From Cookson & Persell's `Preparing For Power: America's Elite Boarding Schools'--Part 7

In their 1985 book, Preparing For Power: America's Elite Boarding Schools, Peter W. Cookson Jr. and Cardine Hodges Persell wrote the following about the U.S. power elite's private school and elite prep school educational system and its undemocratic and secretive admissions process:

“A school filled with `brains’ stands the risk of driving away the less brainy but wealthier families. A school that is entirely `prepped out’ may find its reputation…slipping. Too many `jocks’ make teachers unhappy…

“Part of the screening process is to weed out those who will not fit in…Merit is only part of the criteria for admission…Family wealth and social standing, also count for a great deal…

“…The admissions process remains relatively secretive…Children of alumni have certain advantages…”