It is no secret that American and Canadian private schools are somewhat less popular among wealthy citizens than, say, classic British boarding schools. One reason is the geographic remoteness of North America. Another is a lack of information. Be that as it may, the American-Canadian consortium has undertaken to rectify the situation: it was created precisely to make North American elite school education more accessible to our children.
The consortium includes 17 prestigious and elite non-state schools from the USA and Canada, including the world-famous Deerfield Academy, America's oldest boarding school West Nottingham Academy, the renowned Californian Webb Schools, and the outstanding Canadian colleges Appleby and Trinity.
Although, of course, these schools are not for everyone, but primarily for those who can pay from $30 to 40 thousand a year for their child's tuition and accommodation. However, even this amount does not cover all the expenses that go toward each student in an elite boarding school. After all, for a private school the main thing is not to fill a child's head with a certain amount of knowledge, but to develop critical thinking, teach them to think, independently find the necessary information, and in addition, give them a comprehensive education.
A boarding school devotes much attention to what there is usually no time for in a public school - art, music, sports. The sciences are also studied more seriously. For example, Webb Schools are the only ones in America specializing in paleontology and having their own museum of paleontology, while Canadian Trinity College is known for its specialization in astronomy and its own observatory, and The Pennington School, located near Princeton University, prides itself on high academic results. However, all schools in the consortium demonstrate a 100% admission rate of their graduates to universities. Often a single school recommendation is enough to decide the question of an applicant's enrollment at a university. Perhaps this is the answer to the question of how private schools are better than public ones and what parents are paying such money for. As one participant in the educational market noted, boarding schools are the "Harvards" of secondary education.
One might assume that by starting to study in America or Canada at an early age, a person forever ties his fate to the North American continent. However, according to school directors, few of their students remain in the country; most return home, but they do not lose ties with America, including business and professional ones. What cannot be argued with is the peculiar motto of the American-Canadian consortium of the largest non-state boarding schools: 'To the New World - for new opportunities.'
In a private school everything is centered around the student. When they say that each student receives personal attention and an individual learning program is drawn up, these are not empty words. Boarding schools have fewer students and more teachers and support staff, and they all live there, so there is never a situation where children are left to themselves and suffer from idleness. In addition to the main lessons in the classroom, there are many additional activities - sports, art, theater, music, interest clubs, electives. The curriculum in a private school is not just more varied; it provides more opportunities for versatile development and, ultimately, for realizing one's own calling. It is not surprising that graduates go on to the most prestigious universities in the world. Representatives of the consortium claim that the schools in it guarantee 100% admission to higher education institutions. It is easy to believe this, since students receive excellent preparation, and besides, often one recommendation from the school or even its name is enough to resolve the issue of an applicant's enrollment at a university.
The names of many are indeed well-known. For instance, Deerfield Academy in the USA is the same as Eton in England: the school has prepared more than one generation of the world-class political and business elite, and getting into it is extremely difficult - you need to 'wait out' the waiting list and withstand serious competition. Deerfield, like any closed elite club, chooses its own students in accordance with its own ideas of who is worthy and who is not. Having extraordinary abilities, you can become a member of this club, but keep in mind: studying will not be easy.
The Californian school Webb also enjoys great authority and popularity. Actually, there are two schools: in the ninth and tenth grades, boys and girls are separated and taught in separate educational institutions located, however, on the same campus. The school relies on the latest research in pedagogy, according to which at this age boys and girls assimilate educational material differently, and therefore separate teaching of such subjects as literature, algebra, geometry, history, and physics is more productive. As the educational process progresses, students move into mixed classes (recall that Americans study for 12 years).
However, each school in the consortium has its own history and achievements. Each of them is unique and has its own strengths and specializations. So you can choose exactly what is interesting to your child, what better suits his character and abilities. Almost all schools offer adaptation programs and special English language courses English as a Second Language (ESL) for foreign students. Many, like Webb Schools, assign to each student a mentor-supervisor who works with his charge throughout the entire period of study. His task is to help with all matters related to school life, drawing up an individual study plan, monitoring progress, and selecting additional courses. We will tell you in more detail about some other American schools of the consortium.
Conserve School
Conserve School is located in the picturesque Northwoods region of Wisconsin, not far from the town of Land O'Lakes, whose surroundings are literally dotted with many lakes. The school was founded in 1996 with funds from James Lowenstein, president of Central Steel & Wire Company, who devoted his life to nature conservation and bequeathed his entire fortune and 1,200 acres of land to create an educational institution where children would be taught love and respect for the world around them. Ecology is indeed one of the school's specializations. Unique subjects are taught here, such as environics (a method of rehabilitating the body outdoors). The school's motto is environment, ethics, innovation. In practice, this means that students are raised in the spirit of humanism, careful attitude to the environment, and they develop leadership and innovative thinking. The director of Conserve School, Jim Smith, believes that no matter how the graduates' future careers turn out, these qualities will not go unclaimed.
And the bright future of graduates is the school's main concern. All education is aimed at preparing for university admission and, as a result, a successful future life. Conserve School students follow individual programs that take into account each person's abilities and inclinations and aim them at creative work. The learning process uses the most modern educational technologies and pedagogical methods. In addition to the main school curriculum, many extracurricular activities are provided, which are conducted not only in classrooms and laboratories equipped with the latest technology, but also outdoors in the national parks adjacent to the school grounds. The principle of closeness to nature is also realized outside school hours: children, under the guidance of experienced trainers, engage in swimming, kayaking and canoeing, and go on hikes.
West Nottingham Academy
This is the oldest boarding school in the USA. In 1744, a young Irish priest, Samuel Finley, received a parish in West Nottingham, where he soon founded a school to prepare students for university. Many of the school's graduates later became famous lawyers, doctors, and priests, both in colonial and already independent America, and two of its former students, Benjamin Rush and Richard Stockton, were among those who signed the US Declaration of Independence. And now, more than 250 years after its founding, the school still emphasizes the development of the intellectual, spiritual, and social potential of its students.
West Nottingham Academy is located in one of the most picturesque corners of Maryland on the shore of the Chesapeake Bay, an hour's drive from Philadelphia. Curricula are drawn up taking into account the individual characteristics and abilities of students and require active involvement in the daily life of the school. West Nottingham Academy has several departments: a middle school for students in grades six through eight, a college preparatory school for grades nine through twelve, the Chesapeake Learning Center for children with various types of disabilities and disorders, and an English language center for international students. This is how studying in the USA begins, and then, as they master the language, students move into regular classes.
Athenian School
The campus of the American school Athenian is spread at the foot of Mount Diablo on the shore of San Francisco Bay in Northern California. The school's philosophy is based on the understanding that the future of the planet is in the hands of the young generation. Therefore, the school curriculum emphasizes not only the teaching of traditional subjects such as mathematics, history, English and foreign languages, and fine arts, but also the development of critical thinking skills, which allows children to take a creative approach to all activities without exception.
The school has 430 children from different countries. The number of students in a class does not exceed 15. Athenian School is committed to the principles of a democratic society and to fostering civic engagement in children. Students play the most active role in the school's governance, solving its pressing problems together with teachers.
Cranbrook Schools
The Cranbrook school complex covers an area of 315 acres in the picturesque surroundings of the small town of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. The school is justly proud of its campus, which was awarded the title of "National Architectural Landmark" in 1989. Before that, only two independent schools in the USA had received such an honor.
The Cranbrook complex includes elementary, middle (with separate education for boys and girls), and high schools, dormitories, buildings of the Academy of Fine Arts with a school-owned museum. Institute of Natural Sciences, a drama theater, an ice arena, a state-of-the-art aquatics center, and many other educational and sports facilities.
Like other boarding schools, Cranbrook aims to prepare students for admission to leading universities around the world. Teachers strive to recognize and comprehensively develop each student's creative abilities. For outstanding successes in teaching and raising children, the US Department of Education awarded Cranbrook Kingswood High School the title of "exemplary".
In total, the school (including all its departments) has just over 1,600 children from more than 20 countries around the world.
Pennington School
This is one of the oldest and most famous American private schools. It has existed for more than 165 years and is located in New Jersey, not far from Princeton. The school's main achievement is the high academic results of its students, which provide them access to the best universities. Without exception, all graduates continue their education in higher education institutions, including such famous ones as the University of Chicago, Boston University, Columbia University, New York University, Princeton University, the Rhode Island School of Design, and others.
In each of its students, the school tries to instill the desire to succeed always and everywhere, and it does this quite well. Pennington School attracts capable children from all over the world; representatives of all continents study here - students from Great Britain, Venezuela, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Spain, China, Mexico, Nigeria, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, France, Germany, South Korea, Jamaica, Japan, and others. Not every American school can boast of such an international composition. And this is certainly beneficial for students: from a very young age they learn tolerance, understanding of another culture, and become aware of the diversity and integrity of the world.
Pennington consists of a middle school (grades 6 to 8) and a high school (grades 9 to 12), with 445 students under the guidance of 100 teachers. This is one of the best student-teacher ratios: one teacher for about five students, so personal attention is ensured not in words but in deeds. Providing a well-rounded education, the school emphasizes the humanities, fine arts, literature, and music. But the main thing is that children are instilled with a thirst for knowledge, which over time makes them well-educated individuals. For foreign students, a special program of in-depth English language study and smooth integration into the environment has been developed.
Gould Academy
The school is located in Maine, a three-hour drive from Boston, and has existed for almost 200 years. Over this time, it has earned a well-deserved reputation in preparing students for admission to prestigious colleges and universities. The secret of its success lies in combining the most modern teaching methods with an individual approach to the development of each teenager.
The school has 220 students, 30 of whom came from abroad. For the latter, a special English language program has been organized, leading to the TOEFL exam. Gould Academy prides itself on small classes - no more than 10 people, and on the fact that there is one teacher for every six students.
In addition to a wide range of science and humanities disciplines, Gould Academy's schedule includes various courses in fine arts, painting, music, theater history and theater studies, video production, and photography. The sports part of the school program is also strong - football, field hockey, track and field, golf, basketball, softball, tennis, horseback riding, skateboarding, cycling, freestyle, snowboarding, and other sports are offered.
Putney Schools
Putney private school is located in a picturesque corner of southern Vermont. It was founded in 1935 by the renowned educator Carmelita Hinton, who adhered to the most progressive teaching methods. Today, the school's teaching staff is a unique community of professionals with extensive experience and high qualifications. They all love their work and children and have managed to create a warm and friendly atmosphere within Putney's walls.
Putney offers a clearly structured university preparation program, developed taking into account the individual characteristics of each student. In addition to the compulsory school subjects, children study art history, music, and literature, and do sports.
All 100% of Putney graduates enter the best universities and have successful careers. And in later life they follow the school motto - "and even one alone in the field is a warrior!".
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School is located in the northeastern part of Georgia, a two-hour drive from Atlanta, in the picturesque foothills.
The school traces its history back to 1903, although it acquired its current structure in 1927 as a result of the merger of the Nacoochee Institute with the Rabun Gap Industrial School. Today, Rabun Gap-Nacoochee is one of the largest independent boarding schools in the state, offering education from sixth to 12th grade.
All teachers at the school have a master's or doctoral degree. Two-thirds of the teachers live on the campus and are in constant contact with their charges. The student body is extremely diverse; representatives of all continents study at the school. Rabun Gap-Nacoochee places special emphasis on studying the cultural traditions of the countries from which the children come. Much attention is also paid to the arts: music, drama, visual arts, and dance.
As in other schools, there are special English language courses for foreign students. They ensure a quick and painless transition to the main program.
The school offers its students many extracurricular activities based on interests, for example, in astronomy, science, chess, ecology, and politics clubs, choral singing, dance, French and Spanish language circles, and a theater studio. And of course, there is no shortage of sports: track and field, football, basketball, swimming, tennis, baseball, softball - this is far from a complete list.