Choosing a School

The Benefits of a Small Boarding School

When choosing a boarding school, size can quickly determine the ultimate experience your child will have, both educationally and socially. Small boarding schools provide both intimate learning environments and close bonds within the student body and are an excellent choice for any student looking for personal attention in the classroom.

What is the Definition of a Small Boarding School? While boarding schools are generally already small compared to public schools, small boarding schools typically have less than 200 students enrolled in the program, with some institutions boasting as small a roll call as 25 students. According to the Small Boarding School Association, they are characterized by low student-teacher ratios and emphasis on individual learning.

Small boarding schools can also be highly specialized. For example, some schools within this category have programs designed for children with learning disabilities like Attention Deficit Disorder.

What Advantages Do Small Boarding Schools Offer?

Small Class Sizes For students who want more attention in the classroom, small boarding schools are a great option. Small classroom sizes help students find and build relationships with mentors. This opportunity for more personal contact and communication with teachers and counselors is unique to the small boarding school environment.

Accessibility of Teachers and Academic Help Not only is close teacher-student interaction a priority, but the depth of relationships in small boarding schools reaches far beyond the classroom as teachers often serve additional roles as coaches and dorm parents. Students will have

Editor's note: Lynette Assarsson of the Westtown School wrote this article offering an overview of Quaker education.

While each Friends school has its own unique style and personality, they all have a common purpose: not only to provide a rich and challenging education but also to foster the ideals of community, spirituality, responsibility, and stewardship. A hallmark of the Quaker school experience is the basic belief that we are all teachers and learners and that each child has unique gifts and talents. Students are called upon to discover their own voices and interests within the framework of rigorous, college-preparatory academics. The foundation of the educational experience is built upon the idea that students’ quality of character – what kind of people they are becoming – is as important to their lives and to the world as their intellectual growth and exploration.

Because Quaker education endeavors to be a socially responsible one, Friends schools’ curricula emphasize service, social action, and experiential learning. Can education be socially responsible and academically rigorous at the same time? Educators in Friends schools believe that one is not developed at the expense of the other; instead, they work in tandem to prepare students for college and for life.

This video explains a Quaker education.

How do students learn community, responsibility, and stewardship? By living it! The Quaker belief in the “Inner Light” or that of God in each of us

The staff wrote this article on Boarding Schools in the USA.

Arts programs are an especially appealing aspect of selecting a U.S. boarding school. You may be narrowing your search to U.S. programs because contemporary and traditional art forms flourish in this country, and many of our boarding schools excel in arts instruction and practice.

To be sure, arts programs vary widely. Some programs specialize in visual art (drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, and computer graphics), theatre (acting and theatre design), dance (ballet, jazz, or modern), creative writing, music (vocal or instrumental), or filmmaking. Other schools offer relatively little instruction in the arts and specialize more in outdoor activities, military training, etc.

When choosing a boarding school in the U.S.A., it is important to match your interests and goals, which may change over time, with the school's strengths.

Research each school's offerings to see if the arts are part of your interests and passions. Spend time reading the school's literature and visiting its website. Be sure to look for the qualifications of the teachers, who may themselves be artists, and the range and level of available courses. Examine the facilities available—the theater, studios, and practice rooms. If possible, visit the school yourself.

You should evaluate whether the arts are your priority. Arts courses may be just a part of the well-rounded education that you wish to enjoy. If you want to concentrate on your

Looking at Schools

When searching for the perfect boarding school, visiting campuses is a crucial step. It allows parents and students to get a firsthand experience of the school's atmosphere, facilities, and community.

Do you like large schools or small schools?

• Are you most comfortable in a city, a small town, or the countryside?
• Are you interested in attending a school that has a religious or military orientation?
• Would you like to attend a school that is only for boys or girls?

These are some of the questions to ask before you begin your search for the U.S. boarding school that's right for you and your child.

Single-Sex Schools

• Single-sex schools, those for boys only or girls only, are some of the oldest boarding schools in the U.S.A.
• As a student at one of these schools, you will have the chance to study in a less socially distracting atmosphere.
• For girls, single-sex schools can often provide a greater opportunity to pursue leadership roles in both academic and extracurricular life.

Military Schools

Military secondary schools have the same advantages as other boarding schools.

• However, they also instill the values and importance of teamwork, dedication, and discipline.
• Uniforms and drilling are often required.

Florida Air Academy, located near the Kennedy Space Center, uses modern planes and simulators as part of its flying programs.

• These begin as early as the seventh grade.
• Upon completion of flight training, students may obtain a private pilot's license and