Getting Started

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

Boarding schools come in several different formats. There are single-sex schools for boys and for girls. There are military schools. Several schools offer specialized instruction for students with learning differences. Others have strong sports or arts programs. So, to help you choose the type of boarding school that meets your needs and requirements, here are some commercials for each kind of school. After reading these, I suggest you explore the types of schools that interest you using the powerful search tool we have built into the splash page of this site. In 2026, families can also use Boarding School Review's guide to comparing boarding schools in 2026 to compare important criteria.

Boys' Schools

"Unleash Their Potential at Our Boys' Boarding School!"

Are you looking for a school that understands and caters to the unique needs and strengths of your son? Look no further! Our Boys' Boarding School offers an environment designed specifically for boys to thrive academically, emotionally, and socially. Here's why you should consider sending your son to our school:

Tailored Education

Our curriculum is designed with a focus on boys' learning styles, encouraging active engagement and hands-on experiences. We provide a challenging academic program that nurtures their intellectual growth and fosters critical thinking skills.

Positive Male Role Models

Our dedicated faculty and staff create a supportive atmosphere where boys can develop healthy relationships with positive male role models. These mentors understand the

The answer to that question is a firm recommendation: consider all that a military school offers your young person. Yes, these days military schools educate young women and young men. New Mexico Military Institute describes its mission: “To educate, train, and prepare young men and women to be leaders capable of critical thinking and sound analysis, leaders who possess uncompromising character, and leaders able to meet challenging physical demands.”

Discipline

Just about anything in life worth doing well requires lots of discipline. Discipline takes hard work, persistence, stamina, and time. In an era when instant gratification seems endemic, good old-fashioned discipline lays a solid foundation for success in adult life. Group discipline quickly grows into a pattern of self-discipline. After several years of training, your child will know what she must do to accomplish her objectives. Military schools serve up discipline as regularly as they serve breakfast.

Missouri Military Academy sums it up very well:

“Whether learning in the classroom, completing community service, performing on the athletic field, or interacting socially, we always expected our cadets to do the right thing–acting with respect, responsibility, honor, and generosity. A Missouri Military Academy diploma means a student has gone beyond the mastery of the subjects necessary to succeed in college and possesses the self-discipline and values that will help him succeed in all aspects of life.”

This video offers an overview of the Culver Academies.

First of all, let's understand what a therapeutic school is. A therapeutic school is a special school designed to help troubled children, typically teenagers, with various emotional and other problems. The problems have usually gotten to the stage where the parents can no longer manage their child effectively. They've done counseling. They've tried more approaches to discipline than they knew existed. As a result, they start looking for other solutions. Sending their child off to a therapeutic school sounds like it might be the right answer.

Therapeutic schools come in a variety of forms. They can be non-residential and residential. For the purposes of this article, we are going to focus on residential schools. Of course, which kind of therapeutic school that you decide is appropriate for your child depends on a variety of considerations. For a detailed description of the various types of therapeutic schools, see Therapeutic Program Descriptions on the Independent Education Consultants Association's website.

When to consider a therapeutic school

As a rule, parents probably should consider a therapeutic school for a child challenged by emotional, behavioral, substance abuse, or academic issues, or any other challenge that the local public school or private schools cannot handle effectively. In other words, he cannot receive the consistent treatment and individual attention he needs in a local school and the home setting. Whether to send the child away to a school with a highly structured environment where she will receive the treatment she needs 24/7 is

When we started thinking about sending our eldest daughter to boarding school, we really had no idea what a boarding school was. Yes, we understood the concept, but we had never been to boarding school. We had no clue about curriculum, sports, extracurricular activities, dorm life, or anything else, for that matter. We knew boarding school was expensive, but we figured it was worth it.

Families researching boarding schools today have access to more information than ever before. Virtual tours, student panels, social media, and online admissions resources make it easier to compare schools before scheduling campus visits. Organizations such as The Association of Boarding Schools provide resources that help families better understand boarding school life, admissions, and financial aid.

In any case, the following articles distill our experiences with boarding school. The best advice I can give you is: "Don't be intimidated by boarding schools." Most of what you have heard, read, or seen about them in the media is probably a lot of "fake news."

Visit schools online and see what they offer. Spend time exploring the academics that most parents consider the most important part of high school anyway. Familiarize yourself with the athletics and extracurricular activities that boarding schools offer. Then, which is so important, visit schools that meet your needs and requirements. Yes, you really must set foot on the campuses to see if the school community is a good fit for your child. Resources from the National Association

Hardly a day goes by without an inquiry on our Boarding School Review Facebook page asking about schools in a particular city or region of Africa.

Inquiries about Schools

• These inquiries can be as general as "I'm looking for a school to attend."
• Some people want to send their child to a boarding school but are concerned about the cost. "I need a boarding school...cheap and affordable boarding school."
• Some ask for schools in a specific location. "Any boarding schools around Mafikeng?" (Mafikeng is the capital of the North-West Province of South Africa.) "I'm looking for a place in Form 3 in any boarding school in Zimbabwe."

With those inquiries in mind, here are some resources to help you find private schools in Africa.

The Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa

The Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa (ISASA) bills itself as "the largest association of independent schools in South Africa and the Southern African region." Its website has an easy-to-use school finder.

Association of International Schools in Africa

The Association of International Schools in Africa (AISA) describes itself as "a collaborative learning community of accredited, internationally minded schools in Africa, which provides targeted services and relevant resources, facilitates innovative programmes, and connects people."

Its website contains a directory of over 80 member schools in Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Morocco, Namibia, Niger,