"One drawback might be that because it draws from a fairly large area kids may not have any classmates near them."
This is also a positive. Classmates from all over the Metro area, State, Country, and World certainly opens one up to a wider range of perspectives and experiences.
- "It's generally considered a bit inferior academically to Detroit Country Day"
This is not accurate. The two schools are considered equal. Detroit Country Day is sometimes said to have slightly stronger math and sciences...whereas Cranbrook is said to have somewhat stronger English, History, Foreign Language, and Performing/Fine Arts programs.
"If you live in Birmingham or Bloomfield districts [[as well as a few others), the public schools are about as strong, so there's really no academic advantage to Cranbrook. The advantages are primarily smaller class size and snob appeal."
This isn't accurate. Cranbrook and Detroit Country Day are seen as far more advanced academic environments than even their nearby public schools.
"Outside of the midwest, employers are not as moved by the name on a resume as the school would lead prospective students to believe"
Unfortunately, this highly debatable. I think that phenomenon is still pretty strong and I don't think it has anything to do with the Midwest.
"There are less expensive private schools and also the surrounding public school districts - Birmingham, Bloomfield, Troy, Rochester will prepare students just as well academically for college."
Obviously school is what the individual student makes of it, but there are still major differences in the overall caliber of education between the Cranbrooks and Detroit Country Days of the world, and even the topic public schools.
"There isn't as much of a local community tie to school like you may find in other places"
Actually, most Cranbrook students that aren't from the area end up developing a fondness for Metro Detroit and Michigan. They generally come back to visit and maintain some sort of ties to the area, including attend college here.
"Athletics: Cranbrook is more known for the arts, sciences, and academics. While they occasionally will have an all-state cross country, track, field hockey, or lacrosse team they I believe are a Class B-C or Div III school. programs."
Actually, Cranbrook and Detroit Country Day have comparable overall athletic departments. Cranbrook Hockey is much better than DCD, and DCD Football/Basketball is much better than Cranbrook. All other sports are about equal. Furthermore, Class/Division is based on school size, not ability. Cranbrook is about 100 students larger than Detroit Country Day.
"I don't think there will be any disadvantage in terms of college admissions were a student to attend Bloomfield or Seaholm. They do about as well in terms of sending kids to the Ivies and the like."
Unfortunately, this isn't anywhere close to accurate. This Ivies are impossibly competitive in admissions these days and stregth of high school curriculum plays a significant role.
- "Possibly, but man, those private schools schools on the East Coast seem to produce a lot of braggarts."
Perhaps, but I've met/known a ton of people who brag about having attended Cass Tech and Renaissance.
"Cranbrook draws more heavily from immediate surroundings [[Bloomfield-Birmingham), is richer, local students are traditionally more WASP and less diverse [[somewhat fewer black, Asian, Jewish and international). Country Day draws from a wider geography [[lots of Detroit kids esp. Palmer Woods area and lots of Asian kids from all over the region), has a reputation for stronger academics and stronger sports programs, has less social prestige"
This isn't at all accurate. 1/3 of Cranbrook students are boarders from all over the State, Country, and World.
"When I attended the former Andover High, we had more kids attending the Ivies than either Cranbrook or Country Day, and more kids attending Michigan than any school in Oakland County."
When you attended Andover, it also had several hundred more students than either Cranbrook or Detroit Country Day, which send higher percentages to UofM than any other schools.
tends to be very heavily Cranbrook/DCD.
"Public schools are more "real world", IMO, and there is no disadvantage for university admissions."
In some senses yes, in other senses no. Most public schools tend to represent communities where most residents are of the same general socio-economic background. Private schools, particularly Cranbrook and Detroit Country Day draw students from a wide geographic area and there are often great socio-economic differences as well.
"DCD is much more diverse than any of the other private schools in that area of Oakland County too. It tends to draw ex-pats, and also minorities from the upper-middle and upper class. Either people who live in areas where the local schools are not as strong [[e.g, Southfield, DPS, Oak Park) or where they many not feel comfortable in the public schools that lack diversity [[e.g., Birmingham, Bloomfield)"
DCD and Cranbrook are pretty equal in diversity. DCD has slightly more Black [[due in large part to closer proximity to Detroit/Southfield and greater emphasis on their football/basketball teams) and Indian students. Cranbrook has more Jewish and Asian [[including a sizable portion of International Asian) students.
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