It sounds too good to be true, right? But it really is true. I found twelve boarding schools when I searched Boarding School Review using the simple search string "least expensive schools" Our powerful search engine sorted the 315 boarding schools listed on our site by tuition. I then filtered out three schools, two were located in Canada and the other was a summer boarding school.
Here then are a dozen boarding schools which charge approximately $20,000 per year or less for tuition, room and board. What impressed me was to discover one school on the list offered 30 Advanced Placement courses and another offered the prestigious International Baccalaureate program. Explore these schools and determine whether perhaps one or more suit your requirements.
Lustre Christian High School, Lustre, MT
School Type: Co-Ed
Grades offered: 9-12
Number of students: 40
Tuition: $9,000
International students: Yes
Academics: Bible, Math, Science, English, History, Computers, Physical Education, Journalism, Drama
AP courses: None.
In the school's words: "It is a unique educational institution because it serves as both a Christian high school for the community and as a qualified Christian boarding school."
Mercyhurst Preparatory School, Erie, PA
School Type: Co-Ed
Grades offered: 9-12
Number of students: 620
Tuition: $7,600
International students: Yes
Academics: 15 IB courses. International Baccalaureate program.
In the school's words: "We strive for excellence in academic and co-curricular programs, we promote service to our local and global communities, and we foster the dedication and active support of the students, parents, faculty,staff, and alumni of the Mercyhurst community."
School Type: Co-Ed
Grades offered: 11-12
Number of students: 100
Tuition: $9,000
International students: No
Academics: 30 AP courses. Accelerated college preparatory.
In the school's words: "The Advanced Academy of Georgia is a residential, early entrance to college program for high ability high school-aged students who are interested in accelerating their academic careers. One of only a few programs in the country that offers students the opportunity to earn concurrent high school and college credit in a residential setting, the Academy provides a supportive environment among like-minded peers who value academic achievement."
Mount Michael Benedictine School, Elkhorn, NE
School Type: Boys
Grades offered: 9-12
Number of students: 220
Tuition: $9,175
International students: Yes
Academics: 10 AP courses. Computer Science, Fine Arts, Foreign Language, Language Arts, Mathematics, Natural Science, Practical Arts, Social Studies, Theology
In the school's words: "Mount Michael’s college prep education is designed to challenge and strengthen each student’s academic skills in preparation for college. Ultimately, it is our goal to enable every student to reach his educational and career potential."
New Mexico Military Institute, Roswell, NM
School Type: Co-Ed
Grades offered: 9-12, PG
Number of students: 870
Tuition: $11,732
International students: Yes
Academics: College preparatory.
In the school's words: "s an institution of higher and secondary education, the Institute has the mission of developing leaders by enabling individual development through challenging academic preparation in a structured learning environment that affords extensive opportunities."
Hillcrest Lutheran Academy, Fergus Falls, MN
School Type: Co-Ed
Grades offered: 9-12, PG
Number of students: 203
Tuition: $14,025
International students: Yes
Academics: 5 AP courses. College preparatory.
In the school's words: "The staff at Hillcrest Lutheran Academy is dedicated to providing students with the highest quality, Christian education available anywhere at the junior and senior high school level. A liberal arts curriculum with the Bible as it's cornerstone, provides a comprehensive educational program that is unique and challenging."
Oakdale Christian Academy, Jackson, KY
School Type: Co-Ed
Grades offered: 7-12
Number of students: 237
Tuition: $18,080
International students: Yes
Academics: 4 AP courses. College preparatory.
In the school's words: "Oakdale Christian Academy seeks to impact student lives through a college-preparatory education, a nurturing boarding program, and the life-changing knowledge of Jesus Christ. Rigorous college-preparatory curriculum is key to student achievement, and includes strong components in the humanities, history, mathematics and the natural sciences."
Darren Patterson Christian Academy, Buena Vista, CO
School Type: Co-Ed
Grades offered: 9-12
Number of students: 135
Tuition: $18,500
International students: No
Academics: 12 AP courses. College preparatory.
In the school's words: "DPCA equips pre-school and K-12 students for excellence in Christian life and service by providing a nurturing, distinctively Christian school environment that emphasizes: knowing Christ; imitating His character; integrating the Bible in all of life and learning; mastering academic knowledge and skills; and affirming the uniqueness of each child."
Excelsior School, Pasadena, CA
School Type: Co-Ed
Grades offered: 9-12
Number of students: 60
Tuition: $18,650
International students: Yes.
Academics: 6 AP courses. College preparatory.
In the school's words: "Excelsior is a private college prep school whose name signifies the Philosophy of "onward and upward" with regard to success in Education. We are interested in maximizing the potential creatively, as well as academically, of all of our students. To that end we stress small class sizes and individualized attention for greater and more rapid mastery in all subjects."
Camden Military Academy, Camden, SC
School Type: Boys
Grades offered: 7-12, PG
Number of students: 302
Tuition: $19,995
International students:Yes.
Academics: 18 AP courses. College preparatory.
In the school's words: "The core of the Camden experience is the Academy's academic program. Camden enrolls young men in grades 7 through 12 as well as for a post graduate year. The academic program on the high school level is strictly college preparatory."
Valley International Academy, Campbell, CA
School Type: Co-Ed
Grades offered: 9-12, PG
Number of students: 26
Tuition: $20,000
International students: Yes.
Academics: 8 AP courses.
In the school's words: "Valley International Academy (VIA) provides a unique American education experience to international students. Our small, intimate community of students and staff allows us to know each student personally so that we are able to create a highly-individualized program tailored to the needs of each student."
