Periwinkle

D.C. Area families board students at local private schools

neatoburrito

I live within an hour of a boarding school that several children in my town have attended. One mother of a day student that I spoke with said that if one of her other children attends, she will board. Her day student spent over 20 hours in the car a week. I have often wondered what the average commute time is for the suburban American child. I'll bet they spend a staggering amount of their childhood in a car. It is one of the reasons we have somewhat limited our children's EC committments. We always felt that "free time" to dream and pursue independent interests was as important, if not more important, than a bunch of progams that often seemed to be more for the adults than the children....but I digress.

Being a local boarder seems like the best of both worlds. For some schools, however, (Andover and Exeter), it isn't an option.

liddyb4

That is not true in regards to Exeter. My son is a local boarder - they have a map that defines the radius. We live outside the radius where a student must be a day student, but has the choice to be day or boarding. He would not have been interested in attending Exeter as a day student - we always knew he would board if accepted.

neatoburrito

But there IS a certain area where boarding isn't an option, correct? That's what I was referring to. I'm sorry if I was unclear.

liddyb4

Yes - there is a certain area - you are correct. It is a pretty tight circle, however. I think Exeter itself, plus Hampton and North Hampton, Greenland, Stratham, Kensington and Brentwood. I don't recall if there are others. As soon as you get as far as Portsmouth or Newburyport (approx 15 +/- miles) they become choice towns.
I agree with your friend regarding time in the car for day students as being a big headache. My son would spend over an hour a day commuting if he were day. It would negatively impact his studies, sports, social life - and ours, too. I can't imagine being at the mercy of my cell phone ringing anywhere between 6 and 9 pm to go pick him up. My other kids would get pretty resentful if their after school events were being constantly interrupted for taxi duty.

PBush

A lot of my classmates live more than an hour away (one way drive) and commute! It's ridiculous because that means they need to get up at like 5 AM everyday (the girls at least, who need to "prepare").