Holton Arms

[Anonymous]

Why does enrollment drop so much from 10th to 11th grade, why are girls leaving and where are they going?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do the lower school girls stay after school for activities homework club, other activities at school or organized outside of school. What is the typical WISC IV score?

My DD stays for Homework Zone. It serves 2 wonderful purposes. One- she gets her homework done or at least has a great start on it. Two - I don't have to fight the carpool line. It is amazing to walk into the library and see all these girls silently doing homework or very quietly discussing homework with a classmate. They gather in little groups in every nook and cranny. It does my heart good to see it.

[Anonymous]

Do they Homework Zone in Middle School?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The school has a really difficult curriculum and drives the girls very hard. It's good for the girls who get into the Ivies (like mine). But, I'm not sure the hard work is worth it for those who end up at places like UMD...those girls could have gone public and had a lot more fun in their high school years.

Hhhmmm. My DS in public HS now and I can tell you there is no time for fun. It seems to be all work and no play. No time to play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do they Homework Zone in Middle School?

There is an after-school study hall. (They call it something else.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why does enrollment drop so much from 10th to 11th grade, why are girls leaving and where are they going?

I wondered that, too. Weeding/counseling out?

[Anonymous]

I know a good chunk who left for boarding school.

[Anonymous]

It seems like a stange time to switch schools in 10th and 11th grade, who has openings then? Are they going to public? Why leave then?

[Anonymous]

One of the major entry points for the top private boarding schools in the country is the 10th grade. For many 9th grade is too young. 10th grade is when they are ready and mature enough to leave home. That is what I did. I went to Andover as a 9th grader but my siblings went in the 10th grade. Holton/NCS is good preparation for Andover. But, truth be told, compared to Andover, Holton/NCS is a cake walk. Academically, no comparison. That being said, its not for everyone. Have to be mature enough to live away from your parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know where people get some of this stuff. I would dare them to take one of the h.s. math or science classes at Holton...they're not easy.

My impression about Holton is that there is a world of difference between what happens in lower school and what happens in middle and upper school when it comes to academics. With that said, we need to note that lower school kids have a lot of other fish to fry at that age.

The difference is that in the LS, students and teachers collaborate. There are fantastic teachers in LS. The students are definitely pushed academically and socially in good ways. Whoever wrote that there is a LS wall is wrong. My DD tested out of LS math and took classes with a MS students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The school has a really difficult curriculum and drives the girls very hard. It's good for the girls who get into the Ivies (like mine). But, I'm not sure the hard work is worth it for those who end up at places like UMD...those girls could have gone public and had a lot more fun in their high school years.

My daughter is in the lower school, and we definitely still have to supplement the curriculum. We are thinking about moving to the public school system where she would be more challenged by being bumped up a grade or two. Everyone is different. (sigh) I think Holton does do a good job at trying to meet the girls' needs. I can appreciate that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know where people get some of this stuff. I would dare them to take one of the h.s. math or science classes at Holton...they're not easy.

My impression about Holton is that there is a world of difference between what happens in lower school and what happens in middle and upper school when it comes to academics. With that said, we need to note that lower school kids have a lot of other fish to fry at that age.

The difference is that in the LS, students and teachers collaborate. There are fantastic teachers in LS. The students are definitely pushed academically and socially in good ways. Whoever wrote that there is a LS wall is wrong. My DD tested out of LS math and took classes with a MS students.

How long ago was it that your daughter took classes w/middle school students? We are hearing from administration that they "tried that in the past" and that "it didn't work well".