Getting Started

This section covers the basics of choosing a boarding school. Learn more about educational consultants, explore the dos and don’ts of making the right choice, and learn why you should trust your instincts. When is the right time to attend boarding school? What is a post-graduate year? How can an educational consultant help? Here you’ll find the answers to these questions and more.

View the most popular articles in Getting Started:

Looking at Schools

Updated
|
Looking at Schools
Do you like large schools or small schools? Are you most comfortable in a city, small town or countryside? Are you interested in attending a school that has a religious or military orientation? Would you like to attend a school that is only for boys or girls? These are some questions you must ask yourself before you begin your search for the right U.S. boarding school for you.

Looking at Schools

When searching for the perfect boarding school, visiting campuses is a crucial step. It allows parents and students to get a firsthand experience of the school's atmosphere, facilities, and community.

Do you like large schools or small schools?

  • Are you most comfortable in a city, a small town, or the countryside?
  • Are you interested in attending a school that has a religious or military orientation?
  • Would you like to attend a school that is only for boys or girls?

These are some of the questions to ask before you begin your search for the U.S. boarding school that's right for you and your child.

Single-Sex Schools

  • Single-sex schools, those for boys only or girls only, are some of the oldest boarding schools in the U.S.A.
  • As a student at one of these schools, you will have the chance to study in a less socially distracting atmosphere.
  • For girls, single-sex schools can often provide a greater opportunity to pursue leadership roles in both academic and extracurricular life.

Military Schools

Military secondary schools have the same advantages as other boarding schools.

  • However, they also instill the values and importance of teamwork, dedication, and discipline.
  • Uniforms and drilling are often required.

Florida Air Academy, located near the Kennedy Space Center, uses modern planes and simulators as part of its flying programs.

  • These begin as early as the seventh grade.
  • Upon completion of flight training, students may obtain a private pilot's license and
. . .read more

Recent Articles

What Happens During School Breaks for Boarding Students Who Stay on Campus
What Happens During School Breaks for Boarding Students Who Stay on Campus
Learn what happens during school breaks for boarding students who remain on campus, including housing, meals, activities, supervision, and support services.
A Day in the Life of a Dorm Parent: Inside Residential Faculty Life
A Day in the Life of a Dorm Parent: Inside Residential Faculty Life
A day in the life of a dorm parent: how residential faculty support, mentor, supervise, and guide students while building community and shaping the boarding school experience.
How Boarding Schools Assign Dorms, Advisors & Schedules
How Boarding Schools Assign Dorms, Advisors & Schedules
Learn how boarding schools assign dorm rooms, faculty advisors, and class schedules, and what families should expect before move-in day.