Boarding School Suggestions for Average Student

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pomfret, Loomis, Miss Porter's, Governor's Academy

Sorry, no way I would lump Loomis in with Governor's or Miss Porters. Maybe Westminster? Or Brooks. Loomis is a step up--not quite PEA or PAA but closer to Northfield or St. Lawrence.

[Anonymous]

And a heads up even a mid tier boarding school has a lot of Asian and other international students who work very hard. It’s a group of students that will raise the bar in math classes as they try and catch up in English skills. So there’s definitely a cohort of strong students at a boarding school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pomfret, Loomis, Miss Porter's, Governor's Academy

Definitely not Loomis which will be about a 15 percent acceptance rate this year and is nothing if not a grind. Would suggest Westy, Suffield Academy, NMH, Canterbury and the like.

[Anonymous]

In VA, Woodbury Forest and Blue Ridge both are boarding schools with good academics. Woodbury Forest probably is higher stress. Blue Ridge has more of a built-in support structure. Both have good facilities. Both have good college placement records. Neither is comparable to Andover/Exeter in either academic workload or in Ivy college placements.

[Anonymous]

Check out George School in PA. DD loved it but we could not afford it.

It’s funny to hear people mention Emma Willard. I’m from Troy and while the campus is beautiful the surrounding areas are not.

[Anonymous]

Virginia Episcopal School in Lynchburg
Christ Church School

[Anonymous]

Chatham Hall and Stuart Hall

But beware it is a tough market for small boarding schools. Many have closed like Oldfields or at risk of closing.

[Anonymous]

Millbrook, Berkshire, Pomfret, Westminster

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Check out George School in PA. DD loved it but we could not afford it.

It’s funny to hear people mention Emma Willard. I’m from Troy and while the campus is beautiful the surrounding areas are not.

+1. I went to George School and loved it.

[Anonymous]

Dana Hall in Wellesley Ma is a geat school for mid-level academics girls, but the boarding population is 90% Asian and its more than half day. Most boarding schools that the very top (i.e. ST Pauls, Deerfield, Anodver, Exeter, etc) or the next level down (ST Andrews, Loomis, Peddie, etc) have a wide range of students, and yes, they all have very hard-working international students that will take all AP classes and get 5s on every exam. Some traditional co-edschools you might consider that are driving distance (less than 4-5hours) from DC would be Hill school, Mercersberg, Blair Academy. The next level down but still drivable would be schools like Westtown, Solebury, Pomfret. Further into New England think about Tabor, Berkshire School (more competitive) or Cushing, Wilbraham Monson (not very competitive). If you are full pay, your middling academic student can get into all of the lower level schools with ease and then you can visit and decide on fit.

[Anonymous]

Cardigan boarding school

[Anonymous]

Are you applying for this coming fall? If so, you have already missed most of the deadlines. But we were in the same boat last year and ended up hiring a consultant to help us find schools for our kid. Best money we spent! They are more familiar with all the different schools across the country and can really narrow down the list of schools that best fit your kid. My kid ended up applying to 4 schools and got into 3. Very happy at their new school. We used The School Counseling Group.
https://www.schoolcounseling.com/

[Anonymous]

My recs might be dated as they are from my own experiences with a twenty year reunion coming up. I toured and love Proctor. A friend's brother went there and lived the spirits. For a yet more relaxed vibe (but far!) There are lots of chill boarding schools in Maine because of a rural population and a New England vibe. My brother went to one called Hebron and LOVED it, even though he was dragged into the boarding school experience kicking and screaming. He really blossomed there academically and loved being on the ski team.

[Anonymous]

My kid is at SSFS and many of his friends are boarding students. Many are international, but others board rather than commute from DC or Virginia, and I think there are some kids who live in the dorm and whose parents are faculty. So a mix of kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Garrison Forest School in Owings Mills

+1

+1 for Garrison Forest. Is a boarding school and has day students seem well suited for kids of differing abilities. Boarders are international and domestic students. Students from all over the US including the DMV. Not overly sporty but most students participate even if they aren't the best. They have horseback riding although it isn't overly horsey or ritzy. They have some nice academic programs.

St. Tims - IB program if your daughter is interested and seems to take different types of girls.

Oldfields is still open and is probably looking for students and I will say the students and parents seemed to love it.

Pennington & Hun are two others that weren't mentioned. Not sure if you only wanted all-girls schools or not.

Make sure the school is going to make it for 4 to 5 years so that your daughter can make it through because I agree with the other poster some schools are struggling.