Fort Wayne's Aboite schools vs. private schools ? (homes, top school)

[Tinkerbellmom]

Just wondering if anyone can comment on the Aboite elementary schools vs. private schools such as Canterbury?
TIA!

[rrah]

Tinkerbell's mom--you might get more responses to your posts if you move them or repost them in the general Indiana forum.

Fort Wayne is definitely not NW Indiana

[3rivers]

My kids attended Aboite schools and I think they are first rate. We did look at Canterbury and my kids had friends that attended there, but we decided that the Aboite schools SWAC, provided an equal education. If you feel your child is gifted, SWAC has a wonderful program for your child. My son was in this program, and he was really challenged! They begin testing children early in elementary school to identify the kids who could be in their gifted program.

If you have any specific questions, I'll try to answer them. My kids graduated from SWAC in 2000 and 2002, but I still live in the area.

[mbuszu]

The public school system in Southwest Allen County/Aboite has a talented and gifted program called Alpha. It's excellent and the best the public school system has to offer in Indiana.

If your children aren't in the Alpha program, they'll still get a first rate education in Aboite, but the Alpha program definitely is where the gifted children are at. You need to test into the Alpha program.

Canterbury is the top school in not just the vicinity but for 99% of what is available in Indiana overall (public or private). It costs a lot of money (>$11,000 per year), but make no mistake; it's worth the money if it can be afforded (and your child fits in there). It is not equal to Aboite's public schools, it is superior. A significant percentage of Canterbury graduates go on to attend Ivy League or other 1st tier university programs - a significant percentage are national merit finalists and scholars. It's an indisputably great school. Although Homestead Senior High school in Aboite is also great, the graduate statistics show a lower level of standardized test achievement and at most a handful each year go onto 1st tier University programs.

[Tinkerbellmom]

Thank you everyone, that's exactly what I was wondering.

Does anyone know the admission criteria to Canterbury? (Although I'm going out on a financial ledge here...) Are they selective or is admission to anyone who can pass the admission test and pay the tuition?

And what would "fitting in there" be best described as? I'm gettting the elitist vibes...