Boarding School recommendations?

[Pink Partridge]

A good friend of mine had two daughters that went to Salem Academy in Winston-Salem, NC. They spoke very highly of it.

 

[NotUrsula]

I take it you've looked at Shattuck St. Mary's? I'm not sure what their academics are like these days, but it's a popular choice for singles skaters whose families don't feel up to home-schooling high school. They have their own rink, so no need to miss class for ice time. (Getting ice time would complicate matters at most boarding schools, since she would need to leave campus to get there, and cabs in most suburban areas will not accept kids as passengers.)

We have a well-rated non-denominational boarding high school here in the St. Louis metro; Thomas Jefferson School, known locally as TJ's. It has VERY small classes, and 7 day boarding tuition runs about $60K/yr. (There are 2 rinks less than 6 miles from campus; DD frequents both of them.)

For the most part, you are likely to get a more affordable price at religiously-affiliated schools; the independents tend to cater to really old money and the international business crowd these days.

 

[bethy]

I take it you've looked at Shattuck St. Mary's? I'm not sure what their academics are like these days, but it's a popular choice for singles skaters whose families don't feel up to home-schooling high school. They have their own rink, so no need to miss class for ice time. (Getting ice time would complicate matters at most boarding schools, since she would need to leave campus to get there, and cabs in most suburban areas will not accept kids as passengers.)

We have a well-rated non-denominational boarding high school here in the St. Louis metro; Thomas Jefferson School, known locally as TJ's. It has VERY small classes, and 7 day boarding tuition runs about $60K/yr. (There are 2 rinks less than 6 miles from campus; DD frequents both of them.)

For the most part, you are likely to get a more affordable price at religiously-affiliated schools; the independents tend to cater to really old money and the international business crowd these days.

Thank you I did have Shattuck St. Mary's on the list and TJ's looks excellent also!

 

[design_mom]

My son's friend's sister was a boarding student at Gilmour Academy near Cleveland. I am not 100% sure what percent are boarding students vs. how many are day students, but I know she and her family were happy with the education. She graduated last year. She now goes to Ohio State main campus (which was her first-choice school.)

They also have an on-campus ice arena and figure skating is a varsity sport. (My son's friend's sister was an ice hockey player.)

It's a Catholic school, but about 20% of students are non-Catholic.

 

[MICKIMINI]

From Wikipedia

Mike Eruzione a American former ice hockey player. He is best known as the captain of the 1980 Winter Olympics United States national team that defeated the Soviet Union in the famous "Miracle on Ice" game, in which he scored the game-winning goal.

He spent a year at Berwick Academy to fine-tune his hockey skills in a New England Prep environment.

Don't forget Phillips Exeter in Exeter NH. Sister school to Phillips Andover.

 

[AlohaNow]

We looked at both Episcopal High in Virginia, and St. Andrews in Delaware for our boys

Both are outstanding. You should really look into them as possibilities. I'll also mention Portsmouth Abbey in Rhode Island.

Fun fact: St. Andrew's was where they filmed Dead Poets Society

This is a generalization, but the farther away you get from New England, the less the schools are concentrated on Ivy admissions. Again, in general.

 

[clori]

Philips Academy in Andover has two ice surfaces on campus and at very least has freestyle ice time and a skating club. Not sure what level or type of skating your daughter does but NEICC has an active high school skating program that has grown a lot since it started about 8 years ago.

 

[Minnie1222]

There are great boarding schools all over the country. The quickest option is to choose one region or state and only apply to the schools in that area. This will save you a lot of time during the touring/interviewing process.
When our kids were in the application process, I chose one specific state and each kid could apply/tour up to five schools in that state. The schools we chose all had their open houses/student interviews within the same week in October. It was much easier to be in one area instead of flying all over the country.

 

[Suger Mag]

Northfield Mt Hermon, Gill, MA.

 

[Cheburashka]

Question: Does anyone know of any great college prep boarding schools in the USA or Canada that are not *overly* crazy competitive? DD is smart but not a genius and I don't want her to get in over her head. She's also not used to being a small fish in a big pond. We are looking for schools that are college preparatory and have great, above average motivated students who are not mainly there to get into the Ivy League schools later on. If that makes sense. DD is looking to go to a solid "normal" university in the future.

Also, we'd want a school where the majority of the students board and are not Day students. Thanks in advance for any recommendations!

Background:
We live in a small isolated town with no good private schools nearby. One of our daughters is very smart and wants to go into a STEM field someday. She dreams of going away to college for a traditional four year undergrad experience. She is feeling underwhelmed by her current high school education and experience and is feeling restless. A large percentage of her classmates are not college-bound.

We are toying with the idea of offering to send her to a college prep boarding school for her last two years of high school. She is not a troubled kid - she is a straight A student and involved in tons of activities and also sports. So we would not be "sending her away" against her will or anything. Appreciate any input anyone might have!

Input from a teacher:

If she's not extremely (and I mean extremely) bright, has grown up in a small town and attended a not very academically challenging public high school for two years, she'll probably struggle at a college prep boarding school. Boarding schools aren't filled with geniuses (there just aren't that many geniuses around), but they do cater to academically competent kids who are from competitive school backgrounds. It doesn't sound like she's been in a competitive college prep school before, and that will put her at a disadvantage, particularly coming into the program as a junior.

Most parents don't pay for college prep boarding school as an intentional prelude to an average public university. These programs are geared towards entrance into top schools. Not necessarily Ivy League, but there are a lot of top schools not in the Ivy League: Duke, Rice, MIT, Northwestern, Stanford, etc.

If the demands of the new school overwhelm her, her critical 11th & 12th grade grades might suffer, & that could make it harder for her to get into her university of choice. Think about the effect this could have on her future before moving her to try to make her more enthused about school. I'm not trying to rain on your parade, just asking you to use caution. Be sure to talk candidly with multiple admissions staff about her academic background and goals, and listen carefully to their opinions of whether or not she would be a good fit.

 

[CaoilinnsMom]

The Madeira School in Virginia is awesome for girls. I worked there for a few years and they have a great philosophy and education.

 

[White Cat]

Mercersburg Academy in Pa.

 

[China Expat]

Boarding school is my field! I have worked/taught/led boarding schools since 1992, and feel strongly about the benefits gained from attending a boarding school. Happy to take messages if you would like.

The west coast boarding schools are cool and more progressive. The best out here in California are Webb, Cate, Thatcher (horse school), Athenian, Stevenson, and ,Flintridge Sacred Heart (all girls). The New England boarding schools have deep and long histories, but aren't my personal cup of tea due to strong and rigid traditions that make it difficult to make substantive changes. There are so many in NE. A new one has popped up near Boston, New England Innovation Academy, only in its first year but doing some very cool curriculum and design work.

You might look at Boarding School Review, or just do a search of American boarding schools with your parameters. There are arts schools, tech schools, single gender, and regional differences. The website for TABS, The American Boarding School site, has a link for parents to look at all member schools.

Canada also has a slew of great schools-check out Canadian Association of Independent Schools. Lots to view. You could go wild and look at international boarding schools! I have lots of data on some great ones in Australia and Tasmania. Also look at the United World College chain of boarding schools-exceptional!

Again, happy to help offline as well!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Boarding school is my field! I have worked/taught/led boarding schools since 1992, and feel strongly about the benefits gained from attending a boarding school. Happy to take messages if you would like.

The west coast boarding schools are cool and more progressive. The best out here in California are Webb, Cate, Thatcher (horse school), Athenian, Stevenson, and ,Flintridge Sacred Heart (all girls). The New England boarding schools have deep and long histories, but aren't my personal cup of tea due to strong and rigid traditions that make it difficult to make substantive changes. There are so many in NE. A new one has popped up near Boston, New England Innovation Academy, only in its first year but doing some very cool curriculum and design work.

You might look at Boarding School Review, or just do a search of American boarding schools with your parameters. There are arts schools, tech schools, single gender, and regional differences. The website for TABS, The American Boarding School site, has a link for parents to look at all member schools.

Canada also has a slew of great schools-check out Canadian Association of Independent Schools. Lots to view. You could go wild and look at international boarding schools! I have lots of data on some great ones in Australia and Tasmania. Also look at the United World College chain of boarding schools-exceptional!

Again, happy to help offline as well!

Another rec for Webb. We know people who were very happy there.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

Am I the only one here because I saw Cranbrook mentioned and was hoping for some Clarence from 8 Mile jokes?

Oh, I am?

Okay, I’ll see myself out now…

 

[2goofycampers]

Webb School in Bell Buckle TN.

 

[DVC-Don]

Cushing Academy, Ashburnham, Massachusetts.

 

[bethy]

Input from a teacher:

If she's not extremely (and I mean extremely) bright, has grown up in a small town and attended a not very academically challenging public high school for two years, she'll probably struggle at a college prep boarding school. Boarding schools aren't filled with geniuses (there just aren't that many geniuses around), but they do cater to academically competent kids who are from competitive school backgrounds. It doesn't sound like she's been in a competitive college prep school before, and that will put her at a disadvantage, particularly coming into the program as a junior.

Most parents don't pay for college prep boarding school as an intentional prelude to an average public university. These programs are geared towards entrance into top schools. Not necessarily Ivy League, but there are a lot of top schools not in the Ivy League: Duke, Rice, MIT, Northwestern, Stanford, etc.

If the demands of the new school overwhelm her, her critical 11th & 12th grade grades might suffer, & that could make it harder for her to get into her university of choice. Think about the effect this could have on her future before moving her to try to make her more enthused about school. I'm not trying to rain on your parade, just asking you to use caution. Be sure to talk candidly with multiple admissions staff about her academic background and goals, and listen carefully to their opinions of whether or not she would be a good fit.

 

[bethy]

Input from a teacher:

If she's not extremely (and I mean extremely) bright, has grown up in a small town and attended a not very academically challenging public high school for two years, she'll probably struggle at a college prep boarding school. Boarding schools aren't filled with geniuses (there just aren't that many geniuses around), but they do cater to academically competent kids who are from competitive school backgrounds. It doesn't sound like she's been in a competitive college prep school before, and that will put her at a disadvantage, particularly coming into the program as a junior.

Most parents don't pay for college prep boarding school as an intentional prelude to an average public university. These programs are geared towards entrance into top schools. Not necessarily Ivy League, but there are a lot of top schools not in the Ivy League: Duke, Rice, MIT, Northwestern, Stanford, etc.

If the demands of the new school overwhelm her, her critical 11th & 12th grade grades might suffer, & that could make it harder for her to get into her university of choice. Think about the effect this could have on her future before moving her to try to make her more enthused about school. I'm not trying to rain on your parade, just asking you to use caution. Be sure to talk candidly with multiple admissions staff about her academic background and goals, and listen carefully to their opinions of whether or not she would be a good fit.

Input from a teacher:

If she's not extremely (and I mean extremely) bright, has grown up in a small town and attended a not very academically challenging public high school for two years, she'll probably struggle at a college prep boarding school. Boarding schools aren't filled with geniuses (there just aren't that many geniuses around), but they do cater to academically competent kids who are from competitive school backgrounds. It doesn't sound like she's been in a competitive college prep school before, and that will put her at a disadvantage, particularly coming into the program as a junior.

Most parents don't pay for college prep boarding school as an intentional prelude to an average public university. These programs are geared towards entrance into top schools. Not necessarily Ivy League, but there are a lot of top schools not in the Ivy League: Duke, Rice, MIT, Northwestern, Stanford, etc.

If the demands of the new school overwhelm her, her critical 11th & 12th grade grades might suffer, & that could make it harder for her to get into her university of choice. Think about the effect this could have on her future before moving her to try to make her more enthused about school. I'm not trying to rain on your parade, just asking you to use caution. Be sure to talk candidly with multiple admissions staff about her academic background and goals, and listen carefully to their opinions of whether or not she would be a good fit.

Thank you! This is very good food for thought

 

[bethy]

Boarding school is my field! I have worked/taught/led boarding schools since 1992, and feel strongly about the benefits gained from attending a boarding school. Happy to take messages if you would like.

The west coast boarding schools are cool and more progressive. The best out here in California are Webb, Cate, Thatcher (horse school), Athenian, Stevenson, and ,Flintridge Sacred Heart (all girls). The New England boarding schools have deep and long histories, but aren't my personal cup of tea due to strong and rigid traditions that make it difficult to make substantive changes. There are so many in NE. A new one has popped up near Boston, New England Innovation Academy, only in its first year but doing some very cool curriculum and design work.

You might look at Boarding School Review, or just do a search of American boarding schools with your parameters. There are arts schools, tech schools, single gender, and regional differences. The website for TABS, The American Boarding School site, has a link for parents to look at all member schools.

Canada also has a slew of great schools-check out Canadian Association of Independent Schools. Lots to view. You could go wild and look at international boarding schools! I have lots of data on some great ones in Australia and Tasmania. Also look at the United World College chain of boarding schools-exceptional!

Again, happy to help offline as well!

This is wonderful! Thank you for your offer to help!!