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[quote=Anonymous]While I could imagine some of the girls keeping it private, I would be VERY surprised if a single student in the Multivariable Calculus class this year were getting tutoring (at any point in their time at the school).

Is there outside tutoring happening across the upper school?  I'm sure there is. There are 350 students and there is one that is the "best" and one that is the "worst" - but you have to ask yourself what are you ranking? The school doesn't think of the students this way, and frankly, neither should the parents - and we all know the colleges don't.  (As is often said, if the top 20 colleges in this country wanted to fill their classes with valedictorians and 1600 SAT kids, they could, but they don't).

For those that want to couple smaller class size with caring teachers and an environment that is mostly free of drama, Holton provides a great education. If you or your child want more choices (both in class selection and extracurriculars) the local public schools do a great job with that. They have other issues as we all know, which is why people choose options like Holton.

Comparing them apples to apples doesn't work because what they offer are so different.

Speaking of rankings, if you were to take the top 25 kids of a Holton class and drop them into Whitman or Churchill or Blair, etc. they would do very well there.  The opposite is also true.  There isn't magic with hardworking kids.

The trick in the run up to high school or college is finding out what makes those kids hardworking and bright - much as those from the outside assume it is money, connections, or tutoring, etc., sometimes it is the combination of grit and determination often brought about by fostering those kids with sound teaching practices, sometimes stern teachers, and sometimes fun teachers.  Finding what environment works for your kid is the assignment for us parents - many find it at a place like Holton.

But let's also be honest; if my oldest kid grew up in the middle of nowhere he would have wasted his life. My middle dd would have excelled and done just fine. My youngest (now the only one I have in HS) has thrived in a smaller environment. It has taken years to build confidence. Would that have happened in a large public school?  Maybe. But it would have been a much harder struggle and who knows where she would have ended up. I'm thankful she has had the opportunities at Holton.

tldr; know your kid, find out what will work best for them!
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