After struggling with my DD8 basically since first grade, I say you let him have the final say.
He worked hard and was accepted to BOTH programs.
He has a well thought out and logical argument for his choice.
His arguments for the public school are HIS preferences.
I find Butter works better, harder, etc if she at least thinks she had some choice or control over the situation...
I have to ask, since we are not "work producers", when you say academically rigorous, is that code for "lots of paper work to prove how hard we work the students". I am all for quality over quantity now.
I agree that this could backfire in such a big way! Is your DH going to tell DS the same thing when he has his choice of colleges? What about when he is choosing the first company he wants to work at? He has to start making his own choices, his own advocacy eventually...
