<p>I began investigating prep schools after coming to the conclusion that admission to competitive colleges is now inscrutable. Our local high school does not have the admissions record at competitive colleges it should, given its demographics. I do think that it has earned its record, however, when I look at its course catalog, and speak to parents of current high school students. The state exams have become the proof of academic excellence, even though more than 90% of students pass them on the first try. </p>
<p>Bright students are pushed into extracurriculars, as that is perceived as the area in which they can make themselves stand out. As I have interviewed for my alma mater, I believe this is a misconception. The academic rigor of the high school, and the applicant’s academic performance is most important, at least if the applicant is caucasian, from affluent parents, and attends a “good” suburban school. Standardized test scores are also important, but for a middle class applicant, the committee will assume that all relevant coaching has been purchased.</p>
<p>There are no honors classes in the humanities. The administration claims heterogeneous grouping in this area allows students to mix. Of course, this also decreases the relative value of humanities grades, so a verbal child’s class rank will be depressed, knocking him out of contention for the top schools, which do look at class rank. </p>
<p>I also have the impression that students are encouraged to fit themselves into cliques. Indeed, the day’s schedule doesn’t permit a student to be musical and athletic, or artistic and dramatic, let alone athletic and dramatic. I suspect that this is intentional, as it works too perfectly. </p>
<p>I would like my children to be challenged academically, and to have the chance to try out new things, without being pigeonholed into obsessively refining the skills they had at 8. In effect, I’m not worrying about college admissions, as I think that the very ways in which our local high school tries to groom students for the college admissions race are unhealthy.</p>