Boston Latin School

This school is a meat grinder. If you are brilliant but have the slightest tendency to 'color outside the lines' Don't Go Here. The administration at this school understand that there's a line of kids waiting to take the place of any student who 'opts' to leave, and they will accommodate to degree zero to help a struggling student, though they do lip service to tutoring - just a way for older students to beef up their college application resumes with 'community service'.
—Submitted by a parent

If you are determined, a hard worker, and know how to manage your time, this school will be one of the best experiences in your life!

My son will be a 9th grader at Latin this fall, and my husband went there years ago. There are many things I love about Latin---the traditions, the active clubs and most of all the students. My son has met interesting talented kids from all over the world and made many wonderful friends, and my husband still is close with so many of his friends from his Latin days. However, I must say the academics are not what I expected. My other son attends a charter school, and has much more homework and is learning much more than my Latin son. The teachers are hit or miss---some are fantastic, some are so bad it's laughable. Overall, Latin is a fantastic experience, but not for everyone. It's a huge school, and if you have a child who would easily get lost in the shuffle, I'd pick someplace else. But if you have a fairly outgoing child, a self-starter who will enjoy being around the bunch of interesting characters there, it's a unique and amazing school.
—Submitted by a parent

Warning from a parent who has been part of BLS for 6 years. If your child has ANY learning, organizational or emotional weaknesses then DO NOT choose this school. The large and inpersonal setting of this school will damage your child. No matter how smart they are, they will not do well academically, because there is little SUPPORT and UNDERSTANDING. Choose a smaller pilot, charter or private school and allow your child to get good grades instead of scraping by and being damaged emotionally and academically.
—Submitted by a parent

If you don't work hard, and you aren't used to hours and hours of homework and schoolwork and you procrastinate a lot, don't go to BLS. I'm an eighth grader andused to get straigh As, once I got to BLS I started failing half my classes. I am very social and during sixie year I paid more attention to my friends then schoolwork which was a mistake, because I had to go to summer school. Procrastination will KILL you at this school, its very demanding and has extremely high expectations. If you want to do well, don't slack off. This year I'm working much harder but I'm failing algebra because I don't understand the material. I might have to switch schools if I keep failing. It's a fantastic school and I love the people there, but the teachers aren't always great. IF you're lucky you'll get a good teacher but sometimes you won't and you'll have to work extra hard. It's very competitive so don't bother going if you aren't willing to work harder than you ever have

I took the ISEE this November and my whole family has gone to Boston Latin. Even though I see my cousin come home everyday with a workload of homework, I am still dieing to go to Boston Latin. I will find out during this week. I have heard that the teachers really push you to do ur best and thats what i really need since I will be starting in 9th grade if I hopefully get in. And Support from the teachers is honestly going to help me become better. I am aiming to stay on the High Honor Roll and I know Boston Latin School will push me to be my best. I am honestly very nervous b/c last time i got into Boston Latin Academy( 6th Grade) but this time I studied for the test AND i have high honors so I hopefully got into it: this just shows how more challenging it is then other schools; you have to take a challenging test to get in. I HONESTLY hope I get into BLS. It is my first choice of school because it will push me to do better and help me throughout my years. =]

Boston Latin School was a huge step up in quality from previous schools that many of my friends have attended. The programs are more challenging due the a "filter"effect from the initial test you take. I personally felt enviromentaly safer at this school, because for once, i was not called a nerd and picked on for being smart, but was appreciated for it.

Because it challenges the kids, and then allows them to follow up

The country's oldest public school offers outstanding academics and an environment and philosophy that inspires kids to succeed and be their best.

The school is easy if you're aiming for B's without doing any extra-curricular's such as clubs, music, or sports. If you choose that path, ask yourself, why did I take the test in the first place? Seriously, its no better than any old suburban school if you don't use the resources there. Take advantage of their programs (yes, even our infamously terrible sports teams are worth joining). If you just get C's and go home everyday, you won't feel welcome and you're just wasting a spot which so many determined people wanted and didn't get. And advice for kids coming in: Get a social life, fast, because you need support from friends. It might seem stupid but I didn't know anyone coming in and once I started making friends, I flourished. Life is easier when you have people to talk to besides your family.
—Submitted by a student

I may be just an eighth grader but i do know this so far: this school is the worst school you can ever go to if you are planning to just slack off the whole....because there will be consequences and you will get some kind of repercussion if you do something wrong. If you dont do homework you get detention, if you lose a book you have to pay for it, and if you dont work hard enough you will get held back. However, if you do try hard and work hard you will see it as very easy once you get used to it, and lets face it you will have a much better future. I have some of the dardest and strictest teachers, and personally i think that that isnt very good for my education because you will focus more on not liking the teacher. Its a bg deal2.
—Submitted by a student

This school is challenging, yes. It is a great school, where even sixies (7th graders) are treated like the scholars that they are. There is a lot of support available and they really want the students to succeed. That is our experience, at least.
—Submitted by a parent

The culture of competition and the extent of stimulant use is not good.
—Submitted by a parent

I love Boston Latin because it is the oldest school in the country. They providea great education for free and they have a wonderful chorus.
—Submitted by a parent

Best School that my child can possibly go to. The homework that they do can be hard and stressful but that is only for the good of the students. Boston Latin School is the best school you can go to for college preparation.
—Submitted by a parent

Best school I can ever imagine, the workload can be stressful, but is overall an amazing place to be, and I am so happy to go there. I actually enjoy my time there.
—Submitted by a student

I'm a seventh grader in this school and it's the best, i know we can't really judge since we're only 'sixies' but i think that it will be very beneficial for me. My teachers are great, though some of them push us very far and gives us work sometimes over our limit, but i think that that's the whole point of this school, to push you to greater heights. And, according to the other people who have reviewed this school, it is in fact very good. Also, the people that go to this school may not be the best, but as long as you bite your tongue and not get in HUGE trouble, your life in this schoolwon't be bad..i think...Good school.
—Submitted by a student

I am a senior graduating this year and I, of course, am suffering from the dreaded 'senioritis'. This school pushed me to and above my limts. Any student in 7th grade honestly can't judge the school, without even having been there for a complete year. I don't even think you can judge the school well after being there for three years. Not until you are graduating and after you leave do you actually realize what the school has done for you. Of course it's not perfect, some of the people there aren't great, including teachers, but that's life. The school is one of the best performing schools in the nation, and there's a clear reason behind it. I've been there for six years, and though I had wanted to leave the school from seventh to ninth grade, it pains me to think that it's actually happening. Oh Nine!
—Submitted by a student

I currently attend Latin as a Freshman (third-year) and the school overall is really not as bad as some say. The teachers: some can be really good and others... well, other teachers *can*, in fact teach, but not in a way that is as beneficial to the student as they think it is. The Guidance staff: They're all really supportive and can really help you when your grades start to fall or you just need to talk to someone. The students: mostly, the other students are in the same shoes as you are: maybe scared, maybe a 'slacker' but most definitely brilliant. Some can be somewhat obnoxious but that is just their nature. The overall education: you learn so much more than at other schools. You are working at an accererated, yet more in-depth pace. Generally, it is hard for some to catch on but you'll eventually get the hang of it.
—Submitted by a student

I am a 7th grade student here and i dont like this school at all. The work is too hard and too much. I have become lazy ever since i went to this school
—Submitted by a student