<p>Our decision had nothing to do with the quality of the local schools in the western suburbs of Philadelphia; they are outstanding. Looking back on the “whys” of our boarding decision some five years ago, the conclusion I draw is that some percentage of kids, my son included, have a mix of independence, curiosity and drive that belong in an older body, not a middle-schooler’s. Kids wired that way are drawn to and thrive in a boarding school environment; my wife and I had very little to do with pushing that process or making the match (except for approval and payment). </p>
<p>Every parent, especially on this board, wants nothing more than to see his or her child thrive during those crucial high school, habit-forming, friend-making years. We may have different definitions of what that looks like, but I’d be surprised if any parent limited the definition to academic value, or the boarding experience, or the athletic and cultural opportunities, or any one thing. </p>
<p>If you’re willing to let your child go away to school, knowing how much you’ll miss him or her every single day, if you’re willing to make a huge financial sacrifice, then your greatest hope, and the reason for choosing boarding school, is that four years later, your child will have thrived best in that environment across all measures, not just have achieved excellence in one.</p>