All boarding schools experience a roller coaster effect with respect to sports. One will still have to play a Fall and Winter sport or participate in an event such as a school play. That's not to say they can't play tennis in the Fall or Winter on the courts if available (snow) or if time permits. The real tennis schools are in Florida. Meantime be forewarned, good tennis players are known to become excellent lacrosse goalies.
If you live in New England, choate, hotchkiss and recently, hopkins are all good choices. hotchkiss is an oldie, but recently hopkins boys have won new englands twice, beating out hotchkiss. their coach is also coach of the year. this school might not be a good choice though, because it's a day school. choate and hotchkiss are the best for a boarder.
My son emailed the coaches of the schools he is interested in (and has applied to) and received full responses to his detailed questions from all but one who was, to put it politely, abrupt.
Abrupt could be a clue not to apply. Or abrupt could be an interpretation since "intent and tone" are not always readable on an email. Just as polite could be "nice but not interested" or "nice, but totally forced and phony."
If you can - personal visits can sometime allow you to discern the difference.
