<p>I don’t know the RI schools, but I can comment on some of the MA schools on your list. Take my opinions with a grain of salt. Some of them are quite subjective.</p>
<p>Milton and Nobles are very intense. Academically excellent but perhaps not a good match for the kind of child you described on the other thread. Both have low acceptance rates, strong active sports programs, and a heavy work load.</p>
<p>Both Beaver Country Day and Brimmer and May are members of the Coalition of Essential Schools. According to the CES website, the characteristics of a Coalition school are:</p>
<p>Personalized instruction to address individual needs and interests;
Small schools and classrooms, where teachers and student know each other well and work in an atmosphere of trust and high expectations;
Multiple assessments based on performance of authentic tasks;
Democratic and equitable school policies and practice;
Close community partnerships.</p>
<p>When we saw both schools we thought the kids at Beaver seemed more engaged than those at Brimmer & May. I believe both have limited sports programs (1 or 2 season participation required, non-competitive options available) and flexible arts programs. </p>
<p>Walnut Hill is a good match for the serious artist. A high percentage of the graduating class goes on to work professionally in the arts. This can also be intense. If you look at the school’s website you’ll see they call themselves a “boarding arts high school for ballet, classical music, visual arts, theater, writing & publishing”.</p>
<p>Cambridge School of Weston has always had a reputation as an “artsy” school. Long ago that translated into “school with good arts programs and a drug problem” (remember my caveat about subjectivity!). I don’t know enough about the school today to comment on the current environment.</p>
<p>Don’t know enough about Thayer to comment, but have heard neither great raves nor boos.</p>
<p>One thing I’d suggest is to look at the list of colleges kids from each school attend. Can you see your child at the colleges somewhere in the school’s mid-range? You may also want to talk to a consultant, as time is running short. Most schools have application deadlines of January 15 or February 1.</p>