Woodberry Forest School

My son has completed his first year at Woodberry, and overall we are extremely pleased with his experience there. He was already fairly disciplined and loved school, but Woodberry has sharpened his organizational skills and taught him how to work hard both independently and in a group setting. AP physics as a freshman was an unbelievable opportunity to stretch himself with a master teacher. The humanities also shine here, and the teachers engage in discussion outside of class. Seated meals and Saturday classes are traditions that serve multiple purposes. Woodberry is not the easy way, but if you have a kid who really thrives in a structured environment, wants to be a part of a strong community, and seeks to grow spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually, it will give him a huge gift. The boys really are known, challenged, and loved. We are first-time boarding school parents who attended small-town public schools and public universities. We were worried that a private boarding school would be full of privileged rich kids, but there is a lot of diversity on multiple levels at Woodberry. I hope (and this is what we sense as well) that the school's goal is really to level the playing field. We miss our son but do our best to stay in close contact with him and are within driving distance to go to some sporting events and see him fairly often. The holiday breaks are long enough for reconnection and family time. We sacrifice the daily interactions, but the growth we see is worth it for us.

Our son has thrived at Woodberry and I am confident he is well-prepared for anything that lies ahead. The teacher engagement is incredible. The school knows how to create an environment in which boys can excel and they truly want each boy to excel. The friendships he has made will last a lifetime, and I know what he has learned at Woodberry will serve as a base for his accomplishments the rest of his life.