Private School to Boarding School

classicalmama
Fri, 26 Apr 2013 20:09:12 +0000

The strictness issue is discussed in some length, if I’m remembering correctly, in the downsides thread. I’ll briefly reiterate what I said there–one of the hardest things for my kid about boarding school has been having friends get kicked out for offenses that wouldn’t have rippled the surface of a public school. I agree with those decisions, and I consider Exeter neither overly strict nor overly lax in their discipline, but it’s definitely stricter than day school, and at times can feel harsh. You couldn’t pay me enough to take that job–keeping all that combined adolescent energy working productively and positively 24/7.

Another issue to consider is where your son will fit athletically at the school. Some good athletes go to boarding school and find themselves stuck on jv because the recruited athletes and pg’s make up most of the varsity. This hasn’t been the case for my kid, but it’s something worth looking into if your son loves to play.