Off to School: Best, Brightest
Attend Boarding Schools

by Julie Hanahan

Unlike their European cousins, some U.S. boarding schools suffer from an image problem: as the ultimate threat used by evil stepmothers, havens for children of privilege or troubled teens. Boarding school, however, can give your child a great education with many benefits that are not included in most public school systems.

Contemporary boarding schools serve a diverse body of students who study and live in supportive, inclusive academic communities. For most teenagers, and their parents, it is the high-quality academics that motivate them to apply to boarding schools.

About 60 percent of students enroll in these institutions primarily because of the promise of better education. Most boarding schools offer smaller class sizes that allow more teacher contact with each student. In addition, they teach students independence and responsibility that may enhance their future in the real world.

Boarding school isn’t a place to forget about your child, but a place to ensure that your child has a bright future. To choose the right one, take the time to research several boarding schools. Look at what they can do for your child and how well your child’s personality will fit into their mold.

It is important to ensure that the beliefs and practices that you want your child exposed to are present in the school. Likewise, it is important to understand the school’s ultimate goals for your child.

The combination of all of these elements will help you provide the right boarding school for your child. Web-based searches reveal the vast selection of schools, many which provide a complete guide and virtual tour. Learning about the schools online can help you narrow your search to those you want to visit. When it comes to choosing which one fits the best, find the one that supports your child’s abilities as it serves your requirements.

The search will reveal many types of boarding schools. Students who attend these schools are just as diverse as the boarding schools themselves. They come from all over the globe.

One type of boarding school is the religious boarding school, which teaches your children spiritual values as well as academics. Surrounding your children with other children who share the same values can help enforce their beliefs during their most impressionable years.

Another type is the college preparatory boarding school. Class work is geared to the student who plans to attend college or university. In addition, these schools focus on the skills your child will need to succeed in college and/or an advanced education career.

The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS), a nonprofit membership organization for independent, college-preparatory boarding schools, commissioned an independent study on the state of boarding schools today. Ninety-five percent of students at boarding schools say they are satisfied or very satisfied with their academic experience.

In Northeast Ohio, several college preparatory boarding schools are members of TABS. The Andrews School in Willoughby offers boarding for girls from grade 7 to 12. Grand River Academy in Austinburg caters to boys only, boarding grades 9 though 12. Co-educational boarding schools include Gilmour Academy in Gates Mills.

As students learn how to live and study independently and self-reliantly, boarding school offers students and their families an alternate way to develop the skill sets necessary for success.

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Resources:

The Association of Boarding Schools, www.schools.com

The Andrews School, Willoughby, www.andrews-school.org

Gilmour Academy, Gates Mills, www.gilmour.org

The Grand River Academy, Austinburg, www.grandriver.org