<p>Parent5656, NEKreader had a good point about St. Mark’s news items on their website. I recommend you read them for details about what St. Mark’s students choose to do. I note that a current St. Mark’s student won an American Mathematics Society competition, “Who Wants to Be a Mathematician” last month. I know a pair of brilliant twins who did exceedingly well in the National Chemistry Olympiad went on to Ivy League universities. </p>
<p>The robotics team had a competition at the beginning of break; I don’t know how they did. The school began independent research fellowships under faculty supervision in the fall. Admission is competitive. Long description here:[Detail - St. Mark’s School](<a href=“http://www.stmarksschool.org/news/detail/index.aspx”>http://www.stmarksschool.org/news/detail/index.aspx</a>?
LinkId=2398&ModuleId=253)</p>
<p>This is all part of the STEM initiative, part of the strategic plan. </p>
<p>On the website, I also see that the STEM facility will be renovated and expanded over the course of the next year, beginning this summer. [Edward</a> and Pamela Taft Make Transformational Gift for STEM Facility - St. Mark’s School](<a href=“http://www.stmarksschool.org/news/detail/index.aspx?pageaction=ViewSinglePublic&LinkID=2486&ModuleID=267&NEWSPID=4]Edward”>http://www.stmarksschool.org/news/detail/index.aspx?pageaction=ViewSinglePublic&LinkID=2486&ModuleID=267&NEWSPID=4)</p>
<p>Remember that any college prep school must, ah, prepare students for a college education. All prep schools (in my opinion) must offer a good college prep curriculum, which will include science, math, languages, and the humanities. The individual student may choose to fit in more arts classes, or double up on science or math, but all the schools should prepare students to be admitted to liberal arts colleges OR university programs in the STEM fields. It’s possible for a student who wants to be a great novelist or opera singer to be friends with students who want to be scientists, and for all of them to attend the same school. </p>
<p>And yes, as photodad states, liberal arts colleges prepare scientists as well as humanists. If your child is still interested in the sciences at the end of high school, he should consider Williams and Amherst as well as MIT (etc.)</p>