My older daughter is in 11th grade, her 6th year at Eastside Prep; my younger is in 8th, her third year. My girls are both very bright, and the school provides plenty of academic challenge for them both, and has alllowed my younger one to skip ahead in Spanish and Math, so she is now in tenth grade level classes in both those subjects, which gives her the challenge she needs. But, beyond the excellent college preparatory academics, Eastside Prep has a lot more going for it: extracurricular activities that are open to all (my daughter was enthusiastically welcomed onto the tennis team even though she'd never actually held a racket); a great arts program with a big emphasis on theater, small class sizes, teachers who know every kid by name and know every kid's strengths, and kids who welcome and embrace the diversity of their fellow students. (I've asked my girls which kids get picked on for being "different" and the question itself confuses them, and they say 'mom, our school is just not like that.')

We've been at the school for six years now. Our oldest is a junior, and our younger daughter is in eighth grade. It's a great college preparatory experience, with challenging and rigorous academics, interdisciplinary teaching, and homework assignments which challenge the kids in using a variety of learning styles and presentation skills. But beyond academics, it's a school that cares about the kids, creates a supportive environment, values individuality and diverse abilities, and offers plenty of extracurricular activities where kids can learn and succeed at skills beyond just classroom learning. The teachers know all the kids in the school, know their strengths, help them move beyond their weaknesses, and all are passionate about teaching. There's energy and enthusiasm to spare. My girls love being a part of a school that is small enough that they always feel like they belong there, and big enough that they've each found their gang of friends who share their interests and passions.