Myths About Boarding Schools

There are many myths pertaining to boarding school, but the number one myth is that boarding school is only for the rich and powerful. 


You have to have lots of money to attend boarding school.

Not so; about one third of students attending boarding schools receive financial aid grants that total a significant part of the overall tuition. Today many boarding school students are admitted from public schools and have families with a wider range of income levels. The demographic population represents a much broader socioeconomic, geographic, and ethic group than was previously traditional for boarding school students. What hasn’t changed in boarding schools is the rigorous emphasis on academics and personal growth.

Of course, disbursement of financial aid depends on the school, its resources, and the family's situation, but boarding schools generally do all they can to make their educational services accessible to families. In addition to financial aid grants, loan programs and merit award scholarships are also available. In the past ten years, K-12 private school loans have also emerged to make boarding school education more accessible.

Diversity is uncommon at boarding schools.

Students of color and students from other countries comprise more than a quarter of all boarding school student populations. In fact, the overall population of boarding school students tends to be more diverse than that of the public sector schools. Boarding schools actively seek diversity and attract students from many geographic areas, whereas local schools with no boarding services or facilities are dependent on nearby neighborhoods with a smaller range of ethnic and socioeconomic populations. Since boarding school populations have a high degree of diversity, boarding schools strive to create a range of activities and opportunities for their students to interact with each other. In the classroom, dorm, and refectory, as well as on the playing field, students at boarding schools are always surrounded by great diversity. This in itself adds immensely to the student’s education, allowing him or her to become acquainted with many different cultures and ways of thinking.


Boarding school students don’t have any fun.

One way to dispel this myth is to talk to boarding school students or alumni. While boarding schools do have strict rules and curfews, they also provide a superior environment for making friends and having fun in the process. Boarding schools not only focus strongly on academics, but they also encourage independence as an essential element in student development. Students are not just told what to do; they are given choices in how they will spend their time and what activities they will pursue. Growing as a person, accepting responsibility, pursuing special interests, and determining personal experience both academically and socially are emphasized. The process of increasing independence and meeting new people is one of the most rewarding features of boarding school life.


Boarding schools are for troubled children and adolescents.

Some boarding schools do indeed specialize in assisting students with behavioral or substance abuse challenges. These are called therapeutic boarding schools and are very different from the other type of boarding school. The second type of boarding school is called a college preparatory boarding school. The two kinds of boarding schools can be confused and cause misconceptions about boarding schools in general.

College preparatory boarding schools are designed for students who are motivated and ready to explore new learning and social opportunities. They are good choices for students who are already doing well at school and at home, but who are looking for new challenges. The college preparatory type of boarding school is not an appropriate alternative for the troubled student. The main objective of college preparatory boarding schools is to provide a rigorous academic program to prepare students for college. The schools profiled in the Boarding School Review are all college preparatory boarding schools.

The aim of a therapeutic boarding school is to help students who are having problems at home or in a public school. Preparing students for college can also be a goal of these schools, but they are more geared to the handling of students with behavioral or emotional problems, substance abuse issues, or significant learning disabilities. Therapeutic boarding schools are not listed in the Boarding School Review.

It is hard to keep in touch with family members.

With cell phones and the Internet, it’s easier than ever for boarding school students to stay in touch with their families. The technology of today has redefined communication for everyone. With Internet access available at boarding schools, students can be in daily contact with their parents. Most schools provide Internet access in each boarding house, and some in each bedroom. Depending on school policies, Internet and cell phone use may be restricted to certain hours, but these resources are available and permitted to ensure frequent and easy contact.

 

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