Secondary School Placement

Choosing a secondary school is a capstone of the Harbor Country Day School experience.  Harbor’s comprehensive and individualized Secondary School Placement Program assists students and parents in deciding which secondary schools to apply to, and ultimately helps families make the best choice.  The process of choosing a secondary school can seem intimidating or overwhelming, but with a proactive approach, open communication, and experienced guidance, Harbor’s Secondary School Placement Program makes this very important process a productive and rewarding experience for families.

Secondary schools vary widely, and it is important to identify schools that are a good fit for a particular child.  The obvious choices are not always the best choices.  It is prudent to avoid being influenced by the preferences and decisions of other families.  Rather, families should consider what type of school environment will enable their child to flourish: large or small; public or independent; boarding or day; non-sectarian or parochial; highly competitive or more supportive; nearby or more distant.  It is helpful for parents to establish ground rules as to which options they will and will not consider.  Rather than attempting to mold students into a particular secondary school's character, Harbor suggests that families seek to identify those schools that best suit the needs, ability level, and interests of the child. 

The correct match between child and school is Harbor’s number one priority, as it can make all the difference in the child's secondary school experience.  The responsibility for making the best match between a child and a secondary school is shared by Harbor and home, and the key to successful placement is communication.  The process normally begins with a preliminary meeting with the family and the Head of School to discuss the student’s and parents’ goals.  Next, the student’s current performance, as well as his or her previous year’s academic record, Secondary School Admissions Test (SSAT) and Educational Records Bureau (ERB) scores are all reviewed.  The next step is to discuss the various school environment options in detail, and to explore the appropriateness of the various options to the student’s strengths and interests.  Once all information is shared and discussed, an initial list of potential secondary schools is developed for each family. Harbor developed a comprehensive handbook of information and critical steps for each Harbor family to review.

The process also includes one-on-one meetings with the Head of School to help prepare each student for interviews, application writing/essays, and asking/answering questions.

Harbor families will find the administration and staff quite adept as well as helpful and supportive during the secondary school design making process.

Beyond Harbor

Most important for families to know, graduates leave Harbor Country Day as fearless learners who possess the moral and ethical foundation that prepares them to exhibit compassion and tolerance in a global community.  Harbor graduates are culturally experienced and conversant in the humanities; are reflective leaders who negotiate effectively; and are prepared to fulfill their best dreams because they view themselves as works in process.  In short, Harbor Country Day School graduates begin secondary school with a solid academic foundation, strong leadership skills, and confidence.

With the advantage of a Harbor Country Day School education, graduates have been accepted at prominent secondary schools where they’ve gone on to excel.  In the last few years, Harbor graduates have gone to a variety of secondary schools such as:

-Cardigan Mountain School (NH)
-Chaminade High School
-Deerfield Academy (MA)
-Elwood John H. Glen High School
-Friends Academy
-Kings Park High School
-Marymount School
-Montclair Kimberley Academy (NJ)
-Mount Sinai High School
-Our Lady of Mercy Academy
-Philips Exeter Academy (NH)
-Portledge School
-Ross School
-Smithtown High School East/West
-St. Anthony’s High School
-St. John the Baptist High School
-Tabor Academy (MA)
-The Hill School (PA)
-The Knox School
-The Stony Brook School
-The Walnut Hill School (MA)
-Ward Melville High School
-Westminster School (CT)