It is fascinating to delve into the beginnings of a boarding school. It is when the school is so malleable and strongly influenced by its founder's zeal and lofty goals. The community is tiny compared to what it will morph into over the years, indeed over the centuries in some cases. The hardships and sacrifices that were endured are almost unimaginable in this day and age, when new schools often open with significant financial backing, modern facilities, and comprehensive strategic plans already in place.
I hope you will explore these five schools against the backdrop I have set out above. They are unique, as boarding schools always are. They have great personalities, character, and rich histories. Yet they share a common theme and purpose: to provide their students with the best well-rounded education so that their graduates can make a difference in today's world.
If you enjoy learning about the traditions and evolution of boarding schools, Boarding School Review's article, 5 Founders and Their Boarding Schools, provides additional historical context.
Annie Wright School, Tacoma, Washington
- Founded: 1884
- Enrollment: Approximately 800 students
- Grades: Preschool-Grade 12
- Boarding: Girls, Grades 9-12
- Religious Affiliation: Independent
- Setting: Urban
Overview: The school was established by Episcopal Bishop John Adams Paddock with the financial support of businessman Charles Barstow Wright. Bishop Paddock named the school in honor of Wright's daughter, Annie. The school operated as a girls' school for decades before expanding its educational offerings. Today, Annie Wright Schools include a coeducational Lower and Middle School and an Upper School that continues to offer boarding for girls.
The school strengthened its academic reputation by adopting the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and has since expanded IB offerings across multiple grade levels. According to the International Baccalaureate Organization, IB schools emphasize inquiry, global perspectives, and critical thinking, values that align well with Annie Wright's longstanding educational philosophy.
Bishop’s College School, Lennoxville, Quebec
- Founded: 1836
- Enrollment: Approximately 280 students
- Grades: 7-12
- Boarding and Day
- Coeducational
- Setting: Rural
Overview: Bishop's College School, originally known as Lennoxville Classical School, was founded by The Reverend Lucius Doolittle. It operated as a boys' school until 1972, when King's Hall, Compton merged with BCS to establish today's coeducational community.
BCS enjoys a stunning location nestled in Quebec's Eastern Townships. It is approximately two hours southeast of Montreal and only a short drive from the Vermont border. The school prepares students for universities throughout Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and many other countries.
Modern academic facilities have kept BCS at the forefront of innovation while preserving its nearly two-century-old traditions. Programs in digital media, engineering, entrepreneurship, and outdoor education complement long-established strengths in athletics and university preparation.
Harrow, Harrow on the Hill, Middlesex, United Kingdom
- Founded: 1572
- Enrollment: Approximately 850 boys
- Grades: 9-12
- Boarding
- Setting: Urban
- Notable Alumni: Sir Winston Churchill, King Hussein of Jordan, Lord Byron, Jawaharlal Nehru, Benedict Cumberbatch, and many others.
Overview: The rivalry between Eton and Harrow is somewhat like that between Phillips Exeter Academy and Phillips Academy Andover. Perhaps it is best simply to say that these schools represent the pinnacle of traditional boarding education.
Queen Elizabeth I granted Harrow its Royal Charter in 1572. Traditional customs such as boaters, gowns, and school songs remain important parts of school life, but Harrow has also invested heavily in modern academic facilities, innovation, and student wellbeing.
The school's influence extends well beyond the United Kingdom, with Harrow-inspired schools now operating internationally while preserving many of the traditions established more than four centuries ago.
According to the Independent Schools Council, Britain's leading independent schools continue to balance historic traditions with modern teaching methods and global educational opportunities.
McCallie School, Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Founded: 1905
- Enrollment: Approximately 1,000 students
- Grades: 6-12
- Boys, Day and Boarding
- Religious Affiliation: Christian
- Setting: Suburban
Overview: The Reverend T.H. McCallie, a Presbyterian minister, backed his sons' establishment of a college preparatory school for boys in 1905. The school was among the first to adopt an Honor Code, a tradition that continues to shape McCallie students today.
The school has changed dramatically over the years, keeping up with the times while still emphasizing its core mission of educating the whole child. Character education, leadership development, outdoor experiences, athletics, and academics remain central to the school's philosophy.
I suspect that is one of the reasons why the school continues to thrive. There is certainly a place for a boys' boarding school in the 21st century, and McCallie continues to demonstrate how a historic institution can adapt while preserving its core values.
Readers interested in single-gender education may also enjoy Boarding School Review's article, 5 Reasons to Choose a Boys' School
- Founded: 1915
- Enrollment: Approximately 400 students
- Grades: Kindergarten-Grade 11
- Girls, Day
- Religious Affiliation: Independent
- Setting: Urban
Overview: Margaret Gascoigne, the founder, believed that girls should be taught things that really matter. The opportunities available to young women today would have been almost unimaginable when The Study opened its doors in 1915.
The Study has transformed itself from a school serving primarily English-speaking families into a diverse, bilingual community in metropolitan Montreal. Students now benefit from modern STEM programs, global learning opportunities, leadership initiatives, arts education, and community engagement while maintaining the school's historic commitment to educating young women.
I knew several young ladies from The Study growing up in Westmount during the 1950s and 1960s. They were clever, cultured, and talented people. I can only assume they would marvel at today's students and the remarkable opportunities awaiting them after graduation.
According to the National Association of Independent Schools, one hallmark of successful independent schools is their ability to honor longstanding traditions while continuously evolving to meet the needs of new generations of students. Likewise, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education highlights how strong institutional traditions and engaged alumni communities help schools sustain their missions across generations.
The continued success of schools like Annie Wright, Bishop's College School, Harrow, McCallie, and The Study demonstrates that strong founding principles can endure for generations. While facilities, technology, and teaching methods evolve, the commitment to preparing young people for meaningful lives remains the defining characteristic of exceptional boarding schools.
