<p>This is all, ultimately, a very subjective and individual choice, but have to say as another Midwest parent, I wouldn’t have suggested boarding school to my son if he’d had the kinds of stuff your daughter has: good ec’s, good social setting, decent school system, etc. I hear what you’re saying about the meh academic setting–but the teacher who is willing to start AP level work with a middle schooler suggests that there’s good stuff going on there as well. There are other ways to enrich high school–my second son, for example, was an exchange student and is now happily finishing out high school as a dual enrolled student at our local college. </p>
<p>Boarding school was incredibly rewarding for my first son on all sorts of levels. But the cost (travel is a significant cost for bs parents from the Midwest and should be part of your consideration) and the wrench of that early flight from the nest, especially for an already young 9th grader? Not worth it primarily for more challenge IMO–academic challenge can be found in many places. </p>