As I’m creating my list for this year, I was wondering about some schools that are lesser known but still highly recommended. Thanks!
Search “hidden gem” in the sub for a wealth of general answers.
But you have to provide a lot more information if you actually want helpful responses…
What is important to your family? does location or size matter? Is there a sport you consider essential? Do you think culture is most important? Or diverrsity? or selectivity?
The general topic has been hashed out so much that I fear most folks won’t bother opening this thread.
Good luck to you! (and is St Andrew’s “lesser known”? It’s my fave)
Here are some names you might not even find in the “hidden gem” category:
CO-ED: Brewster, Midland, Darrow, Dunn, Colorado Rocky Mountain School, Asheville, Westtown…
ALL GIRLS: Chatham Hall, Annie Wright, Santa Catalina
ALL BOYS: McCallie
LOOK AT MILLBROOK
Saint Mark’s!!!
There is a super thread on up and coming schools.
Thank you all!
What do you like and what is important to you? As an educator, I was very impressed by a number of schools that people rarely talk about on CC. I really liked New Hampton and Kimball Union. I think Millbrook and Mecersberg are similar . NMH and Salisbury as well.
Check out Stevenson School, Pebble Beach, California. Highly recommend.
Also location is important. If you are willing or prefer to go outside NE you will find a lot of schools that are not talked about as much on this board.
Governor’s Academy (aka Gov Dummer), Avon Old Farms, Emma Willard, Dana Hall, Lawrence Academy
In NJ and Eastern PA, Blair, Peddie, Hill, George.
Holderness, Blair, Berkshire, Culver Academies (IN), Western Reserve Academy (OH)
In addition to those mentions…here are some more and additional “high fives” to consider:
Gunnery ( really pretty, smaller school) in CT…Salisbury (boys) in CT…more coed options not getting a lot of attention on CC include the following…
Suffield in CT, NMH in MA…FWIW a friend teaches at a school not seen much on CC - West Nottingham Academy in Maryland. It’s both boarding and day. It is one of the oldest private schools in the US, dating from 1744.
- Also Oldfieds (girls) in Maryland, Grier (girls), Emma Willard (girls), Westover (girls), Purnell (girls), Peddie (coed), Canterbury, Williston (MA), Lawrence Academy (Groton, MA), Tabor (love), Pomfret (coed), Bolles (Florida)....Masters (NY).
For you golfers out there hoping to claim one of the hundreds of college golf scholarships, there is a boarding & PG program at the junior golf academy on Hilton Head Island that will “tee you up” for applications. <:-P
Current Governor’s parent here. Will answer any and all questions about our experience, especially if you’re interested in sending your kid for sports program.
My daughter is interviewing at Kimball Union Academy. What can you share about the interview process, academics, culture etc?
What do you like about Kimball Union Academy?
One of the things that impressed me on our visit to Kimball Union was that it seemed to be a place that you could really explore what you wanted to do, rather than what was available. They gave a few examples of things students wanted to do that were not (yet) offered, so they found a way for them to do them (swimming in the community, chess at Dartmouth). They also fund summer travel opportunities for students exploring a particular passion.
What were you able to learn about the academics? Does the curriculum seem rigorous?
It seemed as rigorous as you wanted to make it. I didn’t really look to see what upper level classes they offered. I seemed to be a great work/life balance.
Have you looked at New Hampton? They have an IB program.