if you've been admitted and are choosing between them, certainly you could ask some of the schools for their records to help make your decision? |
| Honestly, in terms of exmissions I think you’re splitting hairs. We’re not at one of these boys schools but at another K-8 with good exmissions and have just finished the 9th grade admission process. It’s different than K admissions, there isn’t the kind of back channel dealing you have with the younger kids. 8th graders have a lot of data points schools can look at and I think it comes down much more to the individual kid then what school they came from. I think it is helpful to go to school that will guide you through that process and it helps when admissions officers are familiar with the school but for kid with equal stats I don’t think it matters much if they come from St. David’s vs Buckley. There are fewer TT high school options for boys and they are only going to take so many from the same school. |
Going through the process next year and will be taking exmissions into account for FC letter. I don't think asking for this info before an acceptance letter would be taken well. |
| When considering these schools, it may be helpful to understand that it is probably much harder to get into NYC schools from them than to get into boarding schools. There are only so many spots at the local schools for all the boys from these schools in 9th, and the parental preference has mostly shifted towards local schools. That said, they probably all have very strong records and relationships with the top boarding schools. |
Thank you. Shouldn't that make getting into these K-8s much easier than the TTs that go K-12? The guaranteed TT HS placement at K should be very attractive. If you get into Collegiate, why go to St. Bs when the odds are against you being admitted later on? |
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If you are open to boarding schools, or a non TT local school, I think the boys K-8s are spectacular. If your only goal is to get into Trinity or Collegiate, may not be the best "bet" to make in K, agreed, although the K-8s certainly place many many kids at those schools. Applications are definitely up at boys K-8.
We didn't even seriously look at K-12 for my son after visiting the boys' K-8 we ended up at. It is the most wonderful place, and because it doesn't have a high school, the boys feel very supported in all years. The standards are still extremely high, but there is, as far as I can tell, literally no pressure cooker feel, which is what I wanted for my son. |
It's a known phenomenon that the top kids in K-12 high schools disproportionately enter at 9th grade. Not that Collegiate has a bad K-8 program (not at all). It's just a lot harder to predict which four-year olds will do well in high school vs. 8th graders. Collegiate lifers who end up average in high school may well have been better being in the top 10% at some other school. I guess you can switch schools, but it's not always so simple. I think the best bet is to worry about what's best for your son NOW in K-8, and that will best position him for success in high school. |
| Is there ever spots in 1st or 2nd grade at these schools? We sadly got waitlisted from the four K-8 all boys schools that we applied to (coming from a K-8 coed). |
| Which K-8 is the hardest to get into? Do you recommend K-8 or K-12? Trying to get ready for next year |
Same at our school in the DC area. There is a huge increase with Kindergarten applicants this year. |
| We are currently waitlisted at St. B and Buckley. Will it move at all? I heard it was incredibly competitive this year... |
Our PSD got feedback that Buckley WL will not move this year. |
| Oh no.... |
This is very true. Though I would argue that the academics at a K-8 (or even a good public school) are better during those years than at a K-12, because those other programs are preparing you to test out (or perform well on statewide tests). They will teach you the grammar rules, writing techniques, and test-taking skills that are missed at K-12 schools. So many of the kids at my child's K-12 school are being enriched (to flll in gaps, or add a heightened level of academics that are not offered) or tutored (to maintain base-level skills), on top of the hefty tuition. |
St. B is the hardest without a doubt. It’s the most academically rigorous K-8 and it is one of the most socially prestigious schools which makes it even harder to get into |