Kinds of Schools

There are several types of boarding schools, each offering a unique set of experiences. The articles in this section will provide more information on college preparatory, junior and therapeutic boarding schools. Here you will explore the pros and cons of single sex education, learn the truth about military schools and identify schools with programs for learning disabled students.

View the most popular articles in Kinds of Schools:

What? Boarding School in Canada?

Updated
|
What?  Boarding School in Canada?
Learn about the many benefits of boarding schools in Canada.

It may seem odd that with so many quality boarding schools in the USA that any American high school student would look north of the border to enhance their education. What could possibly motivate young Americans to venture to Canada for high school? Well, the many brave souls who have begun this voyage of discovery have quickly realized the merits of such an option. Consider some of these points that our current American families know, and prospective families might want to consider, about a Canadian boarding education:

You are not alone. There are many Americans in Canadian boarding schools (for instance, nearly 10% of the entire boarding population at my school, Brentwood College School, are from the USA!).

Rolling Admissions

For the most part, there are no specific application deadlines in Canada. You can pretty much visit any school at any time of the year and, if you are a good candidate and there are still spaces available, you could be offered a place without waiting until March or April. Most schools will even allow you to wait until you find out if you are accepted to some American schools in the spring to make a decision. It does take the pressure off families that simply want to know if they are accepted.

This video gives us an overview of Bishops College School in Lennoxville, Quebec.

No SAT?

Americans may also

. . .read more

Schools for Students with Learning Differences

Updated
|
Schools for Students with Learning Differences
Discover specialized boarding schools catering to students with learning disabilities. This article explores assessment processes, educational approaches, and the benefits of residential programs for students with dyslexia, ADHD, and other learning differences.

Schools for Students with Learning Differences

Every parent deals with learning issues as their children progress through school. Not understanding math concepts is one thing, but what if you suddenly realize your child can't read? He cannot process the characters on the page to make sense of them. That's a whole different thing. You need to deal wu can plot a course of acith this issue as it will not disappear. Read the information on All Kinds of Minds. Understand that there is much research on learning differences and disabilities. Realize that processing information, developing good study habits, and much more are essential aspects of what you are dealing with. The National Center for Learning Disabilities lays out a road map for you.

If you let this go on without remediating it, he will have more significant issues as he heads into adolescence. You cannot allow him to become discouraged. It makes so much more sense to begin helping him right now. To delay merely postpones the inevitable.

Assessment

The first thing you need to do is have him assessed professionally. You will receive many opinions from family and friends. These people mean well, but their observations and opinions cannot be considered authoritative. Your child's future is at stake. Spend the money to have a thorough evaluation performed by an experienced professional. You must find out the parameters of his learning disability. An in-depth assessment will look at every aspect of how he processes

. . .read more

Girls' School Graduates Have an Edge

Updated
|
Girls' School Graduates Have an Edge
Exciting new research shows that a girls' boarding school can offer your daughter many advantages.

Research shows: girls' school graduates have an edge trumpets the headline on The National Coalition of Girls' Schools site. The research comes from UCLA. This is peer-reviewed research as opposed to anecdotal evidence or hearsay. But first, let's examine the background of single-sex education in order to understand the significance of these important findings.

Single-sex schools were the only kind of school that existed for many years starting as far back as colonial times. But they were usually boys' schools as girls were still considered inferior and generally not worth educating. As the country grew and education matured with it, coeducational schools became the norm. The idea was to promote the equality of the sexes. Girls would be given the same opportunities as boys to learn and advance.

This video offers an overview of Garrison Forest School, Owings Mills, Maryland.



In theory, coeducation is a good idea. But there were many subtle prejudices against girls which had to be overcome. Gender stereotypes, for example, held many girls back. Women could be telephone operators, nurses, and teachers but not doctors, lawyers, or business executives. And so on. These barriers for women were real in most of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Here is how Foxcroft School describes living at Foxcroft:

"This affordable boarding school for girls in Virginia is truly a community of understanding hearts, where each girl is

. . .read more

Why a Progressive School?

Updated
|
Why a Progressive School?
Sending your son or daughter to a progressive school sounds like a real leap of faith. It is until you look more closely at the kind of education your child will receive. Then you will understand the idealism in action which progressive schools embody.

Do you have a child who just doesn't fit nicely into a conventional classroom? Are you one of those parents who doesn't see the point of standardized testing? Do you want to let your child explore and discover things for himself in a less structured learning environment? Do you believe that children learn by doing? If you have answered affirmatively to any or all of these questions, then you probably should be looking at progressive schools.

Parents consistently select progressive schools such as Montessori, Waldorf, and Reggio Emilia for the pre-school and primary years. However, when it comes to middle and high school, they tend to feel that they have to follow a more traditional college preparatory model based on Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate curricula. Why? Most parents seem to think that a test-oriented educational approach ensures their children a better chance of getting into a good college.

Standardized tests are a very common feature of American professional and academic life. It's been that way for the past forty or fifty years. But should children in K-12 schools be subject to standardized testing? You get the feeling that teachers have to teach to the test, as opposed to being able to teach their subjects. Now, most private schools have developed enriched curricula which far exceed the requirements put forth by most of the common high school standardized tests, e.g., SAT and ACT.

Is your child very intelligent? Is she gifted? Does

. . .read more

5 Common Myths About Military Schools

Updated
|
5 Common Myths About Military Schools
Military schools are often misunderstood, with myths shaping public perception. Are they only for troubled youth? Do they force students into military careers? This article debunks five common misconceptions, revealing the truth about discipline, leadership, and academic excellence in military schools. Whether you're a parent considering options or simply curious, this guide provides valuable insights into what these institutions truly offer.

5 Common Myths About Military Schools

Military schools seem to go in and out of favor with the general public.

  • Perhaps that has to do with some rather common misconceptions about what military schools are and how they operate.
  • The truth is that America's military prep schools carry on a proud tradition of academic and personal excellence, which has withstood the assaults of negative media attention and changing education trends.

Let's debunk five common misconceptions about military schools.

1. They are retirement outposts for retired officers.

Hollywood loves to portray military schools as retirement outposts for disgruntled officers with enormous grudges against just about everything and egos to match. (Think Taps with Timothy Hutton and George C. Scott.)

  • The truth is that most military schools have a headmaster who is styled a commandant or superintendent according to military nomenclature.
  • Becoming an administrator in a military school is a logical next career step for an officer who has retired from active service, usually in his '40s or '50s. Their egos? Most of them are pretty average.
  • Their job is to run the school, hire the best faculty they can find, and manage the finances. That's what any headmaster does.

Running any private school these days requires immense amounts of administrative savvy combined with a deft touch for fund-raising and the diplomatic skills of a career diplomat.

  • Being ahead of school is a multi-faceted job.
  • Being the head of
. . .read more

Recent Articles

Famous Boarding School Alumni & Parent Lessons
Famous Boarding School Alumni & Parent Lessons
Discover what famous boarding school alumni teach parents about leadership, resilience, and opportunity in 2026.
Boarding Life for Student Athletes in 2026
Boarding Life for Student Athletes in 2026
Explore how boarding schools help student athletes balance academics and competitive sports in 2026 with structure, support, and recruiting guidance.
Supporting First-Generation Students in Boarding Schools
Supporting First-Generation Students in Boarding Schools
A 2026 guide to supporting first-generation students in boarding schools, with strategies for access, retention, and family engagement.