Boarding School Rankings: Ignore Them!
In simplest terms, boarding school ranking is too complicated and inaccurate. Be glad there isn’t one.
A number of boarding schools place high numbers of students in competitive colleges and benefit from large endowments. However, the idea of ranking independent schools top-bottom/best to worst misses the point.
Just as there is a college for everyone, there is a boarding school for everyone.
We don’t have a boarding school ranking list because every school appeals to and works best with a different kind of student. Dare we say each school is unique in the kind of student who will do well in its environment.
Toss the notion of hierarchy out.
How then to think about schools?
- Figure out what kind of student you are and the kind of environment that is most likely to support your success. What kinds of programs or activities do you need?
- Read catalogs and materials closely; ask questions of the schools. What kinds of students go to this school? Does a student like me do well here?
- Think of a school application in terms of match or fit. Is this school a good match for me? Does this school fit my abilities or provide what I need to be successful.
A ranking really doesn’t matter at the end of the day. The most important thing is to dig deep to determine (as best you can) if a school fits where you are and what you need in your life as a student.
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November 20th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Exactly, I totally agree that not a single boarding school fits the needs of all students.
January 28th, 2010 at 7:59 pm
I need advice on which all boys military academy is best suited for a very bright child who is falling behind in school and experimenting with drugs. He himself has requested help in getting out of his current environment; eventhough, he's in a private college prep. high school he and we believe he needs more structure and less temptation. Any recommendations?
January 29th, 2010 at 2:08 am
Mary,
You can proceed a couple of ways. One, learn as much as you can about military schools and how the each differ and what kind of student each school best woks with. I suggest starting with the Association of Military Schools and Colleges web site, http://www.amcsus.org/.
For professional guidance, you might consider retaining and educational consultant to help with evaluation your son and finding the school that best fits his talents and abilities. We offer educational consulting services through http://www.aqeducationalconsulting.com.
Professional guidance can be quite helpful in terms of student evaluation and working with a compressed admission timetable.
Best wishes in the search,