Along with Luke's Diner and the Gilmore house, Chilton is one of the most crucial sets on Gilmore Girls. Seasons one to three feature many scenes where Rory fights with and then befriends Paris, dreams of going to Harvard, and studies more than she ever thought was possible.
Just like fans wish that Stars Hollow was an actual town, it would be pretty cool if Chilton was a real school that people could attend. Although it does share many similarities with real private high schools, it's fictional. But while Gilmore Girls viewers love some parts of Chilton, there are many reasons why it seems like a pretty bad school to go to every day.
Would Love: Interesting Projects, Classes, And Presentations
Paris has an incredible work ethic and she was often paired up with Rory for projects. It seems like Chilton would be a fun school to attend as the students work on projects and presentations that seem like they would stretch each student creatively and intellectually.
Rory and Paris also took a fencing class, which many people would agree is more fun than simply taking gym. Chilton wanted to challenge its students and while the massive workload they expected everyone to take on is a bit much, there are a lot of appealing things about this school.
Wouldn't: A Competitive, Intense Atmosphere
Paris saw Rory as an enemy at first but she's not the only competitive person at Chilton. Francie, the head of secret society The Puffs, also competed with her peers.
Chilton might not be the best school to attend as it fosters an intense atmosphere that the teachers even seem to encourage. Whenever Lorelai expressed her concern that Rory was taking on so much schoolwork, Max Medina shrugged it off, saying Chilton was a special and competitive place. Headmaster Charleston also told Rory that "Failure is a part of life, but it is not a part of Chilton."
Would Love: Opportunity For Extra-Curriculars And A Social Life
Between writing or editing for The Franklin newspaper, attending a dance, or volunteering to add to a college application, Chilton offers many ways to get involved.
The fact that students can add many extra-curricular activities to their weekly schedule and also find time to socialize seems like another reason why Gilmore Girls fans would enjoy going to this school. The newspaper, in particular, seems like a great learning experience, as it's run a lot more like a real publication than at most places, thanks to the ambition of Paris and the staff members.
Wouldn't: Students Attend From Kindergarten To Senior Year
The school allows students to start in kindergarten and continue until senior year. This is a mark against Chilton, as it seems tricky to attend school with the same students for that many years.
Most people would like to have the chance to attend a few different schools and get to know new people. It doesn't seem like being in class together for so long necessarily fostered a very close student body, as Paris doesn't get along with most of her peers, and she only hangs out with Madeline and Louise.
Would Love: Max Medina Is A Brilliant English Teacher
Lorelai and Max were an imperfect couple, but Lorelai was attracted to his intelligence and literary sensibility.
Fans love Max too, and he seems like an incredible teacher. He has a lot to offer his students as he truly cares about the subject material and while he assigns boatloads of homework, he wants his students to be challenged and to believe in themselves. It might not be easy to be in his class, but it seems like the way to get a world-class education that is at the graduate school, not high school, level.
Wouldn't: Many Group Projects With Students Who Don't Care
It seemed like in almost every Gilmore Girls episode, Rory had another group project with a tight deadline. It was definitely a lot of work considering she always had a lot of reading and other assignments.
Not everyone loves group projects, so some viewers might not want to be a Chilton student since it requires so much teamwork. There are also many students who seem to attend because they come from wealthy families, but they're not all that interested in learning. Whenever Paris, Madeline, Louise, and Rory worked together, it was only Paris and Rory who got anything done.
Would Love: Small Class Sizes Mean Better Participation And Learning
The class sizes at Chilton are small and echo that of a college classroom. Rory got to know her peers pretty quickly as there weren't that many of them, and when Rory graduated, it was clear that the entire senior class wasn't huge.
Many people would love attending a school where the class sizes are this tiny, as it makes it less intimidating to participate, and it also might make it easier to learn and focus. Despite the parts of Chilton that feel scary, this is really positive.
Wouldn't: The Pressure To Get Accepted To An Ivy League
Chilton seemed intimidating right away but it seemed like Rory's best bet for getting into Harvard.
But even though Rory was able to get into every school she applied to, and both she and Paris got into Yale, the pressure at this school seems like it would be too much. The teachers expect everyone to get into an Ivy League college, and that would mean a lot of sleepless nights and worry. There are so many other great options and it seems narrow-minded to not want students to explore them.
Would Love: Beautiful Building And Flexible Uniforms
Chilton is a beautiful place and it's no wonder that Rory and Lorelai looked at with wonder when Rory got there for her first day. The building alone is a reason to want to be a student here, as it looks like something out of a movie.
While not everyone loves wearing a school uniform, it can definitely make getting dressed in the morning easier, as there isn't that pressure to wear a trendy outfit or something that other people will approve of. As far as uniforms go, the Chilton ones are really nice, and there seem to be lots of options, from a sweater vest to sweater and so on.
Wouldn't: Emphasis On Public Speaking
Gilmore Girls fans remember when Paris and Rory were speaking at Chilton and Paris went very personal in her address. Rory was often making speeches at school, and she and Paris seemed to be involved in many debates as well.
While some people excel in this field, many people are scared of public speaking. Every high school student has to make a few presentations and speeches, but this seems to be highly emphasized at Chilton, and some people might find it a bit too much.