How does a specialty boarding school differ from traditional boarding high schools?

Whereas traditional private boarding schools might focus exclusively on academics, specialty boarding schools in the USA address the whole student. College preparatory classes are combined with behavior modification programs, character-building courses, and individual or group therapy. Students learn to contribute positively to their community and to direct their energies toward personal growth.

Are most specialty boarding schools the same?

Behavior modification schools vary widely. Parents should consider a wide variety of schools and, if possible, involve their teen in the selection process. Examples of how schools differ include: being single-sex versus co-ed; using military-style discipline versus having a more permissive environment; and emphasizing religious versus secular values. Families should also consider the distance between the school and the student’s home. Family therapy conducted at the school will require frequent commutes.

Do students receive individualized programs?

Students are assessed in-depth at the time of admission. Each student is assigned a multidisciplinary team of specialists who determine a unique treatment plan.

Why are family’s part of student therapy?

Specialty boarding schools recognize that students misbehave within certain environments. Thus, it is important to improve the family environment while the student works on personal development. The student’s therapy generally involves weekly sessions with the family and a psychologist. As parent-student relationships improve, students may be granted telephone time with their families or passes to spend weekends at home.

How much do specialty boarding schools cost?

Boarding schools are expensive when compared with free public schools and even exclusive private schools. Tuition, housing, meals, and therapy typically cost between $2000 and $6000 per month. Scholarships are rarely available, but parents can obtain educational loans through organizations such as PrepGATE and SalleMae.

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.

Military Boarding Schools

Military schools may be the first thing one thinks of when considering boarding schools in the USA. With the reputation for strict discipline, these schools are the obvious answer to parents who believe discipline is all a teenager needs. There is reason to rethink this mindset, however. Military schools are not equipped to handle emotional problems and most don’t have programs for teens with learning disabilities. In a 2004 conference on youth violence, the National Institutes of Health stated that teens are left adrift after leaving military school and the majority return to their old behaviors. They are an option, but not necessarily the best or only one.

Wilderness Therapy Programs

Many boarding high schools recommend sending troubled teens to a 30-day wilderness therapy program before committing them to longer-term private boarding schools. Such outdoor programs focus on emotional and behavioral change, teaching self-reliance, cooperation, and personal responsibility.

ADD & ADHD Programs

Ill-served by public education, students with learning disabilities like ADD and ADHD often fall behind in a traditional school setting. Boarding schools specifically oriented around such disabilities teach students to focus and develop positive patterns of behavior in their academics. Teens are given a great deal of individual attention, tailoring the learning experience to specific needs.

Residential Treatment Programs

Various boarding schools specialize in psychological problems like eating disorders, depression, and drug and alcohol addictions. Most have full-time psychiatrists and counselors on staff. Such programs focus on educational issues in concert with rehabilitating emotional and substance abuse problems. Substance abuse treatment usually incorporates some form of 12-step program. Throughout these programs, teens are taught to overcome self-defeating behaviors and to acquire pro-social ones.

There are many other types of boarding schools: focused on weight loss, based on Christian values, short-term, and many all-boys or all-girls options. Studies of boarding schools have found that parental involvement in teenagers’ progress is essential to effecting lasting change in their behaviors. Boarding school can be a good option for troubled teens, but it is not an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ situation. Active parental participation is key.

It isn’t enough for a person to just stop using or doing what they are doing—they have to change their entire lives.  If they keep spending time with the same people, the same activities are going to keep coming up.  Sometimes willpower is not enough, and in a small town trouble can be hard for them to avoid.  If your son keeps stumbling on his path to recovery, a boarding school in the USA might be the answer.

Many recovery boarding high schools are run by religious organizations, typically Christian.  The conventional wisdom is that willpower and good intentions are rarely enough to keep a person “on the wagon.”  Spiritual guidance and the assistance of a higher power—whether God or some other conception of the transcendent authority capable of giving them support—are indispensable for most people to stay clean, sober and sane.  By living, eating, studying and playing among other Christian young men, your son can stay sober and grow spiritually to a point where he can stay sober on his own.

And the academic standards of boy’s private boarding schools of these sorts are typically rather high.  This means that your son can go from struggling in school due to his substance abuse or other problems to earning a spot in a good college.  Because of the religious nature of most of these schools the biology classes probably won’t be up-to-date with the latest understanding of things (based in Darwinian evolution).  But in general your son can get a great education, the right kind of guidance and a spiritual foundation that will save his life.

Many of these schools are free, others have assistance programs to help struggling families save their sons.  But a boy’s boarding school is available to you and your child so your family’s future can be secure.

While most of the best private boarding schools are all male or female, there are also coeducational schools, which provide a fuller social experience for teens. Many schools also promote diversity, giving students a wider cultural perspective and training foreign students for success.

When you learn about private boarding schools, you’ll find there are three types. First are academically-focused schools where students participate in intense programs to prepare them for higher learning. Another kind of boarding school is the religious-based one. At these schools, the emphasis is on balancing secular learning with spiritual training. Finally, therapeutic boarding schools are institutions where students learn to control behavior problems or addictions.

There have been private boarding high schools in the United States since before the Revolutionary War, but the history of these schools goes back much further. In fact, in early mediaeval times, the practice was to send boys to monasteries to learn from literate monks and clergymen. It is commonly believed that the first boarding school was the King’s School in Canterbury, England, founded in 597 AD.

The United States developed a policy in the late 1800s that built government-run boarding schools whose purpose was to assist Native Americans in assimilating into western society. Sadly, the policy was meant to rid them of their native culture and values.

Today there are private boarding schools on nearly every continent in the world. While the boarding school experience began in Great Britain, the number of private boarding schools in the United States now exceeds the number of schools there. Not surprisingly, the states with the most private boarding schools are Massachusetts and Connecticut.

When choosing a boarding school, first decide which kind of private boarding high school is best and how far from home it should be. Think about whether you want your student to attend a coed school or a single-sex one. You’ll also want to consider the size and amenities, since they vary widely from school to school.

The final stage in determining the right school for your student is to learn about those on your narrowed-down list. Reading comments online, talking to other parents and former students, and making a visit should round out your decision-making process.

Private boarding schools eliminate distractions.  The structured environment encourages discipline, thoughtful study, exercise, and the vigorous pursuit of personal excellence.  A boys’ boarding school focuses the pupil’s attention on achieving personal goals that will serve him well over the course of his life as well as over the course of his studies.  In a nurturing setting that downplays sex appeal, while it encourages excellence, a boy can match wits and talents in a structured curriculum that builds character and fortitude without needless frivolity.

Some say life is a battle field and anyone who has lived long enough would agree.  Better to face the slings and arrows life throws your way knowing you are in good company; part of a community forged in the crucible of rigid academic study and regimented expectations.  A boarding school for boys binds its students into lifelong bonds of camaraderie.  They know each other’s foibles and they also know they can count on each other for assistance.  These lifelong bonds will serve them well over the long haul.  Boys who attend boarding schools in the USA remember their classmates much longer than public school students, who have been thrown together willy-nilly.  A boy’s boarding school forges a fraternity that sticks together through thick and thin.  We lived together once: we will live together always.  That’s not a bad lesson to carry throughout you days.  If you give your son that, you will have given him an experience that lasts a lifetime and that will carry him through good times and bad.

School and learning everything you need to learn to be successful later in life. It’s hard enough in public school.  Sending your boy to boarding school is a difficult decision and one that will weigh heavily on a mother’s heart.  Despite that, it is often the best decision any boy has ever suffered.  In an atmosphere geared toward encouraging the best a boy can produce, the boy usually excels and, after graduation the excellence continues.  Many great men have graduated from boarding high schools and they have made their marks on the world.  This is a time-tested avenue that leads to excellence.  If you have boy you think would benefit, consider enrolling him.

Boarding private schools offer significant advantages not available in public or private day schools.   Generally, private boarding schools attract a higher caliber of faculty than public schools due to the improved working environment and higher pay such institutions offer.  Better educated teachers tend to have a broader understanding of their subject matter, and can give your child a more comprehensive overview of how various disciplines intersect and are dependent upon each other.  Private boarding schools have the financial resources to provide better learning tools, as well; most have excellent libraries and research materials available for students.  Smaller class sizes ensure your child is not lost in the shuffle; instead, students at boarding school often find that their teachers are their mentors as well.

By their very nature, private boarding high schools encourage independent thought and reasoning.  Students separated from their parents for the first time learn to be self-sufficient and to draw on the experiences of teachers, counselors and friends to help them make the right decisions.  This enforced closeness often leads to friendships that can last a lifetime, building connections that can serve your child well in their chosen career.  While some private boarding schools are rather homogenous in makeup, others have a diverse group of students, allowing your child to gain cultural awareness and exposure to varying belief systems.

If you do decide that your child would benefit from attending a private boarding high school, it’s vital that you and your child visit each school you are considering before making any final decision.  Brochures and websites cannot substitute for seeing the facilities and speaking with the school’s staff directly.  You will get a much better idea of which school is right for your child in this way.

While private boarding schools can be expensive, scholarships and financial aid programs are often available to help you defray the cost.  Additionally, you should regard the cost of the best private boarding high schools as an investment in your child’s future.  The right school can open doors for your child educationally and in any future career.  Choose wisely, and your child will thank you for it.

By moving away from home early, students get a head start on growing up, gaining maturity, and learning personal skills that will make them successful throughout their lives. Interaction with dedicated teachers, advisors, and peers helps to make boarding schools nurturing environments for students during these important formative years.

For a second-to-none education, high school boarding schools in the USA are a great choice. Class sizes are small, generally 10-15 students, ensuring that all students participate actively in class and receive attention from the teachers. Classes are taught by devoted faculty, many with advanced degrees in education or their respective area of teaching.  In addition to excellent teachers, classrooms are filled with students holding a strong desire to learn and succeed. This creates a very positive and productive learning environment for everyone. Further, the main goal of high school boarding schools is to get students into college. Many public schools unfortunately ‘teach to the test’, in hopes that students will do well on state aptitude tests. With college as the educational focus, boarding schools boast exceptionally broad, deep and challenging curricula.

In addition to the mainstays of high school education, many high school boarding schools have opportunities for art, music, theater and dance. It is well known that the arts are a valuable part of any education, and the programs many schools have enriches education and lets students explore their talents. Libraries and media centers are important resources for education, and students have access to excellent tools to help their education through these resource centers. Sports, teamwork and personal health are also emphasized through a variety of sports programs and excellent gym facilities.

High school boarding schools offer everything students need at this critical developmental time, an excellent educational community with a focus on college entrance, support from faculty and peers, and the chance to nurture artistic and athletic talents.

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.

Affording boarding school is a combination of finding a school that is best suited for your child reasonably within your family budget and through seeking out financial aid.  Truthfully, not all students at boarding schools come from rich families.  In fact, it is more common than many would originally think.  Financial aid for boarding schools is often available through grants and scholarships.  These awards may be based on the student’s academic performance, athletic abilities, ethnic heritage, community involvement, or affiliations with organizations.  Parents may also be of great help by examining any financial assistance opportunities available through their employers or societies with which they are affiliated.

Boarding schools remain in existence through the ability to maintain a healthy student body and by attracting students as reasonably as possible.  Thus, boarding schools in the USA are often willing to work with parents with enticing tuition assistance to make them affordable boarding schools.  Depending upon household income, some schools will even allow your child to attend regardless of your ability to pay.  It’s always worth the extra effort to check out the affordable boarding schools of interest.  The worst that can happen is that you will have to pursue other boarding schools, which could actually end up being the best outcome.

In conclusion, affordable boarding school is not an oxymoron.  Families of all backgrounds have opportunities to better the lives of their children by sending them to one of these institutions.  With a little bit of leg work and plenty of information gathering, finding such a place is a feasible task that is rewarding in the end.