A boarding education is geared towards good academic performance combined with personal development to produce a well-rounded individual with the qualifications and skills sought by universities and employers alike. Boarding has many benefits over traditional schooling in achieving these aims.

Students who attend boarding schools find greater success than their peers in college
and in adult life, according to a new study conducted by the Arts & Science Group of
Baltimore on behalf of The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS). This information
provides solid data that breaks down long-held misperceptions about boarding schools.
Click here to view the TRUTH ABOUT BOARDING SCHOOLS.

• Committed, skilled faculty - With small class sizes and well-planned resources, US boarding schools can offer a top-quality education. Faculty are knowledgeable – generally holding advanced degrees in their subjects – and can provide individual attention to bring the best out of their students. The main benefit of boarding is the 24/7 access to faculty and support staff. Boarding schools encourage their faculty to live on campus and they are available to students at any time of day. By interacting with students outside the classroom, teachers can gain an unrivalled insight into each student’s personality and motivations. Boarding school faculty are usually highly motivated. They are given a good deal of input into creating courses and so have a greater degree of job satisfaction as a result.
• Measured progression- Academic progression is taken seriously and is measured through continuous assessment. By forming close bonds with their students on an individual basis, faculty can ensure that their students are challenged and stimulated to learn in class. For this reason, boarding schools can be an ideal environment for students who are underachieving academically or who have fallen behind in their studies and need to make rapid progress.
• Improving self-confidence - Boarding students learn to be self-sufficient, by taking responsibility for day-to-day tasks such as managing spending money, doing their own laundry and participating in extra-curricular activities. Far from becoming distanced from their children, many parents find that they develop a closer relationship with their children when freed from the responsibility of disciplining them.
• Structured environment - US boarding education is based on participation. Seating in classes is arranged to encourage discussion with the teacher and other classmates. Students are encouraged to form their own opinions, ask questions and contribute to debates and other group activities which helps build the confidence to speak and present arguments in front of the class.
• Preparation for university - Boarding schools create a university-style curriculum that aims to prepare students more than just academically for higher education. The whole lifestyle is geared towards helping students make a smooth transition to university. As boarding schools tend to have good links with top universities, access to higher education can be made easier too.
• Community support - It’s not uncommon for students to make friends for life at boarding school. The close-knit campus environment is a great way to get to know people who are going through the same experiences. Older schools will try to instil a sense of history and tradition in their students, encouraging them to take a pride in their school and their education. The sense of community among students and staff is also beneficial for students who have talent but who may otherwise be overlooked in favour of more outgoing or competitive peers. Counsellors work hard at motivating students to stretch themselves by getting involved in activities they may not have tried without encouragement from staff and friends. This cultivation of all aspects of a student’s personality is vital in producing a well-rounded, resourceful young adult. The community spirit often extends further than the school boundaries. Many schools run fundraising events for local charities and students often get involved in voluntary schemes and events. The attitude of co-operative co-existence with other communities is a natural product of living in a diverse and supportive environment at boarding school.
• Excellent facilities - Boarding schools can boast some of the finest school resources around. In fact, classrooms are generally well-equipped with state of the art educational technology including high-speed Internet access. Science laboratories, arts facilities and libraries often rival those found at many colleges and universities.
• Huge extracurricular choice - US boarding schools encourage pupils to develop a wide range of sporting and non-academic interests – valued by employers and universities alike – alongside their studies. This may involve competing in ‘interscholastic’ events between other schools in the region.
• International student support - In a boarding community, you or your child will benefit from continuous pastoral care. Many US boarding schools make special arrangements for international students, ensuring that they can learn English in school if required and providing them with interesting activities when students are not in school.