Published April 12, 2009

If you are trying to figure out how one boarding school compares with another, you probably tried looking for a site which ranks schools. Well, good luck! If you find one, let us know. There is no ranking system for boarding schools that we know of. Try it yourself. Google "private school rankings" or "ranking private schools" and see what you get. Not very helpful answers. So, let's look at the reasons why this the case.
 

1. Private schools are unique.

Each school does its own thing. Schools are overseen and managed by trustees and faculty who  have a particular point of view. For example, a Jesuit boarding school such as Georgetown Prep has a quite different approach to curriculum and teaching than The Putney School does.

The broad strokes of the program may be similar on the surface. Most schools will offer courses in core subjects such as English, science and math, sports and extracurricular activities. But exactly what courses and at what levels they are offered, what teams are fielded and how many extracurricular activities are offered varies widely from school to school.
 

2. Private schools do not divulge data.

The NAIS has taken the lead in this debate. And for all kinds of very good reasons. It and all the state and regional associations have for many years counselled their members not to talk to the press. That's why there are no rankings such as you find in Newsweek or U.S. News and World Report for colleges and high schools. Things like where graduates matriculated, SAT test scores and so on, must be discovered either by checking individual school websites or by asking the admissions staff. The data is readily available. It's just not gathered and neatly packaged in one convenient place.
 

3. The best school is the one which works best for you.

Choosing a boarding school is similar to choosing a college. You are looking for the best fit. That's really all that matters. How do you determine the best fit? You need to have a serious discussion about exactly what you desire in a school. Let that determine which schools end up on your short list.

Put another way, we all know that Exeter and Andover are top boarding schools. But there are hundreds of other boarding schools out there. They have great academic programs, superb facilities, dedicated, highly credentialed teachers, and all manner of athletics and enrichment activities. Most do an excellent job of preparing your child for college.

How do you find these schools? By doing your research. Hire an educational consultant if you can afford it. Consultants have forgotten more about boarding schools than you and I could ever know. The $3,000 or $4,000 you will spend on a consultant virtually guarantees you a good fit. Nothing is guaranteed, of course, but you get the idea.

Boarding school ranks don't matter. Only fit does. Get the fit right and you will have a happy child and great learning experience.
 

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