A Consultant Visits Two Western MA Boarding Schools

I had the pleasure of participating on a tour of two Western MA boarding schools & an 'early college' program (more on that below). As I did with my Ojai Valley boarding school trip, I typed up my visit notes to provide you with my impressions of each school. I hope you find them helpful.

Buxton School
Founded by Ellen Geer Sangster, Buxton School is located on her old family estate in the Berkshires. It is a small, diverse, dynamic, exciting, comfortable and a flexible boarding community where caring teachers and students form relationships in a non-graded academic setting. Students are assessed and evaluated three times a year and new students have a fourth assessment. Facilitating relationships and growth, Buxton students change rooms and roommates three times a year. I liked the positive energy on campus both from students and faculty. Buxton offers a wide ranging curriculum from writing, to fabulous art work (displayed throughout the school), to African drumming and dancing.

Students have no internet access in dorm rooms. However, internet access is available in all classroom buildings. A newly renovated academic building is light, bright and takes advantage of the beautiful setting. A new arts building will be under way this year which will only add to their mission and wonderful campus. Buxton is a very academic and intriguing school where education matters in significant life-changing and world-changing ways designed for highly motivated students. The community lives by "Buxton Customs," a one page set of community guidelines, rather than a formal rule book.


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Miss Hall's School
A wonderful traditional all-girls boarding school with a very diverse community Miss Hall's School offers a unique program called "Horizons" in which girls work off-campus to hone communication and problem- solving skills, refine ethical positions, and strengthen financial literacy. Through the Personal Authority and Leadership Source or PAaLS program, Miss Hall's students research and design projects to understand and foster girls' voices, leadership, and sense of personal authority.

I found the environment to be both stimulating. Students were extremely happy and motivated both in the classroom and outside the classroom. They have a very active campus with academics, sports, visual and performing arts, clubs, and varied weekend activities. Each girl leaves with a much better defined sense of self and aware of the opportunities that they had at Miss Hall's. You can be yourself and try something new whether it is a sport, music or art, you meet people from all over the world and these girls differently want to make a difference. Miss Hall's is a place where teachers are coaches, coaches are friends and friends are teachers and this encourages girls to develop and express their views.


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Bard College at Simon's Rock
Bard College at Simon's Rock is the only four-year college of the liberal arts and sciences specifically designed to provide bright, highly motivated students with the opportunity to begin college in a residential setting after the tenth or eleventh grade. They have small classes which are intense and rigorous; everyone is engaged in discussion. At Simon's Rock students are encouraged to test theory in practice - in the laboratory, the studio, and the field, in rehearsal and performance - to develop sense of themselves as thinkers and creators with individual voices and perspectives. A very impressive campus with a very enriching academic program both individually, extended campus projects, internships and field experience and study abroad program.