Boarding School Myths (Updated 2025)
Many families considering boarding school face widespread myths. In 2025, some myths are more persistent than ever—even as boarding schools evolve significantly in tuition policy, student demographics, academic offerings, and student support. This article debunks common boarding school myths with up-to-date data, expert insights, and real examples, helping parents and educators make informed decisions.
Myth 1: Boarding Schools Are Only for the Wealthy
The Myth: Boarding school is affordable only for extremely wealthy families; full tuition is always out of reach.
The Reality (2025):
Many top boarding schools have revised their financial aid policies. For example, Deerfield Academy in 2024-25 introduced a model where U.S. families with incomes under $150,000 attend for free, and those up to $500,000 pay no more than 10% of income.
Schools like Hotchkiss charge ~$71,170 for boarding students, but ~37% of the student body are on financial aid; the average grant is ~$62,075.
Many boarding schools now use sliding scales, income caps, or offer generous grants/scholarships, making boarding school more accessible than in previous decades.
Expert Insight:
“We aim for financial aid to be invisible at the point of admission—families should apply and know clearly what support is possible,” says a head of school at a Northeastern boarding institution.
Myth 2: Boarding Schools Lack Diversity
The Myth: Boarding schools are homogeneous—students are almost always from affluent, similar backgrounds; international or minority students are rare.
The Reality (2025):
Many leading boarding schools now have significant geographical, racial, and
