Dwight Englewood is a local NJ school that’s trying really hard to recruit NYC kids and be more than local. But I don’t know many top NJ students (I’m in NJ) who willingly go to DE if they can feasibly get in somewhere better in NYC. If you live in NYC, I would look elsewhere unless your kid really needs a campus and it’s their best option.

We've looked at a lot of these schools during the admissions process and there are pros/cons to each. I liked Grace a lot but not sure about the social dynamics. Got a little bit of a cold vibe from Friends but know people that love it. I think the academics are quite good. I liked UNIS and it's much cheaper than the other schools. Cons are location and it's bigger than other schools. Student body is more transient and you have to want IB. Packer is beautiful and has a strong curriculum and a lot of unique programs which make it more similar to some of the TTs. Not sure about the social aspect and it's in Brooklyn. Liked LREI a lot more than I thought I would. It seems like the nicest community and maybe the most welcoming students. I think the academics are fine but maybe not the most rigorous. We went to a curriculum night and it seemed that 9th grade math would be mainly a repeat of what my kid is doing in 8th but the humanities classes seemed good. Liked Browning if you have a boy but it is a little small. Hear mixed things about bullying but everyone we've met there seems warm. Did not get great vibes from Dwight Englewood but the campus is great if you want a campus school. Out tour guide was from the UWS and she said it was a breeze to get to school. DE was one of the few schools we saw where it seemed that kids could keep their phones. We saw a lot of kids glued to phones or other devices.

Speyer is very new-money and doesn't have the most impressive physical facilities (no real gym, e.g.), but the exmissions are phenomenal; fully half of their students end up at Andover/Exeter/HM/Dalton/Brearley/Regis/Trinity/Collegiate/Hunter/Stuy/HSMSE/BxSci. (and more than 10% go on to one of HYP for college)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a girl, consider Hewitt. Very underrated, is down to earth with great community and people with all the "fixins" of an UES school.

Hewitt is very small. That can be sweet and cozy. That also make it hard to do a school theater performance or a band performance - obviously tons of way to workaround this but something to consider.

We liked Nightingale a lot during the application process.

Columbia Grammar has some very smart kids but also a lot of showy, nouveau riche types who are insufferable

We liked Grace a lot. Head of school is excellent, chill vibe, as academically intense as you want it to be.

Friends was also good though a bit too political/progressive, even for a lifelong Democrat.

Trevor has become popular and has nice facilities. Didn't love the curriculum.

DE has a lot of pluses but socially tough to have lots of friends in NJ and get there for events.

Calhoun is kind of quirky but good kids.

Avenues has great resources but is kind of culty.

Global community of UNIS is nice and it is cheaper but you have to be bought into that.

Both of my kids liked Packer, Friends, and Berkeley Carroll when we did HS tours. Also Dwight Englewood in NJ, which is worth your consideration if you’re on the Upper West Side.

For a boy, consider Hewitt. Very underrated, is down to earth with great community and people with all the "fixins" of an UES school.

For a boy, I would consider Browning. My son isn’t there but have had positive impressions.

Nope. Just someone who doesnt want a pressure cooker TT school but values private

are you the one who keeps posting about Packer? I don’t think a lot of Brooklyn people are on this board is my educated guess

Everybody I know at Calhoun loves it, happy chill place

Everyone obsessed with TT. And I get that. But what are some of the favorite 2nd Tier schools? For academic? For happy kids?