Located near Lenoir, North Carolina, the Patterson School started as a working/farm school in the early part of the 20th century. It maintained the working school structure until the 1960's, but, thereafter never managed to adapt to the changing environment for boarding schools. There was a building boom in the late 1960's and early '70s, but since then, the institution has suffered from slow deterioration, and even closed down for a couple of years during the mid-nineties. All the buildings are in disrepair for lack of funds. Attempts to revitalize the institution have been met with dismal results, and few students attend for more than one year, opting to go elsewhere. The quality of the education has been substantially below average for years, and disciplinary problems persist. Until some changes take place in the leadership of the institution it is best not to send your child there.

UPDATE: June 2008 A new Head of School and Assistant Head were installed in March, and at the end of the school year a considerable number of the staff and faculty were let go. Certain changes in the curriculum and other matters are in the process of being implemented. There also have been a number of changes in the Board of Directors, including a new Chairperson. At this time there is no way to know if these changes will lead to improvements in the quality of the program. However, the place is no longer on my list of avoid at all costs. While the campus obviously remains in below par conditions, the most important aspect is the quality of the staff that will be overseeing your child's education. The place is located in a secluded spot in the foothills of North Carolina and your child will be safe from the outside environment. Be weary, however, if the school offers to take your kid for less than $15,000 a year. There is no way even a marginal program can be carried out for less than that, and where ever you send your child for less that $18,000 a year, you are sure to get a below average education, at Patterson or anywhere else. While there will always be scholarships available, you should look at the reasons your child gets one here or elsewhere unless the institution has a well-established long term quality reputation and a large endowment. Foreign students should expect to pay at least $7,000 more than the above numbers for a variety of reasons too complex to explain here.