Introduction to American Boarding Schools

A boarding school is most simply defined as a school where pupils reside during the semester. Students are provided with food and lodging in addition to their education, but a boarding school has much more than that to offer to students and their families. Traditionally, boarding schools provide an education based on small class sizes, high standards of academic excellence, and cultural diversity.

Some schools also present a unique environment that can be tailored to a specific focus. For instance, students at the Interlochen Arts Academy High School, located in Michigan, receive an education focused on fine arts, where math, science, history and literature are taught to complement the students’ creativity. There are also schools that focus on therapeutic living or a military-based experience.

While boarding schools offer a multitude of advantages, holistic personal growth emerges as the most significant. The transformative experience of attending a boarding school shapes students into well-rounded individuals who excel academically, possess strong character, and embrace diversity. Boarding schools provide a unique environment that empowers students to become future leaders, lifelong learners, and compassionate citizens of the world. When considering the educational path for your child, the holistic personal growth offered by boarding schools is an invaluable advantage that can shape their future success and happiness.

Rooted in American History

Though boarding schools seem to be the exception rather than the rule in America’s current educational culture, they actually appeared in the history of academia about a hundred years before the public school movement. In 1763, the first academy was formed, successfully blending elements of earlier academic standards established by Latin and English Grammar Schools.

The rural society of eighteenth-century America, coupled with the scarcity of these academies, led to students boarding with teachers or local townspeople. The natural emergence of surrogate parenting grew into a standard of the educational model used by boarding schools today. The urbanization of American cities led to the creation of more boarding schools, and they can be found near many of the major metropolitan areas in North America.

Advantages for Families

Many parents and students agree that the overall benefits of boarding school far outweigh the costs associated with attending. They have fun, are immersed in a culturally diverse environment, and maintain close and loving relationships with their families while forming new and valuable bonds with mentors and peers. With the opportunity for academic excellence, enriched character development increased self-discipline, and encouraged critical and independent thought, it’s easy to see why over 30,000 students are happy to leave home to attend boarding school each year.