The Linsly School

As an educational consultant, I have placed numerous students at The Linsly School over the past 11 years. My students have consistently enjoyed their experience there, both academically and personally. Nearly all have gone on to attend top 30 or top 50 universities. The Linsly School offers a strong academic program at an affordable cost, making it an excellent value. I highly recommend the school for families seeking quality education in a supportive environment.

The school has excellent faculty and student resources, and the teachers are very responsible. It can be a good choice if higher education is a primary consideration. One graduating class of Chinese students saw 5+ matriculate into T30 universities and 10+ into T50 universities. The school's sports teams are strong, and dormitory conditions are good. However, the school atmosphere heavily tests one's ability to integrate with local students; otherwise, there's a risk of being singled out.

A boarding school with an extremely high cost-performance ratio. The fees are much lower than most high schools, making it very suitable for children from working-class families. Students receive a high level of attention from teachers, and the student-teacher ratio is very low.

What's impressive is the school's excellent ADVISORY PROGRAM, so there's no need to worry about falling behind. It includes personalized tutoring, peer tutoring, and an after-school learning center. At 7:30 PM, students can go to the library's After-School Learning Center to report all their assignments to a teacher/after-school advisor, who will track the student's assignments in a notebook. Students need to record their assignments in their daily planners throughout the day to simplify the reporting process. Teachers will ensure students stay on task and help them in areas like setting time management goals to stay on track, checking vocabulary terms, or reading student papers and providing feedback. This is extremely helpful for international students.

Regarding student life, there are plenty of weekend activities:
Mall sightseeing
Watching movies
Playing golf
Visiting trampoline parks
Arcade competitions
Shopping mall excursions
Museum visits
Plays, musicals
Watching NBA games
Watching NHL games
Participating in school sports events
Axe throwing (indoor game)
Escape rooms
Mini golf
Off-campus dinners
Cultural district tours, etc.

As for accommodation, residential advisors sometimes share family dinners with boarding students. Teachers also supervise evening study halls. In the evenings, students also have opportunities to have pizza and watch movies with teachers. Linsly's boarding life excellently balances the structure and discipline required for academic success with the nurturing and support needed for personal achievement.

My child graduated from this school; it's a very strict institution. It's very well-ranked in the US. At the time, we drove over 20 kilometers to a large shopping mall area in the neighboring state (crossing the Ohio River, which is Ohio), and a young man even told us that this school is the best private high school in these two states.
Most American high schools are located in suburbs and rural areas, which is quite different from our country, requiring students to be able to endure solitude. Of course, there are cars going to a large market every week (supermarkets in the US are relatively concentrated and a bit far from cities, very similar to Europe and Australia; parents who have studied abroad in Europe or America will definitely understand). So, it's unfair to demand that Linsly be very close to a city; in fact, its distance from Wheeling city is already considered close for a high school.
Many teachers are very dedicated and provide serious feedback to parents about their children's learning and growth. Moreover, compared to the eastern states, it's also a relatively safe place, at least free from firearms.
Principal Zimmerman and the Admissions Director have both visited our area, and I've met them. My child's feedback was very positive. Food is indeed an issue because we have Chinese palates; two days are fine, but after a while, it gets tiresome. There are two Asian restaurants nearby, one of which is Chinese, but it doesn't feel authentic. Students often buy McDonald's or eat steak, which is a bit expensive.

Data for Linsly School: Student population 449, student-teacher ratio 1:7, international students 15%, boarding rate 21%, average class size 10, teachers with advanced degrees 72%. The Linsly School is a private high school located in Wheeling, West Virginia, USA. Founded in 1814, it is a co-educational institution that enrolls both day and boarding students. This article primarily introduces Linsly School's admissions policies and requirements. Linsly School accepts students from 9th grade onwards. Applicants are required to submit transcripts, letters of recommendation, standardized test scores, and undergo an interview. Linsly School places great emphasis on students' overall quality and academic performance, especially English and mathematics scores. The school has strict discipline and focuses on developing students' maximum potential.

Linsly School, founded in 1814, is a private, independent boarding school for students in grades 5 through 12. Located in Wheeling, West Virginia, the school offers a college-preparatory curriculum that combines traditional values of effort, respect, honor, honesty, and self-discipline with a challenging academic program, designed to unleash each student's potential.

School Advantages:

1. The Linsly Honor Program recognizes students who achieve outstanding academic success. Any high school or middle school student with an average grade of 92% receives Second Honors. Students with an average of 95% receive First Honors.

2. The school excels in both humanities and natural sciences, and also provides opportunities for studying and traveling abroad.

3. The Pilot Program is a supplementary educational option offered to Linsly students during class time, replacing regularly scheduled study halls. Students are admitted to this program where they learn in a structured learning environment designed to personalize learning to help them succeed.

4. The arts are excellent, and the school provides students with opportunities to participate in various fine arts performing groups. Throughout the year, high school and middle school students showcase their acting talents in several theatrical productions.

Founded in 1814, The Linsly School is the oldest college preparatory school west of the Allegheny Mountains. Located in Wheeling, West Virginia, Linsly is a private school that enrolls boys and girls in grades 5 through 12. The school currently has 436 students, including 98 boarding students. Students come from 10 states and 18 countries, and the admissions policy is non-discriminatory on the basis of race, gender, religion, or national origin.

It would be better to have fewer hateful comments directed at people.

I'm truly speechless about this school. Four years of developmental trauma... Here, they make you experience PUA! A school that doesn't respect human rights.

Just an honorable mention to the best cheerleader Joyce Jiang ever, and thank you for your special contribution to the Linsly School!!! And your special Chinese culture, which is ridiculously different from ours. 老铁你想出名我成全你 love ya lol!

The school might not be academically outstanding, but its responsible handling of boarding students during the pandemic is highly respectable. If we were to rate its performance during the pandemic, this school deserves a 5-star rating. While many schools closed and shut down their dorms, Linthly did not ask boarding students to leave by a deadline. It quarantined students who traveled to Europe during spring break, disinfected their dorms, provided three meals a day for students who stayed, and checked on their well-being daily. It promptly communicated school arrangements. For students leaving to return home, the school tried its best to arrange vehicles to the airport. The school's responsibility during difficult times had an impact on the children that cannot be compared to any number of AP courses. Such a school is worthy of trust.

Linsly is a very hypocritical and disgusting place. Many faculties and students are racist. School never takes actions to control those racist remarks and actions, never care about students' feelings, and compel them to behave the way they don't want to. I truly regret coming here and suggest all of you who are still deciding to never come to Linsly. Trust me, you will definitely regret.

Some teachers are really good; after spending time with them, I'd give them stars. But some teachers are just... Good schools, but not a quite good location. To be honest, the Chinese students here are really unfriendly, 0 points for these students. At graduation, I also heard that a ninth grader who couldn't speak English was held back. Food is a disaster here. They teach you how to say a food's name correctly by yelling at you!

Regardless those teachers who teaching classes (because most of them are really nice and responsible). For those dorm parents, it's like I don't want to call you "racist", but what you are doing is like you kneel on the ground and begging me to call you so.

The school values children's academic achievements and performance. If there's any slackening, teachers will give appropriate reminders, and I believe this is an important aspect that parents care about when sending their children there. The school's location is indeed not a bustling area, but teachers still try their best to take students out occasionally on weekends. Learning itself requires some solitude, doesn't it? Perhaps due to the location, teachers' arrangements for picking up and dropping off students at the airport each time are still very patient. It's just that the school meals are generally reported to not be very tasty.

The dating rate is low because there are no Chinese girls. There are only nine Chinese girls in total, and at least twenty guys or more. Besides, dating isn't a bad thing.

Continuing from the previous post:
III. Regarding self-discipline. Children aged fourteen or fifteen leaving their parents to go to rural America, every such child is a hero, and every parent capable of making such a decision is also a hero. My husband and I made a huge decision to send our child to the US. Away from their parents, these adolescents are bound to feel lonely and lack supervision. American schools' management isn't harsh, but it is actually very strict. Linsly's school regulations (Guide) cover dress code, hairstyles, prohibit carrying mobile phones during class, require applications to leave campus, and enforce lights out at night, etc. It's all very detailed and also very stringent: no drinking under 21, and smoking on campus can result in the ultimate penalty of expulsion. Of course, playing games in the dorm room is not supervised. Self-disciplined children will grow quickly, and their academic performance will also be excellent.
IV. The issue of the proportion of Chinese children. I feel there's a dialectical way of thinking here. Is it better to have fewer Chinese children or more? Fewer means more opportunities to make foreign friends, and language improves quickly; more means they might cluster together, affecting their foreign language skills, but they can meet a group of Chinese friends, which resolves the drawback of not having Chinese middle school and university classmates when they return to China, providing connections [grinning face with smiling eyes emoji].
Additionally, an interesting thing here is that the rate of children dating is much lower than in China.

I. Overall, the comparison was quite good. Before bringing my child to enroll, I spent a week visiting nine high schools in the New York to Boston area, including Hotchkiss, Deerfield, and Milton. Regarding transportation, all are quite far from cities, some even in rural areas. It's hard to find supermarkets around Hotchkiss. From this, I infer that being away from the hustle and bustle seems to be a characteristic feature of these private schools. Regarding accommodation, I suggest student parents take their children to visit several more schools. After comparing, Linsly is actually not bad; it's even larger and newer than several top ten schools ^_^. I strongly recommend visiting multiple schools; only with a comparison can you make an evaluation. Regarding food, according to my child, it was quite terrible. However, after staying for a while, it got much better, perhaps because it differed from our tastes. The principal came to China this year, and we raised this issue with him. He made adjustments after returning, which was quite good.
II. Regarding teaching. The overall assessment of math classes is that they are one to two grades behind compared to our national curriculum. However, some knowledge points are not covered in our syllabus. English classes are excellent, with novel teaching methods and content geared towards the American college entrance exam (SAT/ACT). Some curricula are very practical, such as conducting research projects, writing essays, and research reports. This is very rare; in our country, few universities offer instruction on writing research reports and research methodologies even for undergraduates. No wonder foreigners dominate SCI and SSCI publications; they cultivate research skills from a young age.

In my personal opinion, the most critical issue with the school is not racial discrimination or academics, as mentioned in those short reviews, but rather the school's inadequate screening of Chinese international students. For example, they've admitted students who can barely speak a few sentences of English. And there are even students who, after more than a year here, still don't know how to say 'desert' in English. The overall academic motivation among students is polarized; some are incredibly proactive and achieve excellent grades, while others have poor academic performance, don't strive to improve, and just hope to coast by. During a group project once, I saw a Chinese male student in a group with an American girl do absolutely nothing the entire time; the American girl did all the work. It often happens that when I'm in a group with certain students (including Americans, other international students, and some Chinese international students), one person contributes nothing.

While racial discrimination doesn't seem serious to me, after reading these comments, it appears to be very severe in certain sports. I personally get along very well with foreigners, and although I still have some speaking issues (my tongue gets tied when I speak fast), communication is at least completely fine. However, some people have criticized me, saying I'm 'sucking up to foreigners,' which I find utterly laughable.

Current student: Overall, I don't recommend it much. After all, this place is too rural, and the dormitory conditions are not very good. The sound insulation is very, very poor, there are many bed bugs, and there is only one water fountain per dorm building. Also, Black people and Europeans are usually very noisy. If you choose to come here, please be a day student. A typical day passes quickly, and the teachers are decent. I give the boarding school 2 points, and the day school 3 points. After all, it's ranked over 100, so there's still a considerable gap from schools rated 4 or 5.

Graduated in 2020. School facilities are old, and transportation is inconvenient.

Academically, in subjects like Math, English, Science, Civics, Physical Education, Art... my child is slowly adapting and settling in. His grades have also improved from C/D to A/B. He likes math and he likes sports. I see his happiness, and this is exactly what I hoped for. Although his overseas study life has just begun, I believe he will get better and better. A child who is physically and mentally healthy should have a brighter future. In fact, choosing a suitable school is the most important thing. Linsly has not disappointed me. I hope my sharing can be of some help to parents who are choosing a school.

Choosing Linsly was recommended by a friend. At the time of selecting a school, I also applied to two schools near Washington D.C. Since my child was going from 7th to 8th grade, for me, the child's safety and healthy physical and mental well-being were paramount. I was worried my child wouldn't adapt or might face discrimination. I contacted the admissions officer, Mr. RJ, and discussed my concerns with him. He didn't make any exaggerated promises; he simply told me that he and the teachers would do their best to help international students, providing maximum support in terms of living and academics. He also informed me that the school offers stratified teaching based on students' academic foundations and has a rich variety of extracurricular activities. ... Considering many factors, we carefully chose Linsly—a school with a long history, and the only boarding school we considered at that time. My child started in September 2019. To better understand the environment and help my child adapt, I accompanied them for three and a half months. I meticulously toured the school, saw my child's dorm, the cafeteria, and observed their life and studies at Linsly. Importantly, I also had brief communications and discussions with the principal and teachers. Honestly, the outcome left me feeling relieved and satisfied. Although the dorms were a bit small and old, and the school food wasn't particularly delicious, and my child would play online games with Chinese classmates after school (this was my biggest concern, as I feared it would affect their studies), I witnessed my child transition from being a stranger to being familiar with, adapting to, and eventually liking Linsly. For this reason, I believe our initial choice was correct.

Following up on the previous point. I spent half a semester on a program (Wolfram) that I still don't understand the use of.
Regarding AP Chemistry, my roommate and other Chinese classmates say the teacher just 'slacks off' in class and you learn nothing. Regular Chemistry isn't a good class either. AP Biology didn't even open this year because no one signed up for it.
Regarding activities. The school-organized activities are particularly exploitative. Each round trip to send someone to the airport costs 100 USD. Staying at school for Thanksgiving is 75 USD/person/day. Anyway, it's really a rip-off.
Also, I haven't been going to a mall near the school recently. Although there are CVS and Kroger near the school, you have to walk a long way.
Additionally, the school doesn't offer many foreign language courses, only four: Latin, Spanish, German, and French. French is rated okay, I don't know much about Latin, the Spanish teacher was criticized by my roommate and other teachers for a whole semester, and the German teacher is a good person but I don't know how well they teach.
Overall, if you have other offers, it's probably best not to come here.

I started here in 7th grade and moved to 8th.
I am currently in 10th grade. The school's admissions officer emailed us asking for help writing evaluations, so I'm here. Honestly, the school is just so-so; if I had the resources and ability, I would definitely transfer.
I participate in cheerleading in the fall and winter, and play tennis in the spring. Last year, the JV tennis team didn't even have a coach for the first few weeks of the season. I don't know the situation for this year yet. The cheerleading coaches and team members are great; we won awards last year and this year. The school's football level is decent. I can't really tell about the basketball level, but judging by the number of wins, it should be okay (maybe?). The school's 9th-grade English teacher resigned last year due to childbirth, and I heard this year's teacher isn't very good. The 10th-grade teacher is decent; he's a doctor. Previously, when there were no ESL courses, it was TALC. Now, it has been directly changed to "English study," replacing the English classes for all international students with poor English from 7th to 12th grade. Personally, I don't think this is a good change. I think that teacher's level isn't even mediocre.
Regarding math. The teacher for AP AB Calculus and AP BC Calculus also teaches Physics, Chaos, and Linear Algebra. They don't explain things clearly in class (according to classmates' evaluations) and spent half a semester on a program that I still don't understand how to use and find useless.

1、Geographical Location: Located in Wheeling, West Virginia, an hour's drive from Pittsburgh.
2、Curriculum: The curriculum is very rich, covering major categories such as English, art, science, social studies, mathematics, world languages, and computer science.
3、School Facilities: The school facilities are complete, with a total of 18 buildings, including 4 student dormitories, a swimming pool, a gym, a library, a woodworking shop, and a sports building.
4、Art Programs: Art programs include art appreciation, ceramics, dance, fine arts, music & choir, drama, string orchestra, stage, and theater arts.
5、Sports Programs: A wide range of sports programs are offered, including cheerleading, cross country, football, golf, soccer, volleyball, basketball, ice hockey, swimming, wrestling, baseball, field hockey, tennis, and track and field.
6、Special Programs: The middle school offers pre-class consultation services such as one-on-one guidance, peer tutoring, flight programs, and an extracurricular learning center.
7、All teachers can provide personal support and one-on-one guidance, and most teachers have office hours before and after class.
8、Peer Tutoring: If a student receives continuous extra help from a teacher, the teacher can ask another student to act as a peer tutor to help the student further understand the material.
9、University Counseling: The school's university counseling program is a comprehensive program primarily focused on college search, financial aid, scholarships, testing, and the college application and selection process.