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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Well it [/quote]

. . . Would be interesting to know if any of these schools begin the high school year earlier, or have a longer school day.

http://www.hercampus.com/high-school/applying-college/10-high-schools-send-most-students-top-colleges
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What do they have? Extremely accomplished, driven students with extremely accomplished, driven, and often wealthy parents who went to top colleges. And the ability to cherry pick the best and the brightest from huge population centers.

An extra week is not going to push your school into this league.[/quote]

Don't be so credulous, people.  Schools like Poly in Pasadena, College Prep in Oakland, and Chapin in NYC are not stronger than the best independents in Washington, D.C.  For example, the article cites Andover as having 16% of its recent grads going to "top colleges."  That's lower than what you'd see at Sidwell/GDS/STA/NCS/Holton in most years.  These are small schools here.  For 15% of a Sidwell class to go to a "top college" that translates to 19 kids.  They had something like 10 kids just get into Yale this year alone -- I'm sure they had 9 other kids get into a "top college."   For an even smaller school like STA, only 16 students have to get into an Ivy to hit the 20% "top colleges" mark.

NYC's Collegiate school is more competitive than any given D.C. independent, but its student body is not some ethereal unreachable perfect union of geniuses.  They too let in siblings, athletes, alumni children, development cases, etc.  If you've taught at different schools around the country, you would know that the top day schools in these cities are remarkably similar in teaching style, student accomplishments, and general feel.  Boarding schools are their own thing but much more diverse in terms of student ability than people often seem to think.

Somebody who likes to upset people is always saying that DC schools stink and that's just silly.  Don't fall for such naked assertions and don't fall for random lists either.  
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