Why Boarding School

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

If you have begun to think about sending your son or daughter to boarding school, the transition requires thoughtful planning. Moving from a public or day school environment to a residential school is a significant life change, not just for parents but especially for your child.

You are not simply changing schools. You are changing daily routines, social circles, and levels of independence. In 2026, as more families consider boarding school for its academic rigor and structured environment, preparing your child emotionally and practically is more important than ever.

The following strategies will help make that transition smoother and more successful.

Involve Your Child Early in the Boarding School Process

One of the most effective ways to prepare your child is to involve them from the beginning. Present boarding school as a collaborative decision, not a predetermined outcome.

Students are far more likely to embrace the transition when they feel a sense of ownership. Encourage them to:

• Research schools that match their interests
• Attend virtual or in-person open houses
• Participate in campus tours and student panels
• Ask questions during admissions interviews

In recent years, many boarding schools have expanded virtual engagement options, allowing families to explore campuses remotely before visiting in person. This trend, which accelerated after 2020, remains a standard part of the admissions process in 2026.

Working with an experienced educational consultant can also help families identify appropriate schools and streamline the search. The goal is to

Editor's note: I asked Whitney Retzer, the Senior Associate Director of Admissions at St. Timothy's School, Stevenson, Maryland, to answer some questions which I know most parents have about boarding school. Here are her answers. ~Rob Kennedy

RK: 1. Can't my child get just as good an education in my local public school? Why should I go to all the expense and trouble of sending her to a boarding school?

WR: There are benefits to a private boarding school that cannot be matched. Students are given more support, encouragement, and differentiated instruction that is only possible in small classes and with greater access to teachers. St. Timothy’s school has a teacher-to-student ratio of 8:1 which means students can be in classrooms as small as six students and as large as twelve per teacher.

Also, the majority of St. Timothy’s faculty hold advanced degrees, and many live on campus and are therefore accessible and available to students outside the classroom. In this environment, students truly get the time and attention to flourish as 21st-century learners that are critical-thinking, curious, and caring global ambassadors.

RK: 2. What advantages can a boarding school offer parents looking to send their son or daughter to a private school?

WR: Boarding schools offer students once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to study and collaborate with friends from all over the nation and world. St. Timothy’s has students from 20 different countries and 15 different states who are all living and studying together. Students change roommates twice a year

The International Baccalaureate covers the entire K-12 spectrum with three distinct educational curricula. In this article, we focus on American private schools which offer the Diploma Programme. This rigorous course of studies targets high school students ages 16-19. Colleges and universities the world over recognize the IB Diploma. The International Baccalaureate organization must authorize schools before they can be designated an IB school. The adherence to a strict set of standards and protocols is essentially what makes the IB Diploma so valuable. Let's take a look at boarding schools that offer the IB Diploma Programme.

Annie Wright School, Tacoma, WA

Founded in 1884
Number of students: 820
Grades 9-12. Day students Pre-K-12 ; Boarding 9-12
Religious Affiliation: Non-denominational

Annie Wright School has a PK-8 division for day students that is co-ed. The high school houses two single-gender academic programs with an Upper School for Girls and an Upper School for Boys and a coeducational extra-curricular experience. The campus is located on 10 acres in the north end of Tacoma. The school has been an IB school since 2009. See the Annie Wright School profile for complete details regarding curriculum, sports, extracurricular activities, costs, etc.

Cheshire Academy, Cheshire, CT

Founded in 1794
Number of students: 400
Grades 8-12. Coeducational
Religious Affiliation: Non-denominational

Cheshire Academy is situated on 102 acres in the historic Connecticut town of Cheshire. The school has been an IB school since

From time to time, publications ask us why parents would consider sending their children to boarding school as opposed to leaving them in public school. What follows are my answers to some questions that were recently posed to me. I hope that you find my answers helpful as you weigh the pros and cons of sending your child to boarding school.

1. Why should you consider sending your child to a boarding school, instead of to one of the many private day schools and charter schools in the area?

In a perfect world, most of us parents would decide to send our children to schools that meet all or most of our requirements and needs. When you are fortunate enough to live in an area that has good public schools, then it makes sense to comparison shop carefully. Tune out any prejudices you may have about any kind of school, and try as much as possible to compare apples to apples.

For example, if your child has special needs, you need to look carefully at the quality of instruction that she will receive in order to continue enjoying learning. Boarding schools that offer programs for students with special needs tend to do a good job simply because they offer plenty of individual instruction from experienced, credentialled teachers. The other advantage they have is that most, if not all of their students have some special need of one kind or another. Boarding schools that specialize in learning disabilities such

I have targeted the first three questions at parents just starting to think about private school for their children. I can remember what it was like when we looked into sending our eldest daughter to preschool. We had two primary concerns: paying for her schooling and understanding what the school would teach her. I know that parents today essentially have the same concerns. Possibly, the last two questions might stump people familiar with private schools. I intend to offer some facts and figures as I compare private schools with public schools.

1. How many private schools offer financial aid?

The short answer is that just about every private school offers some form of financial aid. They do that because they are well aware that many families cannot afford to pay the full tuition and fees that they charge. Also, they don't want to admit only children from families who can afford to send them to private schools. Most private schools want to have as diverse a student body as possible. Consequently, there are over a dozen schools that now offer total financial aid to families with incomes below a certain income. These thresholds vary from school to school but typically are in the $75,000 range.

This video offers an overview of Brewster Academy.

I am saving the best for last. The United States has a handful of free private schools. A dozen