Hi, id love to please hear as many insights and experiences as possible; as people are willing to share, about their’s or their kid’s time at Groton School. In relation to academic rigor, student culture, athletic culture & experience.
Im very excited about Groton School for my repeating 8th grade son. Several Coaches are seem very keen for him to go there, and seem to think he will do fine academically. He has a 90 average at a good day school, but has to work very hard for that. Stays up late to finish work, takes longer than peers, to just make an A average. And im sure Groton is harder. But he cares about doing well in school, and willing to work.
We know he will do well athletically, and could choose other easier still amazing schools, but would like him to grow intellectually. Im worried maybe at some more very sports oriented schools he will navigate toward the athletes just going to school to play sports. “The average of your 5 closest friends” thing.
His worst academic area is writing. I know, thats not good.
He plays football, hockey, and lacrosse at a high level. It looks like he has alot of interest from over a dozen of the best schools. Really want to make the right choice.
Also, he is willing to be friends with all kinds of people, intellectually inclined peers included, but are there a good amount of kids who are very into their sport and serious about their athletic future as well? Id like my son to be well rounded, and im getting that is kind of Groton’s thing.
We didn’t apply to Groton, but can say with confidence that the Head of School ensures that the school maintains the schools ethos of well-roundedness.
Is your child in eighth grade applying to be a Second Former, or is this their second eighth grade and looking to enter as a Third? Just want to make sure I understand.
Groton is known for having a lot of work even for students for whom much seems to come easily. It’s not clear if your child will be a day student or boarder and If the former, if you intend to stay connected to your local elite teams. If you can, talk to some other student-athletes and listen carefully to what’s between the lines.
There was a (day student) parent here for a few years who complained bitterly about her D’s seemingly endless homework. (Soccer and basketball player iirc). Some kids sign up for the grind with enthusiasm, others get pretty stressed because they want the results and don’t love the work, and others find it crushing. It can be hard to know how your kid will respond over a high school career.
It is a wonderful school, as are many others. It’s smart that you are both asking this question and looking at options. It’s not all or nothing, btw. There are plenty of places - most BS for that matter – where a student will be fully challenged AND be a successful athlete. That “falling into a group of athletes” scenario may not be as common at many BS as you fear.
Edited to add that a school with a really strong football program is probably important if your kid might have a shot at college (even D3) ball. That’s a sport, unlike most, where recruiting is done from school teams, not club teams.
My kid went to a peer school, not Groton, but I think I know enough about it to say that no, Groton is not “the best fit” for your son. It’s too small to have a competitive football team, for example, and it is known for a well-above-average homework load. Maybe Choate Rosemary Hall would be a better fit. Much better football team, and maybe a touch less rigorous academically.
Try St. Mark’s. Great school where your son will be challenged academically, in par with Groton but less of a workload. Played in a Bowl Game this year(Coached by EX D1 coach!) and has the best hockey team in New England(coached by EX Bruin!).