The Boarding School Advantage

"She's getting an edge that will give her the advantage in college."

"The 24-hour structure really helps him stay focused!"

"We finally found a school that challenges her."

"His school has a great choral music program."

"It's a safe environment where my children can learn!"

An ongoing United States Department of Education Study has revealed that, compared with their peers in public schools, students in private independent schools:

• Do twice as much homework
• Watch far less television
• Take more advanced coursework
• Achieve at the highest reading proficiency level
• Are more involved in after-school activities and team sports
• Plan to graduate from college

Many families choose boarding schools for their children because of the college preparation they provide. With small class sizes, diverse curricula, and individual attention from faculty and advisors, the boarding school experience provides students many distinct advantages. Our students acquire the abilities that translate into high achievement in college, in graduate and professional school and in their chosen careers.

Boarding School graduates know how to:

• Study
• Budget their time
• Set goals for themselves
• Think independently
• Get along with others
• Accept responsibility
• Be active participants - not passive recipients

Boarding school students learn about themselves and gain self-esteem by trying new things and taking risks. Our schools offer hundreds of afternoon and weekend activities that teach students important lessons outside the classroom. These carefully supervised programs allow students to explore new interests while cultivating new talents and dreams.

Our boarding school graduates take more with them from their experience than just college preparation and self-discipline. Self-esteem, critical thinking skills, and supportive, lifelong friends are among the many rewards of a boarding school education. Below, some of our graduates elaborate:

"Because I'm not depending on my parents, I learn to make decisions for myself, and I feel more independent. I meet other people and understand different lives and values while also evaluating my own."

"Being well prepared academically is only a small part of what I carried away from boarding school. The thing that has helped me most in college is the work ethic I developed."

"I matured in boarding school. I learned to think analytically. One of my college professors wanted to know where I went to high school. She wasn't surprised that I attended a boarding school."

This article was reprinted with permission from The Association of Boarding Schools

© 2004 The Association of Boarding Schools, All Rights Reserved