Stevenson School

Posted: March 13, 2020

I am very happy we chose Stevenson School for our child. It was a wonderful experience for him. He was able to learn what he needed to excel during high school without the unnecessary pressures and stress. He has made a lot of good friends whom he will stay friends with forever. It's easy to find a school where your child will get a good education, however it's not so easy to find a school where your child will get a good education AND a happy childhood. Stevenson provided both for our son. Next year, our son will be attending a top university, and we think Stevenson has prepared him well to move on to the next chapter of his life.

Posted: March 13, 2020

Homework is about the right amount. With all that high schoolers need to get done, sports, SAT prep, college apps, etc you don't want to have to stay up late every night doing homework. Stevenson emphasizes the quality of life for the student. Students are very happy at Stevenson and having effective but not excessive amount of homework is part of the reason.

Posted: March 13, 2020

The teachers at Stevenson are excellent. Everyone seems to be very happy to be teaching there, because it is a beautiful place to live and the campus environment is lovely. Most of the teachers also get housing on campus, which seem very nice. This attracts and retains a lot of excellent teachers at Stevenson. I've been very impressed by almost all of the teachers.

Posted: March 13, 2020

Students at Stevenson are mostly very nice. I have yet to meet a disagreeable student. Students are happy at the school, and that makes it easy for them to be nice people with good character.

Posted: March 13, 2020

Dr. Kevin Hicks became the President of Stevenson School a few years ago, and he is outstanding. We couldn't have asked for a better person as a leader for the school. He is very smart, thoughtful and he gets along with everyone. All the students, teachers and parents like him. He is improving the school in so many ways. We are very fortunate to be here while he was President.

Posted: January 25, 2016

My child was a 4.1 student there and was forced with withdraw after the school insisted on situating him next to an antagonistic teacher. They are now sueing for a large sum of money in spite of the fact that they are already an extremely wealthy organization and are aware of our financial struggles. They have no dignity or sympathy. All they want is your $$$$

Posted: October 30, 2014

Academically, I delivered an accomplished, well-rounded, athletic, artistic, musical, straight A student very well positioned for ultimate admission to a Top 20 national university; or Top 10, depending on SAT Prep and outcome. I question the availability and expertise of the adult support system, or existence of counseling/ advisory staff because within the first months my 10th grader is now a 'C' student and repeating a math class taken in 8th grade despite math being the significabtly higher SSAT score and long standing strength. i hope for better; I've yet to figure out the school. What I do know: It's a lovely, small campus, with students and faculty who are welcoming and engaging, Due to distance, I'm unfamiliar with day to day operations or degree of parental oversight. I doubt Stevenson targets elite private universities or that it is deemed a feeder school. Fortunately, Stevenson has a seemingly strong involved alumni base. Those I spoke with shared the school positively impacted their life. My student's going down an unchartered path soon to realize college expectations need to be modified. (I have another child who graduated from a Top 5 national university.

Posted: March 20, 2014

I attended Stevenson for all four years of High School, and I absolutely loved it. When I think back about the time I spent there and the friendships I made, I would never have gone anywhere else. Talking to my friends in college I realize the relationships that we built with teachers by living with them and by spending time during free periods getting extra help is incomparable to most schools. In fact I'm still in touch with many of my teachers, dorm parents, and coaches because in the end they were our mentors and friends. The campus is beautiful, and the dorms are amazing, especially senior year because seniors get the biggest singles in the newest dorms. The students there are so wonderful almost everyone is polite and friendly,the thing I have found most astounding is that even the most uninteresting looking person on campus has a special talent or skill. I know that I could talk to just about anybody about anything and they would be able to carry on an interesting and fun conversation. Not only does Stevenson teach academics to each students individual level it also teaches professional social skills through weekly formal dinners. If I could go back here I would.

Posted: February 20, 2014

Stevenson School has been my daughters home away from home for almost 3 years. She will graduate from there in 2015 and couldn't be happier as a boarder. It is an expensive option, but well worth it for what you get in return. Yes, sports are required after school, but there are many options (field hockey to swimming to yoga), and I'm happy that they have organized sports that get kids to exercise. Besides that, the parent's club has been incredibly supportive - providing snacks etc. The faculty are the best that I've every seen. The setting is beautiful and parents know that their child is well taken care of. Academics are tough, but you know that if your kid can rise to the challenge, then they will do very well in college. This was the only school that my daughter applied to, and we have never regretted our decision to allow her to go there. Next year when she graduates, there will be a lot of tears, but knowing the friendships and memories that she has made will make it all worthwhile. Overall, the student population is diverse, the administration communicates well, the teachers are incredible, and this school takes learning seriously. It is worth the price.

Posted: February 16, 2014

Stevenson School likes to think that it is a competitive school along the lines of an East Coast boarding school, but the truth is that more than half of the students who pay full tuition couldn't compete on merit to get in. Faculty pushes the smart kids to the breaking point to make up for the other half. There is no "joy of learning" here, as the website used to say. It's all about performance and pushing kids to become mindless achievers who worship at the altar of US News' college rankings. Many of the faculty have graduate degrees, albeit most institutions represented are regional and mediocre. Most disturbingly for me as a parent is the fact that there is no true concern about students' well-being: as long as they get As, the school will leave the smart kids alone. They are then free to crash and burn on their own, with no accommodation from the school. Parental involvement is discouraged. For all the push, Stevenson's college placement rate is not much better than that of local public high schools. Frankly, it just wasn't worth it either in terms of enormous stress placed on the kids or the tuition paid.

Posted: August 25, 2013

Amazing school and faculty. Caring, competent and focused on students individual needs and potential. Cooperative team building environement with excellent academics. Couldn't be happier having two of my kids boarding at Stevenson.

Posted: August 13, 2013

This school has a ridiculous athletic requirement. You need to be aware that ALL 9th and 10th graders MUST take sports 4 days per week after school. Juniors and Seniors must also take sports after school. There are no sports or PE classes offered during the school day. This is so that the athletics department can FORCE kids into participating in their athletic programs to build their numbers. It is really unfortunate that the school athletics department has so much power. The school should care about the individual students' needs and not force kids into after school sports. They are graded on successful participation, and can fail to receive a diploma if they do not pass the sports requirement. THIS IS A JOCK SCHOOL. I recommend you find another school that doesn't have these ridiculous obligatory sport requirements. Also, if you are an involved parent, beware. Stevenson does NOT WANT PARENTS involved. Their staff is icy, cold, and rude to parents. It's unfortunate that kids want to do other activities after school are forced to be in sports. My 4.0 kid is very unhappy about this and will leave because of it.

Posted: March 15, 2013

I have not been treated professionally nor cordially from the administration staff in my application process for my daughter for high school. Parents should matter to a school, and communication related to student-teacher-parent goals is critical to providing the best adolescent upbringing.

Posted: November 29, 2012

This school prepared all three of my kids well for college, very much worth the cost. Two of mine boarded, and this prepared them for being away at college, the oversight of boarding students excellent. Of course, there are students from all over the world, so boarding students likely will experience other cultures.They have a world class college counseling program, chock full of scholarship opportunities and guidance on the college application process and monthly workshops for parents at each grade level. As with most schools today, however, there is a culture of political correctness, though voices different from the majority are respected. Parent activities abound and are an excellent opportunity for bonding. The Visual and Performing Arts are outstanding. All students are required to participate, and in the case of my children, resulted in the discovery of new interests and passions. The Stevenson environment encourages all students to get involved in as many varied activities as possible, rounding out their experience.