Here are the best boarding schools in the USA, 2023, and the ranking is based on reliable sources and experience-based views from students and other independent reviews.
Before we commence this brief article, it is important to list a number of factors that will be helping us know the top boarding schools in the United States.
It has to be best for parents, guardians, and students – to make the most informed decision about their schooling anywhere in the country.
They include:
- The infrastructure/facility
- The student-teacher ratio
- SAT/ACT score
- The overall quality of college
- The student-teacher ratio
- The boarding school ratings, and lost more.
Even those we are focusing on boarding school, boarding is a singular factor in the things that make an entire boarding school, a great one.
To proceed, let us be clear on what you mean by a boarding school.
What is a Boarding School in the US?
A boarding school is an institute that provides educational services to the students on its premises. Boarding schools are great because the students stay within the school and aren’t distracted by activities outside the school.
These schools are equipped with the required tools to house students. And those tools are the feeding plan for students, education, and recreation sites on the ground for its students.
Parents feel at ease when their child’s needs are met in the schools, they enrolled them in.
One additional motivation is that boarding schools in the United States are required to meet up to the standards set by the USA educational and regulations boards.
In the United States, secure and good quality life – and education of the people always stand paramount.
Related Post: 15 Best Boarding Schools in Texas and Location
10 Best Boarding High Schools in the USA
Great boarding high schools produce qualified students. Here is a list of the best boarding schools in the United States:
1. Phillips Exeter Academy
This academy is located in New Hampshire. She is also known as Exeter. They have been supplying the best minds that get enrolled at Harvard. Being a coed school, Philips Exeter Academy has classes for boys and girls in grades 9 – 12.
As a student, you get to choose from more than 450 courses in 19 subject areas in true Exeter style. Their learning is dialogue-based and interactive. The traditional textbooks are tossed aside and a student-friendly learning process is imbibed.
Tuition, room, and board fees: $61,121/per year for boarding students, and $47,739 for day students
Financial aid: Since 2007, the school has adopted to start up a financial aid initiative for families that have incomes below $75,000 or less.
Notable alumni: Mark Zuckerberg (Founder of Facebook), Dan Brown (author), and Christopher Kimball.
2. Phillips Academy (Andover)
This great academy is located in Andover, Massachusetts, and here is why it’s amongst the best high school boarding schools in the United States.
Phillips Academy Andover founded in 1778, has been supplying the brightest minds to Yale University. It is also the first private secondary school to establish and implement a need-blind admission policy. They are also known as Andover.
The academy is always in competition with the Phillips Exeter Academy. Andover is composed of highly qualified staff as 80% of them are advanced degree-holders.
They are also known for a wide array of music classes and have a work-duty program where their students participate in.
Tuition, accommodation fees: $48,850
Financial aid: They offer financial aid to 47% of its students yearly.
Some of their notable alumni are George W. Bush, Humphrey Bogart, Jack Lemmon, Julia Alvarez.
3. The Putney School
The Putney School is located in Vermont. They offer education to students in grades 9-12. Students here are placed in a line of thinking and acting actively in their lives by being encouraged to pursue their personal academic interests, as well as to “present their thinking in coherent and compelling ways.”
Their hands-on education manner has helped them produce graduates who have gained admission into ivy league schools like Yale, Dartmouth, Columbia, and Cornell, as well as schools like Oberlin, Sarah Lawrence, and Boston College Yale, Dartmouth, Columbia, and Cornell, as well as schools like Oberlin, Sarah Lawrence, and Boston College.
Aside from the academics, students participate in an arts-based program two nights a week.
Tuition, room, and board fees: $50,8000
Financial aid: They offer financial aid to about 43% of its students.
Notable alumni: Reid Hoffman, Nell Newman, Felicity Huffman.
Related post: 20 Best Boarding Schools in North Carolina NC | Ranking
4. Church Farm School
Church Farm School, was founded in 1918 and is located in Exton Pennsylvania.
The school has an Episcopal heritage and it is loyal to it. Therefore this means that an is attendance at weekly chapel services and meetings compulsory.
Being a student here, you will be involved in a C.O.R.E. (Challenge Of Required Experience) program, which provides opportunities for community service, outdoor experiences, leadership training, and exposure to cultural arts.
Their graduates attend schools such as Carnegie Mellon, Cornell, Emory, MIT, Princeton, Rice, Notre Dame, and Penn State University.
Tuition, accommodation, and board: $34,300
Financial aid: They offer financial aid and this is received by 90% of its students.
Notable alumni: Talmadge O’Neill, Chris Raab (actor), Michael Eric (NBA).
5. Episcopal High School
They are located in Alexandria, Virginia which is seven miles away from the white house.
Here is the information you should know about that makes Episcopal High School one of the Best High School Boarding Schools in the United States.
Being located close to the nation’s capital means that as a student you will be involved in the Washington Program, which offers four concentrations: Public Policy, Sustainability, Cultural Awareness, and Entrepreneurship.
Another point worthy of note is that 85% of faculty hold advanced degrees and teach over 140 courses.
They have produced students who have been admitted into William and Mary, Duke, Wake Forest, Washington & Lee, UVA, UNC-Chapel Hill, and Sewanee in high numbers.
Tuition, room, and board: $49,700
Financial aid: they offer financial aid to their students. Only about 32% of its students receive this aid.
6. St. Paul’s School
This beauty of a school was founded in 1856 and is located in Concord, New Hampshire. The school is an all-boarding school for students from grades 9-12.
Classes are interactive and rigorous as they follow the Harkness method. This has helped them produce minds that have gotten admitted into Georgetown, Brown, Columbia, Dartmouth, and Harvard.
Tuition, room, and board fees: $52,200
Financial aid: They offer financial aid to its students whose household income is $80,000 or less. This aid is received by 33% of the students yearly.
Notable alumni: Secretary of State John Kerry, John Jacob Astor IV, Judd Nelson.
7. Asheville School
Founded in 1900, the Asheville school is located in Asheville, North Carolina.
Asheville is a private coed boarding school that offers classes to those in 9-12 grades. Here the students are taught to challenge themselves personally and academically.
As a student in this school, you will be required to write papers with chosen topics and be involved in 40 hours of service to an organization. This is what makes Asheville be amongst the best high school boarding schools in the United States.
Tuition, accommodation, and board fees: $47,375
Financial aid: they offer some form of financial aid to 30% of its students.
Notable alumni: Dr. D. Ralph Millard (plastic surgery pioneer), Edward Gaylord (media mogul), Pete Dye, Jr. (world-renowned golf course designer), Jennifer Phar-Davis (fastest hiker through the Appalachian Trail).
8. Shattuck-St. Mary’s School
Shattuck-St. Mary’s School was founded in 1858 and it is located in Faribault. Here are some of the reasons why it is on the list of best high school boarding schools in the United States.
The school offers classes to those in 6-12 grades and has imbibed a unique blend of tradition and innovativeness in her students. Academically your child would get a sound education here because the school offers experiential programs that train and build up your child into a great leader.
The school has also produced minds that attend universities such as Penn State, Boston University, University of Washington, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Due to the school’s episcopal background, it offers weekly chapel services, classes in religion, and the saying of grace before lunch.
Tuition, accommodation, and board fees: $45,425
Financial aid: Shattuck-St. Mary’s School offers financial aid to its students. About 100% of its students receive such aid.
Notable alumni: Townes Van Zandt (poet, musician), Brent Musburger (sportscaster), Jimmy Chin (National Geographic photographer and mountain climber), and numerous NHL players and Olympians in ice hockey.
9. St. Andrew’s School
St. Andrew’s is located in Middletown, Delaware. They offer educational classes to grades 9-12. Here the students are offered family-style meals during the week, this creates a close relationship between the students.
Academics are innovative and rigorous. They produce minds that attend Ivy League schools such as NYU and Vanderbilt. The school imbibes the spirit of the Oxford tutorial method into its students.
St. Andrew was featured amongst “The 30 Best Christian Boarding Schools.”
Tuition, accommodation, and board: $53,500
Financial aid: The school offers financial aid to about 47% of its students.
Notable alumni: Erin Burnett (CNN journalist), Loudon Wainright, Jr. (Lifemagazine columnist), Eric Boateng (basketball player).
10. The Thacher School
The Thacher School was founded in 1889 in Ojai, California. It is the oldest coed boarding school in the state.
Being a student at Thacher means that you are taught to value good hard work through the Horse Program. This develops their self-esteem along with problem-solving skills and responsibility.
They offer both Day and Boarding options to students, so as a parent you get to pick one.
Tuition for boarders: $58,920
Tuition for Day Students: $40,970
Financial aid: None
Notable Alumni: Howard Hughes (aviator, filmmaker, and industrialist), Thornton Wilder (writer), Noah Wyle (actor).
Do well to review the school website for the Boarding High Schools in the USA that interests you. Also, feel free to ask questions as we are available to tender useful answers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Boarding Schools in the US
Why Should I go to a boarding schools
Here are some interesting facts about why kids are sent to boarding schools by their parents:
- Parents want to give theirchildrena better academic (or athletic) education
- Some parents want to start training their children on how to live independently
Fun fact: Mark Elliot Zuckerberg, the founder of the world’s largest social media network Facebook, went to a boarding school.
Things to look out for before enrolling in a boarding school
- Will the boarding high school prepare me or my child for the future?
- Can my child have the best education there?
- Is the school affordable?
These questions should be on your mind because knowing the answers will help you secure your child’s future by placing him or her in the best school.
People also ask about the most affordable boarding schools in the US and that will make the next question/answer.
What is the cheapest boarding school in the US?
- St. Bernard Preparatory School Photo – The Abbey church is located at the center of campus. …
- Camden Military Academy Photo – A proud family!
- Excelsior School Photo.
- Saint Stanislaus High School Photo – Mr.
- Southern Preparatory Academy Photo – Alabama’s Military School for Boys – Since 1898.
Are there free boarding schools in USA?
Answer: There are not many free boarding schools in America. It is also important that those which are free will always have lower acceptance rate, when compared to the number of competitive applicants.
Most of the free boarding schools in the United States are funded by the governments – so, it may really matter based on your state ( where you are eligible).
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FAQs
What is the #1 boarding school in the US? ›
#1 Phillips Academy Andover
It was founded in 1778 and has a long tradition of academic excellence, with notable alumni including George W. Bush and Julie Andrews. Phillips Academy Andover is also one of the most selective boarding schools in the country, with an acceptance rate of just 13%.
Research has also shown that boarding school students feel more prepared for college and university than their peers. They are also more likely to earn advanced degrees like a Master's or PhD and advance to more prominent roles in their careers and communities.
What is the 1 best high school in America? ›- #1. Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. Alexandria, VA.
- #2. Academic Magnet High School. North Charleston, SC.
- #3. Signature School. Evansville, IN.
Indeed, approximately 30 boarding schools have acceptance rates of less than 30%. So, apply to an extremely competitive boarding school if you must. Just take the precaution of applying to several much less competitive schools.
What is the hardest boarding school to get into? ›1. (TIE) Groton School.
What is the richest boarding school in America? ›1. Woodside Priory School, CA - $81,240. The number one school on our list is California's Woodside Priory School, the most expensive boarding school in the US. Founded in 1957, the Priory is a co-educational day and boarding school that teaches children from grades 6-12.
What age is best for boarding school? ›What age is best for boarding school? It all depends on when your child is ready, but here in the U.S., the most common entry points for boarding school are 9th and 10th grades, so students are between the ages of 14 and 16. Many schools offer the option of a post-graduate year for 18 or 19-year-olds.
Why do parents send their child to boarding school? ›Boarding school is a holistic approach to education by granting your child the space to develop new interests, make friends, grow their education, and give them the life skills they will need to be successful.
Is it worth sending your child to boarding school? ›Boarding school offers kids more ongoing supervision than public schools — If you're a busy parent with a demanding full-time career, it's natural to worry about your child's safety and well-being during your long hours at work. Many boarding schools provide regular supervision and care you desire for your children.
What is the hardest high school in America? ›| School | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | International Academy*, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. | 6.323 |
| 2. | Stanton College Prep*, Jacksonville, Fla. | 5.639 |
| 3. | Paxon*, Jacksonville, Fla. | 4.668 |
| 4. | Alabama School of Fine Arts, Birmingham | 4.567 |
What is the hardest high school class in America? ›
- Physics 1. As one of the hardest high school classes, this course includes not only algebra but also scientific inquiry and physics. ...
- Environmental Science. ...
- Chemistry. ...
- U.S. Government and Politics. ...
- U.S. History. ...
- Human Geography. ...
- European History. ...
- Statistics.
- Step 1: Research Boarding Schools. The first step is to research boarding schools in the area you want. ...
- Step 2: Call Schools. ...
- Step 3: Prepare for Your Visit. ...
- Step 4: Visit Your Shortlist. ...
- Step 5: Apply to Your Favorites.
Continue to learn about each school and begin to narrow your list down to about 7-10 boarding schools that fit you best. Keep in mind that it typically costs a fee of $50 to apply to each boarding school - be sure to discuss this aspect of your application process with your parents so you are on the same page.
How do I know if boarding school is right for me? ›- You have big goals. ...
- You're passionate about something. ...
- You're independent. ...
- You love the outdoors.
- Le Rosey, Switzerland. Le Rosey is a boarding school located in Rolle, Switzerland and is considered one of the most prestigious and expensive schools in the world. ...
- Aiglon College, Switzerland. ...
- St. ...
- The Lawrenceville School, United States. ...
- Choate Rosemary Hall, United States.
- Amadeus International School Vienna, Austria.
- St. ...
- Eton College, United Kingdom. ...
- Bromsgrove International School, Thailand. ...
- The International School of Catalunya, Spain. ...
- Phillips Academy Andover, Massachusetts, United States. ...
- Phillips Exeter Academy, New Hampshire, United States. ...
Wealthy schools like the University of Notre Dame, Washington and Lee University, and Boston College are among the hardest colleges to get into, while schools like Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Saint Michael's College, and Roger Williams University are less selective, with acceptance rates above 85%.
Are there free boarding schools in us? ›The fact is, there aren't many free boarding schools in America. The ones that are free, generally, are very competitive to gain acceptance to. Most are publicly-funded, so eligibility is based on your location (state).
Should I send my 12 year old to boarding school? ›Ultimately, parents want the best for their children. But you need to understand that every child is unique and different. While the age of 8 to 13 years is considered appropriate for sending your child to a boarding school, you need to decide after thoroughly assessing your child's personality and character.
How many years do you spend in boarding school? ›Boarding school pupils are typically referred to as "boarders". Children may be sent for one year to twelve years or more in boarding school, until the age of eighteen.
Does boarding school affect children? ›
Many people with boarding school syndrome will show some or all the following symptoms and traits: Problems with anger, depression, or anxiety. Failure to sustain relationships and difficulties with emotional intimacy. Fear of abandonment and/or separation anxiety.
What happened to parents who refused to let their children go to boarding schools? ›Parents who refused to send their children to the schools could be legally imprisoned and deprived of resources such as food and clothing which were scarce on reservations. Three of the 25 Indian boarding schools run by the U.S. government were in California.
Why boarding school is a good choice? ›As students live on school grounds, getting to class is convenient and hassle-free. Parents do not have to worry about the long commutes to school, giving them more free time to focus on their careers. Boarding schools are equipped with conducive living spaces, countless amenities and transport facilities.
Is boarding school good for kids with ADHD? ›Inside ADHD Boarding Schools
Judy Bass, a certified educational planner with Bass Educational Services in Maryland, says a boarding school may be a strong option for a student with ADHD who cannot get proper educational support in their community.
They learn the importance of tolerance and respect for differing views and perspectives through the bonds they develop in such a close-knit educational setting. According to Forbes, students who attend boarding schools succeed significantly higher than private day and public school students.
Why day is better than boarding school? ›Day school advantages
Saves money on normal child expenses (covered by boarding fees). Overall tuition is significantly lower (for schools that offer both day and boarding, day tuition is about half that of boarding). Frees family from dealing with transportation to school and activities.
- Phillips Exeter Academy. ...
- Phillips Academy Andover. ...
- Los Angeles' Harvard-Westlake High School. ...
- Vegas, Nevada's Bishop Gorman High School. ...
- 5. California's Concord De La Salle High School. ...
- Santa Ana, California's Mater Dei High School. ...
- New York's Horace Mann School.
According to the MIT admissions website, Plano West Senior High School in North Texas has sent the most students to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The school has been feeding the most students to MIT since 1983. Its students have been selected to compete against 39 other finalists for a $250,000 prize.
Who went to Harvard at 13? ›Khadijah Williams '13 never was an average kid. Homeless since the age of six, she lived in and out of shelters, attending 12 schools in 12 years. The story of her Harvard acceptance—and the determination and focus that got her there—captivated many, including Oprah Winfrey, who had Williams as a guest on her show.
What is the best public high school in america 2023? ›Niche, a site that combines ratings from students, parents and alumni with quantitative data, just released its high school rankings for 2023 and found that the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics to be the best in the nation.
What is the most failed high school class? ›
Algebra is the single most failed course in high school, the most failed course in community college, and, along with English language for nonnative speakers, the single biggest academic reason that community colleges have a high dropout rate.
Which high school year is the most stressful? ›While each year of high school will have its own stressors, many will say junior year is the most challenging. Junior year can be the hardest for several reasons, but with the right prep and expectations, high school students can make the hardest year just a little easier.
What is the most stressful grade in high school? ›Junior year is often thought of as the most stressful year as a highschooler. Students have a demanding workload from AP classes and standardized tests like the ACT and SAT.
Which high school year is the easiest? ›Going into high school, many students hear that freshman year is the “easiest” year. Some think that colleges don't consider it as much as they do one's sophomore, junior, and senior years. While this is typically true, it doesn't mean that students should entirely dismiss the importance of their freshman year.
Is boarding school stressful? ›Multiple factors may lead to stress for students staying in boarding schools, including feeling of homesickness (Fisher et al., 1986; Thurber and Walton, 2007), academic pressure and lack of parental support. Stress significantly contributes to the development of mental health issues.
What boarding school has the lowest acceptance rate? ›#1 Phillips Academy Andover
Phillips Academy Andover is also one of the most selective boarding schools in the country, with an acceptance rate of just 13%.
Boarding school students mainly share a bedroom with one other person up to 16 years old, although 16 to 18 year olds have their own bedroom. Younger children in some schools share a dorm room with 4 pupils sleeping on 2 separate bunk beds.
Do you get your own room at boarding school? ›Each student is provided with their own specific bed space or bedroom, of course, for that school year. Flexible and occasional boarders may sometimes need to be adaptable to whatever is available.
Do you get homesick at boarding school? ›Although homesickness at boarding school doesn't happen to every single boarding school student, most do report being homesick at least once during their first year. There can be many reasons why a boarding student may feel homesick, but it's important that students learn how to deal with it early on.
Who is the best boarding school? ›- The Doon School. Dehradun, Uttarakhand. ...
- JAIN International Residential School. Bangalore | Bengaluru, Karnataka. ...
- Welham Girls' School. Dehradun, Uttarakhand. ...
- Mayo College. Ajmer, Rajasthan. ...
- The Asian School- Dehradun. ...
- The Mann School. ...
- Bishop Cotton School. ...
- MIT Vishwashanti Gurukul - An IB World School.
What rank is Julia Landon Middle school? ›
Julia Landon College Preparatory & Leadership Development Sc 2021 Rankings. Julia Landon College Preparatory & Leadership Development Sc is ranked #38 in Florida Middle Schools.
What is the most elite private school in the world? ›The most expensive school is Institut Le Rosey.
Also known as Rosey, this private boarding school is located in Rolle, Switzerland, built on the site of another building from the 14th century known as the Chateau de Rosey. Due to its prestigious reputation, it has been nicknamed “The School of Kings.”
Several experts believe that a child above the age of 9 is fit for admission to a boarding school. However, one needs to pay attention to the fact that not all children have the same pattern of development. Everyone has different needs, which they might seek at stages differing from that of others.
Is boarding school good for ADHD? ›Inside ADHD Boarding Schools
Judy Bass, a certified educational planner with Bass Educational Services in Maryland, says a boarding school may be a strong option for a student with ADHD who cannot get proper educational support in their community.
Choosing CBSE based on language could give your child a better understanding in their initial years. However, the ICSE board can help your child set a strong foundation for foreign studies and communication in the future.
What is the #1 middle school in America? ›The Davidson Academy
#1 Best Public Middle Schools in America.
- Stowe Middle School.
- Minnesota Math and Science Academy.
- Lincoln Akerman School.
- Challenge Magnet School-Cherry Creek School District No. ...
- Rabbi Pesach Raymon Yeshiva.
- North Star Middle School.
- Harmon Middle School.
- Falmouth Middle School.
Stanford University has the lowest acceptance rate of all universities on this list. Its admission rate for 2021 was 3.9%.
What is the hardest school education in the world? ›Which are the hardest education systems in the world? Ans. The countries with the hardest and most difficult education systems include South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Finland, etc.