Scarsdale vs. Riverdale

SatchelSF
Sun, 27 Jan 2019 03:25:43 +0000

Riverdale and HM are not “in the area”… But I guess it’s not too bad of a drive down the Henry Hudson…

Anyway, either will be lower pressure than Scarsdale High if you are aiming to be a top student. One of the main selling points of elite private high schools is that they can help the right student avoid the open pressure of the top suburban publics, and at least in Westchester you can’t really get more tippy top than Scarsdale High. All three would offer an excellent education, with more personal focus and smaller classes obviously at the privates. The average ability of the kids at HM and Riverdale in my opinion would be somewhat higher than at Scarsdale, though again in my opinion the very top group at Scarsdale will be quite a lot stronger than the top at the privates. Especially in STEM.

FWIW, a number of years ago a friend of mine from Scarsdale was considering having his daughter go to a private high school (they were looking at Masters and a few others). In 7th grade, they retained a very high priced consultant with a national reputation; the fees over the years went well into the low 6 figures. Goal was a top Ivy and the consultant insisted Scarsdale High was the way to go.

Over the next three years her future “presentation” to colleges was carefully curated with the consultant very involved every step of the way from ECs to courses to pulling strings with summer programs. The daughter was supposedly accepted everywhere (obviously I can’t verify that) and just recently graduated Yale. No hooks, just an upper middle class white girl.

Best of luck whatever you decide and hopefully other posters can add some more insight.