Hey everyone,
So I’ve been looking at both of these schools and I’m wondering-which school is better in terms of matriculation, arts, courses that they offer, type of community, sports (swimming), name, academics, and food? I play the viola in my school orchestra, do swim, and I love to pursue the arts. I am also interested in science! I am also interested in attending an Ivy League, UC Berkeley, or UCLA. I would love to hear an answer/perspective from a Cate and/or Kent student! Thank you!
The one that accepts you is the better one. Until you get acceptances to both, your questions are premature.
Hi @sarahtoors, my daughter is a senior at Cate, and she has been incredibly happy there. We are from the East Coast, so are familiar with most CT/MA boarding schools, including Kent. @skieurope is right - don’t worry too much about the choice until you are sure that you have one. Admissions at Cate is highly selective; especially this year because they over-enrolled last year. Did you apply to other schools, or just those two? Cate is an incredible place, and I’d be happy to tell you more about it & answer any questions that you may have should it be an option for you on M10. I hope that it is, and I wish you the best of luck!
OP: Have you applied to these schools ?
Have you taken the SSAT ?
Kent is one of those schools which has really come up in the world. Places like Kent, Suffield, Deerfield, Peddie, NHM, Blair could never really compete with the elite schools as far as facilities and luxuries were concerned, and while even the tip-top schools have become more fancy over the years, the Kents of the world have positively transformed themselves. Kent, for example, brought the girls off the mountain in the mid-90s. Huge bonus there. If you know any alums or faculty, ask them what it was like in the dark ages. Not the same place at all in 2018. The arms race has been very good for plenty of schools in the northeast.
Kent girl’s swimming is not great right now. Swimming is not a focus of the school. Think crew. Hockey. But I believe the former long-time coach is still in the athletic department in a management capacity, and the current coach is youthful and energetic and ifaik a swim parent, too.
Kent does have a long tradition of performing arts. Lots of actors and musicians have gone to Kent. Plenty to like there. And if you’re a good swimmer and swim for Kent, you will be a star on the team.
@skieurope Please try to add value or be a just a little bit helpful with your replies. Actually, her questions are not premature at all. Most people would want some information about a place before applying. Information that might not be available on a school sponsored website or by looking at pictures. The kind of information you might find, you know, on a message board website.
@saratoors, I visited Kent once, in the dead of winter. You mentioned California a couple of times in your post, so if you’re from a warm weather climate, be prepared. Kent is located in a pretty small town. The nearest city of any size is Stamford, about an hour and a half away.
@GnarWhail – “Kent, for example, brought the girls off the mountain in the mid-90s.” What does this mean?
Kent had a separate girls’ campus till the mid-90’s. It was up on whatever mountain. Marvelwood is there now. When the girls came to campus, that was the start of the astounding un-dumpifying of many of the facilities, and now you have the lovely Kent School of today. Plus, girls.
@GnarWhail thanks for sharing that story about Kent, it’s interesting to learn the backgrounds of some of these schools. ( I also wondered what you meant about bringing girls off the mountain! )
Kent was not on our list of schools this year, but it’s good to have info for friends who have current 6th & 7th grade children.
Actually, they are, IMO, and I stand by my response. Asking about “better” is relative; what’s better for me may not be what’s better for you and may not be what’s better for the OP. That’s part of why “fit” is a key component.
My experience on this site, and in life, is that the quality of answers is in direct correlation with the quality of the questions. If users wants some solid answers, it is helpful to have demonstrated that they have actually done some preliminary work. Most, if not all, of these questions could have been answered by visiting the schools’ websites or by searching on this site. Expecting not to be spoon-fed is good experience if one actually attends one of these schools or its peers.
As an example, the OP is interested in matriculation data and, presumably, how it relates to his/her target colleges. If so, the wrong question is being asked. I have said numerous time that if one is targeting a specific HS, or schools in general, with the goal of college matriculation, then one is missing the point of a boarding school’s purpose. A boarding school may give a student the tools with which to develop him/herself into a viable candidate, but others schools may as well. Colleges admit students, not boarding schools. While the professionals at the schools are ready and willing to assist in the process, they will not, and should not, do the work for the student.
Oh, and welcome back @Bullneck 
No surfing at Kent.
I went to Kent in the dark ages (not an entirely fair description but not entirely unfair either) and my son graduated last year. It is true that since the consolidation the place has been transformed. My son had a great experience and it was a great choice for him but these are two very different schools so if after March 10 you have a choice it will really be a matter of finding the best fit for you.
Ah - Beautiful Kent! Attending school there is the quintessential New England boarding school experience-in all good ways! My youngest is there now in the throes of term finals before coming home for his last, long March Break. His brother graduated from another great school that you hear raves about on here all the time, and we are a family with a multi generational history with New England boarding schools on both sides of the family. Some have gone the Legacy/Sibling route, but it has never been assumed and I am familiar with a whole lotta east coast boarding schools for this reason.
I confidently say here that my kids have had exceptional educations and experiences at the schools they attended and I pay no mind to “tier” and “ranking” stuff because all these schools are a top notch education and you will find that as the decades go by, the distinctions are less important than the collective educations and experience. Both my boys were accepted by the top colleges of their choosing and I have no doubt of their commercial and personal successes to come in life.
I don’t know anything about Cate, but its location and fine reputation. Perhaps someone else on here will be able to share more on Cate. I definitely know Kent very well though. It is a warm, inclusive, accepting and amazing place. If you look at its history, it that was one of the first to have sliding scale/scholarships for deserving but poorer student. It was one of the first to have co-ed classes and even ahead of its time with tech and computers. Kent is a small and classical New England while also progressive in many ways… and it seems to just be getting better every single year. In fact, the students and admin. just voted to relaxed the dress code middle of this year, making it more gender neutral and comfortable for all students. Everyone interacts with each other at Kent and kids are encouraged in a big way. It is OK to be “an odd duck” or to be “Perfect Prefect” or “Super Jock” or “Nerd/Geek” or anything because once you on the Kent campus it makes no difference because you are looked at as a “Kentie” and that’s that. I know students who are top athletes who are also active members of various Arts and things even like Dungeons&Dragons Club… you name it. No one blinks an eye. Most have a range of interests at Kent, or find new ones. This is encouraged by the adults and other students there. At Kent, my mild mannered, shy guy found out that he can enjoy stepping out on a stage and singing his heart out and got the chance to play on a team with great kids in a sport he has always loved, but has never been terribly good at. 
Sorry this is so lengthy - but I am starting to get weepy now that time there is winding down and it has made me reflective. Anyway, Kent is in a gorgeous, non-urban setting. The campus is easy to navigate and well laid out. It is also open so students can spend time in one of the cutest New England towns you will ever see. It is nestled between mountains you can bike/hike in while also literally on the shores of a gorgeous, healthy river (which was more healthy and interesting this winter than usual which made it an especially interesting winter and brought a lot of peeps to the area and also gave the kids a short break w/ some computer school). Kent is just about 15-20 min drive from New Milford (every bix box store you can think of is there) and about 30 min drive to Danbury (a very small city that has a fine hospital and great bit indoor shopping mall). I can’t recommend Kent highly enough to anyone considering it and this Prize Day (graduation) is going to be a happy time, but also a sad one because Kent School will be missed!
I feel the need to add something else here b/c I never have time to log in these days and soon won’t be a prep School parent anymore: Kent is a campus where different and even opposing views and opinions are met with respect across the board. Adults and kids who are interested in Social Justice/Liberal/Progressive have a place there right alongside those who run more Conservative/Traditional. There is room to worship as you wish at this Episcopal school and there is respectful debate and respect in general. Kenties may not agree on all things, but they always manage to put aside their differences and stay united on Team Kent. THIS is how our world is supposed to be and I hope and pray Kent never loses this wonderful balance b/c in this day and age, it’s growing scarce.
I could have written the same first paragraph @judbeeski but my graduate is my oldest and my two younger ones are in Lakeville with cousins at Westminster and Taft. All are great schools as are, really, nearly all of the schools mentioned on this site. I agree with everything you’ve written about Kent. It is a very special place.
Thanks for the response. That’s kind of what I figured but wasn’t sure.
I have had 2 students at Cate. The food is quite good - lots of fresh, organic choices. They are currently building a new dining commons. The community is vibrant and welcoming, with students from around the US and the world (although there are plenty of Cal kids, particularly faculty kids). Speaking of faculty, they are truly top-notch, fully dedicated to constantly improving both the curriculum and their craft. In short - it’s an extremely well-run school in a beautiful location with exceptional teaching. Apply!
I go to Kent right now, I have never been happier, the kids are nice and welcoming, the classes are engaging and the teachers are passionate. Regarding the admission to colleges, out of the class of 2017 19% of students attended Ivy or equivalent. It is not just some number the admissions throw at you, I sat down with my father and wrote it all out. By all means, apply you will not regret it.