Mid-Atlantic Boarding Schools: Call for Ideas and Contributions

Brian Fisher By Brian Fisher on August 24, 2009 4 Comments
Boarding School News Blog, Boarding School Thoughts, Private School Blog, Private School Search, Southern Boarding Schools Blog

Boarding Schools in Mid-Atlantic StatesThe success of our regional articles is spawning a series.

We’ve covered Southern boarding schools (Boarding Schools in the South: A Broad Array of Opportunities & Perspectives), boarding schools in California (
Western Individualism Alive & Well in California Boarding Schools) and, now we’re turning our attention to Mid-Atlantic boarding schools.

Our next article will spotlight AdmissionsQuest’s Mid-Atlantic boarding schools. What are the unique perspectives and opportunities available through Mid-Atlantic schools?

We’ll use the traditional definition of the Mid-Atlantic region- Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Help us present the spectrum of Mid-Atlantic boarding school opportunities. We’re interested in any ideas, angles, stories, insights, or topics that might shine light on, or provide interesting insight or perspectives for families researching Mid-Atlantic boarding schools.

We need comments and input from those who live-in, work, and know Mid-Atlantic boarding schools from the inside out:

Do Mid-Atlantic boarding schools share any themes or common approaches?

Are there any opportunities or approaches specific to Mid-Atlantic schools?

What makes Mid-Atlantic schools distinct from schools in other regions?

Why should a family explore Mid-Atlantic boarding schools?

Disclaimer, we will work to focus on AdmissionsQuest member schools.

Join the conversation if you’ve got an angle or insight that might make a good topic for a general article on Mid-Atlantic boarding schools. Send your thoughts and ideas to info@admisionsquest.com or leave a comment below.

Related posts:

  1. California Boarding Schools: Call for Ideas and Contributions
  2. Call For Southern Boarding School Thoughts & Ideas
  3. The Contributions that Chinese Students Bring to Boarding Schools
  4. Call for onBoarding School Contributors!
  5. Western Independent Schools Meet and Explore Green Campus Ideas and Initiatives
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
About the Author
Brian Fisher

  • http://www.wna.org Jesse Roberts

    The Mid-Atlantic Boarding Schools share some common themes with our peer institutions from other regions in the country, but there are some distinct characteristics that make our schools stand out. We all share excellent academics and a tradition of placing students in top universities in our country and abroad. When assessing the best fit for student placement, there are more components to compare. It is important to look at areas where there are differences to see how unique the Mid-Atlantic region is.

    First, geography is a TREMENDOUS asset to schools in the mid-atlantic. With 4 major cities within 2.5 hours drive (From WNA, mind you), we take advantage of the cultural and social landscape that is afforded us. Many of our peer schools on the 95 corridor use the major cities to allow their students to experience a diverse, dynamic and robust co-curricular academic life. Whether it’s visiting the Spy Museum in DC, the birth place of Edgar Allan Poe in Baltimore, eating dinner at Moshulu (a decommissioned clipper ship, now a floating restaurant) in Philly, or a weekend at the Met in NYC, our students benefit from the world that is at their fingertips.

    Secondly, many of our schools have the geographic advantage of having weather that is less prone to extreme swings in temperature. Being able to experience all four seasons is fantastic, and makes for a great outdoor life. Part of the boarding school experience is learning lessons for the enjoyment of your entire life, and whether it’s hiking, tennis, or golf, being able to experience those individual pursuits year-round is fantastic.

    There is something about proximity to Washington DC and NYC that brings faculty with rich life experience to schools in our region. Wonderful, experienced, passionate educators work in our schools, and typically, they come with real-life lessons from their exploits in the world.

    The Mid-Atlantic schools have tremendous history, pedigree, and success in their missions. From the mountains, to the cities, to the bay and the ocean, there is a school for every type of student here. Having worked in schools all over the US, I am proud to call the Mid-Atlantic region home…

    Jesse Roberts
    Director of Admission

  • http://www.knoxschool.org Fred McGaughan

    I am a newcomer to boarding schools in the mid-atlantic region, but I’ve worked for almost 30 years out of Nwe Jersey at a day school…I have seen and continue to see some really distinct advantages to our region.

    While many people associate our nation’s historical roots with New England, the mid-atlantic region is just as rich in tradition, and many of our boarding schools are two hours or less from some amazing historical and cultural sites that make for project based learning or just plain educational touring. Speaking for those of us closest to the coast in the metro New York area, it is so easy to arrange class or even all school trips to NYC, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Morristown, NJ and much more.
    Sure, we can also get up to Boston, but our area is so cosmopolitan-yet-history rich! This should not only be a draw for our students, but also for corporate types who relocate to the east coast and want a great boarding school within 2-3 hours reach.

    The Knox School and many others are located near some amazing waterfront, and this, too, makes for a unique residential and educational experience. Our ports are among the busiest, most vital business centers in the country. Our campuses in many cases are so close to the water, we have superb, “feet-wet” offerings in courses like marine biology and exxtracurriuclar offerings like crew and sailing.

    My experience on Long Island is probably quite similar to those of other mid-atlantic boarding schools: many families think only of New England schools when they think of classic U.S. boarding schools–there seems to be a “great divide,” where New England ends and the oh-so-close mid-atlantic begins. It would be so wonderful to see a group effort to bridge that gap. In the end, why would a mid-atlantic family want to travel three, four, five or more hours north for a boarding school when the right fit may be right in their back yard? And why would a New England family from, say, Connecticut, limit its search to Mssachussets or further north? The answer, of course is that the mid-atlantic schools need to make some noise, work that much harder to be noticed and appreciated.

    We are at a point in time where we have some incredible opportunities for marketing mid-atlantic boarding schools. We know the current demographics, and we see what is coming: more and more families in the U.S. are NOT “traditional” second or third generation independent school families; they are new to our culture and/or new to the search for the very best school for their children.
    They are, however, quite bottom-line oriented, so it is critical that we promote our bottom-line benefits. If we do not become more proactive, the “word on the street” that the “best” boarding schools are in New England will continue to carry the day.

    Fred McGaughan
    The Knox School
    fmcgaughan@knoxschool.org
    631-686-1600

  • http://www.oldfieldsschool.org Parny Hagerman

    In response to the questions concerning mid-Atlantic boarding schools, I would say just a few things. Having been part of northeast boarding schools for 30 years, the approach in the more southern states reflects the current belief that separation of the sexes at the adolescent age is positive for intellectual and emotional growth. Single sex education south of Philadelphia seems to be very effective and accepted. This fact alone makes the mid-Atlantic boarding schools attractive to many domestic and international families.

    Additionally, over the last 10-15 years parents have grown up with their children in their day schools, being used to participating in school affairs. Their concern for their child’s education is carried into the secondary years. They want to be part of the school with their children. Consequently, parents draw a radius around the distance they will go for schooling, to be able to get to games and performances without too much travel. Parents in mid-Atlantic states tend to stay closer to home and choose a school based on distance and since many of them come from boarding school background or see boarding schools as a way for a more protected life for those formative years, choose mid-Atlantic states as the home base for them.

    Also, you just cannot discount the weather factor. Mid Atlantic winters are at least more mild that of their more northern counterparts, provide mid-Atlantic boarding schools with a charm that cannot be denied. To be able to go coatless in December and January has it’s advantages.

    Mid Atlantic schools, at least those around BWI and Washington school afford families easy access in terms of flights, both domestic and international, for easy pick up by the schools which always send shuttles to and from school.

    We also have very active independent school organizations which offer workshops which are easy for teachers to get to keep up with the latest and greatest trends in educational technology and teaching strategy.

    Dr. Parnell P. Hagerman
    Assoc Head
    Oldfields School
    Glencoe, Md 21152
    443-662-1010

  • Brian Fisher

    Jesse, Fred and Penny,

    Thanks for the comments/contributing thoughts. Encourage anyone else interested to chime-in.

    Best,

«
»

Sponsors

         
Learn how to become a sponsor