School Life

Introduction

For parents evaluating secondary school options, selecting a boarding school offering an International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) can be a significant decision. The IB program is recognised worldwide for its rigorous curriculum and emphasis on inquiry, global awareness, and university preparation. In 2025, interest in boarding schools offering IB programs continues to grow, making it essential for families to understand what this route involves.

This article explores the advantages of boarding schools with IB programs, how to evaluate them, key questions to ask, and illustrative examples of schools. It is designed for parents, students, and educators seeking reliable, up-to-date guidance.

What Is the IB Program and Why Select It at a Boarding School?

Understanding the IB Program

The IB Organization authorises schools to deliver its programmes, including the Diploma Programme (DP) for students aged 16–19. Schools must meet strict global standards for curriculum quality and student support. International Baccalaureate®

According to the IB website, an IB World School is one that has been authorised to deliver one or more of the IB programmes. ibyb.org

Why Choose a Boarding School Offering the IB Program?

Boarding schools offering IB programs combine the residential environment—often with a diverse, international student body—with the academic depth of the IB Diploma. Key benefits include:

• A structured residential setting that supports students’ learning, social development, and independence.

Deciding to send your child to a boarding school is one of the most significant educational choices a family can make. With the evolving landscape of independent and residential schools in 2025, parents are increasingly asking the right questions about whether this pathway is truly right for their child. This article revisits the core concerns parents raise—financial, emotional, academic, and developmental—and provides updated data, context and suggestions for navigating the decision with confidence.

1. Cost and Affordability

One of the foremost concerns for many families remains the cost of boarding school. In 2025, families considering full-time residential schooling should be cognisant of the following:

• According to the recent update on Boarding School Review, the average tuition (including room and board) for seven-day boarding programmes ranges between $60,000 and $80,000 per year.

• For five-day boarding (students return home on weekends), the national average is closer to $55,000 annually.

• Individual schools may set full boarding fees in the range of $70,000 or more—for example, one school listed tuition at $75,500 for boarding in 2025. Boarding School Review

• On the aid front, nearly 40% of boarding students receive need-based or merit aid at many institutions, with some schools covering full tuition for families under specific income thresholds.

Tips for parents:

• Ask the school for

Boarding School Safety: What Parents Should Ask Before Enrolling

Selecting a boarding school is a significant decision—and ensuring your child’s safety should be among your top priorities. In 2025, parents must navigate evolving risks: mental-health pressures, digital threats, peer dynamics, and facilities issues. This article equips you with the framework and specific questions to ask when assessing boarding school safety.

Why Safety Must Be Proactively Assessed

Boarding schools extend education well beyond the classroom: students live, learn and socialise on campus 24/7. That intensity increases the importance of physical, emotional and digital safety. A recent review noted that boarding schools are now much more mindful of risk management than a decade ago. College Confidential Forums According to one resource, “20 Questions Every Parent Should Ask” about school safety apply directly to boarding settings. School Safety

Rather than assume that “it’s safe”, it is critical to ask concrete questions—and insist on transparency. Below are key domains and questions to guide your conversation with prospective schools.

Core Domains of Safety to Investigate

1. Physical and Campus Security

Questions to ask:

• How is access to dorms and academic buildings controlled? Are there entry card systems, visitor sign-in logs, CCTV?

• What is the ratio of staff to boarders during day and night?

• Are there regular safety drills (fire, lock-down, weather emergency)?

Boarding Schools with the Best College Placement Programs (2025 Update)

For families seeking a boarding school that not only offers excellent academics but also gives students a clear pathway to top colleges, the quality of college placement support can be a decisive factor. In this review, we highlight key features to look for, examine standout boarding schools known for their matriculation success, and offer comparisons and caveats to guide your decision.

What Makes a Boarding School Exceptional at College Placement?

A boarding school’s reputation is often tied closely to how well it helps students gain admission to selective universities. But “good college placement” involves more than a few success stories. The strongest programs typically include:

• Dedicated college counseling: Counselors with expertise in Ivy-level, selective, and international admissions.

• Data transparency: Schools publish detailed matriculation lists, showing where graduates enroll.

• Alumni networks & partnerships: Strong institutional relationships with colleges and past graduates who influence admission pipelines.

• Academic rigor & course offerings: Advanced curricula (e.g., AP, IB, honors, research seminar) that prepare students for competitive admissions.

• Year-by-year advising: Start advising early (9th or 10th grade) rather than only senior year.

• Resume-building support: Opportunities in leadership, research, service, internships, and global exposure.

These components together equip students, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, with the edge

Technology and Screen Time at Boarding Schools: Parent FAQ

As boarding schools evolve in 2025, many are reconsidering how technology and screen use fit within their academic and residential environments. Parents often wonder: How much screen time is appropriate? What rules do schools impose, and how do those policies affect student wellbeing and learning? This FAQ addresses the questions most commonly asked by families considering boarding schools today.

1. Why do boarding schools even care about student screen time?

Boarding schools oversee students nearly 24/7—including dorm life, evening study, weekend leisure, and holidays. Because screens play a central role in young people’s social lives and habits, how a school manages technology can shape academic focus, social development, and mental health.

Concerns that drive policy include:

• Distraction and diminished focus: Phones and social media pull attention away from classes and study time.

• Sleep disruption and health impacts: Excessive screen use—especially before bed—can interfere with sleep and contribute to stress or mood issues. Research shows that when adolescents exceed ~4 hours of screen time per day, risks of anxiety, depression, and inattention increase significantly.

• Mental health and social dynamics: Social media and constant connection can exacerbate social comparison, isolation, cyberbullying, or unhealthy relational patterns.

• Academic trade-offs: A recent Ontario study found that early and heavy screen