Landon School review by Stanford University student.
Landon offers a fairly wide option of courses - the curriculum can be quite rigorous, if the student is up to the challenge. There are a number of requirements (in high school): four years of English, four years of mathematics (ranging from algebra to AB/BC calculus), two years of music/arts, etc. Virtually all the standard AP courses are offered, including Chemistry, Biology, Physics B & C, Computer Science, foreign languages, U.S. History, and Economics (which has received national attention for its impressive AP exam results). Popular senior electives include Public Speaking, History of War, and Film Studies. Probably the most notable part of the Landon curriculum is the mandatory Humanities sequence taken during junior year: it consists of a back-to-back seminar taught by two teachers (with one half focused on history, and the other focused on literature). Readings can be challenging and include works by Plato, Aristotle, Locke, Nietzsche, Freud, etc. Students are expected to engage in discussion (a dialectic, per se) and write many expository and comparative papers throughout the year. Landon can also offer consortium courses taught outside its normal curriculum, for special cases where there is student demand. Examples include AP Psychology, Multivariable Calculus, and AP French Literature (previously offered). While every school will naturally have a range in quality for teachers, where Landon stands out is that its teachers genuinely care about the boys in their classes. Class sizes are small, so teachers are available to meet if the student just asks. Landon also has a teacher-coach-mentor model, so oftentimes student-athletes will know their teachers from outside class (i.e. sports). The Learning Center also has drop-in hours and tutoring appointments to help out any student who is struggling or just wants to be doing better. Overall - generally a very positive experience, for advanced students as well as the more academically challenged. Enjoyable small-class environment, though it will not really prepare you for the lecture-based learning in college (but the workload can definitely be challenging!).
Landon definitely prioritizes college placement: you are assigned a college counselor during junior year and.... Get the real inside story on college counseling at Landon School as experienced by former pupil and Stanford University student — Login or Sign Up to access full review
Sample insights on college counseling
They have contacts at most of the major universities and feel perfectly comfortable picking up the phone and advocating for a student to get accepted somewhere they feel is a good fit for that student. However, these counselors are certainly not magic bullets. They cannot guarantee that a student will get into an Ivy League university...
For those wishing to move on to Oxford or Cambridge, the provision is second-to-none. In the months running up to application and interview, every subject faculty offers classes (often run by former Oxbridge tutors) exploring further areas of their subject as well as offering advice on personal statements, interview technique and more...
Popular years for entering are 3rd grade (obviously), 6th grade, and 9th grade. It can.... Get in-depth insights and personal advice on admissions to Landon School by former pupil and Stanford University student — Login or Sign Up to access full review
Sample insights on admissions
For the interview, dress conservatively. Try to be very clean and put together. Also, I was a tour guide for two years and at the end of every tour, we were asked to evaluate the candidate so if you think the tour is not apart of the process, you are very wrong. Ask questions and be interested. Also, tip for the parents: the kids speak on the tour. Do not ask their questions for them...
Most younger siblings have an easy time in the admissions process. I can only think of one case of a younger sibling not being admitted. About half of the students who entered with me had come from public schools. The remainder came from private K-6 schools, or had transferred from other New York private schools The Elizabeth Morrow School and St. Bernard were two of the larger feeder schools...
Landon is nonsectarian, so religion is rarely talked about. There are sizable numbers of Republicans and Democrats (each having their own student group), and sometimes students have (for the most part) healthy debates. Model Congress has brought in speakers such as John Kerry and Sandra Day O'Connor. Landon is fairly strict and has an honor code and code of civility, as well as a student council. It stresses citizenship, helping those in need, and giving back to the community; this is generally accepted as the Landon way, and students and faculty really do behave like this both at and outside school..... Get the real inside story on quality of school life and extracurricular offerings at Landon School as experienced by former pupil and Stanford University student — Login or Sign Up to access full review