Financing a Boarding School Education in 2025

Boarding Schools & Cell Phone / Social Media Policies: What’s Changing in 2025-26

As residential educational institutions enter the 2025-26 academic year, many boarding schools are rethinking the role of mobile devices and social media in student life. The unique environment of the boarding school means that cellphone and social media policies must reach far beyond classroom hours; they play a role in dormitory life, free time, weekends and students’ well-being. This article examines how these policies are evolving, what’s driving the change, and what parents, students and educators should know.

Why the Shift Now?

Several factors are driving boarding schools to revisit their mobile device and social media guidelines:

• Mental health-and-wellbeing concerns. Growing research links high screen time and social media use to increased anxiety, depression, distraction and diminished sleep among adolescents. arXiv+4Boarding School Review+4MDPI+4

• Academic focus in a residential setting. Since boarding schools house students 24/7, not just during instruction hours, the question of when phones and social media are permitted becomes more complex: meals, dorms, weekends all count. For example, a policy states: “Community members are not permitted to use cell phones during the academic day in active and intentional learning and community environments (e.g., dining hall, chapel).”

• Regulatory and cultural pressures. Certain U.S. states are now enacting “bell-to-bell” cellphone bans during instruction time, signaling broader shifts. Education Week+2Encyclopedia Britannica+2

Corporal Punishment in U.S. Boarding Schools: 2025 Update

Every parent, student and educator considering a boarding school needs to understand how discipline is applied and legally regulated. While much attention focuses on day schools, boarding schools must also navigate discipline practices—including the controversial use of physical punishment. This article explores the current status of corporal punishment in U.S. schools (including private and boarding settings), touches on boarding-school specific issues, updates the 2025 policy landscape, presents new research, and offers insights for families evaluating boarding school environments.

What we mean by “corporal punishment”

In the context of K-12 schools, corporal punishment is defined as any physical force exerted on a student by school personnel intended to correct behaviour—traditionally paddling, spanking, or striking with an object. Historically, this has been applied in both public and private schools in certain states. While most schools today rely on suspension, expulsion, restorative practices or behaviour contracts, corporal punishment remains legal in some jurisdictions.

For boarding schools—where students live on site and are under supervision 24/7—the discipline environment can differ from day schools and requires particular scrutiny. The boarding context raises questions about oversight, residential rules, staff training and the overall culture of discipline.

Legal and policy landscape in 2025

As of 2025, the legal status of corporal punishment varies significantly by state. According to the National Education Association (NEA), 17 states currently permit corporal punishment in public schools, and additional states have not explicitly

Boarding School Life: A Day in the Life of a Student Introduction

For many families considering residential education, understanding what a typical day looks like at a boarding school is a key decision factor. In 2025, boarding school life continues to offer a structured environment where academics, co-curriculars, social development, and residential routines blend in daily rhythm. This article walks through a representative “day in the life” of a boarding student, highlights current trends, offers expert commentary, and provides practical insights for parents, students and educators.

Morning: Wake-up and Academics

A boarding school student typically begins the day early. At many schools the routine starts around 7:00 a.m., when boarders rise, prepare for the day, and head to breakfast. For instance, one source notes breakfast in a communal dining hall followed by classes beginning around 8:30 a.m. or 9:00 a.m. in boarding-school settings. BoardingSchools.com+2mastersny.org+2

Typical morning schedule

During morning classes, boarding students are immersed in a college-preparatory curriculum—courses such as Algebra II, English literature, global studies or world languages. One school profile describes a morning class then a study hall right away, allowing students to ask questions and stay ahead. Salem Academy

Midday: Lunch, Free Block, Activities

By midday, the schedule transitions to lunch and a mix of academic support or co-curriculars. Lunch has both a

Boarding School Diversity and Inclusion: How Schools Are Changing

In recent years, boarding schools have experienced a noticeable shift: the traditional model of elite, homogeneous residential education is giving way to more inclusive, diverse, and equitable approaches. This article explores how boarding school diversity and inclusion efforts are evolving in 2025, including how institutions define and implement practices of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), what concrete strategies are emerging, and how families and students can evaluate schools on these criteria.

What Diversity and Inclusion Mean in the Boarding School Context

Diversity in a boarding school typically refers to the representation of different races, ethnicities, nationalities, socio-economic backgrounds, gender identities, religious beliefs and abilities within the student and staff population. Inclusion means creating a school culture where every student feels seen, supported and valued, regardless of background.

For many boarding schools, embracing diversity and inclusion is no longer optional. As one college-preparatory boarding school writes, the “pillars of diversity, equity & inclusion might outrank all other perks of choosing a boarding school over traditional school.” Niche

In 2025, we are seeing more boarding schools adopt formal frameworks around DEI, shift admissions and hiring strategies, redesign curricula and expand student-life programs to build inclusive residential communities.

Why It Matters: Benefits of Diverse Boarding Environments

Diverse and inclusive boarding schools offer several clear benefits for students, families and educators:

• Students gain daily