River Estates

Our son hated school through ninth grade, and then transferred here as a sophomore. He just graduated and is off to Cornell with 86% of tuition on scholarship. Of course he is smart - but I attribute the college career he has next 100% to Gunston. He connected Dr. Wilson and Mr. Lewis in particular, but it would be wrong to suggest it was only them. The teachers here go further than I have ever seen - by orders of magnitude - to make sure kids find their people and their passion. With four kids who have cumulatively attended nearly a dozen schools (and thinking back to my mixed parochial and public education), Gunston has an almost magical aura. In ninth grade my wife and I were terrified for how our eldest would fair in life and how he’d survive college - now we are excited for his future and have no reservations about sending him off to Ithaca in the Fall.I could go on and on, from things big (e.g., class size, advising) to small (subtle words of encouragement exactly when needed for example). Our eldest is most interested in engineering; our eldest daughter is a rising sophomore - and far more interested in English and biologically sciences - both of these are well nourished at Gunston. And then everything from a dedicated dark room, a proper music facility, etc. The options are nearly endless - and the proof is in the pudding.If you have an opportunity to send your child to Gunston, don’t think twice. I thank God we found this place for our children.