<p>I am a brand new member, having lurked for the past year. My son is entering 8th grade and we are starting the process. He took the lower level SSATs in June for practice and got 74th percentile. He is a strong but not top-notch student, AA hoceky player, excellent a capella singer, and has a very laid-back attitude. We are not looking at HADES-level schools as we want an environment that is less intense (but still very solid). We have close friends in Boston who raved about Holderness in NH. Their daughter is a junior there and she has been extremely happy. Our frends said the school has an excellent Headmaster, really nice students, good academics but also a balanced view of what high school should be. It's a long way to Holderness from Morristown, NJ, so I don't want to make the trip if there are any obvious concerns. I would greatly appreciate any insight that would be provided by CC members who have actual knowledge of the school -- parents or students.
Thanks!</p>
<p>Years ago, I listened to a Holderness teacher present to our school about their approach to experiential education, which would supplement traditional book-based instruction. There was initiative there, at that time (say a dozen years ago), to innovate in ways that would engage students on multiple levels. You can find out a lot about the school’s current practices and culture by looking at videos and publications, or photo sets, accessible from the web site or through googling/youtube. </p>
<p>I also know a young man who will be teaching there this fall, just out of college. He’s born and bred in the boarding environment, and a solid character. You should expect a mix of ages and experience on the faculty at Holderness, pretty much like anywhere (just not too many graduates from 2010 and since).</p>
<p>My D’s school Head is a Holderness grad and they play them frequently in sports. It’s a very nice school. If you go up to visit you should visit the other schools in the area KUA, Proctor, New Hampton etc.</p>
<p>If you want to look closer to home I’d suggest looking at Millbrook. Same SSAT average scores and really nice school.</p>
<p>We visited Holderness last summer for my daughter who is entering 8th this fall. Holderness is a great option for her because it will allow her to balance her academic, athletics (Nordic skiing) and art interests well. Although we visited in the summer, the folks (coach, teachers and admission staff) we met could not have been nicer and all subsequent interactions that we have had with the admission folks there have been super positive. The headmaster is well respected and the college counselors considered quite good by the graduates of the school I know. My understanding is that their ice hockey program is also very strong. Although I attended a HADES school myself (and had a great experience), Holderness seems to be a better choice for my daughter given her desire for balance and community above all else. Hope this helps.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input. I spoke to someone else who told me Holderness is great so I will be scheduling an interview. I also hear that Tabor Academy and KUA are good places to check out too so I will be putting some miles on our car. </p>
<p>I would still welocme any other fact-based thoughts on Holderness or these other two schools. I did a search on CC and there is very little said. I know this site seems to skew heavily to HADES/near HADES-level schools, but I’m hoping that there are few folks on the Board who have looked at some other good schools below that level academically but balanced and still solid, credible places worth the cost. Thanks to all.</p>
<p>Agree with all of the above. My son had a great experience visiting Holderness and they were SO warm and enthusiastic when he was admitted. We liked their balanced approach to academics, arts, and athletics (our kid was a nordic skier too). They also have a unique experiential short term program for each year. Great FA too.</p>
<p>While my kids are elsewhere, I heard very good things about this school from our educational consultant and from several acquaintances, including one whose child goes there (maybe just graduated). It’s in the tier below GLADCHEMS but a school on the make. It attracts well-rounded nice kids more in the vein of L.L. Bean than the Preppy Handbook (terrible analogy but apt). The school is small (<300) and there is a lot of individual attention and mentoring. Better like winter and skiing, if you go!</p>
<p>What kind of kids does Holderness attract? Is it just just Boston area people or is it a true national/international mix. Seems like ski culture would be big. What if you are not a skier?</p>
<p>Well, I have a friend going there, who was considered obnoxious, unjustifiably cocky, and socially inept at my old school. I mean he went around touching girls’ arms, bombarding their facebooks with messages that show no consideration for others’ privacy, and throwing a tantrum when he gets ignored by them.</p>
<p>For the record, he’s fitting right in at Holderness, or so it seems, judging from his Facebook posts and photos. So I guess the school is good at adapting everyone into its culture.</p>
<p>(no pejorative innuendo meant about the overall student body of the school)</p>
<p>We are close friends with a family that has a daughter who goes there and a son who graduated from there a few years ago. The daughter is warm and genuine. She is athletically/outdoors oriented. Seems like a smart kid, but her life is not focused around academic achievment. She skiis for fun, but plays basketball for her winter sport. This embodies the typical student, I think. BTW, she is from a west Boston suburb. The web site says they have kids from 21 states and a bunch of countries.</p>
<p>MB, I suspect that there are many “cocky” kids who are not always socially adept who are admitted into a boarding school community. Some advantages of BS for many who fall into that category are becoming more self-aware, more modest in the face of superior talent, and losing some of the rough edges.</p>
<p>Holderness is a quality place, all around. Do look at the other schools Momof7thGrader mentioned. Also, if you’re willing to look in their geographic areas, consider Berkshire, Cushing, Tabor, Brooks, St. Mark’s, Middlesex, Loomis, Westminster, Pomfret, Worcester, Northfield Mount Hermon, Milton, Governor’s, Thayer, Rivers, Peddie, and Pingry.</p>
<p>Peddie does not play ice hockey. However, Hill School in Pottstown, PA, might be a good fit for op’s profile of student.</p>