Description of this type of school/schooling method:
The White Mountain School, in Bethlehem NH, is a high-school program, teaching discussion-based, college-prep academics, balanced by a rigorous outdoor program that includes extreme sports (mountain biking, rock climbing, ice climbing, more), an excellent ski program (downhill racing, cross-country, backcountry, downhill recreational), soccer, hockey, a theater program, lacrosse, biking, and lots more. The school is small--the school motto is "Small school. Big Outdoors."--allowing for individualized attention and academic freedom.

Advantages:
Small school environment make every child a part of the community, and the community a part of every child. The academic rigor balanced by outdoor rigor provides an emphasis on the whole being, not just test scores.

Challenges:
Discussion based program requires kids to learn to think critically. The academic program is impressive--some kids report going to their freshman year of college and feeling that their classes at WMS were more difficult. Very challenging outdoor program pushes the limits physically, while the academic program is pushing the limits mentally.

Tuition/Costs:
$10,000/year or more

Other comments regarding tuition/costs:
White Mountain School is a boarding school that also has a day-school program. Additional expenses include a hefty student account for books, trips, and other materials, and a full- or part-time tutorial program.

Additional comments or suggestions:
WMS changed my sons life. He never did well in the public school in the town where we live. At WMS his grades have vastly improved; the method of grading, which includes marks for effort balanced with academic grades, treats him with the respect he deserves as a whole person. My son has never wanted to do well in school before. At WMS he is inspired to reach his potential both physically and academically. His body is in fabulous shape, he feels smart for the first time in his life, and when he visits home his emotional self seems more at ease, more in balance.

Visit their web site:
www.whitemountain.org