@UltimaCroix It is all a matter of degrees and proportion. Wealthy families from the tony SoCal areas you reference are only a tiny minority at the school and don’t really shape the culture.
If prestige is your number one driver, not just one of several items on your consideration list, you probably pick a boarding school that is more famous worldwide, not one that is only well known in the wealthiest old money circles of LA and SF. As a result, the percentage of families for whom status is paramount feels much lower.
I stand by that.
I would encourage you to visit the campus yourself and get a feel for the place. The culture (including among parents) feels very different from older, more traditional and prestigious East Coast schools like St Paul’s, Deerfield, Groton, Exeter, Choate, and Andover. It really does.
I’m not saying it is “better”… just different.
You’ll know whether it feels like a fit once you spend time on campus. It’s not for everyone!
But please don’t take my word for it. See for yourself!
Also, and this is a tip for any parent touring day schools and boarding schools: The applicant pool may or may not reflect the school community. We were really turned off by the other parents attending a different school’s event for applicant families and almost didn’t apply. (Everyone dressed to impress — spotted several Birkins — and out of 20-30 moms there were only 3-4 brunettes! What are the chances? In an hour of mingling we did not meet a single public school family. We were the only ones.) The AO later hooked us up with current parents and it became clear that those weren’t the kind of families that actually ended up attending the school. (No idea if the admissions office weeded them out or if they simply ended up choosing something else…) Lesson learned.