Hi
I’m looking for honest reviews of CSW. Would like to hear thoughts on academics-especially how the ‘mod system’ (since it’s different from regular classes/ APs) works and whether it affects college admissions. Also curious about the international student experience, sports, and anything else worth knowing.
If any current students or alumni are willing to share their experiences or reach out directly, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks!
Neither a current student nor an alum but couldn’t recommend it more highly. Terrific academics and wonderful collaborative culture with a Head of School who is brilliant. Can’t speak to the specifics of how their curriculum affects college chances, but their kids do well in admissions and, more importantly, in the colleges they land.
Fantastic school.
Agree with @IndySceptic . We’re not a CSW family, but know quite a few. Fantastic school. My son went to a school with a mod system, and it was great. Many progressive/boarding schools have gotten rid of AP classes, as teaching to the test limits what they can do with the curriculum. The mod system classes were so much more interesting. CSW is one of the schools I point to when I tell parents/students that school doesn’t have to be about stress.
Any specific questions about sports? I’d say that it’s not a highly competitive sports program.
Sorry, forgot about that part. No, it’s not a big sports culture school, but you can find what you want. What would you want?
I was asking OP what their questions were. I agree, not a big sports culture.
….And I was asking OP what they were looking for in sports.
We can un-cross our wires as we wait for OP’s response 
Thank you, this is really helpful. I’m actually not very into playing sports competitively, so the fact that it’s not a highly competitive sports environment sounds like a plus for me.
I also wanted to ask a bit more about the political environment ther. I was also curious about the political environment. When people describe CSW as very liberal, does that still allow for open discussion and a range of perspectives? I’m just trying to get a sense of the overall climate on campus.
The open discussions and range of perspectives is the liberal part. Everyone’s opinions can be voiced safely and they are encouraged to voice them.
While everyone can voice opinions and be heard, CSW is committed to the principles of DEI and acceptance. If your political opinions are those that exclude or limit the rights of others, you might not find your group at CSW. Will you be allowed to voice your opinions? Yes. Will you have a lot of other people that share them? Probably not.
CSW alum and past parent chiming in late here. (Kid is recent graduate.)
Sports: team sports participation is not required. They do not have a football team. You can get credit towards your athletic requirement by participating in performance arts. This could be dance, or it could be theater. You get credit for other D Block wellness and fitness activities, including things like walking for fitness, recreational frisbee, ping pong, and yoga.
Political environment: definitely liberal. However, one of my classmates at CSW did his off campus mod (required during the 80’s) as a page for Sen Jesse Helms (very conservative politician). I knew a couple of conservative boarding students who were expelled… but their expulsion was due assaulting their roommates. (Yes, I knew 2 different people at CSW who were forcibly removed for attacking a roommate in the 80s - one in a straightjacket and one in a police car. Both were very vocal about their conservative views.) My kid recorded no such issues during their time at CSW.
Whether you feel there is enough latitude for “open discussion and a range of perspectives” depends on your POV. If your views match, great, if they don’t, then question becomes how great is the difference. CSW is very committed to their version of social justice. All 9th graders are required to take “Food, Justice, Power”, for example.