Aren't boarding schools breeding grounds for trouble?

Like many stereotypes, the opposite is true. Ninety-five percent of boarding school students say that their social lives don't revolve around drugs and alcohol, compared with 82% of private day and public school students.

Kids are at boarding school because they have troubled home lives.

Many students come to boarding schools because they have healthy home lives that have encouraged them to pursue their dreams through better and higher education. It's no surprise that 86% of boarding school students report being satisfied with their family lives.

Going to a boarding school means being far away from my family.

Not true. As the School Browser indicates, you can find boarding schools within a reasonable distance of virtually any place in North America.

Do boarding school students do anything other than study?

Absolutely! Boarding school students participate in more extracurricular activities than other students, including playing sports, engaging in creative endeavors like music and painting, and participating in student government and club activities.

Does boarding school prepare you for college?

Definitely. Eighty seven percent of boarding school graduates surveyed reported that they were very well prepared for university life—both in and out of the classroom.

How do boarding school graduates do in the careers?

By mid-career, more boarding school graduates achieve top management positions than their peers.

Ever heard of Facebook?

You have? Bet you didn’t know that a boarding school grad—Chris Hughes—invented it. True story.

Ever seen a movie made by MGM Studios?

So have we. Did you know that a boarding school grad by the name of Samuel Goldwyn is the MGM founder?

What were early versions of boarding schools like?

Tough, to say the least. Early “Latin Grammar Schools,” forerunners to modern boarding schools, taught the works of Homer, Horace, Hesiod, Virgil, and Cicero, among those of other famous figures. Talk about homework!

What does in loco parentis mean?

A term that developed in the early days of boarding schools, a rough translation would be “surrogate parents,” which are how teachers and advisors at boarding schools see themselves, as more than simply instructors but important role models and guides in the lives of young people.

Since your parents aren’t there to keep an eye on you, can you pretty much do whatever you want?

Ha! Good try, but research shows that boarding school students do twice as much homework a week than peers in public schools, 17 hours a week to 8 hours.

Are boarding school graduates happy they went to boarding school?

More than 80% of graduates surveyed said they would definitely repeat the boarding school experience if given the chance.

Are classes at boarding schools hard?

More than 90% of boarding school students asked say that they think their schools are academically challenging (Maybe that’s why they study twice as much per week than their public school peers.).

Are boarding schools all the same?

Not a chance. There are many kinds of boarding schools, from arts-oriented to military prep schools. But all share a proven model of education that instills confidence, character, and maturity in students.

Do kids have any fun at boarding school?

Yes! While academics are the cornerstone of the boarding school experience, having fun is just as important. And you’ll make tons of friends while you’re at it!

Are boarding schools homogenous?

Not even close. Nearly 60% of boarding school students describe their schools as having students from many races and ethnic groups. Only 19% of private day school students say the same thing.