My daughter will be applying to boarding school for the 2026-27 school year. We are looking for a school with strong academics, a solid strings program, a swim team, and a crew team. She has been playing violin for eight years and has experience playing in a youth orchestra. She has been swimming on a year round club team for seven years and tried crew this summer. Any schools (mid-Atlantic or New England) that check all of these boxes? We have some ideas but thought it might be good to get some other opinions!
I am only familiar with the schools my DD looked at/applied to (all mid-atlantic), but of those, Peddie would be worth checking out as it fills all your boxes. I can’t speak specifically about violin, but the orchestra is phenomenal and everyone loves the music director (Mr. Michaels). If you do end up looking there, ask to meet him or set up a zoom. He is very approachable and you can get a sense of opportunities for violinists and how your DD would fit in. My DD has friends who swim and do crew but isn’t involved in those programs herself. I believe they are both considered to be strong (other people may know better). Peddie’s swim program is one of the few that is year round. She finds the academics to be challenging, but also feels well supported and has loved all her teachers. I was impressed by the thoughtful and insightful feedback and communications we’ve gotten from her teachers. I can see that they have really gotten to know her, recognize her strengths and have helped her address any weaknesses.
Blair would be another mid-atlantic school to look at. I don’t think the swim is year round (if that matters) but they do have it and would check all your other boxes too.
Good luck on your search!
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I’d look at George School ¶.
Really good programs in all 3. They are such that she can also figure out at what level she wants to engage in each. The academics are excellent.
It’s worth a look to see if it feels right.
Thanks for these insights!
We will check it out!
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The big schools (Andover, Exeter, Deerfield, Lawrenceville, etc.,) would check off on all of these. Is there anything else we should know to give you better advice?
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OP, you should check at any school as to how the sports (or activities) you are looking for actually work. What is the skill level required to participate? Are ther PGs who will ultimately be the varsity starters or do many players work their way up through the ranks? If you’re an impact player as a freshman (usually a recruit), where do you go from there? Are there students doing the sport year-round (at a club level at or near school)? What is the schedule like for athletes and musicians-- as in, how does a student do both?
TLDR: Just because a school has all the programs you want doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have access to them or that they’ll meet your needs. I suspect you know this, but just wanted to remind you to follow up on this in your interviews – programs change, etc., so confirm what’s current!
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