DD Average Student - Looking for H.S. - Finishing School Vibe is Fine

[Anonymous]

My DD is coming from a good K-8. She is a completely average student - not particularly motivated in any subject. She consistently pulls in B and C grades. She’s also not involved in sports at all and has not stuck consistently to other random extracurricular activities we have tried.

This Fall we will meet with her counselor about potential high schools. But I was wondering what are your recommendations for a student who is not at all a star and doesn’t stand out at anything academically or sports-wise.

She does however have a wonderful, bubbly personality and makes friends easily. I’m looking for a school where she would do well enough to get into college but obviously not a pressure cooker school. She’d probably do reasonably well in a finishing school type of environment, while although not necessarily academic, they will nudge you all of the way through while perfecting other skills that would be helpful in life, like public speaking, hosting, etc.

I hope this post is not odd. She’s one of three kids and just doesn’t have the same motivation or drive as my other two.

[Anonymous]

This is OP. We are in Laytonsville but are open to anything in Maryland or D.C.

[Anonymous]

Finishing school? Do you live in Victorian England?

Public school will give a personable kid a lot of extra curriculars and academic subjects to dabble in.

[Anonymous]

Have her shadow schools early to see if she likes any of them. Good Counsel, Sandy Spring and Holy Child would be ones that comes to mind given your location.
Get her a neuropsych and see if she has ADHD or is anything else is happening. ADHD is commonly undiagnosed in girls until middle / high school

[Anonymous]

Look at Madeira.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have her shadow schools early to see if she likes any of them. Good Counsel, Sandy Spring and Holy Child would be ones that comes to mind given your location.
Get her a neuropsych and see if she has ADHD or is anything else is happening. ADHD is commonly undiagnosed in girls until middle / high school

Hi - thank you. We've actually had that done. She has no diagnosable issues. I think generally, that she is not naturally highly intelligent/smart and then does not have the motivation it would take to compensate for this. So we are where we are - I just need her to graduate high school and get through college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Finishing school? Do you live in Victorian England?

Public school will give a personable kid a lot of extra curriculars and academic subjects to dabble in.

Thank you - Public school is not an option.

[Anonymous]

Holy Cross does a great job with kids like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look at Madeira.

Why would you suggest this? It’s in VA and extremely rigorous. Better chance of getting into Holton and it’s much closer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look at Madeira.

+1

Not that I would call Madeira a finishing school, but it’s strong academically while also instilling a lot of “soft skills” like public speaking and helping girls present themselves with confidence and poise. And it might help your DD find something she’s really interested in.

One thing to be aware of for applications to any private school is that they want to hear from kids about their interests and passions, whether that’s an academic subject, sports, music, art, theatre, coding, baking, saving the environment—whatever, they are looking for something that shows this kid has a spark for something. If your daughter truly doesn’t have that, figure out how to spin what she has dabbled in and have her practice answering questions about hobbies or interests so she has something to say in her interviews.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Finishing school? Do you live in Victorian England?

Public school will give a personable kid a lot of extra curriculars and academic subjects to dabble in.

Term makes sense. Our one size fits all system has its downside.

OP, is boarding an option? Really opens up your choices. I think St. Timothy's and Garrison Forest in Baltimore may be good fits. Also Foxcroft in VA.

[Anonymous]

Don’t undersell you kid. She’s young and can develop academic interests and motivations. Even if she’s not an academic star, she’s exactly the type to focus and excel when she starts to put together how educational and social skills fit together in a career.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at Madeira.

Why would you suggest this? It’s in VA and extremely rigorous. Better chance of getting into Holton and it’s much closer.

Do you really think a B/C student can get into Holton?

[Anonymous]

She’s in middle school and you seem like you are pigeon holing her to be a SAHW. Geez, find a good all around school nearby and go with that. Just don’t choose the ones that have a reputation for academic excellence that always get discussed here. Most catholic schools have mediocre academics. If you don’t like the catholic ones pick a different religion. It is unlikely you will find a low pressure secular school, but they might exist.

[Anonymous]

My daughter was/is academically inclined ( and sporty and arty). She went to garrison forest for four years of high school and it was terrific-and lots of the girls there are not academic high flyers. They have a great program, superb teachers, lots of athletic and dance theater choices, photography etc etc etc. my daughter boarded but came home most weekends for her club sport. You could easily do same from laytonsville. Boarding school is wonderful. I sent two out of my three who had fantastic experiences and increasing maturity. Only my eldest refused to leave the nest at 14!