Reviews of Cardigan Mountain School (School)

John Pagenstecher

I attended CMS in the 60's... The impact of life lessons, focused education, and outdoor recreation at this great school, have not only stayed with me through the years, but is probably the strongest single contribution as to who I am today. I am so thankful for having the opportunity to attend Cardigan Mountain School.

Margaret Hughes

It was awesome to see my brother at his bording school

Maureen

My family has been involved with Cardigan Mountain School for almost 10 years as parents and now as 'past parents" We sent our 3 sons to Cardigan and it was the best decision we ever made !!! The academics are top notch !!! Athletics are the best. But the faculty, the staff are some of the best people I have had the privilege to met !!! The best thing you could ever do is to send your son to Cardigan !!!

ROB LOWE

If your looking to set your child up for the most miserable years of his life, send him to Cardigan Mountain school. Unless your child is friendless and has little to no social life, I highly would not recommend sending him here. Cardigan gives little to no options to their students on there one day off Sunday. They still have to check in and all of their freedom can be taken, forcing them to work on academics or work on sunday morning, sit in a desk for two hours on saturday night, work at 1pm on Sunday as well. It is in an extremely rural location with little to do in the first place, but the school seems to try to limit as many activities as possible. Even harmless computer games such shellshocked.io (search it up). On the weekends there are minimal trips- only going to an extremely low quality convenient store near called "Papa Zs". Most children spend their saturday night and sunday in their rooms on their computers for 5+ hours, occasionally going to free skate or to the tennis courts, making each weekend bland and repetitive. The bland and repetitiveness of the weekends forces the students to break the rules to find excitement of any type. Students have tried to present ideas to the faculty on multiple occasions but because the faculty put no effort into trying to change. Even when a clear presentation outlining everything necessary for the change, it is ignored. There is also zero trust between the students and faculty. The faculty don't even trust the students enough to turn the light off during a musical because they are afraid students will "yell or throw objects". Here are some of the ridiculous rules: no phones, no effort to incorporate social events with other schools, not allowed to play tennis or basketball in the gym or indoor tennis courts without faculty supervision (no faculty wants to go out of their way to do this), all dorms are usually off bounds on the weekends meaning the students cannot go into their friends dorms, due to this when there is snow outside the students cannot play outside or hang out in each other's dorms, there is quite literally nothing to do. My son tried talking in the doorway with his friends and was shooed away back to his room. The students also cannot keep their computer at night, which is very inconvenient for them. Also imminently showing the lack of trust between students and faculty. Most of the faculty seem to just need a place to temporarily live while they get their plans straight. In fact in some cases the teachers do not have any college recognition in the subject they are teaching. Those teachers who do care have had conversations with my son expressing their feelings about the school, and completely understanding the complaints my child makes. My children also tell me the faculty themselves do not have communication between the administration, resulting in schedule mishaps. Another issue is in disciplinary cases there is absolutely no communication between the school and the kids, except when they are worried about deteriorating their image. The principal makes an extremely vague announcement along the lines of we need to get stronger as a community. He also spends over half of his time off campus and does not know most of the childrens names, creating an even bigger rift in the "tight nit community". This is often something the school expresses pride in, but the only thing that unites the students is their shared hatred of the school. The students are majority repeats, some being in tenth grade and feel treated like children because frankly they are. I understand there are some younger students on campus (not even 20 6th graders) but this does not mean that the ninth and tenth graders should be categorized at that age. Day in and day out my children complain about cardigan, awaiting their final day. Whenever I ask what they are doing they simply say nothing and I know just how true it is. I am fortunate to have a son who is open and willing to communicate with me honestly and made me realize the only things he will miss when he leaves the school is his friends

Michael Shanley

I enjoyed my entire time at CMS!!! Yes Canaan N.H. is cold but the best time!! Heck Chef Clancy in the kitchen taught me about cooking and I went on to spend a very enjoyable life in the profession!! Cooked in Maui, San Antonio, Austin, Houston, and finally landed at OSU Hospitals (Columbus Ohio) and enjoyed every minute. From the sports....cross country skiing, ski jumping and working the 1980 Olympics (at the jumps and setting tracks for cross country skiing) for the cross country races!! Writing the letters home on Sunday night was always fun. And of course the assorted school jobs that you had to have and do. The hardest thing to do was to give a speech at the commencement ceremony in 1980!!! I enjoyed sailing the fj sail boats and travel all over for sports!! Is the rivalry still strong with Eagle Brook School!! Go Cougars!!!! Michael J Shanley

Max Gilbert

This School truly changed my life! I went to CMS for three years and I have to say that my life would be a lot worse if not for this school. I grew as a student, athlete, and an overall person at this school. Thanks to Cardigan I am enjoying a successful high school career and still using tips and tricks taught to me at the Point. I would highly recommend CMS to any young boy who wants to become an exceptional man in any field he is interested in.

Austin Philie

Cardigan is a great school. The experience I had at Cardigan taught me things beyond the classroom. I was challenged academically and the athletic program at Cardigan was extremely competitive. The most positive thing I can take away from Cardigan is the impact the faculty, coaches, headmaster and staff had on my life not only at Cardigan but beyond. They cared about teaching me to become a better person than the one I was when I arrived on campus.

Phyllis Powers

I have four sons and all of them attended Cardigan Mountain School. As with most families, each child is unique in his or her own way and Cardigan had the ability and expertise to support each of my boys, challenging them to reach their full potential while embracing the concept of compassion and humility. I will forever be thankful for the gift of learning that my boys received from Cardigan and its dedicated faculty.

Jessica Lee

Best all boys junior boarding school in the world! Attending Cardigan Mountain School was the best decision my son made for his future. The staff is incredibly caring, school looks out for the best interest of your son, and we couldn't be in better hands. CMS has the Best academic and athletics program in America and the school will maximize your child's potential. We are forever grateful to be a part of the Cardigan family and hope to stay connected forever. I would give it 10 stars.

C. Zapata Lyder

A school and administration that harbors and protects pedaphiles. I called in 2006 and reported the music teacher/dorm parent from the 80's who was in possession of çhild pornography and gay pornography. The man I spoke with, Headmaster?, Said he was dead and that he was unwilling to hear or do anything about it(shame on you and Mr. Wakely who was headmaster then). Well well I say to you all, I am ashamed for not doing something sooner. And that guilt uncovered another truth and pedaphile. The minister,/dorm parent father Mahoney, I believe his name was. Oh sure, he was kind enough to drive me to Boston at break times(I was poor and my mother unable to pay for my travel), however the kindness was false as on one of our trips he tried to put his hand on my leg. I never drove with him again and I made my mom buy me a bus ticket that day forward. This man to be investigated because I know there are kids out there whom he succeeded in molesting. Norman wakely should be erased from that campus and the man I spoke with in 2006. There should also be an outreach to help to ones affected by these past events, I know there are a lot out there. There needs to be an apology to the former students and more. I believe there needs to be a police investigation into the schools past and present offenses. I suspect that I am not the only one to come forward with these accusations...But if I am, then I hope people step forward. And yes, John Lindgren(SP?) You were the floor leader who found the magazines under the mattress of Mr. F.

David LeBreton

Cardigan is a magical place. The positive effect the school had on my son David and the huge strides he made continue to amaze, 7 years post graduation. I have tremendous respect for the faculty, administration and board. David was loved in a truly in loco parentis environment. He become confident, learned how to learn, made pals, flourished. Best, he became happy with who he is, comfortable in his own dear skin. Cardigan was a life-changing experience for our boy and his parents.

Theo Abalogu

Awful school. Keep your kids away.

al Love

The Admissions team welcomed us with open arms & what you would think a red carpet was rolled out upon touring the school. Not a thing out of place & everything had its place from corner to corner & every inch of the campus. My best description for others to make sense how & what this school offers is that it captures you as a Division 1 / Ivy League school campus for middle school kids. This fall will be my sons first year at C.M. & we are so excited to be a part of a academic & athletic program that has so much to offer.i could on & on about the campus, the staff, the faculty, the cafeteria, the sport complex's, the surrounding township-its all so great, you have to go up and see your self, words cant really describe it all.

Bob Hughes

I have seen the end result of many Cardigan boys over the years, as several friends had their sons attend and then go on to incredibly successful careers at top prep schools and then onto top colleges as well. I'm lucky enough to only live an hour and forty minutes from the school so I could attend the games and events over my son's 8th & 9th grade years. Each time I left the school shaking my head at how lucky I was to have my son at that school. The people he met, experiences he had and the incredible growth that was achieved, is beyond description. He not only started his 10th grade year in Senior year math classes after graduating from CMS, he finished with all AP classes and ended up #2 in his class. However, more importantly was the learned discipline to do the work required to succeed. Without Cardigan, I do not think graduating college with a degree in Aerospace Engineering was possible. It wasn't just the classrooms, but the person and leader he became, something that wasn't natural to him. As Cardigan has said "we find success for everyone, both in the classroom and outside, such as the athletic field, as his athletic experiences were equally as memorable and fulfilling as his classroom experience. The best investment any person could ever make in a boy is to provide him a Cardigan experience. I know a lot of Cardigan kids and each one of them has gone on to incredible success in the their next roles. Some playing hockey for the #1 team in the country and others doing amazing things in work world. My wish is to have another boy to raise, so that I can provide another Cardigan experience for someone else, it's the greatest place in the world in my opinion!

Clint Hallsted

Best experience 6th through 9th grade.

Roberto Lowe

Being a student here, Rob Lowe's review couldn't be more true about the school. About 97% of student conversations is about their shared hatred for the school. Older students are treated like infants. There are 2 meals during the week where students can eat with their friends. I feel the pain and suffering of faculty kids, who grow up in with 0 social life. On a scale from 1 to 10 for freedom, students have a 1, but don't think that can't be taken away. If you think about leaving your wallet/money unlocked or not on you, kiss it goodbye. Large sums of money is stolen every single week, which causes dorms to be off bounds. On weekends there is tennis, the haven, which is a pit of kids fighting over two PS4s, PEAKS, or sitting in your room for 5 hours! The trust with students and faculty is a you have to see to believe bad. And the administration wonders why rumours surface all the time, simply because students are looking for any glimpse of excitement. I hope and pray that the teachers who are great people pack their bags and go somewhere that they deserve. It's so pathetic what the school does during parents weekends. They fake and stage their way through those times like no other. So send your kids here!!!