Does anyone have any experience with junior boarding schools?

[Anonymous]

I am interested in possibly sending my son to either Eaglebrook or Fessenden both located in Massachusetts for his 7th grade year. I'm in interested in junior boarding schools because of factors such as diversity, single gender education, and a structured academic environment. I am considering local schools as well, however the middle grades can be a tough time. So I don't want a school that focuses on the upper grades.

[Anonymous]

We did one in PA. Thought it'd be excellent. Our biggest parenting mistake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We did one in PA. Thought it'd be excellent. Our biggest parenting mistake.

Could you elaborate?

[Anonymous]

Know alum from Eaglebrook and a current student. All seriously LOVE the school. The alum said it was the best years of his life. Curent student is truly thriving - such an overused word on these school threads but, in this case really and truly accurate. This boy has gained reams of confidence, radiates happiness as never before and has just flourished.

Clare Anderson, a Washington educational consultant, has a tremendous amount of experience with junior boarding schools (as well as regular boarding schools) and would be a good person for you to talk to. Google her name and her info/site will come up.

[Anonymous]

I know an Eaglebrook alum. He's a great guy but incapable of forming attachments to other people. I don't know if this is why he went to junior boarding school or related to the experience.

[Anonymous]

Junior Boarding school? Just do Boarding school.

[Anonymous]

Based on what you say you're looking for, I'm wondering why you would choose boarding school over a local single sex school. What is it that you think would be different? I think knowing that in more detail would help us answer the question.

[Anonymous]

I know a ton of kids from Fessenden - they all loved it, but they all had specific reasons as to why they boarded so early. Parents traveled for work an extraordinary amount, lived on a remote island with poor schools etc. I think that helped the kids to understand why they were "different" than the other day students.

[Anonymous]

OP, ignore the folks who don't "get" boarding school. For many kids it is the BEST solution. Also, I don't know about Fessenden but I think Eaglebrook is all boarding. Regardless, by middle school age most kid would think it is cooler to board than be a day student. Many parents may not want to acknowledge this but, for many kids its true.

[Anonymous]

You know, I actually think there would be a market for a good boarding school in the DC area. There are so many families that have to go overseas and so on.
Sorry to hijack.

[Anonymous]

I don't understand sending a child that age away, unless there's a really strong reason to do so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You know, I actually think there would be a market for a good boarding school in the DC area. There are so many families that have to go overseas and so on.
Sorry to hijack.

This isn't helpful to the OP, but there are boarding schools in DC:

http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/work-education/education/private-boarding-schools-in-dc-maryland-virginia-pennsylvania/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand sending a child that age away, unless there's a really strong reason to do so.

Know someone where the father was sent to jail for tax evasion, the mother was going through a lengthy trail herself for the same thing. She was in and out of court and had some sort of breakdown. They sent their kids to boarding school for two or three years. That was a good decision, the kids were totally oblivious to what was going on with their parents.

[Anonymous]

I would be concerned about some middle school kids being strong enough to withstand bad influences in a boarding school setting. Fessenden seems like a wonderful school, but its past is not untouched by scandal.

[Anonymous]

I would never sent a 12 year old to boarding school without a very good reason.