Boarding School Review Blog

From the 1600s to the 1800s there was no such thing as public education. The 12 years of grade school through high school we are accustomed to in the 20th-century did not exist. Small private schools, not public schools, provided schooling for young people.

The Bible was the focus of learning in colonial times. Most lessons were practical ones learned in the home and in the fields. Robert Peterson's article Education in Colonial America explains how education worked back then.

Colonial education

Education in colonial days was quite stratified. Boys learned core subjects such as reading and math. Girls learned the domestic arts. Only white children received an education until slavery was abolished. Teachers were frequently well-intentioned men who themselves did not have much formal education. Yes, back then, most teachers were men. Colonial Era Education in the United States in K12 Academics offers a detailed look at schools in the late 17th and early 18th-centuries. Once again, it is important to note that there were no public schools or compulsory education in colonial America. Schools sprouted up where there was a need for them in the population centers of the day such as Boston and Philadelphia. Otherwise, education took place in the home.

This video offers an overview of education in colonial America.

Religious schools

Religious missionaries of the Roman Catholic Church established the first private schools

Boarding Schools in a Minute gives an overview of independent residential schools in North America. There is much more to boarding schools than these brief headlines convey. Hopefully, these bullets will encourage you to explore this very special education option in depth.

Approximately 95% of boarding schools are high schools serving grades 9 through 12, with many schools offering a Post-Graduate Year or Grade 13. A handful of junior boarding schools serve grades 6-9.

Most boarding schools operate within a traditional school year of September through May. A few schools begin their year in August. A couple end their school year in June. Some schools also offer extensive summer programs that allow students to experience boarding school life before enrolling full-time.

In 2026, there are approximately 300 boarding schools in North America. Tuition at these schools ranges from free to well over $80,000 annually. Boarding schools come in many shapes and sizes. Some are small, with 125 or so students in grades 10 through 12. Others are large, with over 1,200 students in grades 9 through 12. Most fall into what is best described as a medium-sized school with a population of 350-450 students. Organizations such as the Association of Boarding Schools (TABS) provide extensive information about boarding school education and the admissions process.

Many boarding schools are non-sectarian, i.e., they adhere to no particular religious denomination's teachings and views. What they

Back in the 80s, when our daughters applied to boarding schools, the process was entirely paper-driven. The schools sent us thick envelopes full of forms we had to complete. Then, we mailed the completed applications to the schools. Thirty-five years later, I am happy to report that most schools' application processes have gone digital. That makes things so much easier.

These days, there are essentially four ways to apply to boarding schools:

1. Complete the application forms which the school has on its website.
2. Complete the common application, which you can find on the SSAT website.
3. Complete the common application, which you can find on the TABS website.
4. Complete the paper application forms you downloaded or received from the school.

Applications on Individual School Websites

If you are applying to just one or two schools, then it might make the most sense to simply go to those schools' websites and complete the applications right there. Many schools allow you to complete the main application form online. You will still have to download teacher recommendation forms and requests for school transcripts, as well as address and put stamps on the envelopes required.

You can also pay the application fee online with your credit or debit card. But, if you choose to use the school's application forms, remember those are specific to that school. They cannot be used for applications to other schools. That's the fundamental difference between applying on a school website versus using one of the typical applications.

It is fascinating to delve into the beginnings of a boarding school. It is when the school is so malleable and strongly influenced by its founder's zeal and lofty goals. The community is tiny compared to what it will morph into over the years, indeed over the centuries in some cases. The hardships and sacrifices that were endured are almost unimaginable in this day and age, when new schools often open with significant financial backing, modern facilities, and comprehensive strategic plans already in place.

I hope you will explore these five schools against the backdrop I have set out above. They are unique, as boarding schools always are. They have great personalities, character, and rich histories. Yet they share a common theme and purpose: to provide their students with the best well-rounded education so that their graduates can make a difference in today's world.

If you enjoy learning about the traditions and evolution of boarding schools, Boarding School Review's article, 5 Founders and Their Boarding Schools, provides additional historical context.

Annie Wright School, Tacoma, Washington

• Founded: 1884
• Enrollment: Approximately 800 students
• Grades: Preschool-Grade 12
• Boarding: Girls, Grades 9-12
• Religious Affiliation: Independent
• Setting: Urban

Overview: The school was established by Episcopal Bishop John Adams Paddock with the financial support of businessman Charles Barstow Wright. Bishop Paddock named the school in honor of Wright's daughter, Annie. The school operated as a girls' school for decades before expanding its educational offerings. Today, Annie Wright Schools include