Private elite high schools in Northern Massachusetts (Boston, Lawrence: private schools, college)

[NewBostonMom]

Hi there
Hoping for some help. we are moving to northern Mass and i have been researching high schools for my 2 children.

Ideally, looking for the following

1. Private College prep school with a good reputation
2. Tuition of around $30K- $40K per year (day only)
3. Mandarin Chinese as a foreign language
4. Catholic preferred, although not required

I was really hoping for Lawrence Academy but i hear the admission is really rigorous. My kids are not exactly A+ kinds of kids although they do get decent grades - As and Bs. They are just not over achievers. However, they are both talented athletes who play soccer at the highest state levels.

Some of the schools i was looking at were: Brooks School, Lawrence Academy, Governor's Academy, but i got discouraged after hearing only A+ grades get to go... btw, tuition not a problem (thank goodness for that part)...

Looking forward to your advice - this is the most stressful thing about moving - is how to get kids situated.

Thank you!!!

[sal1181]

I was going to mention Brooks but how about Central Catholic in Lawrence? I have heard good things about that school. I'm assuming that Phillips like Brooks require A grade to get in

[gf2020]

What is "Northern Mass"?

If you have boys, St. John's Prep is hard to beat.

For coed look in to Governor's in Byfield. Not sure about Mandarin, however.

[alidmc]

Pingree in Hamilton
Pingree: Language

[brienzi]

Maybe Austin Prep? Great school yet don't know what the parameters are for an elite school.

As an alumni i can say it was a wonderful school, all men ( that was a downer) and had to wear a tie every day, yet the teaching was excellent. Things have changed there as it's now co Ed. Northern Ma I assume is Middlesex county and that's where it's located.

When I was there the tuition was around 3000, now I think it's around 20000.. _30000.

It's a Catholic school and got a few belts from the fathers there who at the time wore robes with big belts! Lol.. Great school for sure. Good luck.

[CaseyB]

St. John's Prep?

All Boys Catholic School Near Boston on the North Shore | St. John's

[FCMA]

Cushing Academy is in Northern Mass, has Mandarin and is a sports-oriented school, but I also know that socially appropriate people with means don't necessarily like the faint sounds of banjos emanating from the forests of Ashburnham.

[traffic_lover]

Are you sure Lawrence academy is A+ only? Word in groton was that Groton school is the smart kid school & LA the jock school. I'd call the soccer coach I'm sure he can pull strings if your kids are good.

[mwbms28]

Do your kids have SSAT/ISEE scores yet? All of the ISL schools (Brooks, Lawrence, Groton) will require those. If you know what percentiles they score in, you will have a better idea idea about where they could get in.

[robr2]

Where will you be living? If you can afford to send the kids to elite private schools, then you may want to consider living in Lexington and using the public schools. Chinese is offered and I presume it to be Mandarin as it is the most popular of the Chinese languages.