Transition from Far Brook to High School
One of the benefits of a Pre-K to Grade Eight educational structure is the opportunity afforded the Eighth Graders to serve as the leaders of the School. The responsibility of being role models for younger students gives the Eighth Grade a unique identity as a class and gives the individuals in the class multiple opportunities to exercise judgment, gain confidence, and show care and concern for others in preparation for high school and for life.
Secondary School Placement
After Eighth Grade, Far Brook students attend a wide variety of high schools; co-ed and single-sex independent day schools in New Jersey, and boarding schools throughout the Northeast.
Families work with our Director of Admissions and Placement to identify options that best meet the student’s and the family’s priorities. All are encouraged to weigh considerations such as the students’ learning styles, strengths and challenges, curricular needs, and extracurricular interests, as well as each school’s mission, philosophy, and pedagogical approach. The year-long process of reflection and self-evaluation allows students and parents to make deliberate and informed choices about the optimal educational environment for high school.
Over the course of the Seventh and Eighth Grade years, the Director of Admissions and Placement, the Head of School, and the Director of Upper Schools meet with families in groups and with each family individually. Several events are planned to assist families in gathering information and navigating the transition.
Placement Events
Sixth Grade Year:
• Secondary School Fair at Far Brook
Seventh Grade Year:
• Choosing a School after Far Brook Workshop – Part I
• SSAT Exam Administered (for practice)
• Secondary School Fair at Far Brook
Eighth Grade Year :
• Choosing a School after Far Brook Workshop – Part II
• SSAT Exam Administered
• Interview Workshop
• Public School Panel Discussion
At the end of the Eighth Grade year, students leave Far Brook with a sense of who they are. Each graduate has tackled complex material in the classroom and has extended him or herself on the stage, in the art studio and woodshop, in the school choir, and on the playing fields. Having spent their preadolescence taking risks in a safe, nurturing environment, enjoying strong relationships with teachers and peers, Far Brook graduates report experiencing a smooth transition to the increased academic, organizational, and social demands of high school.
High Schools attended by Far Brook's Class of 2012 are shown below:
East Orange STEM Academy
Hanover Park Regional High School
Kent Place School
Glen Ridge High School
Millburn High School
Montclair High School
Montclair Kimberley Academy
Morristown-Beard School
Mount Saint Mary Academy
Newark Academy
Oratory Preparatory School
The Pingry School
Colleges chosen by Far Brook's Class of 2008 are shown below:
Brown University
Carleton College
College of William and Mary
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Drew University
Georgetown University
Lehigh University
Macalester College
New York University
Rice University
Ringling College of Art and Design
Skidmore College
Stanford University
SUNY Binghamton
Trinity College
Villanova University