A prep school education, as any parent who’s ever signed a tuition check well knows, is a serious investment. And considering the money you’re laying out, not to mention the stress of the application process, you want to ensure your child lands somewhere he or she will thrive. This year we went beyond the raw numbers (though of course those still count, and we’ve gathered them for you at boston magazine.com) and talked to alumni, teachers, and admissions counselors to identify the private schools that excel at fostering kids’ individual talents—whether their passions lie in athletics, the arts, or somewhere in between.
ATHLETES
St. John’s Preparatory School (boys)
Plays well against others: “Excellence in athletics is part of the St. John’s experience,” says headmaster Skip Shannon. “You get the right kid in the right sport, and we’ll have them play for the championship.” He’s not kidding: Eight out of every 10 times the school’s 19 varsity teams take the field (or rink, or court, or…), they win. St. John’s has piled up so much hardware that it has not a trophy case but a whole trophy house, Griffin Hall, with 15 glass cabinets to display the spoils. Last year St. John’s added four more state titles—in fencing, volleyball, skiing, and swimming—as well as 12 conference championships.
Strength in numbers: Of the 1,200 students at the school, more than 800 participate in athletics; of those, 175 are three-sport studs. But your son doesn’t have to read the blitz like Tom Brady in order to suit up for the Eagles: St. John’s football, rugby, fencing, track, swimming, and wrestling teams have a no-cut policy. “And those kids are not only on the team,” says Shannon, “they play.”
That’s ‘scholar athlete’: As part of a $32 million upgrade, the school has opened a new library, made its Danvers campus into a 50-acre wireless hot spot, and outfitted its classrooms with Smart Board technology that turns computer monitors into interactive touchscreen teaching tools. St. John’s also plans to build a state-of-the-art field house within the next five years to complement its surprisingly dingy gymnasium. “Until then,” says Shannon, “I think our teams will manage to get by.” School stats: Boys only; grades 9–12; day tuition: $14,450; 72 Spring St., Danvers, 978-774-1050, www.stjohnsprep.org.
Noble and Greenough School (girls)
Ice queens and hoop divas: No girls’ varsity program dominates quite like the boys of St. John’s, but Noble and Greenough comes close. Its squads consistently place in the top three in their respective Independent School League sports. Two recent grads played for the U.S. women’s Olympic ice hockey team last winter. And bona fide local celeb Ayla Brown was not only a consensus preseason All-American on the hardwood, but also displayed real grit by enduring Paula Abdul’s inanities as a semifinalist on American Idol.
Facilitating victories: With its 187-acre wooded campus, dorms that resemble ski chalets, and a huge stone cafeteria known as the Castle, Nobles looks like a supersize summer camp. It’s a setting that encourages exercise, and plenty of it. Of course, the sprawling athletic center—with two gymnasiums, a suspended walking and jogging track, and six climate-controlled international-size squash courts—also helps. School stats: Coed; grades 7–12; day / boarding tuition: $28,900 / $33,300; 10 Campus Dr., Dedham, 781-326-3700, www.nobles.edu.
SECOND HONORS: Xaverian Brothers High School: Former stomping ground of the Hasselbeck clan, this Westwood gridiron power regularly helps stock the BC football roster. St. Sebastian’s School: The hockey rink is outfitted with classrooms, in case learning breaks out during intermissions.
How can I get the complete ranking list of the 60 private and 145 public in eastern Massachusetts mentioned in this article?
Very interesting.. I have two small children and am just starting to research Boston area schools – looking for more articles like this to help me make the right choice for my kids.
This post is really very knowledgeable and good as it provides many useful information about boarding schools and other private schools. It is very helpful for teens and parents.
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Christian SchoolChristian schools are very helpful in developing the academic, moral and committed excellence of the students. Teachers encourage students in studies and others sports activities also. The teachers are very highly qualified and intelligent.
http://www.teensprivateschools.com/
I'd like people to be aware that the info on these schools are jsut short summaries. Beware. For example, BU Academy is very small and offers very little. Until the 2nd half of Junior year when BU courses can be undertaken. It is misleading in part because BU Academy offers very little as far as variety. It's not until you get to the end of jr year that the "16 languages" can come into play. Until then, you have the choice of 2: greek or latin (from 9th-11th)–that's it! BU Academy really does not offer the MOST languages by any stretch or any calculation!
BUA is, indeed, small. However, students can take any language offered by BU as juniors – and many do take advantage of the wide range of languages offered by BU. That being said, it is true that two years of either Classical Greek or Latin are required. BUA is also unusually flexible in terms of math. Students test into whatever course is appropriate which means that there can and are freshman in first year calculus.
Boarding school is a solution to struggling families to regain their lives. They offer many activities and therapies to develop their skills. The teachers and coordinators provide personal attention on each student of center.
http://www.restoreteens.com/Search/0/Boarding-Schools/index.html
Some of the programs of teens rehabilitation centers are very effective to eliminate the problems of troubled teenagers. Holistic approach of the centers is very useful to treat the patients physically, mentally and spiritually. Few of the programs of center are useful to teach the family members of struggling teenagers.
http://www.troubledteensguide.com/discuss-teens-problems.php
Military schools for struggling teens are professional and dedicated for solving the troubled teenager’s related problems. Expert trainers are there in school that offers individualized attention on each youth. Trainer shapes the troubled youths as painstaking and responsible. They are committed to develop their personality and behavior. Schools provide unique caring, disciplined, safe and fostering environment.
http://www.teenageproblems.net/
There are many schools in country that offering good education and learning programs for their students. The private school is one of the best schools in country which is very useful especially for troubled teens; in other word we can say it is a troubled youth school .
http://www.strugglingteen.net/
The above article is informative and helpful to gain more knowledge on boarding schools and private schools for teens. It is helpful article for teen parents. Parents should spend some time to find out more related information about schools. http://www.troubledteensguide.com/
The article is very relevant and helpful for struggling teens it provides important information in which struggling teens can come up from various problems and anxiety.http://www.strugglingteen.net/
There are also many affordable teen private schools located in the country that suggest church based principles as a healing approach for struggling youths. They offer healthy and nutritional diets in the school for their students to maintain their health. http://www.teensprivateschools.com/
Many parents are facing many problems to find the best and suitable schools for their defiant and troubled teens. There are many private and boarding schools for those struggling teens, in which they offer appropriate struggling teens education programs. http://www.restoreteens.com/
Phillips Exeter isn’t on this list because it isn’t in Massachusetts, but its not far from MA at all, about 10 min over the border. Without a doubt, it tops the list in the mathlete and politicians in training categories, and is just as good as all of the second honors schools in ivy league admissions. Also, it definitely fits in the ‘Renaissance Kids’ category, Exeter has everything that is mentioned for Andover. But Exeter is better than Andover in every way.
Parents should know how to control their wild teens. They always worried about their children’s proper education. So they must identify the school which is fit and good for their teens.
There are private schools for troubled teens as well. The one that comes to mind is in Maine and has a great reputation.
http://www.summitachievement.com/overview.htm
You’ve shown a very wonderful list of some private boarding schools and parents has
You’ve shown a very wonderful list of some private boarding schools and parents has
It’s interesting to read this comparison from 2006 – I would be interested to know if these tuition rates are actually sustainable long-term. I suspect the next segment to crash will be education. Prices doesn’t seem to be in line with the trajectory of the economy in the US.
It’s interesting to read this comparison from 2006 – I would be interested to know if these tuition rates are actually sustainable long-term. I suspect the next segment to crash will be education. Prices doesn’t seem to be in line with the trajectory of the economy in the US.
I GOT TO WINSOR JUST SAYING
I love it so much here. We have a beautiful campus and the food is to die for. The academics are rigorous, but teachers and advisors help with time management. Team sports are a blast and drama opportunities are everywhere. My teachers are all so nice. I LOVE WINSOR!!!!!