How to Apply to Boarding School

Hazing used to be widespread years ago in all kinds of organizations, including boarding schools. While it occurs much less frequently, hazing is still out there. So, we asked Dr. Hank Nuwer, a nationally recognized authority on the subject of hazing, to share his expertise with us.

We parents always worry about what goes on when we are not around to supervise our children. We all know that getting into mischief is part of growing up. Inevitably, it is going to happen. But we also want to know that there are well-known limits and accepted standards of behavior, especially when we send our children off to boarding school.

Hazing is a practice that used to be rampant in schools and organizations just about everywhere. Fortunately, in these times, in which smartphones, social media, and reporting systems make it extremely difficult to keep bad news out of the public eye, hazing is far less tolerated in boarding schools. That is a positive turn of events.

As Dr. Nuwer clearly notes, boarding schools are indeed virtually free of hazing. That is because boarding schools insist on a high standard of supervision and community life designed to protect their students from any kind of harm. Most schools have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to hazing. It is one more reason why boarding schools are safe schools. They take their in loco parentis responsibilities very seriously.

Is it true that hazing is no longer found in U.S. boarding schools?

Why should you consider sending your child to boarding school? Wouldn't she do just as well at day school?

• This is a common question for parents to ponder as they review their private school options.
• You have made the decision to send him to a private school in principle.
• Now it is just a matter of working out the details.

There are many reasons to go to boarding school. Academics, athletics, and extracurricular activities are just a few of the considerations. But there's more. Much more.

Here are the 10 top reasons why you should go to boarding school.

10. You will get great teachers who love to teach.

• Boarding schools traditionally hire teachers with degrees in their subjects.
• A large number of these experienced teachers also have advanced degrees in their field.
• Typically, all are passionate about their subject and love to teach it to young people.

Because discipline is rarely a problem in boarding schools, these talented teachers get to teach without having to be traffic cops or paper pushers like their public school counterparts.

9. You will have great sports and sports facilities.

• Most boarding schools have amazing sports facilities.
• The range of sports and teams is mind-boggling.
• You will find everything from squash to crew, hockey to basketball. Natatoria are common. So are equestrian facilities.
• Many boarding school fitness facilities make commercial fitness establishments look tame.
• The varsity teams travel regionally and globally to compete. (Think Henley and

This article has been updated to reflect 2026 data and recent developments

There is a body of research that suggests that girls do learn differently from boys. So, if that is the case, maybe you should consider a girls' school for your daughter instead of sending her off to a coed school. Here are some points to ponder.

For families exploring this option in 2026, Boarding School Review lists 19 all-girls boarding schools serving 5,097 students in the United States and Canada. As with any school choice, however, the individual student's needs, interests, and personality should guide the decision.

1. She will have fewer distractions.

The social static and inherent distractions that occur when you mix adolescent boys and girls in a coeducational school just do not happen in a girls' school. The social expectations and stereotypes can be broken down. There will be time enough later for the distractions that members of the opposite sex provide. Fewer distractions mean a girl can focus on being herself, finding out who she is, exploring new worlds, lines of thinking, and so much more. She can think outside the box with relative impunity. And that is a good thing.

Single-sex education has a long and distinctive history in the annals of Western education.

It also has its dark side when you consider that only children of the upper classes were taught how to read and write. When the founders of this country began to grapple with the realities of building and advancing a nation built on democratic principles, they soon realized that education was one of the keys to future success.

The Phillips family, for example, invested substantial amounts of money to establish the now famous schools - Andover and Exeter - which bear their name. Many other visionaries did the same thing or followed their example, as you can see from this list of schools established in the 1700s. Those first schools were single-sex schools. Boys' schools. Girls didn't matter back then, apparently.

This vision statement from Woodberry Forest School in Woodberry Forest, Virginia, states the argument succinctly:

"Since the school’s founding in 1889, Woodberry Forest has sought to develop young men of intellectual thoroughness and principled integrity equipped with the capacity and eagerness to serve as leaders, learners, and citizens. Consistent with the historical founding of the school on Christian principles, we aspire to instill in every boy a deep sense of empathy, an enduring self-confidence buttressed by genuine humility, and an enthusiastic pursuit of lifelong learning marked by curiosity and adaptability. Above all, we aim for