The United States is home to a large number of boarding schools, each as unique as the students who attend them. And it is due to America’s diversity in geography, curriculum, student life, and core values that students travel from all over the world to attend learning establishments here.
Why choosing one of the best Boarding Schools in the USA?
There are many reasons that parents consider American schools to be among the best schools in the world. Here are just a few examples of why:
Unparalleled academics are a gateway to top universities
Students that have the privilege of attending America’s foremost boarding and international schools can count on an education that prepares them for entry into the best colleges not only in the United States but around the world. Considered “feeder schools” to America’s most renowned universities, classes at these highly respected establishments are typically small, coeducational, and staffed by advanced degree holders. Additionally, students often have access to over 300 course offerings, ensuring they are engaging in coursework that is both personally fulfilling and viewed positively by college counselors. Many of these institutions approach their curriculums in innovative ways, utilizing pedagogies like the Harkness Method, multidisciplinary learning, and place- and project-based learning to educate their students, while others prefer to stick to tried-and-true curricula like the International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement to prepare their students for the real world and university.
Beautiful campuses near historic and natural landmarks
Whether they’ve grown up skiing in the Swiss Alps or enjoying an urban lifestyle in modern cities like Paris and London, your child will likely find themselves in awe of American campuses. Many of America’s premier boarding schools are located on huge acreages surrounded by the beautiful foliage of the northeastern region of the country, often only a stone’s throw away from important historical sites and skyscraper-filled cities like Boston and New York. These stately campuses offer traditional boarding experiences and provide a diverse range of options the institutions can rely on for a range of field trips and extracurricular activities. The nation’s capital, Washington D.C., is also home to many academically prestigious boarding and international schools, giving students who have demonstrated natural leadership abilities and a thirst for politics a firsthand look at how America’s executive, legislative, and judicial branches work by engaging in fellowships through opportunities offered through the U.S. State Department. And for those students who prefer binary code to government code, schools in Pacific cities such as San Francisco and Seattle offer students a chance to hone their programming and robotics skills by learning a technology-themed curriculum, complete with life-changing opportunities to intern at some of the hottest tech startups and companies in Silicon Valley. There are also fantastic institutions spread across the entirety of the country, from the historic sites and beautiful palms of the southern Atlantic and Gulf coasts in states such as Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, to the beautiful desert colors and majestic natural beauty of southwestern states such as New Mexico, Arizona, and Southern California. Other states such as Texas are growing rapidly and provide unique opportunities for families looking in top metropolitan areas such as Dallas, Houston, or Austin which are quickly becoming hubs for technology, engineering, and aerospace industries.
Athletics strengthen the body, mind, and spirit
For students who are athletically inclined, no country provides more opportunities to physically and mentally develop your body, spirit, and mind through sport than the United States. Dedicated athletes will find themselves at home here engaging in everything from crew to rugby to swimming to track. Popular American team sports like basketball, baseball, and American football are incredible ways to build a sense of self and camaraderie, all while working towards an athletic scholarship at an NCAA Division 1 school.
A great place to gain a new perspective and a global education
With thousands of high school students flocking to the United States from across the world each year, you can be sure to hear a variety of balanced viewpoints during conversations in American classrooms. Some of the best boarding schools in the USA have rooted their curriculum and core values in providing an education that prepares students to be global citizens. The value of a global education has never been more in demand, and parents looking to have their children experience the world firsthand will find many compelling options in the states. Families searching for schools in the USA often have their choice of many top internationally-recognized curricula including the American Advanced Placement (AP) system, the International Baccalaureate (IB) system, and many more. For non-native English speakers, studying in the USA is a perfect way to become fluent in the language of global business, science, and politics, and for those students coming from the many English-speaking countries, they benefit from learning a new culture and a new way of seeing the world, which can broaden their understanding of complex topics.
Service-learning benefits the student and community
One thing nearly all boarding and international schools in the USA share in common is their focus on improving things at the local level through service-learning. Service-learning refers to activities that use academics to address the authentic needs of the community. It can be performed by students of all ages and plays an important role in developing maturity alongside social and environmental awareness. Students applying to an International Baccalaureate school will be familiar with the Creativity, Activity, Service component of the IB Diploma Programme, which enhance their personal and interpersonal development by learning through experience.
Student life on US campuses is second to none
Students who find themselves a long way from home can take comfort in the safe and social settings of America’s boarding and international schools. Experienced residential life teams are in place to make sure that each student’s physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing are looked after, and a broad range of social activities and clubs ensure that little time exists for students to suffer from homesickness. Healthy, multicultural meals that cater to special dietary requests are also a staple at America’s boarding and international schools, so regardless of their appetite, your child will be studying and socializing on a full stomach.
Best Boarding Schools in USA
Discover The Best Boarding Schools in USA. Find everything you need to know, including tuition, fees, curriculum, facilities, location, reviews, and more—plus contact an advisor for free!
Send a request to
[contact-form-7 id="25607" title="Request form popup"]
Remove Filters
Learn moreContact
IMG Academy
5650 Bollettieri Blvd, Bradenton, FL 34210, USA
(Video) 8 Top Boarding Schools in USA 2021/2022IMG Academy is the world's premier boarding school for dedicated and passionate student-athletes.
Co-Education
1200 students
Day & Boarding School
US Curriculum
See AlsoBest Boarding High Schools in the USA 2023How Much Does Boarding School Cost? | America Abroad100 Best Boarding Schools in America10 Best Boarding Schools in the United States – 2022 Editionfrom 45200 to 89,900 USD
From 12 to 19 yo
Learn moreContact
Fairfax Christian School
22870 Pacific Boulevard, Dulles, VA 20166
The Fairfax Christian School is the first K–12 school to receive the Presidential E–Award from the U.
Co-Education
339 students
Day & Boarding School
US Curriculum
from 30000 to 47,800 USD
From 5 to yo
Learn moreContact
(Video) Top 50 Best Boarding Schools for international school students in 2021_Tutoring Site First TutorTHINK Global School
THINK Global School, 54 W 40th St #512, New York, NY 10018, United States
THINK Global School is the world's first traveling high school. Attendees between the ages of 15-18 gain an education by living in four different countries each year --ten countries total-- learning firsthand from their multicultural experiences. During their time in-country, students gain the expertise necessary to bring about change in our increasingly global world.
Co-Education
57 students
Boarding School
US Curriculum
max 94050 USD
From 15 to 18 yo
Learn moreContact
Paris Saint-Germain Academy USA Pro x North Broward Preparatory School
7600 Lyons Rd, Coconut Creek, FL 33073, USA
Welcome to the Paris Saint-Germain Pro Academy!A leading actor in players’ development, Paris Saint-Germain Academy is constantly crafting new ways to develop young players for future success on and off the field.
Co-Education
(Video) Inside The Most Expensive High School In The World800 students
Boarding School
International Baccalaureate, US Curriculum
from 86000 to 86,000 USD
From 11 to 18 yo
Learn moreContact
North Broward Preparatory School, A Nord Anglia Education School
7600 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek, Florida 33073
AN EXTRAORDINARY COMMUNITY OF LEARNERSAt North Broward Preparatory School, students are inspired to learn without limits and go beyond any border to make an impact in the world.
Co-Education
1650 students
Day & Boarding School
International Baccalaureate, US Curriculum
from 62,650 to 68,250 USD
From 3 to 18 yo
Learn moreContact
Windermere Preparatory School, A Nord Anglia Education School
6189 Winter Garden-Vineland RdWindermere, Florida, 34786 USA
(Video) Boarding Schools in the USA (DOCU) Phillips Exeter + CRMSCo-Education
1500 students
Day & Boarding School
International Baccalaureate, US Curriculum
from 65650 to 67750 USD
From 3 to 18 yo
Learn moreContact
The Village School, A Nord Anglia Education School
2005 Gentryside Drive Houston, TX 77077 United States
Co-Education
1757 students
Day & Boarding School
International Baccalaureate, US Curriculum
from 45700 to 67750 USD
From 2 to 18 yo