<p>I’m glad that you started a thread on this article, tokenadult. I read it and was dismayed by it. My older S is an extremely able student who has been frustrated by our local HS/MS (he is in 8th grade but takes HS math and science classes). Most of the teachers are great, but most of the kids are not really interested in learning. Some of them are completely disaffected and don’t care about school and some of them care very much about grades and getting into HYP (where the school regularly places top graduates), but not really about learning. We have made the difficult decision to send him to an independent HS (if he is accepted) and have almost finished the arduous process of applying to three schools, one of which was mentioned in the article. I am NOT looking for a stressful situation for him. As others have said, what we want is a higher level of academics, not a higher level of stress. I’m also looking for balance. In the public HS, playing on an athletic team or being in the musical require a tremendous time commitment. In the independent schools, at least according to them, these activities are kept in their place and it is possible to participate without completely giving up the rest of your life.</p>
<p>My S is ready for college-level work intellectually. He is NOT ready organizationally. He is not even ready for MS work organizationally. Sorry; I’m veering off topic here.</p>