Birch Wathen Lenox School

I am very surprised at the review i just read below and felt compelled to write, as this sounds like an angry person. My two children attended Birch (for a total of 13 years experience with the school) and have now moved on to excellent boarding schools. I have nothing but admiration for the school and how they prepared my children academically for the next stage of their education. I found the teachers to be focused on each individual child and very attentive to the parents as well. I dont have anything to add about the sports programs as my children did not partake regularly- they were more involved with the excellent theater program. Socially we never came across any major problems, so I am really flummoxed by the previous review. My family''s experience was very good to excellent with Birch, and I feel fortunate that my children were schooled there.

Birch Wathen Lenox has placed our child in a tenuous situation. The administration has created a toxic learning environment for many of the children. Many of the kids have social; behavioral; emotional; academic; and maturation issues and, by mixing them in with the very few kids without such issues, the classroom has become a harmful habitat. Beware, as the school does not deny that this occurs and, they do nothing to address it. And, as Birch increases the number of enrolled students in the upper classes, they fill these seats with more kids with more issues, primarily with kids whom have been counseled out of other schools.

I absolutely love this school! My kids have really thrived here. The academics are excellent--rigorous, but not homework for the sake of homework. The atmosphere is warm and nurturing. The teachers always go the extra mile for their students! Mr. Carnabuci runs a phenomenal school. From the minute you walk in the door and see the incredible artwork on the walls, you know this is a really special place!