Most American families thinking about boarding school tend to stick to schools located within the United states. But, depending on your circumstances and inclinations, you might want to think about Canadian boarding schools. Here are five reasons why.

1. The foreign factor

Canada is not the U.S. It is a sovereign nation with a multi-ethnic population of just over 33 million. Most of the population resides along the U.S.-Canadian border. The three principal cities are Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. Each has its own particular characteristics and attributes which you can discover as your explore their websites.

Canada is close to the U.S. These major Canadian cities are short flights from most American cities. So you don't have to fret about getting there quickly if something happens to your child.

Canadians and Americans share much in common. The shops and restaurants are similar to what you would find stateside. While you will encounter a lot of French in French-speaking Quebec, the rest of the country uses English. The climate is northern with a short summer, fall and spring and a long cold winter. Vancouver and Halifax, being on the water, have much more temperate weather though it can get pretty cold there too.

 

 

 

2. A different twist to your child's college application

Think about it. Your child's application to a competitive college is sitting there along with 100 virtually identical applications. Same SAT scores, same excellent grades on the transcript, a great essay and glowing recommendations. But your kid's has a difference. She went to a Canadian private school. Most college admissions consultants will tell you that having a hook is always a good thing. Going to a Canadian boarding school might just be that hook.

 

 

 

3. The cost

Canadian boarding schools cost about $40,000 on average for tuition and room and board. That's Canadian dollars. Or approximately $35,000 in U.S. dollars at current exchange rates. This doesn't include sundries and all the extras. But it gives you an idea of the value. Oanda.com has a handy foreign exchange calculator so you can figure the cost of a Canadian boarding school in U.S. dollars.

 

 

 

4. The hockey and skiing

If my kid were crazy about fashion, I'd probably send him to school in Savannah so he could hang around SCAD students 24/7. If she were aspiring to a professional hockey career, I'd make tracks to a Canadian boarding school. Literally any Canadian boarding school. Same thing with skiing. Schools like BCS and Stanstead in the Eastern Townships south of Montreal on the Vermont border have amazing access to great skiing for five months of the year. While there are not hockey rinks on every street corner, there sure are a lot of hockey rinks both indoors and outdoors so your child can get lots of practice.

 

 

 

5. The academics

You are probably thinking that those Canadians have a totally different curriculum from American schools. Well, they don't. Canadian schools prepare their students for AP exams in their senior year. Many offer IB curricula as well.  The standard of teaching is every bit as high as you'll find in U.S. boarding schools.

 

 

 

 

Canadian Boarding Schools

 

• Académie Ste. Cécile International School, Windsor,Ontario
• Albert College, Belleville, Ontario
• Appleby College, Oakville, Ontario
• Ashbury College, Ottawa, Ontario
• Athol Murray College of Notre Dame, Wilcox, Saskatchewan
• Balmoral Hall School, Winnipeg, Manitoba
• Bishop's College School, Lennoxville, Quebec
• The Bishop Strachan School, Toronto, Ontario
• Bodwell High School, Vancouver, British Columbia
• Branksome Hall, Toronto, Ontario
• Brentwood College School, Vancouver Island, British Columbia
• Havergal College, Toronto, Ontario
• Lakefield College School, Lakefield, Ontario
• Ridley College, St. Catherines, Ontario
• Robert Land Academy, Wellandport, Ontario
• Rosseau Lake College, Rosseau
• Rothesay Netherwood School, Rothesay, New Brunswick
• Saint George's School, Vancouver, British Columbia
• Saint John's-Ravencourt School, Winnipeg, Manitoba
• Saint Michaels University School, Victoria, British Columbia
• Sedbergh School, Montebello, Quebec
• Shawnigan Lake School, Vancouver Island, British Columbia
• Stanstead College, Stanstead, Quebec
• Trafalgar Castle School, Whitby, Ontario
• Trinity College School, Port Hope, Ontario
• Upper Canada College, Toronto, Ontario
• Venta Preparatory School, Carp, Ontario