Looking for our boarding school unicorn?
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Anonymous
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Aussie family excited to soon move your way! We would love feedback/suggestions about school culture for boarding schools that fit the following:
1. Eastern US region 2. Must have a rowing program. (His absolute most favorite sport. Rugby is a distant second.) 3. And the single most important factor: Nice kids! Not excited about schools filled with billionaire alpha spawn who let you know the minute you walk in the door that the fix is in: They have it all sewn up, and you are there as window dressing to fill out the high school so they can hoover up all the awards and college placements. I know 3 sounds rough, but it is what we were told by a few US families at our school here in Sydney. They are discouraging us. The culture is very different from the marketing is what we are told. Toxic is what they said, but I am keeping an open mind. However, our transfer might have us moving around, and we would like a consistent four year experience with solid relationships for our child. We are not as hung up on the "perceived prestige" factor. I've read up on the acronyms and rankings. Interesting, but not persuasive. Great teaching and community for a bright kid is the goal. Sooo....... what have you got for me? Thanks mate 
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Anonymous
| St. Andrews, Berkshire, and Northfield Mount Herman look interesting, for reference. |
Anonymous
| Frederick Gunn in Connecticut meets all your needs. My DS graduated two years ago. https://www.frederickgunn.org/admissions |
Anonymous
| Immediately thought St Andrews and Berkshire also |
Anonymous
| Avoid Lawrenceville like the plague. |
Anonymous
| Also avoid Prep and St Albans |
Anonymous
| St. Andrews in Delaware, Concord Academy in Concord, MA and Brewster Academy in NH. |
Anonymous
+1 |
Anonymous
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Not sure if Mercersburg has a good rowing program but in terms of strong academics and a laid back atmosphere, it's a school to look at.
St. Andrews should be on your list. Just like what everyone else says. |
Anonymous
I totally agree with prioritizing a kind community, but I don't think it's as hard to find as you've been told. While I absolutely believe some schools are like that, I went to one of the super old NE prep schools and that wasn't the vibe. Don't get me wrong, we had our share of comically wealthy and connected families, but a) that still wasn't most people and b) kids tended to be well-liked for being smart, charismatic, friendly, the usual. My main issue with the school was the unnecessary intensity and pressure, but that wasn't coming from the other kids. I would focus on the rowing and geography, and then visit to get a feel for the community! |
Anonymous
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I hate to ask, but ... how set are you on boarding school?
I had lunch with some Australians a few years ago, and learned from them that it's a very different thing in Australia vs. the U.S. It's quite rare here. (I understand it is more common for you.) They described the kids coming home every weekend ... here, you'd just come home on major holidays. I *did* think first of St. Andrew's, but also wondered if you would want to live near some good private high schools that are not boarding schools. Philadelphia's Main Line, for example, has good access to Episcopal Academy. The city and close suburbs have La Salle and St. Joe's Prep. Prep, in particular, has really strong rowing. Sorry if I am wrong in my perceptions. Just thought i'd ask. |
Anonymous
I wouldn’t consider these boarding schools in the traditional sense I think OP is looking for, anyway. It’s only a small subset of the boys and largely international students (which I get that OP is, technically, as an Aussie, but they’d be living here). They aren’t going to offer the full boarding school experience. |
Anonymous
| St. Andrew’s. Best admissions office and the one good sport they have is rowing. |
Anonymous
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Kent
Phillips Andover |
Anonymous
| Pomfret and Kent |