Advice please. Baldwin School vs. Agnes Irwin School

mdundovi
Sun, 15 Mar 2015 00:54:26 +0000

I am a working mom. My daughter has been accepted at all schools to which she applied. We have narrowed it down to the Baldwin School and Agnes Irwin School. Both seem wonderful and offer generous grants of similar values. AI also awarded her a scholar award which is more prestige than funding. Baldwin may be a bit more nurturing. Both provide academic excellence.

AI is has newer/contemporary facilities but transportation relies on limited shuttles to trains and car line. Nothing is walkable.
Baldwin has older/Harry Potter style facilities (but not deficient by any means), but the train, town, brand new town library, movie theater, restaurants, Bryn Mawr College, etc. are all walkable.

I understand why newer facilities of AI might be more attractive as is the fact that one of her good friends is attending from my daughter’s elementary school, but as a working mom, the transportation is limiting.

I also understand that at Baldwin, my daughter has no friends attending from her elementary school, but again, as a working mom, I know she can wait for me at the beautiful new library one block away; not to mention a starbucks, etc.

My daughter initially loved Baldwin, but has been leaning toward AI over the past few months. She has been in a beautiful, nurturing, blue ribbon school of excellence since kindergarten (somewhat sheltered) and very nurturing. I want her to be happy and excited about high school. She already stated that she prefers AI but will be fine with whatever I decide. I am torn as to what to do. Can anyone offer some suggestions/advice? Thank you in advance.