Customer Reviews

Private Secondary Schools 2009 (Peterson's Private Secondary Schools)

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I'm a consumate researcher. Throughout my son's school years, nursery school to college, I've been on a quest for the best solutions and custom fit for them. They have attended a combination of local public, magnate and private schools. I tend to research schools thoroughly, initially throwing out a big net and gradually refining my search. In my present quest for a private day or Boarding School for my 8th grader, this book has become my bible. It is not the complete record it could be. It is the only book in this category that I have found. I would included more categories in the cross-reference section. I would also include a list of schools by state. There are schools I was interested in that were not included here. All in all, it has been my main source, followed by other parents recommendations, internet research and school fairs. I would not want to be on this search without this book in hand.

This is a sloppy, superficial and overpriced guide. My number one target school, Kinkaid, wasn't even included in the guide, despite being one of the better schools in the country. Several other well known target schools of mine were omitted. The information presented for the schools they did include is very superficial and can be found readily on most school's websites. Finally, the schools are listed alphabetically instead of geographically!

A parent asked me to look at this book last week because she found it ovewhelming. I could easily see why. It is a very, very large book with a rather small typeface. This is perfectly understandable given the size and the fact that this is supposed to be a general reference book, like a "phone directory." The few entries I read were also very bland recitations that gave me little sense of the particular "school" and what was "special" about it, although each entry did have generous contact information. It did seem that the book could have been a little better indexed and made a little more "user friendly," as many college guides are. Still, a book like this "is what it is." It takes personal follow-up with any school to see if it is a good fit for your child and your wallet. And in the often confusing world of private high school admissions, this book is a good place to start.

What floored me was price. Sixty-five dollars for the hardcover? That is a ridiculous sum of money for what you get. Buy used! Better, buy paperback used!