Am likely to be recruiting next year, and I'm thinking about the kind of school culture I want for my own children, approaching middle and high school age.  I'm curious about schools that have strong academic programs, but also well rounded enough that kids aren't under constant pressure. I'm not interested in the kind of East Asian/Singapore achievement mentality that leads to high burnout, but rather a more whole child kind of approach. My kids are smart, and I want them to be challenged, but I view the definition of success more as one of knowing oneself,  being able to develop a lot of different strengths and skills, rather than simply by marks.

I'm curious also about the interplay between host country culture and school culture (I.e. does a more laid back host country culture necessarily lead to the same in the school culture?)

We're in the Middle East right now and on a compound, and would like to be in a place where we (and the kids) can get to know the host culture on a deeper level.

Any thoughts or recommendations?

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