About Boarding Schools

Parents' Concerns about Sending Their Child to Boarding School

Boarding schools are renowned for their commitment to academic rigor and excellence. This dedication to high-quality education is often why parents consider sending their children to these institutions. That's why we sent our daughters to boarding schools. So, let me share some of the concerns and questions I had as a parent in the 90s when sending our girls off to boarding school was on the table.

Rigorous Curriculum and College Preparation

Boarding schools typically offer a challenging academic program designed to prepare students for success in college and beyond. Their traditional college prep curriculum usually includes:

• Advanced Placement (AP) courses
• International Baccalaureate (IB) programs
• Honors classes
• Specialized electives

These schools focus on developing critical thinking skills, fostering intellectual curiosity, and encouraging academic independence. The rigorous nature of the coursework helps students build a strong foundation for college-level work.

A few boarding schools offer an alternative approach to education, focusing on experiential and project-based learning. We style these schools progressive, and they typically emphasize:

• Hands-on, interdisciplinary projects that connect multiple subjects
• Student-driven inquiry and exploration
• Real-world problem-solving and application of knowledge
• Collaborative learning environments that foster teamwork and communication skills
• Personalized learning plans that cater to individual student interests and strengths
• Integration of technology and innovative teaching methods
• Emphasis on critical thinking, creativity, and adaptability

This progressive approach aims to engage students more deeply in their learning, develop 21st-century skills, and prepare them for a rapidly changing world. While progressive schools do

Why Consider a Military School?

Military schools offer a unique educational experience that combines academic rigor with character development and leadership training. If you are thinking about a military school education for your child, then investigate residential military schools. It will be a 24/7 experience versus the after school experience available in most public day schools. Furthermore, if you are looking for a well-rounded, balanced approach to education together wth fulltime supervision, a military school is worth considering.

Here are some compelling reasons to consider a military school for your child.

Discipline and Structure
Military schools are renowned for their disciplined environment and structured daily routines.

This approach helps students develop:

• Self-discipline
• Time management skills
• Respect for authority
• Personal responsibility

As one military school puts it, "We always expect our cadets to do the right thing–acting with respect, responsibility, honor, and generosity."

Leadership Training

A key component of military school education is leadership development. Students learn:

• Effective communication
• Group dynamics
• Decision-making skills
• Goal setting
• Ethical leadership

These skills are valuable in any career path, not just military service.

Academic Excellence

Contrary to popular belief, military schools prioritize academic achievement. They offer:

• College preparatory curricula
• Advanced Placement courses
• SAT preparation
• Small class sizes for personalized attention
• Many military school graduates go on to attend prestigious colleges and universities.

Character Development

Military schools focus on developing well-rounded individuals. They emphasize:

• Patriotism
• Community service
• Teamwork
• Personal integrity

Potential Pathway to Military Academies

While attending a military school doesn't guarantee admission to a service academy, it can provide:

• Familiarity with military culture
• JROTC training
• Strong academic preparation
• Leadership experience

Here is a compilation of the various concerns and questions I have fielded from readers. Don't hesitate to DM me on Facebook or Instagram with your questions. I will do my best to answer them.

Tell me about the advantages of sending my daughter to a boarding schools.

Your child will build a network of friends that she will have for life. The demands of rigorous academic studies combined with compulsory athletics and required extracurricular activities will stretch her ways you never thought possible. She will build confidence in her own abilities as she accomplishes things she probably didn't realize she could accomplish. You will know that your child is receiving a comprehensive and balanced education consisting of academics, sports and extracurricular activities.

How do I know which school is the best one?

You determine that by comparing schools. So, make lists of schools. Review their websites. Watch their videos. Check out their social media pages pages. Did you find any that offer the academic subjects, sports, and extracurricular activities you feel are essential for your child? Put those schools on another shorter list. Then visit those three or four schools. The visit and interview will reveal much about each school. Then apply to the schools with the best fit.

I want my daughter to have great teachers.

Teachers want to teach. They love their subject. They know it inside and out at the level at which they have been teaching. They know all the tricks and

A - Applying to boarding school

Applying to most boarding schools has become easier in the last 10-15 years. That's because you can apply online at most schools. When schools don't have online applications, they usually have all the application forms and information you need online for you to download.

B - Be aware that diversity is part of boarding schools' DNA in the 21st century.

Yes, back in the 1950s and 1960s, you might have been able to say that boarding schools were elitist. At least, that was the general public's perception. Of course, the media reinforced this perception. However, in the 21st century, boarding schools have made diversity and tolerance the center of their mission and philosophy as most schools seek to prepare their students for life and work in a global community.

C - Competitive schools

Many parents have grand ideas about which boarding schools they want their children to attend. As a result, they focus on the top 10 schools, which receive ten times as many applicants for whom they have places. Having one very competitive school on your shortlist is wise only when you also have two relatively safe schools on that list. Just as with investing, t makes no sense to put all your eggs in one basket.

This brief video showcases Phillips Andover Academy.

D - Discipline is part of

Something which intrigues most of us parents when we think about boarding school is the idea that the school provides everything in one very well-crafted package. The academics, the sports, the extracurriculars, and the supervision are all part of the deal. For parents whose careers involve a lot of traveling knowing that their child is fully occupied and properly supervised is reassuring. As you begin to dig deeper into boarding schools and what's involved, you begin to encounter concepts as well as tangible things which in many ways are unique to residential schools. These are what make a boarding school experience so special.

Codes of Conduct

Codes of Conduct in boarding schools have teeth. They mean what they say. They can and will be enforced. Yes, public schools have codes of conduct too; however, the enforcement process can be cumbersome and time-consuming because public school students have constitutional rights. Private school students have rights too. Those rights are spelled out in detail in the contract which you and the school signed. I mention this because you cannot assume anything with respect to the rights your child enjoys in a boarding school. Read the contract carefully. Have your attorney review it. Ask questions. Understand the terms of the contract as it applies to the code of conduct. Finally, explain the consequences of infractions of the school's code of conduct to your child. That said, codes of conduct are one of the reasons why your child will be