Thoughts on Lenox Memorial High School? (Pittsfield, Great Barrington: lawyers, home, high schools)

[Lyn-Z]

Hello, I would love to get some school recommendations for Berkshire County. I've heard that Lenox has a good school system--any thoughts on the high school such as the academics and also the overall vibe of the school/students and community? Is it a family friendly community? Welcoming to newcomers?
How would Lenox HS compare to Mt. Greylock HS?
Thank you in advance for the response.

[kaday]

I think overall Lenox is considered to be better, but marginally so. Most of the wealth in Lenox is from second home owners not the year round population. That being said, we had friends who lived in Pittsfield and got into Lenox high with school choice. Their kids were teased about being from the "more gritty" Pittsfield. Funny as they lived in a very wealthy section of Pittsfield. They were financially much better off than most students there. One thing that always bothered me about Lenox is they voted to name their little league team the "Lenox Millionaires". Ridiculous. So even without the wealth, there is an elitist attitude. I think Mt Greylock is a little more down to earth.

[Lyn-Z]

The "Lenox Millionaires" for a little league name?! Wow.
The elitist attitude you mentioned is a concern. Thanks so much for replying.

[Giantone]

Originally Posted by Lyn-Z

Hello, I would love to get some school recommendations for Berkshire County. I've heard that Lenox has a good school system--any thoughts on the high school such as the academics and also the overall vibe of the school/students and community? Is it a family friendly community? Welcoming to newcomers?
How would Lenox HS compare to Mt. Greylock HS?
Thank you in advance for the response.

IMO,I think people have kinda let the high schools in the Berkshires go ,the one (and I don't know the name) from Great Barrington to Stockbridge looks very nice.You must remember that this area was filled with upper crust privet boarding schools such as Cranwell and Fox Hollow for years.

[accept-logic]

Originally Posted by Giantone

IMO,I think people have kinda let the high schools in the Berkshires go...

This is an interesting statement. Is this in comparison to other schools in the Commonwealth? Other states? Both?

[Giantone]

Originally Posted by accept-logic

This is an interesting statement. Is this in comparison to other schools in the Commonwealth? Other states? Both?

Back in the 70's and 80's and the privet schools in the Berkshires I thnk the public highschools were ignored (on a local level),I just think they have been playing catch-up to other school system since.Just an opinion.

[kaday]

The schools in the Berkshires used to be excellent. When GE Plastics was in its heydey, Pittsfield, Lenox and the surrounding communities had the top notch schools in the state. When GE sold its transformer unit, some 20,000 employees were let go or relocated out of the area. GE only had about 700 employees after that. The results were devastating to the area. Businesses went belly up. Restaurants closed etc. My friends who grew up in this time frame in the area refer to it as the brain drain. The engineers, lawyers, and well edcuated employees who were very focused on a good education for their children were all gone. That and the economic depression that followed really changed the face of the schools there.

[Xenos]

Lenox Millionaires?

That is not snobby - that must be a reference to the Gilded Age mansions (The Mount, for example) that are a tourist attraction in that part of the Berkshires. Maybe it is just awkward because Lenox is wealthier than most of the other towns in the region.

[kaday]

Trust me it isn't. I am a friend of many a parent who voted on that name.

[Xenos]

Then that is really, really sad.

Every time I think people are being clever, they are really just being appalling.