The Fenster School, is a private co educational college prepartory boarding school for underachieving students. The school is located in Tuscon about 2 hours from Phoenix, Arizona. We had a chance to visit the school this past summer, and spend a wonderful time with their wonderful marketing Director Mrs. Barbara Fenster and their enthusastic headmaster, Mr Don Shafer. Mr. Shafer has since left Fenster, and Allan Fenster is now the head of admission's at the school.
Mr. Shafer, is graduate of UCLA, recalls his former days of playing basketball under the famous coach, John Wooden. Don played with Karem Abdul Jabar, the retired NBA Hall of Famer, who player with the world famous Los Angeles, Lakers. Don has been at Fenster for many years and has good insight into some of the needs of students at Fenster. While we guess his athletic skills are no match for today's athlete, we wanted to ask him a few questions? We will likely also follow up with the new director to address our concerns about Fenster.
We meet for lunch, following our tour of the school, and talked about the questions parents most often ask about Fenster? Shafer explained to us, Fenster is a really college prepatory boarding school for underchieving students, which is has focus on helping these students go to college and acheive sucess. In fact, 90% of our students go on to college. "A typical student who might perform well at Fenster, is one who is rather mediocre, in school, or who might be a typically have challenges academically. Student's who attends our school, show remarkable progress while here, who might be considered incapable of doing the work in another boarding school or program. This makes our school "unique".
Fenster also has the appeal for both these students, who need some individual help but needs the direction. A less structured learning setting might not fit for every student but for the right student, we offer that direction. The academics are broad covering subjects for college inclduing fine arts, math, science, and the required courses for admission to college. We also offfer AP courses at Fenster. We also have students coming out of wilderness program and therapeutic schools. Many of these school are preparing our students, we just pick up where they have left off in helping the student academically.
The campus is very spread out, having a large swimming pool, library and nature surrounding. While the campus was actually developed in the late 1940's, its campus reflect a southwest feel, with many of the buildings in stuccio, or southwest design. The dorms are small but cozy, with most of the rooms, limited accessories and the fluff, which some boarding schools do have. Fenster, probably cuts the cost of attednig a boarding school in half. The current tuition is $28,000 (twenty eight thousand dollars). This is considerably cheaper verus the cost of $48,000 (forty eight thousand dollars, which is average cost at other schools.
Arizona. has only three boarding college prepatory programs in the state, which are accreditd, but few offer help for students with learning differences, similar have a similar support programs for an underachieving student. Fester does have an athletic program, cultural or fine arts activities, as well as international visits, which might not be visiable on a tour initally. The campus has good teachers, and a afforable cost for parents in this economy. Most consultant we have spoken to, have mixed feeling about Fenster, some really like the program, while others have specific concerns related to supervision at the school. While we have addressed this with the marketing director and headmaster, they insist there are support services for families, including a off campus psychlogist for special needs studeents.
Many of the student, however, do go on to attend college. Some of the schools include: The University of Arizona, Arizona State University, among many others. Letty Yates, a cconsultant from San Antonio, Texas. We first spoke about Fester, when I was touring with her in Georgia. We spoke of the program extensively, sharing the pro's and con's of sending a student to the school. Letty has several students at Fenster, and many of her families have been very happy with the placement. Many of her student's are from Mexican families living in various cities in this growing country.
I have visited Mexico, which has many boarding schools, however many parents are interested in a school like Fenster to learn English. Many traditional boarding schools have ESL programs to meet the challenges of international students, often for english proficiency.Typically a family would like to send their child to a school like Fenster for this purpose.
Fenster has the core academics courses which are needed to apply to a college, with the freedom of attending a school, which is private. Many parents sending their children to Fenster have this in mind. and hiring an consultant helps in a school like Fenster. A consultant would keep track of the students academic sucess in the program, providing this help to a student who might be underperforming or having challenges at home. Many students simply lack the discipline or need help in forming study habits. Fenster does help students with ADD Attention Deficit Disorder who often need a different learning path. Teachers at Fenster work with these students to achieve sucesss.
We believe for the right student, Fenster is a good choice. Most consultant would work with parents to help them understand the mission of Fenster related to the students direction in attending college. Would Fenster be a choice in a school for your child? What are some things you have learned about Fenster, which interest you? Is cost a factor in sending you child to a boarding school? Is this price reasonable for your family? Do you have a student who needs a ESL program? Where have you been looking?
