Westtown School - Review #7

This school is grounded in making their students thoughtful, socially aware, kind, able to think critically, be outstanding and productive citizens. High expectations and help to get there.

I grew up and gained confidence in myself and also became self-disciplined enough to succeed professionally in the world and make a huge difference in many lives as a caring competent nurse-midwife, delivering close to 3000 babies.

I was very shy and I took a long time to realize that these fellow students were kind, caring, and in a way, as close as my family. We still stay in close touch and look forward to our yearly alumni day.

The fact that it was a quality Quaker school, not teaching us dogma, but critical thinking skills and helping to shape our characters.

It is competitive, so if you get in, you can be assured of a caring thoughtful community and rigorous academic standards that help build character and skills to take you successfully through your life. It also eased the teenage angst and anger and rebellion I felt with my home life, and boarding at the school improved my relationships with my family. I really cannot say enough good about this school.

Very high expectations. I could not be lazy. Striving for achievement because of the difference we can make in the world if we are both competent and kind.

I was on the archery team. Loved it. Liked tennis. Did not so much love field hockey or lacross. I understand the boys basketball team is world class now. Track and field, soccer,baseball were all popular and competitive.

This has produced world class artists, actors, singers.

Tutoring disadvantaged local kids. I particularly liked the Religious Life Committee (Quaker). Westtown sent a few buses of well chaperoned students to the famous March on Washington where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous, "I Have A Dream" speech.

It was great! I did not have my parents yelling at me to clean my bedroom or do chores. I did have chores assigned to me by the school, but I was happy to do them as it contributed to school life. I had good roommates and never had any problems with anyone on my dorm. I made wonderful friends who are still close.

There is a dining room that serves very good food. They are socially conscious and green at this school. The food is good and there is plenty. Plenty for vegans, gluten free, special diets, etc. When I was there, it was assigned seating which changed each month so we would see a diversity of faculty and students. A faculty member sat at each table and ensured that all of us practiced exquisite manners. The leftovers went to a local pig farm, where the pigs dined well.

It was in a rural community, now it is very suburban. The nearest town is West Chester, a couple of miles away which is rated as one of the best college towns in the US.

We had dances, gatherings of all sorts, movie nights, speakers, famous and semi-famous alumni who spoke, sang danced or gave us talents. Thought provoking speakers who spoke on social, political, religious issues. David Eisenhower and Julie Nixon came to a movie night, as Susie Eisenhower was a student there. Her Grandfather Dwight Eisenhower came to the school in his helicopter and I remember speaking to him and shaking his hand.