re: Mandeville or St. Paul's?

I think both are pretty similar academics wise. St Pauls did recently start a robotics department and engineering department to better prepare the students for college. Not really sure how beneficial they are though.

The experiences at St Pauls are more personal than MHS. My MHS friends say it never even crosses their mind to go back and visit teachers/attend functions at their school whereas St Pauls has a huge alumni presence. Plenty of events that bring former students back (annual crawfish boil, jazz and roll, celeb waiters dinner, alum sporting events, golf tournaments, etc). I'd also say you are closer to people who aren't in your immediate friend group. I can't think of a single person in my graduating class that I wouldn't say hello to if I walked by them.

In the end, both schools will produce a solid kid so you decide if the close ties are worth the extra money.