This morning, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting around the table with admissions counselors from The Ten Schools, a group of ten distinguished college preparatory schools in the country. Present today were Phillips Academy, The Taft School, Choate Rosemary Hall, St. Paul, The Hotchkiss School, Deerfield and Phillips Exeter, seven of the country's highest performing schools. We spent the time discussing what we can be doing collectively to encourage more families to take advantage of the enormous opportunities these schools provide.
I don’t have to tell you how competitive it is getting into a great school in Houston or how the supply lags so far behind the demand that we could open full schools with the number kids on waitlists. The variety here is good, but many students find themselves unable to find or get into a school that meets both their academic as well as personal needs. In my work with families, I encourage parents and students to first take a long look at who their kids are right now and then spend time figuring out where they want their kids to be academically and personally four years from now. My job is to guide them through that process and help them figure out which schools are likely to help their son/daughter get from here to there. Sometimes those schools are within our city limits. Other times, the schools here are good but they aren’t the best for their son or daughter. When that happens, I ask parents, “Is it more important that your child be in the place where they feel like home–where they can thrive and have their academic and personal development needs met? Or is it more important that they be home?”
Parents pause.
Every parent wants to know which school is the best. What if I told you that the best school for your child wasn’t in Houston? That there was a school where your son or daughter could thrive beyond your wildest hopes and dreams for them? What if I told you that despite the myths you’ve heard, sending your son or daughter to boarding school doesn’t mean you love them less? Your love for your child is a constant, no matter near or far. What if I told you that your daughter could learn to be a better advocate for herself with the deliberate, proactive support and advising at a boarding school? What if I told you that your son, surrounded by students from over 26 states and 10 countries, could be challenged to see–literally visit and see–the world from various perspectives while being pushed to grow academically and personally? That your budding young adult could be in the place where he can become the best version of himself because he’s in the school that is the perfect fit for him?
Every single parent wants their child to be in a place where s/he can develop confidence, grow academically, find their passion, and more importantly find their place in the world. Sure, those things happen in Houston, but sometimes they don’t and families shouldn't sacrifice what's best for what's local.
So I ask you, “Is it more important that your child be in the place where they feel like home–where they can thrive and have their academic and personal development needs met? Or is it more important that they be home?”
