Private boarding schools are traditionally, private educational institutions where students live in addition to attending school.  At most boarding schools, the school’s faculty live on campus as well.  Usually, boarding schools are college preparatory schools for high school grades 9-12.  Some however, do enroll students in grades 6-8; these are considered junior boarding schools (there are also junior boarding schools for younger students in grades 1-8).  Beyond grade levels, boarding schools can be organized in a myriad of ways: single sex schools, religiously affiliated schools, military schools, performing arts schools, and more.  There is something for everyone.

Because students live, work, and play together, much of their educational experience takes place outside of classroom walls.  They have the opportunity to learn life lessons at any point throughout their days, not just during study time.  Students and faculty alike form a community, all driven towards the same goal of high quality education and life experiences.  Inside the classroom though, there are also many benefits of attending boarding schools.  Class sizes tend to be smaller than those at larger, public schools, which allow teachers devote more attention to students individually.  Conversely, students have more one on one interaction with their professors, and they are able to get their specific questions answered in a timely fashion.  Curriculum is usually quite diverse, often offering various foreign language, religion, and humanities courses that one would not find at any other school.

Attending a private boarding school can be costly with tuition and room and board expenses, but that does not mean they are exclusively for the wealthy.  Many schools offer scholarships and work-study programs to help students and their families afford attending school.  Accepting students from various social backgrounds helps ensure the student body is diverse and well rounded.

Boarding schools provide students with more than textbooks and roofs over their heads.  They impart valuable knowledge to help them success in college classes, and key life lessons to succeed in life.

Many students attend boarding school in the USA not because they have behavior or substance challenges to overcome, but because they want to improve their chances and opportunities of attending several top colleges and universities. They are looking for the opportunity to stand above the crowd and to show that they’ve got what it takes to pursue their dreams and goals in today’s changing market system.

By attending boarding school, many students grow in self-confidence and self-esteem, and in problem solving and critical thinking skills in ways that aren’t offered in public school systems. Because students are living away from their families, more opportunities to learn how to handle various situations while being responsible and becoming self-reliant exist.

Public schools often have larger numbers of students and faculty members are often pushed to their very limits in trying to ensure a quality education in spite of various funding problems. Private boarding schools, because of their very nature, are able to provide more time and attention to each student due to smaller class sizes and more advanced programs of study that are available. Faculty and advisors are easier to reach for assistance with studies and other concerns a student may have than in public schools.

While boarding schools are still very structured environments, there is a strong support system that is readily available to students. With faculty members and career advisors that are ready and able to assist the student in a variety of settings, not only in the classroom, and closely-formed relationships with dorm members, students always have someone to turn to for advice and friendship. Networking opportunities for a wide variety of opportunities exist in the boarding school setting and can lead to fantastic careers and other beneficial experiences later in life.

Boarding schools offer a diverse student population and a multitude of extracurricular activities that a student can experience. By fostering a strong sense of community and belonging among boarding school students and graduates, students are taught how to be responsible and concerned citizens in their local communities.