Do some high schools send more students to Harvard than others?

Hey there, so I've been digging into college acceptance stats, and I'm wondering if there's any truth to the idea that certain high schools tend to send more of their seniors to Harvard than others? If so, do we know from available data which schools these are? Very curious about this, thanks in advance for any wisdom you can share!

Yes, certain high schools do tend to send more students to Harvard and other Ivy League schools compared to others. Typically, these are often prestigious private schools, magnet schools, or public schools in affluent neighborhoods. There are several reasons for this trend.

Firstly, these schools often have more resources and experienced counseling departments that are adept at steering students through the highly competitive applications process. They can provide additional resources including advanced coursework, unique research opportunities, and extensive extracurricular activities, that help students stand out in the application pool.

Secondly, students at these schools typically come from families with more financial resources, which may allow the students to participate in additional enrichment activities such as private tutoring, summer programs, or internships-- all of which can make a candidate more attractive to elite universities like Harvard.

However, it's important to note that Harvard, like many colleges, is looking for diverse, well-rounded classes and they accept students from a wide range of backgrounds and high schools. So while being at a high school well-known for Ivy League acceptance may give one a certain edge, it certainly doesn't guarantee admission. Every applicant is evaluated individually based on their context.

As for specific high schools, while it's difficult to say definitively without proprietary data from each college, anecdotal evidence has often suggested schools like Phillips Exeter Academy, Phillips Academy Andover, The Dalton School, and others have high Ivy League placement rates.

Remember, Harvard and other ivies are looking for more than just stellar academics. A student's impact in their community and their passion about their interests (thier 'spike') can also sway admissions decisions, and these things can be found at high schools all over the country.