Boarding Schools: True or False

Boarding or residential schools occupy a unique niche in the K-12 educational world. Here are some facts to help you understand how these schools work and who they serve.

1. There Are Over 300 Boarding Schools in the U.S.

Most boarding schools prepare their students for college-level work. Hence the name "college prep" or "prep," which you will see in many school names. Most boarding schools are coeducational. But there are about a hundred schools that are single-sex schools. They accept and teach only boys or girls.

There are several types of boarding schools. Alternative and therapeutic schools serve specific needs, such as emotional and disciplinary issues. Other schools offer programs for students with learning differences such as dyslexia, ADHD, executive functioning challenges, and other special educational needs. They have the skilled, highly credentialed staff to ensure the best possible outcome for your child. They focus on college preparation as well. Military schools combine academics with leadership development and structured environments that many young people and their parents value. As you review the boarding school profiles on this site, you will discover that there is a school for every need and requirement.

Boarding schools today are poles apart from their stereotypical Hollywood images, as havens for children of privilege or refuges for troubled teens. Research continues to show that contemporary boarding schools serve a diverse body of motivated students who study and live in supportive, inclusive academic communities where they learn independence, responsibility, leadership, and collaboration. According to

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

Every parent deals with learning issues as their children progress through school. Not understanding math concepts is one thing, but what if you suddenly realize your child can't read? He cannot process the characters on the page to make sense of them. That's a whole different thing. You need to deal with this issue as it will not disappear. Read the information on the Learning Disabilities Association of America. Understand that there is much research on learning differences and disabilities. Realize that processing information, developing good study habits, and much more are essential aspects of what you are dealing with. The National Center for Learning Disabilities lays out a road map for you.

Learning differences can affect students in different ways. Some children struggle primarily with reading or written language, while others need help with attention, organization, working memory, or executive-function skills. For parents, the important first step is understanding the particular challenges their child faces rather than assuming that one approach will work for every student.

If you let this go on without remediating it, he will have more significant issues as he heads into adolescence. You cannot allow him to become discouraged. It makes so much more sense to begin helping him right now. To delay merely postpones the inevitable.

Assessment

The first thing you need to do is have him assessed professionally. You will receive many opinions

Choosing the right boarding school is a major milestone for any family.

• The process can feel overwhelming, with countless factors to consider, from academics and campus life to logistics and your child’s unique needs.
• In this article, we break down the essential dos and don’ts of school selection, drawing on years of experience and insights to help you make a confident, informed decision.

Here are some considerations to ponder whilst choosing schools and when your child is actually away at school.

DO: Visit schools.

Visiting schools takes a lot of time and effort.

• It is, however, one of the most important parts of the school selection process.
• Use the search tools on this site to develop a preliminary list of schools that interest you and your child.
• If you are located overseas, be sure to research flights to major ports of entry, such as Seattle and Los Angeles on the west coast and Boston, New York, Atlanta, and Miami on the east coast, and Denver and Chicago in the western and midwestern parts of the country.

If you have to make an emergency trip to your child's school, you will understand why this step is so important.

• Once you have developed your preliminary list, refine it to a shortlist of 3-5 schools.
• Then visit these schools to determine if they are indeed a good fit for your child's needs and your requirements.

While this video outlines college visits, the concepts

The "gap year" is more popular than ever, with thousands of students taking an interim year between high school and college to pursue a passion, do meaningful volunteer work, or explore a new culture. However, some students feel that an academic gap year is the best way to spend the year. They know that an academic year will help them improve their grades and standardized test performance, experience structured independence, and develop stronger study and writing skills.

For many of these students, a "post-graduate year" at a boarding school is a wonderful option. According to current 2026 data from Boarding School Review’s PG school listings, more than 1,400 students are currently enrolled as “PG” students at boarding schools in the United States, Canada, and Europe.

The PGs have graduated from their local high school and come to boarding school to join the senior class and become part of the tight-knit PG community on campus. These popular members of the school community are able to participate in varsity athletics and extracurricular activities and have access to the school's college admissions counselors.

In recent years, the PG year has also become more attractive because of increasing college admissions competition and concerns about college readiness. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, first-year college retention and academic preparedness remain major concerns for universities nationwide, leading many families to seek transitional academic programs that provide additional structure before college enrollment.

PG Programs Are Varied in Terms of Academics

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