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A 14-year-old Barnwell native is packing his bags and heading north to embark on the next leg of his academic journey in New Hampshire.
Isaiah Altman’s decision to leave home to finish high school came from a desire to continue growing both academically and personally, and to find a “higher ceiling” to aim for.
After skipping a grade and being ranked number six in his class at Barnwell schools, many opportunities for local growth were ones he had already taken.
“As parents, what we saw was a restless spirit. So, for mom and dad, we were just trying to figure it out,” said his father, Robert Altman. “My job is to create the best opportunity for him.”
When figuring out his next step, Altman knew one thing for sure he wanted from a school; ‘how can I make a difference here, and how can this institution prepare me to bring knowledge and skills back home for the betterment of Barnwell?’
“One of my big deals was not just going up there just for me, but so I could bring something back to my community here in Barnwell,” he said.
When he was accepted into two well-known boarding schools on March 10, both with a 13 percent international acceptance rate, Altman described it as “nothing short of what I call a miracle.”
Ultimately, he opted to attend St. Paul’s School in Concord, New Hampshire – a college-preparatory, co-educational boarding school affiliated with the Episcopal Church, and Altman’s new home for the next few years.
Not only was Altman accepted into St. Paul’s School, he is also the recipient of the Austin and Lane Meyer Regional South Carolina Scholarship. This prestigious scholarship is given to one South Carolina student each year, and Altman was selected.
Austin Meyers, the creator of the X-Plane Flight Simulator, is a St. Paul’s School graduate and sponsors the scholarship which will fund Altman’s total tuition of $520,000 in addition to travel expenses.
Although being 15 hours away from home may be daunting to some, Altman made the decision to move states away intentionally.
“It's a jump, but I feel like the further away from home was the better for me,” he said. “I feel like if I'm closer to home…I won't be pushing myself as much. I have to take responsibility for everything I do.”
St. Paul’s School graduates often end up at Ivy League universities such as Yale, Harvard, and Columbia. Sixty-three percent of the 2024 St. Paul’s School class will be attending Northeastern universities such as these.
The school is structured similarly to these universities in the aspect that students live full time on the campus, colloquially known as ‘Millville’ after an abandoned mill which still stands on the school grounds. However, at St. Paul’s School, the faculty also lives on campus in what they call a “full residential model.”
“Everyone lives together on our grounds, students and teachers alike. Our fully residential model means that learning might start in the classroom, but it extends into every aspect of life at SPS,” states their website.
In July, Altman spent six days at ‘Millville’ meeting future classmates, student ambassadors, advisors, educators, heads of departments, and more St. Paul’s School staff. He felt this short trip prepared him to dive into the full school year.
“The advisors, they care for you. That is part of their job, and not just their job, they enjoy their students,” said Altman.
From their times visiting in the past year, the Altmans not only witnessed snowfall, but the welcoming atmosphere at the school. It is a requirement for those on campus to acknowledge one another in passing, maintain manners, and be respectful to the people and place – something already second nature for the 14-year-old.
This holistic model of educating was something that drew Altman to the school. Not only did he feel welcomed and accepted, but excited to learn more about all the people he met.
In recent years, St. Paul’s School made it a priority to recruit students from every corner, whether that be internationally or from small, rural towns in the south. While Altman was visiting in July, he made friends with classmates from countries such as South Korea, Uganda, and Panama.
Learning about various cultures and meeting new people is what Altman is “really looking forward to,” he said with energy and optimism in his voice.
He embarks on this new path with the full support of his family; whether they are tied together through faith, community, education, or by blood. The family’s church, Bethany Baptist Church in Barnwell where his father is pastor, played a major role in supporting Altman in his next step.
“His upbringing here definitely made it possible,” said Robert, who thanks his son’s educators and coaches for laying the foundation to make this move possible.
At St. Paul’s School, Altman will continue playing football and dive into weightlifting in his second year.
Altman’s first day will be on September 6.
