Boston Latin

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