How do Spence, Brearley, Dalton, Chapin, Trinity, and Nightingale differ in terms of student body

[Anonymous]

and school culture?
Are some more progressive; some more traditional?

I've been reading a lot of NYC Upper East Side mom novels lately (fun! trashy!) and I'd love to just understand the landscape more.
I know GOOP went to Spence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:and school culture?
Are some more progressive; some more traditional?

I've been reading a lot of NYC Upper East Side mom novels lately (fun! trashy!) and I'd love to just understand the landscape more.
I know GOOP went to Spence.

I would love to read those novels. Do you have any recommendations?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:and school culture?
Are some more progressive; some more traditional?

I've been reading a lot of NYC Upper East Side mom novels lately (fun! trashy!) and I'd love to just understand the landscape more.
I know GOOP went to Spence.

I would love to read those novels. Do you have any recommendations?

Mean Moms by Emma Rosenblum!

[Anonymous]

I had one at NBS and one at HM, and they have friends at the other schools. The more-desirable NYC privates are more similar than different, all drawing from the same demographic. Dalton leans more progressive than the rest of the schools you listed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had one at NBS and one at HM, and they have friends at the other schools. The more-desirable NYC privates are more similar than different, all drawing from the same demographic. Dalton leans more progressive than the rest of the schools you listed.

Tend to agree though I actually know some very pro-Trump folks at Dalton. But I don't think they are very happy there.

[Anonymous]

I saw the list of names in the title and thought it looked like a list of the names of the kids in a young adult novel about boarding school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had one at NBS and one at HM, and they have friends at the other schools. The more-desirable NYC privates are more similar than different, all drawing from the same demographic. Dalton leans more progressive than the rest of the schools you listed.

Tend to agree though I actually know some very pro-Trump folks at Dalton. But I don't think they are very happy there.

I was referring to the curriculum . . . . ITA that it's not hard to find Trumpy people on the UES, unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

The student bodies are all fairly similar at these schools. Historically there may have been more differences, but at this point, I would say they all attract similar families and students. I have children at Dalton and friends with children at the other schools listed.

[Anonymous]

Dalton felt big and more progressive. You have to buy into the “Dalton plan.” The lower school felt more chaotic (and more like a maze), but kids were happy. Teachers seemed happy.

Trinity felt smaller, more traditionally structured, and ordered. It’s all in one building which seems to create community. The chapel (a weekly assembly) is what set it apart. It felt like parents were really welcomed into the school/community as much as their children because of chapel.

Communities are largely the same. You go where you get in! Both draw smart kids, parents who are serious about academics, and the generally connected circles of NYC.

[Anonymous]

I’m rereading your question and realizing the above probably isn’t what you were looking for 😂😂😂

It’s all the same. Smart kids, intense parents. Most apply to all the schools you listed and you see where you get in and hope it’s one or the ones you felt “fit” best. (Spoiler: it’s all a guessing game if you’re looking “fit” for a kindergartener. And some of these kids change from one of these schools to another on your list).

[Anonymous]

The obvious: Dalton and Trinity are co-ed. Brearley, Chapin, NBS all girls. That's probably the biggest difference.

[Anonymous]

Admitting I might be wrong on this but comparing Dalton and Trinity:

Dalton parents seem more willing to speak up. Which has its pros and cons - I think the school swings around a bit to try to respond to the person who has spoken most recently.

I hear grumbling from Trinity families but they seem to not say as much - trust the system. I found much of Trinity's administration to be cold and patronizing (though there definitely were exceptions). Of all the schools, they were probably the one who felt most likely they were doing us a favor by gracing us with the honor of applying. We had some decent connections there and subtly mentioned them but didn't call them in as we were pretty sure we wouldn't accept an offer if one was bestowed upon us.

[Anonymous]

How does Brearley and Chapin compare?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How does Brearley and Chapin compare?

They have much more in common than not, especially today. Brearley is more likely to counsel a student out if they don't think she'll have a chance at an Ivy, while Chapin will let girls stay if they have a shot at Michigan or UVA. Girls might also have slightly more homework at Brearley, but having known girls at both schools, much of the material covered is the same.

Historically, Brearley had a more diverse student body, typically a mix of WASPs and Jewish girls, while Chapin was almost incestuously WASP-y. Both schools have made efforts to diversify the student body in recent years.

[Anonymous]

How is a child "counseled out" of a school? That sounds humiliating!