Schools that don't just value athletics

Periwinkle
Wed, 11 Jun 2014 22:21:04 +0000

Soxmom, I think it might be worthwhile to include a number of good all-girls schools on your list. But, your daughter may have to put up with playing on a sports team to access the academics she desires.

I can think of only one or two boarding schools which put out a distinctly non-sporty vibe in our local area. The leading arts-centered boarding schools might be sports-free zones, but that’s a different environment than a boarding school with a diverse program.

I would be wary of trying to determine a school’s atmosphere from online comments from people who don’t attend that school. A kid who’s really into Classics and pottery might have a different circle of friends than a kid at the same school who’s into Oboe and lacrosse. And team strength depends a great deal on the coach, which can change.

The only method I can think of trying to answer the question is to put time into researching league champions in at least three sports per season for the last 10 years or so. If a school consistently wins, team sports are a priority. Even then, though, there could well be a healthy atmosphere with children who have a variety of interests.