Boarding School Review Blog

Choosing a School: DO's and DON'TS

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

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

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5 Reasons to Choose a Junior Boarding School

Boarding schools come in two flavors: boarding schools and junior boarding schools.

Selecting the right educational path for your child is a decision that shapes their future. Junior boarding schools provide students with a strong academic foundation, a structured residential experience, and a supportive community—all designed to prepare them for higher-level education and lifelong success. Whether you're considering boarding school for its academic rigor, personal development opportunities, or specialized programs, this article dives into five key reasons why a junior boarding school might be the perfect fit.

• Boarding schools usually offer 9th grade through 12th grade.
• Junior boarding schools are residential schools that offer 9th grade and lower.
• Most junior boarding schools cover 6th grade through 9th grade.
• A few schools take boarders beginning as early as the 3rd grade.
• The Junior Boarding School Association lists ten schools as members.

They offer accelerated learning.

Probably the most compelling reason to send your child to a junior boarding school is to jump-start his academics.

• Having experienced, credentialled teachers in middle school is a huge plus for impressionable adolescents.
• If your son is passionate about math and science, he will have the opportunity to give wings to that passion.
• That's what a junior boarding school can do awfully well.

Junior boarding school students discover that despite all the pressures of adolescence, it is cool to be smart.

• Learning is challenging and stimulating, and always full of discovery.
• Your son

Most American families thinking about boarding school tend to stick to schools located within the United States. But, depending on your circumstances and inclinations, you might want to think about Canadian boarding schools. Here are five reasons why.

Canada's boarding schools have quietly built strong reputations among families seeking rigorous academics, diverse student populations, and access to some of North America's most beautiful landscapes. While many U.S. families automatically focus their boarding school search domestically, Canada's schools offer a compelling alternative that combines familiar educational standards with the benefits of an international experience.

For students interested in broadening their perspectives without traveling halfway around the world, a Canadian boarding school can provide the ideal balance of independence, academic challenge, and cultural enrichment.

The foreign factor

Canada is not the U.S. It is a sovereign nation with a multi-ethnic population of approximately 41.5 million people. Most of the population resides along the U.S.-Canadian border. The three principal cities are Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal. Each has its own particular characteristics and attributes which you can discover as you explore their websites.

Canada is close to the United States. Most major Canadian cities are short flights from most American cities. So you don't have to fret about getting there quickly if something happens to your child. You do need to have proper identification both to enter Canada and, perhaps more importantly, to return home to the United States.

Canadians and Americans share much in common. The shops and restaurants are similar