Groton is ticking all the boxes for my child. The culture, campus, rowing, coursework/teaching, school size, food, solid FA program… all the boxes. Except one: the grind.
He will work hard at any of the acronym or hidden gem schools. Because he is a hard worker. But the unnecessary added stress of grind culture is not for him. It won’t go well. He can self-regulate and stay in his lane, to a point. But that will be difficult in a school where others don’t do the same. Sooooo… Is the reputation truly deserved? Why more so than other schools? I don’t want to avoid a great match based on (unfounded?) rumor. I also don’t want to steer him toward a school that just isn’t right if the rep is deserved.
We live very far away, and cannot visit when school is in session. If your family has first hand information… please do share your perspective. We are grateful.
I have a current 9th grader. I’d say Groton is intense, and there isn’t a ton of free time. There are Saturday morning classes every Saturday (some other schools with Sat morning classes have some Saturdays without classes - not Groton). 8th and 9th graders have study hall 6 nights a week (all but Saturday night) and they are in study hall every free period during the school day. (More freedom for the 10th graders and up.) My kid loves that study hall is a defined time, phones are taken away, etc. - that was a draw to Groton. From what I see on campus (and I’ve spent a lot of time on campus in recent years), the kids are happy. There are a lot of clubs with enthusiastic participation. Lots of fun weekend opportunities (open mic night, inflatables on the Circle, trips to local shopping/movies, apple picking, etc.) - so much fun that day students often sleep over on campus Sat night. Teachers are generally all in and getting to know kids as individuals. I am sure kids have times when the school work seems overwhelming - because they do get busy and there are definitely crunch times - and there are college pressures etc. (separate debate over where that pressure is coming from!), but seems to me that is the case at any school. One other thing - vacations are long. Spring break in March is 3 weeks. Also generally Groton doesn’t assign any work over breaks or summer (unless catching up on missed work). So maybe it all balances out. I say if it appeals to your kid, connect with admissions and see if there’s an admissions event you can get to and see if they can connect you with some families in your area. And ask current students about the grind culture reputation and see what they say.
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I cannot address your specific question beyond that this is Groton’s reputation, but the kids survive and do well.
Considering any other schools ?
Any boarding schools no longer under consideration and, if so, why ?
P.S. Just read your other thread regarding your son’s medical condition. Seems like traveling half way around the world to attend a highly demanding boarding school might be too stressful for one who suffers from such severe migraine headaches.
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There was a parent here recently (D graduated recently) who complained bitterly about her D’s workload. Her D was an athlete, and her mom felt it was unnessarily heavy. (D was local, perhaps a day student, so mom was a witness, not a reporter.)
It was quite a few years ago, but a friend’s S went there (also an athlete) and the sibs all decided it wouldn’t leave them enough room in their lives for balance.
Otoh, I know families who have loved it and have sent all their kids there - happily.
Your reservations may be your answer that this isn’t the best fit for your kid. There are SO many excellent schools out there, so this shouldn’t be a problem.
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Including link to your other thread, because I believe that it is relevant: Migraines: How is it handled at BS?
Whether it is “truly the grind” is a bit subjective, I suspect.
Of greater concern should be whether all the other puzzle pieces fit. I get liking the idea of a taking on and mastering a challenge that few can, but… Please consider looking at alternatives. There are plenty of kinder, gentler schools out there that still offer their students an excellent education.
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Defending Groton a bit here.
The grind at any highly academic boarding school is very much dictated by how much a student wants to challenge themself. Number of honors classes taken; how serious one is about athletics while simultaneously taking the most rigorous courses offered; and one’s involvement in leadership positions and passion project ECs.
Groton attracts some of the most driven academic students, and the school’s workload correlates to this. However, if one chooses to take easier classes, the workload drops. It’s like this at peer schools as well.
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My kid goes to a different boarding school. Middle school was perfectly fine, but not particularly rigorous, and we were worried our kid would be overwhelmed. So far (just 9th grade), while there is 2-3 hours of homework a day, the strict study halls and other free time (no commute!) have made it pretty manageable. No sports, though. Check back with me in basketball season!
A few thoughts. Sometimes easier classes are not possible/offered. Eg at Hotchkiss, 11th grade English (required) is an AP course (not called AP, but is at that level). There isn’t an easier option.
Also, how forgiving is the school of falling behind? When it is a very fast paced place, and the kids are all expected to hit the ground running, what happens if you miss several days of class/homework a month? Many kids are already at max capacity, and now you have double the homework the next day. This can easily snowball. There’s very little extra bandwidth for these kids at these types of schools. I think there’s a decent chance the kid ends up underwater and potentially drowning.
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I agree with your post, I just wanted to point out that a number of Groton’s academic peers can also be “grindy”, especially if a kid has a full schedule of challenging classes and ECs.
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This is all so helpful. We are really struggling with finding the balance. I think the Saturday classes might be too much. He is fine when he gets a little downtime to recharge. And removing the commute is huge to help the schedule/reduce stress.
I suspect the culture there just attracts a thoughtful, serious student who enjoys social connection. Which is why he thinks it is ideal. But the serious bit… might need to keep looking. We need a school that kids don’t beat themselves up over performance. We support him pursuing an education, and don’t worry too much about grades. I think high performers (everywhere) can get very focused on a narrow interpretation of results.
We have family near by. He wouldn’t be without support. And I will travel to him at shorter holidays.
I agree about all of the wonderful options out there. This was his pick. I will help him keep looking. So far he has two others on the list as well. Ruled out the schools with 800+ students.
Just want to say that I really appreciate the considered (and respectful despite being anonymous) perspectives of this forum. It is helpful.
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Sounds like you already know this, but there are many fantastic BS with excellent academic reputations (and college admission stats to prove it) that are a little less grind-y than the handful of schools that often get discussed on this board.
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Just had a read of this thread out loud and a convo with my guy. All Saturday class schools ruled out. He is realistic about him limitations and also determined to showcase his strengths.
“If Serena Williams can do it, I can, too “
She is his hero. Not that he sees himself as that elite an athlete at 14. But he is resolute. Onward!
And I want to end this with my compliments to Groton. This was an important discussion, but not meant to cast a poor light on the school. We were absolutely wowed by all we learned about the place. For some kids out there, it is the gold standard. Onward!
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Before you rule out all schools with six-days of classes, do a deep dive into how the schools manage their academic class scheduling. Six days of classes do sound miserable (especially if it’s every week vs every other week), but for the type of kid who can productively manage time and deadlines, this could be a great schedule.
Schools don’t just have EXTRA classes, they spread the classes over more time. So fewer classes during the week, less homework per day, earlier to bed, more sleep, and potentially a less stressful (but longer) work week.
Sunday study hall does come around quickly when you only just got out of class at noon on Saturday. But it could work for some kids.
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@cheerfulmom , I know you are looking at that geography for family nearby, but take a look at Peddie, Mercersberg, and George. All are known for having a wider range of learners and being kind environments, so could offer the flexibility you need. And you will still get excellent academics.
Each of these has a somewhat different vibe and way of delivering content. Just looking into these might help you identify attributes you’re looking for, even if you ultimately end up focusing on New England.
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Great points here. Some schools with Saturday classes, which end by noon, also end classes by noon one other day during the week (typically Wednesday). This arrangement might work better for your child.
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We are flexible about location. A few close family members live along the East Coast.
I will definitely take a look at those schools. Thank you. I liked Frederick Gunn, but DC said it is too “outdoorsy’” He’s more frisbee on the lawn than hiking up a trail. I’m the opposite, but I’m not the one going. A big limiting factor is that he would like a school with rowing.
The Saturday classes are good for getting sleep on Friday. But tough in that they add more transitions. He does really well at his current school on block days twice each week because fewer transitions is more relaxed. He has a great attention span for longer classes.
When schools have Saturday morning classes, when do teams have games? How long does it take to get to competitions? Curious for all sports, not just his.
Saturday afternoon. (And Wednesday afternoon).
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You may also want to look at St Andrews in Delaware and The Hill School in PA has a rowing program that seems to be growing.
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NMH has no Saturday classes and is a strong academic school without being super-intense. Can’t speak to the overall rowing program, but a senior woman last year was the u19 US champion.
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My kid is at a school that doesn’t have Saturday classes and their sports games are often on Saturday afternoons because they are accommodating schools that do have Saturday classes. Not to mention every time that there is an SAT or ACT scheduled test, sports events are pushed to the afternoon too.
As for commute times, it depends entirely on the sport and level. The higher the level, the more games in a season and the further they will travel. This weekend my kid has a 2-hour commute and will depart school by 8:30am, play TWO away games at the same venue, and probably be back on campus by 6pm.
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