DD chose Holton over NCS as she liked the campus and the admission process better. She had mixed experience with the teachers though and ran into issues with some, but no problems with classmates. She decided to leave. I feel the focus is more on discipline and behavior, at least in lower grades, and maybe not so much on academic performance. Not sure if upper school is different or not.

We chose Holton because NCS/STA/BVR drop off and pick up is a mess. Having done BVR, I was happy to take Holton.

If your daughter is lucky enough to be admitted to both schools, look at the aforementioned factors and see what works best for her. If you still can't decide, go with the school with the fewest moms arguing about it on this board.

Picked Holton over NCS couple years ago, due to proximity and campus. DD felt more comfortable in Holton and didn't like the urban setting of NCS.

I imagine the reasons to choose one or the other given the price point of both is very personal. I think if these schools were really “close” in someone’s decision it could be considering a pro or con — depending on your family’s faith, distance, or some other factor that pulled you. OP: it would be impossible to know who got into both and who chose which and why, but academics is the last reason I can think of.

Belonging is a big part of Holton’s ethos. We just volunteered to be a mentor family to welcome new families in lower school. Holton also has a solid DEIB program with affinity groups for students and parents. My kid is shy and quiet, her question she had about the school is “will they be nice?” There is a strong focus on community, compassion and collective well-being, but if you have a bad experience at an event, it’s hard to shake it off.

Facility wise - there will be gym renovations and a new community hub on campus for socializing and gathering. https://www.holton-arms.edu/support/the-promise-campaign/community-spaces

I had no issues with the quality of the LS spaces.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We chose NCS for fourth. The facilities at NCS are far superior and more updated. We were more impressed by the teachers and engagement of the classes we observed at NCS. The older girls at holton looked surly and the campus is run down. Wasn’t as impressed by the teachers we observed. Our daughter liked that the older girls don’t wear uniforms and have some more coed opportunities. It’s pretty individual.

Hmmm- the book Mean Girls was based on NCS. Maybe a more appropriate title would have been Mean Moms.

I've heard this before, but yet can never find any evidence to prove this connection.

Tina Fey wrote Mean Girls after reading Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman, which is a parenting book. Wiseman worked at NCS around the time she wrote the book (which contains anecdotes that sound like she is writing from experience though she never names NCS). She herself went to Maret as a kid and then Occidental.

I thought it was based on New Trier High near Chicago.

Anonymous wrote:Hopefully, the girls going to both of these elite schools are better human beings than some of the moms posting here.

Oh please. So one poster claims to be an NCS parent and you believe them? Please. Both are very great schools and my daughter is at NCS and is happy there. I think she probably would’ve been happy at Holton as well but the religious component, being in the city, and official brother school on campus were more appealing to her. Also she loved the campus and facilities. She has many friends at Holton.

Anonymous wrote:Years ago when DD was a third grader at Beauvoir, Holton had *a moment* by attracting six girls from DD's class to enroll at Holton for fourth grade. Interestingly, every single one of those six girls eventually left Holton.

I remember that as it was a grade below us I believe. I didn’t realize they all left Holton.

Anonymous wrote:Gosh. This makes me want to move to the Midwest.

LOL - I escaped the midwest, but I certainly agree with your sentiment! These mean moms frighten me by how nasty they are in describing children/minors.

DD chose between NCS and Holton for 4th a couple years ago, and ultimately went with NCS. She maintains friends at both schools. They're both good choices, but DD is happy she chose NCS.

Hopefully, the girls going to both of these elite schools are better human beings than some of the moms posting here.

Gosh. This makes me want to move to the Midwest.