Thinking Boarding School... or Not?
In these everchanging and challenging times, it is no secret that the education system in many school districts is changing as well. Sadly, many budgets are being reduced, classes in the arts are facing elimination, and class sizes are seeing increases. Perhaps this is why we have also witnessed a growth in private school enrollments. While once viewed through the lens of sending kids away from home, boarding schools are now seen as a destination to send kids to.
Today’s world is not the same one in which prior generations grew up, where parents had a voice that was heard, teachers had the respect they deserved, and often students came from families who went to boarding school themselves. While parents are doing their best to establish appropriate habits for their kids, technology and social media often compete and interfere. But boarding schools can offer a positive alternative for students who need structure to help balance academics, recreational activities, and study time. Boarding school innately establishes routines that help develop time management skills, self-discipline, and personal responsibility, while providing a holistic environment and a solid foundation upon which to build a future.
Whether a student has the intellectual capacity to take higher-level classes, needs extra support for learning differences, or might gain from more positive social interactions, the right boarding school can develop a positive pathway for future success. The smaller classes allow for individualized attention, collaborative learning opportunities, increased interaction among students, and teachers who have an active interest in getting to know their students. Perhaps one of the most important opportunities in a boarding school environment is the shared experience and the lifelong camaraderie that creates.
Given today’s chaos, a boarding school can be an oasis for some students. It offers a peaceful setting where the journey of learning can happen regardless of abilities or learning differences. Having truly dedicated and committed teachers in a life-changing learning environment may help overcome the significant cost and family separations. When visiting boarding schools, I speak with students as I walk around the campus and am stimulated by the diversity of backgrounds, cultures, and countries represented. While sitting in on classes, I observe the interactions between teachers and students and feel the ease of conversation and acceptance when a student may not understand the topic. I view peers supporting one another and faculty taking time after hours to sit with students to help them process the material, all so important in learning a new subject.
A growing number of students at boarding schools receive some form of financial aid with many boarding schools offering significant aid or even tuition-free education to accepted students with a household income below a certain threshold. This means that families that may never have been able to consider boarding school may now be able to have a conversation about whether it’s the right choice for their student. Boarding school just may be your child’s golden ticket to an immersive, enhanced, and expansive learning experience.