of prestige in diplomatic circles.</p>
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<p>And you must “call me out” for saying “the word” and if I must “say it” it somehow means that I don’t know what I’m talking about or I am a poser trying to make myself sound better. </p>
<p>So who is being rude to whom?</p>
<p>Cry me a river, PhotoOp. I stand by my comments, which I think were accurate (even more so after listening to your plaintive wail). If we were together in person and you said that the West Coast Schools lack the prestige and academic rigor of the east coast schools, I’d let you know that I disagreed. I thought ThacherParent was correctly put off by your insulting categorizations. I know I was and I’m NOT a Californian.</p>
<p>My family has been totally pleased with our experience at Cate, and we’re not alone. Since 2003 the school has commissioned an independent educational consulting firm to conduct a bi-annual survey of students and parents. In 2010, when asked if they would recommend Cate to a friend, the average student response was 5.5 on a 6.0 scale and the average parent response was 5.8 both new peaks since the school began this survey. In fact, the results of this most recent survey revealed new peaks of student and parent satisfaction with Cate in truly remarkable fashion. </p>
<p>The survey assesses many factors including: attention to individual student needs; faculty availability for extra help; advice received about managing work load and time; quality of services in the health center; enjoying the classroom experience; quality of food and dining; strong relationships with Cate adults; positive experiences with peers; and feeling welcomed and integrated. I especially appreciate the level of communication between the school, its students and the parents.</p>
<p>Cate is certainly not the perfect school for everyone (for example, they don’t have an ice hockey team), but for students interested in looking beyond the traditional New England boarding school circle, I think it’s worthy of careful consideration. Thacher too.</p>
<p>Regarding the discussion concerning prestige and academic rigor… </p>
<p>It is something that I don’t lose any sleep over, but it’s my opinion that a school doesn’t need to be large and widely known to be considered prestigious. Look at Deep Springs College. The school has only 26 students and most people have never heard of it. Still, it’s hugely prestigious.</p>
<p>I strongly disagree with the notion that Cate and Thacher are less academically rigorous than the East coast boarding schools. Last year I had the pleasure of chatting with one of the Cate English teachers about this very topic. She just recently retired from teaching (what a loss), but prior to her time at Cate she had been the chair of the department of English for a number of years at Exeter and before that she had held a similar position at Deerfield. During our conversation she spoke glowingly about the Cate academic culture and the quality of its students.</p>
<p>@CateParent- You are absolutely correct about Deep Springs! Did some research on it earlier this summer. The college seems amazing although it’s certainly not for those preoccupied with name-dropping.</p>
<p>Just back from a fantastic week in Maine (Mainer95 - you made the right move!). Anyway, PhotoOp, let me apologize for setting you off the way I did. I was trying (poorly) to describe the differences we felt in how students interacted among themselves at the NE schools we visited vs Thacher. I’m sure you’d agree that because Exeter is a wonderful place it has no shortage of its own cheerleaders. </p>
<p>I suppose, at least on this site, that I’m sticking up for a road less traveled and perhaps finding those one or two East Coast parents/kids willing to let their curiosity and sense of adventure get them to plunk down a few dollars for a plane ticket to see Thacher for themselves. That’s usually all it takes. </p>
<p>We can agree to disagree on your point around “rigorous academics.” On the matter of prestige, I was brought up to believe that if you have it, you don’t talk about it. I suppose we can agree to disagree on that point too.</p>
<p>Anyway, I hope that you and your child have a wonderful upcoming year at Exeter!</p>
<p>I have a great deal of experience in New England boarding schools but would love to “cheerlead” a bit for Colorado Rocky Mountain School. It’s off the beaten track but produces some of the most creative/interesting/talented graduates I have had the opportunity to work with. Folks following this thread might be thinking “West” so please PM me if you have any interest and I can point you in the right direction. Check out their website for more info, [CRMS</a> | Home](<a href=“http://www.crms.org/]CRMS”>http://www.crms.org/), and try not to get blown away by the campus photos with Mt. Sopris in the background!</p>
<p>We have a S at Stevenson and D just about to start at Suffield. For us it all comes down to the best fit. Sending both to the same school would not have worked - each child has different interests, characters, skills and aspirations. For those who are willing to look outside of the typical ‘top/best’ lists, there are a myriad of schools out there all with much to offer. </p>
<p>As an aside, one school we visited and really liked was Fountain Valley in Colorado Springs. Very welcoming, beautiful campus set in fantastic surroundings and absolutely the best food of all the schools we visited! The student body is on the small side - about the same as Cate, and if you are interested in equestrian activities it has top riding facilities on-campus (which is 1000 acres) with both English and Western riding programs. </p>
<p>Happy to provide more info if anyone interested.</p>